Things I've learnt this week...#4

• That my level of skill in Italian depends on who is talking to me, and it’s their opinion. So far I’ve tended to base my opinion on what I’m told; for example, if someone tells me I’m doing alright, I think cool, I’m doing alright. But if I struggle to understand something or someone seems resentful that I can’t speak fluently, I feel guilty. However, it’s taken up way too much of my time and worry this week. Yes, it still really panics and frustrates me when someone speaks to me and I can’t reply. But it ends up outweighing all the good bits and I forget that I sat through about 6 hours of Italian teaching on Friday and understood what was going on (most of the time anyway. It was a lot for my little brain to handle). I’ll be starting lessons after Christmas which will help, but I think I’m actually doing ok so far. And if someone doesn’t like it, well, that’s fine! Learning the language isn’t my main purpose of being here and I don’t want to let it become that.
• That I can cook a bloody nice sausage stew. There was something about adding beef stock and sausage and peas to my dinner (as well as lots of other yummy veg) that tasted so English and like home. Plus, great comfort food for these miserable rainy days.
• That I really enjoy blogging! Posting things every day this month is lovely so far; it gives me an actual purpose for each day, as dramatic as that sounds. I think I strangely miss having deadlines and actual ‘things to do’ (although shock horror I actually have some things to practice for next week’s lessons!) so I use it as a way of feeling a bit more productive. And it makes me appreciate the little things a bit more if I think ‘ooh I can blog about that!’; a good coffee shop, a nice bar, some nice weather, etc.
• That I really have missed having a duvet! I finally bought one this week, and although it is definitely on the very thin side, it is something! You just can’t cocoon and snuggle in a flat thin blanket in the same way that you can in a duvet/quilt. I am now waking up happy rather than shivering!

I think that’s all for this week. Hope you have had a good week and keep coming back for more daily posts!