Back to school...begrudgingly

Well we started our first legitimate classes today...and it was a grind. 3 hours straight of Italian in the morning from 9 to 12, then another 2 hour session from 2 to 4. My head was spinning because I forgot all the grammar rules, but I think putting this time in will help me get it all back very quickly. A couple of kids got back yesterday who are studying here the whole year, and everyone still seems pretty nice. We walked around the city and got to the market district. It wasn't as awesome as Reading Terminal Market, but it comes pretty close, with all of the vegetable vendors outside and the butcher shops. You can also get really good Italian wine pretty cheap there, but we didn't get any today. We left the market district and were right by the massive church of San Petronio, the patron saint of Bologna. I read that he had built another church nearby in the city in the 400's, so yeah I get to walk by 1600 year old churches on the way to class. Beats walking by the HUB everyday back in Carlisle. But anyway this church that we went in was right in the Piazza Maggiore. It was ridiculous, and I want to go to mass on Sunday...I'm really glad I brought that tie. I can't even describe the church, so I don't think I'm going to try because it is so beautiful. It is unbelievable to me to think that such a decadent and massive building could have been constructed so long ago. Today, we wouldn't have the patience to complete such a painstaking project. After that we walked around the stores in the center of the town. There were actually some pretty good deals, all things considered. The Italian kids are all extremely, extremely well dressed, and we all know I've never put a second thought into what I wear, but I know that I stick out like a sore thumb. I might wait for the market to come around again next Friday and get a cheap new pair of (hopefully not stolen) shoes. I say it every post, and I'll say it again. This city is fantastic. I never expected it to be like this, mostly because I refused to build up any expectations, and I'm glad I did that. I came in here with no disappointments from any unmet expectations whatsoever, and now there is nothing left to do but enjoy each day here...well that and my Italian homework of course