Well my first couple days in Italy after I arrived were rather uneventful, so these next stories won't be quite as interesting as the others, but they are stories.

The plane landed and we met our host families for the first time. I must admit that I became quite confused because not only did I meet my host family, but I also met Chaney's at the same time. So I had no idea who I would be living with or what anyone was saying. So after I sorted all that out and discovered who was who, we got in the car and began to drive to Lorenzo's house for a quick meeting about the year that was to come. We drove past a famous theater called "Teatro Politiama" Gabriella (who speaks perfect English) pointed it out to me by saying "Dusty if you look to your right you can see Politiama which is a famous theater." And of course, you can guess what I did. I pressed my nose up to the window in anticipation, my eyes were wide and I was breathing only through my mouth, I was about to see an international Italian monument. This action was responded to by Gabriella saying, "No Dusty, your other right." Congratulations Dusty! What a first impression. It was then followed by a slight awkward exchange of looks and then an explosion of laughter. She then yelled, (because it was the only way to speak at all because we were laughing so hard) "I said it in your own language!" Thus fueling another eruption of laughter. By the time we had finished laughing I barely got a chance to look at Politiama, so much for the epic viewing of the monument.

The lesson: Well I suppose I learned two lessons that in a way, contradict themselves. 1.) If you ever feel that you need to create a more loose or comfortable first impression, just act a little stupid, but make it look like an accident. 2.) Learn your Rights and Lefts.

Dustin