The Blackboard Jungle Italia
March 6, 2012 by orvietoorbust
The information I was given at the education office of the centro sociale (community center) was that the Italian class commenced at 3:25 on Thursday afternoons. The photo is of the scene on Thursday at exactly 3:24 p.m. Oops, apparently the class actually begins at 4:30 p.m. I located the teacher and she recommended I come, instead, to her class on Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. Okay, I’m game. I’ll be back on Tuesday afternoon…
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
If I hadn’t experienced it myself, I don’t think I would have believed it. My friend, who attended class with me, was witness to the casino (mess) that was my first public funded italiano per stranieri (Italian for Foreigners) course.
It was a blast from the past – reminiscent of the glory days of flying spitballs, pimple-faced awkwardness and hallway passes alla “Welcome Back Kotter”, the iconic television sitcom about a street-wise teacher saddled with a class of overzealous, unruly misfits.
This afternoon’s cast of characters: a pretty blond, if not somewhat scattered teacher; a macho hooligan who passed out our text books while making wisecracks with a unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth; a skinny, greasy-haired and sullen boy who interrupted class to take a call on his cellphone; a dull-witted, sloppy adolescent surfing his Facebook page during the lesson; a painfully shy North African women who refused to speak if asked a question – she just sat there until the teacher moved on; a young Eastern European couple who sat so close together they almost became one person and, my favorite, the know-it-all teacher’s pet who corrected your answers before the instructor got a word in edgewise.
The class was disorganized, the overhead projector didn’t function and the audio CD was scratchy and unintelligible. However, I did learn some things I didn’t know before – the words l’orario fisso (fixed schedule); lo stipendio (salary), and turni (shifts). Also, silenzio! (be quiet!); No, non si può fumare qui dentro! (No, you cannot smoke in here!) and Spero che tornerai la prossima settimana (I hope you will come back next week).
I believe “sweathog” translated into Italian is sweathog.
by Toni DeBella
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Posted in Americans Abroad, Expat in Italy, Italy, Living in Italy, Orvieto, Travel | Tagged Italian for Foreigners, learning Italian, Sweathogs, travel, Welcome Back Kotter | 15 Comments
Orvieto or Bust: 
I love it!! I wonder if my local free classes will be the same when I start – are you returning next week?
Am I returning? What sort of question is that? Of COURSE I am returning. Who would want to miss a Fellini movie as good as this one!. Sign up for your local class immediately. It’s the most fun I’ve had all week. Hugs. t
Brilliant post Toni! So funny. Fellini meets iconic 70’s sitcom… And yes, the dreaded know-it-all….Love it! Cannot wait for next week’s episode. In bocca al lupo!
Janine…we thought that Fellini was such a genius, but really all he had to do was to take notes of life around him. I was furiously scribbling notes in class and I am sure the teacher thought I was being a conscientious student! Little did she know….xxo toni
Loved the story. Now if we only had something like this in Todi.
Susan
…maybe they do Susan. If not, come to Orvieto and join our class! t
I am not surprised the Eastern European couple were sitting ‘as one’ in that narrow corridor….What a hoot! So much fabulous material for your blog –
Cannot wait to hear how you deal with the class creep…correcting your material before the teacher indeed, what a cheek!
All life is there it sounds like, amusing post as usual, keep them coming,L
Thanks Lulu. You know, I think my lucky stars everyday for the great material that just falls in my lap. I will be going back next week: maybe there will be a sequel?? hahah. T
Wow, che casino! ma non stupisco e’ il modo MOLTO ORVIETO… Bocca al lupo per la prossima lezione. Quasi quasi ho voglia di iscrivermi per condividere l’esperienza…
Naomi, Ora, non dire cose folli! Grazie. A presto. T
dear Toni,i love your post!!! so funny…reminded of david sedaris’s book–‘me talk pretty one day’, his french class in paris:) ( i just finished translating this book from english to chinese before my trip to orvieto:) i came across your great blog via Valentina Santanicchio’s website! i bumped into her last monday at her restaurant, she is such a bubbly and fun woman! we had a great chat! i love orvieto! just a mere three days, already made some friends that i had to say goodbye before i left….i am a freelance writer/photographer writing for T+L magazine and Elle magazine (both china edition:), i write my articles in chinese though. i live in san jose, CA by the way:)
Vivian, Well, being mentioned in the same sentence with David Sedaris is an honor – of course I am not nearly in the same league but thank you! Valentina is one of my best friends here and she is such a wonderful chef and person. I am very impressed that you are a professional writer – my dream job would be to be paid for writing someday. Did you know that I was born and raised in San Jose? Small world. I would love to keep in touch and maybe one day we will be in Orvieto together. Hugs. Toni
Dear toni,
What a small world, I live in a city where u grew up:) my exact place is in japan town ,san jose,don’t tell me u live on jackson st too:) I was born and raised in shanghai though,moved to bay area in 2000. I contribute regularly to T+L magazines and have a travel column in elle magazine,both are china edition,I write in chinese mostly.
Getting to know valentina is a total ramdom experience, I saw some interesting tufa sculptures next to her restaurant,but store was closed, then I saw some tufa sculptures displayed inside of her restaurant, I saw valentina inside and knocked at the door,I thought that was part of the sculpture store and didn’t realize it is actually a restaurant:) then we started to chitchat…just like that,we are not strangers any more. I need to write her an email too.if u see her,say hi for me…I miss orvieto and I met all those nice people there,my b&b owner danilie, the wood lamp artisan umberto,the leather bag maker maria…etc
Next time,if u are back to sf,let me know:) are u on facebook?
Vivian
Vivian. Yes I am on Facebook – friend me. I have been in Rome (family visiting) for a few days, but waiting for my train to Orvieto. I will see Valentina and I will tell you that we “met”. I am back in SF 10 May and my mom is still living in the South Bay, so let’s keep in touch and try to meet when I am there. Or, if you are planning to come into the City let me know and I will meet you there for a drink sometime. You got the vibe of Orvieto and unfortunately, you may be hooked. Once it gets under your skin…you are sunk! Toni
P.S. I grew up on Lincoln Avenue and went to Lincoln HS – tons of my friend, however living in Japan town area so I know it well. Spent most of my childhood riding my bike around there and I went to university at San Jose State.
hahaha, already send a friend request and see we atually have a mutual friend already (not valentina this time), he is Maurizio Rocchi 🙂 Maurizio and i were fb friends first and then when we finally met at ALMA, it feels like a reunion:)
so glad you will be back to the States in May, the only thing is i am leaving for asia in mid april and won’t be back until june 9th. how long you will stay in SF? i go to SF all the time (my husband works in SoMA area, the building next to the Old Navy on 4th street. so we can either meet in SF or south bay. you are from san jose state? haha, you are a real daughter of san jose then! but now you are an adopted daughter of ovieto now and i hope orvieto could adopt me some day too:))))))))))