Time for one more post before it’s Arrivederci Bologna.
Things are really starting to wind up now and it is not without some sadness that I prepare to leave this lovely city. It has been good to me!
One last Italian lesson tomorrow and although it feels as if I know absolutely nothing I’m sure I do (know at least something!!). Still can’t open my bloody mouth though!! Despite my complete dumbness I have enjoyed the lessons and they have all been just lovely at my school.
Last visit to Fabrizia (dentist) was today. She has a few extra presents under the tree this year thanks to me but certainly the teeth she fixed look much, much better. She has given me all the moulds etc to take home…they weigh a tonne and will be likely to bemuse customs!!
And best of all it looks like I will have my Permisso di Soggiorno before I leave. I could see on line that it looked as if it had been processed but no word at all of where or when to pick it up so I was starting to panic thinking I would have to leave without it and then it would probably never be found. In my panic I took myself back to my communist friends yesterday, the CGIL. And once again they took me on board and straightened me out. God I love those guys, I’m a convert! I now have an appointment on Saturday morning back at the horrible Immigration Police place but hopefully all I have to do is pick it up. I have a time and a number so let’s see what happens!! Talk about cutting things fine but if this works it will be fantastic.
I spend a lot of time walking the Christmas streets when I’m not doing my homework which takes me some 3 hrs/day mainly because I’m so slow and thick. Matteus, the Swiss man in my class takes half an hour!!
I was going to try to get to Modena before I left here but now I have to go to the Immigration Police. Also one of the ‘boys’ in my class tells me about a villa in the country that once a month puts on a meal. He and his wife are going and he has invited me to go along which I will do if it all works out and fits in. They have a car so they would drive me.
Then it’s start to get the luggage organised and get myself down to Roma. It is Chris’ birthday so we will go out to dinner to celebrate. Then, next day off to London, and the Christmas spirit will set in. I’m so looking forward to being with (one of my) family and also to speaking English!! Chris will follow me to London a few days later.