A LETTER FROM JAMIE
by: Julie Hastings
subject: life in Italy
grade level: 7th or 8th
Dear classmates and friends,
Greetings from Italy! I am sorry it has taken me so long to write to you. These first few months, I've been busy getting to know the people and learning about their culture. So, how is everything in New Palestine? I bet it is just beautiful there right now since the leaves are changing colors this time of year. There really aren't that many trees here in Ancona. I can't complain though, since I live only five minutes from the Adriatic Sea. The beach is a beautiful sight year-round.
Did you know that Italy is about the same size as New York, but has twice as many people? Who would've thought--a country the size of one of our states? Italy is divided into twenty regions instead of states. Things such as climate, industry, and land forms often change from region to region. Even the food they eat and dialects of the Italian language may vary between regions (a dialect is a local variety of the language). Next month my family is going to take a trip to Rome. It is a five to six hour drive through the mountains. Rome is the capital of Italy, and with nearly 3 million people it is also Italy's largest city. My mom says we will visit many churches, squares, and fountains while we are there, but most of all I want to see the Coliseum. Do you remember studying about that in our history class last year?
So, what do you think of seventh grade? Piece of cake, right? OH MAN, would you love school here. I have to be there at 8:30 a.m. but I come home at 1:30 for lunch and I don't even have to go back. Although, we do have more homework at night since we have such a short school day. It's strange how everything closes for lunchtime in Italy. All the shops and businesses close down so that the owners can go home for lunch and an afternoon nap. Around four or five in the afternoon everyone returns to work and stays until eight or nine o'clock at night. You know how in America we will grab a quick bite to eat for lunch, maybe a sandwich or something? Well, not in Italy!
We do not eat lunch until 1:30 or 2:00. I am starving by that time especially since breakfast is so small. I am getting used to it though. They give us a morning snack at school. Lunch is a leisurely time and the largest meal of the day. Of course, we have some sort of pasta, bread, and salad. That's what we eat at most meals here. The Italian bread is so hard I nearly break a tooth every time I try to eat it. Plus, it's my job to cut the bread and I can't ever do this without making a big mess of crumbs. Then it becomes my job to clean up the crumbs. After lunch we clear the table off, and the adults have their espresso (a small cup of strong coffee).
The two hours or so following lunch is the Italian nap time. Yes, even for adults! My parents and I don't take a nap but we do have to stay quiet during this time so we won't disturb or wake up our neighbors. I use this time to get my home work done while my mom reads a book or writes a letter. These hours are the hardest for Zach, my little brother, because he wants to play, but can't.
We live in the city, like most Italians. So, Zach and I don't even have a backyard to play ball in or a swing set to monkey around on. In fact, we have to go to the Piazza (that's a plaza or square) to really move around or play at all. Then mom and dad worry about us because they are so crowded. Italians may eat dinner anywhere between seven and nine o'clock. Around 9:00 p.m. the piazzas begin to fill up with people. These are popular places just to hang out. The children usually play soccer in the piazzas or just run around while their parents talk. My mom says that talking is the "Italian past-time". It does seem to be what they do best. I usually take some lire, which is Italian money, with me so I can buy an ice cream cone at the gelateria, which is an ice cream shop. I always know just what to order. "Vorrei un gelato alla fragola, per favore." That means "I would like strawberry ice cream please." The best part is it only costs me $1600 lire. Now, I know that sounds like a lot of money, but it is equal to only one American dollar. The ice cream here beats Dairy Queen, Baskin Robins, and even Ben & Jerry's by a long shot.
It is strange how I can think of all that I like about Italy and still miss so many things about America. I miss our backyard, BIG RED gum, and NBA basketball. Every- once-in-awhile I will catch a game on cable, but basketball is not as popular here. How are the Pacers doing this year? Reggie Miller is still my favorite player. My friend Phillipo is a huge Michael Jordan fan, even though he doesn't know much about him or basketball. I'm sure he'd like Reggie if he really knew how awesome he was! As you probably know, soccer is the most popular sport in Italy. I would say it's even more than a sport to Italians. It is part of their culture. They spend so much time watching soccer, playing it, or even just talking about it. Phillipo is an excellent soccer player. So he is teaching me how to play soccer, while I teach him how to play basketball. It's a fair trade, I think!
The Italian people are friendly and funny too. They talk so fast and with their hands. Since I don't speak Italian very well yet, Phillipo is my only friend. I miss understanding what people are saying and looking like everyone else does, but what I miss more than anything are my friends. I would like to thank you for the letters you sent, GRAZIE! Write again soon.
Well, my mom is calling me to dinner. I think we are having pizza. Trust me, it's not as good as Pizza Hut's. I just hope it doesn't have artichokes or eggplant on it this time, YUCK!
Your Friend,
Jamie
A LETTER FROM JAMIE
Questions
- What is the capital city of Italy?
- How many regions is Italy divided into?
- About how many dollars would $8000 lire be?
- What do Italians do after lunch?
- After reading Jamie's letter, how would you describe the Italian culture?
- In your opinion, what do you think might be the most frustrating or difficult thing for an American child living in another culture?
Optional Questions
- What would you miss most about America if you had to live in a foreign country?
- If you could travel to any country in the world, which country would you choose and why?
- What would you like to learn about Italy that Jamie did not tell us?
Julie Hastings
A Letter from Jamie
Subject: Life in Italy
OUTLINE
*Note*
Since my story is in letter format, the teacher would simply want to read the letter. They would not try to tell it from memory or using an outline as they would with another story. However, I will include an outline of the information found in this letter.
Life in Italy
I. The land
A. Size
B. Regions
C. Capital = Rome
II. The culture
A. Schools
- Hours
- Homework
B. Schedules
- Meals
- Naps
3. Work
C. Leisure
- Socializing in Piazzas
- Talking
D. Money
- Conversion to American dollars
- Ice cream
E. Sports
- Basketball
- Soccer
Props
*soccer ball
*lire
*pictures from Italy or books about Italy
Other Ideas
- Have the student respond to Jamie's letter and ask questions about Italy. They can then do some research on Italy to answer their own questions or another student's.
- The students could write letters to tell a foreigner about America and it's culture.
- This may spark an interest in the students for having a foreign pen pal. Look into this and set up some kind of program they could get involved in.
- Create more math problems using conversion of lire into American dollars.
- Have students search for websites about Italy on the internet.
Sources
- My own experience and journal entries from two summers spent in Italy.
- Some of the letter is based on the life of a nine-year-old MK living in Italy--his observations, opinions, and ideas.
- A book for children titled "Getting to Know ITALY and Italian" by Emma Sansone, Barron's publishers, 1992.
Answers to the Questions
1. Rome
2. Twenty (20)
3. Five dollars
4. Take a nap, rest, or drink coffee would be acceptable answers.
5. Answers may vary. Some possible answers would be:
*relaxed* *laid-back* *friendly* *social*
6. Answers will vary based on opinion. Some possible answers would be:
- not knowing the language
- looking and/or feeling different
- missing things and people from home country
Answers to Optional Questions
*These answers will obviously vary from student to student. The purpose of these questions is to cause the students to think. Their answers will also help you to know where to go with your lessons on Italy or other cultures in general.