Today is Wed., We have officially be on the road a week. Who can believe it???
We began or day at Elena's high school. A
It was amazing! There was a TV screen with the daily schedule, including our names as special guests!
I will have to add photos later as they are on the iPad, iPhone, and Cannon camera. This is something to think about in the future... Photo organization! (I have just done this, but need to remind myself to find a better way before next year).
The school (INSTITUT AGRICOLE REGIONAL REG. LA ROCHERE 1/A 11100 AOSTA, ITALY) is a private one with students from ages 15-19 who plan to work in agriculture, tourism, or other related areas. The school has its own vineyard and we were happy to receive three bottles of their own wine. Can't wait to taste it! We met some of Elena's colleagues, and one gave us a delicious package of pastries. Yummy! 
The students were excited to see us arrive by their own school bus, and we went to meet the headmaster. I gave him the VDT book on Georgia agriculture, some info about GA, pens, a VSU Bag, a set of sticky notes, and a VSU tee shirt (from Dork's) which he immediately put on! Great photo of the group outside. Then off to two of Elena's classes. 
It was fun to meet the students, and mine are beginning to say more clearly, "Mi chiamo..." And the Italians appreciate that gesture!
My students shared Where's Walrus with both groups, and had lots of small group conversations in English. Then I read in English, Don't let Pigeon Drive The Bus! and they all chimed in with "NO!" or "NO WAY" about giving permission. It was easy for me to interject Italian words when I noticed they did not seem to comprehend what I had read. After, they liked how the pigeon kept trying... and I had a temporary tattoo of Pigeon I had gotten at a NCTE Conference. The high school kids ALL wanted one! It was very funny to see them getting so excited about it. But it was wonderful that they had such a good time.
We finished up with a round of Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes... and when they were not going fast enough, I said in Italian that the previous class had been able to go VERY fast. Ahh... A little sense of competition is the same around the world. They begged me to give them another chance... and we did, and they did! It was lots of fun.
I have so much more to write, and I promise to come back to this day. The students were so welcoming, and a bit shy at first. We worked with two classes for 2 hour sessions each and shared 2 pounds of Jelly Bellies I had brought for them to try. They liked the different flavors, and were motivated to work with us! (Bribe of food = cooperation!).
One girl asked Ray, "Is it your university that let the boy walk on the US flag?" When he asked how she knew that, she said she had looked it up on line and read about it and saw the photos and video.
Hmmm...
They loved using the American flag toothpicks in their drawings, just like the elementary students had done yesterday. And when we were leaving, they sang a round of "She'll be coming round the Mountain" for us. They are great students, and we cannot wait to hear what they have to say about our visit...
We had a delicious lunch from the canteen and met more of Elena's colleagues. Everyone was so warm and welcoming. We felt very appreciated.
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