Mr. Ryan's first post

I finally have an opportunity to let you all know how I am doing here in Italy. First I want to tell all the students that have been leaving post on the site thank you very much. I did not have a chance to let you know what I have been doing or really get a chance to read your post until today. However I have been getting your messages (whishes) of good luck and that you miss me from my teammates.

Italy is so amazing. We got here over a week ago and were first in Trani. We got to see a festival and eat at a sea side resturant and watch the finals of thier soccer league. This was also the first time I had fish and other foods of the sea.

We then went to Lucera where I met my first family. They own what is similar to a bed and breakfast in an old large home that has painting from the 18th century. I went to two different schools while in Lucera.

One school was really in the city of Foggia which is very close to Lucera. It was a school very similar to a magnet school back home. Families have to try and get their children in and then they have to do well. The students where very similar to students back home. They were very excited to see someone from another place. I went to see the school of music where the students are very good at music and work in classes to get better.

The other school was also a middle school in Lucera. I went on a Saturday because the children must go to school every other Saturday because they only go to school from 8:00 til 1:30. 1:00 is the time when everything stops (shops close people go home) so the children go home. They eat lunch with their families at home. I went to an English class and was meet by about 80-90 students that had questions of me about America. The whole time was going to be an hour. I left almost two and a half latter. It was great, they asked so many questions about schools in America. How students dress and learn, what they learn, what they are like, what I teach and if I am hard or not ( I told them they would have to ask my classes) I think I am hard but fair and that got everyone smiling. I had a great time at both schools.
I have been eating some great foods and drinking so great wines as well. I have visited some outstanding places and have been very taken back by their beauty.

I am currently in Matera which is the city where Mel Gibson filmed The Passion of the Christ. I am staying with a great family and their son Michele(15). They have a wonderful home in new Matera. The city itself is very old and beautiful. The city was orginally made up of caves that man first lived in. He then built homes and then the city. Many here in Matera believe that it was where man began living together . If you want to see pictures of Matera before I get home see just the views of The Passion of the Christ.

Well I have gone on for a while now. Thursday is my lst day in Matera and then I move on toPotenza. While in Potenza on Saturday I will be going to Pompei and see the ruins. I will let you(my students) know if it is like what we saw in the books pictures.

I miss you all very much and look forward to seeing you all soon.

Tess Melissa and Michelle I miss you very much and am always thinking of you.

Don thank you for getting me this opportunity it is the time of my life.

Write soon.
Matt