Real August 19, 2009

Wednesday

Aug. 19, 2009

Sorry about the date mix-up. Today was an easy day. A call was made this morning for people to volunteer to work in the lab, so I did. (A burden, I know, working indoors or in the shade all day. But it was a sacrifice I was willing to make.) My day began in the lab itself, putting catalogue numbers on artifacts. Just like being back at home! Come to think of it, I might be doing something similar if I was at home this semester. Anyway, it was a little rough at first because the leader doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak Italian. I messed up a couple of times, and was pretty sure he was regretting accepting my help until I found three pieces of a rim that went together, for which I got a “brava”. I could have laughed, or danced, or both from relief, but managed to keep myself together. After that, I did fine for the rest of the day. After lunch I went to the courtyard to wash pottery with Leo, who speaks some English and had helped me this morning. It was a good day overall.

After working, I showered as usual, then went to a concert with Sarah and my roommate Grainne. It was a choir concert based on the Magnificat, so there was a lot of good music. It was mostly in Latin, with one song in English. The choir was from a church in Greenwich, England. It was really great listening to the music in the Duomo. Not the best acoustics, but still amazing to listen to. We got a ride home from one of the dig leaders who was also there, and I for one couldn’t be happier to be home.