Four Days of Classes

Today is our fourth consecutive day of classes since returning from Rome and Pompeii. The energy devoted to getting coursework done while we are here at the Hotel Sobaria overshadows the other things that are going on (or is that just a professor's wishful thinking?). There have been a couple of more afternoon trips down the hill to play soccer or volleyball. Jonathan has set up the first intramural events; I've been told that I am supposed to play in a ping-pong tournament for which I did not volunteer, and that I am a team captain for some other sport (volleyball?—I can't remember).

On Sunday and Monday nights, Jenny Towns (the English instructor from Freed) and I screened the BBC Pride and Prejudice miniseries for extra credit to our students in English Literature and Western Cultural Heritage. Some of the students came early on and found it not to their taste, but we had at least a dozen who stuck it out through the whole six hours over the two nights.

The only excursion I have made since Pompeii is a trip to Sansepolcro, a small town north of Citerna, on Saturday. Sansepolcro is known primarily as the birthplace of Piero della Francesca, a prominent Renaissance painter. His Resurrection fresco in the Civic Museum is one of the best known works of the 15^th century. I had wanted to see it for a long time, and it did not disappoint. The rest of the town is charming, too; most of the historic center's architecture dates from the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. Unfortunately, we inadvertently left our camera at the hotel, so a return trip will be necessary to acquire some photographs.

The looming event for everyone here is the free travel period which begins tomorrow afternoon after classes end and lasts until Sunday. Each group of students traveling together has been required to provide an itinerary as well as contact information and arrival/departure trains from Arezzo. There are groups going to Spain, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as some students who are staying in Italy. I think the smallest group has six people in it, so there should be adequate safety in numbers. Still, all prayers will be appreciated.

My family is headed for northern and western Tuscany, and I will be posting more information about our trip in the coming days.