About a month ago our world was turned upside down: the "semester" kids arrived in Bologna. We knew the day would come when we would have to give up some of our precious office space and have to share the streets of Bologna and Piazza Maggiore with the newbies, as we like to call them. Let me explain something to you. There is a huge difference between "year-long" study abroad students and "semester" study abroad students. The "year-long" students are here in Bologna to learn the language and become part of the culture. "Semester" students are here to travel, drink and live up to every American stereotype that has ever been made, believing that their semester abroad is a six month extended vacation. So far, the newbies are not disappointing us.
Our directors organized a welcome dinner at the same restaurant where we had our welcome dinner when we first arrived. They also warned us that every year there is a huge divide between the "year-long" and "semester" students. There was a lot of protest when this comment was made, "Oh no, we wan to meet them!", "I bet it won't be like that this year!", "But I am friends with some of the people coming." I immediately decided not to be their friend. I also decided that I needed to look as Italian as possible for this dinner, so naturally I bought a new pair of boots.
The days leading up to the dinner were torture. Rumors floated around that these newbies were cool and that there was a possibility of assigned seating. Obviously, my friends and I got together before the dinner for a little drink to take the edge off. We made predictions of what the new kids were going to be like, look like and talk like. We also made a pact to not be their friends. (We are really accepting of change and new things). We arrived fashionably late for dinner and were faced with the reality of assigned seating. Someone must have known that Maried and I could not have survived this dinner without the support of each other, because we were seated across from each other. The only good thing about this dinner was the food. We had built up this dinner so much that it flew by. After enduring 3 hours of fake conversation, a bathroom pow-wow and a broken wine glass, we made it out alive.
Since then, I haven't seen a newbie. I have avoided the office where I used to sit and check my Facebook and email between classes. No longer is it a safe place. The newbies have adopted it as their own. Apparently, they have been tearing through Bologna, leaving drama and destruction in their wake. But who knows? Maybe they will settle down and really dive head first into Italian culture. Or maybe they will just take trips every weekend and leave us be in our precious little city. We can dream can't we?
Note: I fully acknowledge that I was once a "semester" study abroad student. But now, I am much older and mature and saw the error in my ways. I only hope that I can be forgiven one day. Nah, I had a blast!!!!
Baci xx
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