Basketball for the Deaf

Ciao everyone!
An interesting update today....On Tuesday I had the pleasure of practicing with an Italian basketball team. The trip was one for the record books. First I met up with Ciro, the head coach, a wonderfully short Italian man with a passion for "basket". Before departing, however, I was introduced to the only other American on the team. A blonde named Jenna. HA! So we jumped on the tram, then switched trams, then switched trams again! Finally ending up at a lovely athletic establishment "near" Milan. After the ballerinas and ribbon dancers departed, it was time to get down to business.
This is when things got interesting. Jenna had explained to me that practice would be "normal but different". Wasn't quite sure what she meant by that but I soon found out. One girl on the team spoke broken English and was able to translate every time Ciro yelled. We ran simple drills that I could pick up on, but it was when we began to learn plays that I truly began to feel as though I had lost my sense of hearing. "CAMBIO CAMBIO!" Ciro would yell. "Be PLAYMAKER! You..PLAYMAKER!" Yes Ciro, I'm a play maker, I was born to be a play maker baby! But no...playmaker here means "point guard", because they call the plays. Here's the ball Jenna...go be a playmaker! Embarassing....anyhow, the practice went well and the team was pretty decent. Overall it was a worthwhile experience, but after finding out that they are in a league with 50 year old women and 14 year old middle school boys, I'm not sure its going to be my cup of tea. I will attend again, just for kicks, but this time forego exclaiming that I am in fact, a "playmaker".
Classes have begun and they are great! Comforting to know that one thing in Italy is running so well. Our teachers speak great English and the level of the courses is outstanding. Definitely going to learn something while we're here, at least something other than techno, skinny jeans, pointed shoes, pizza, paninis, and pastries!
A domani, mia amici!
Arrividerci!

P.S. I Love You All!