Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Learning Italian & cell phone addiction

I'm excited...I am now officially enrolled in my first "real" Italian class! The other two community education courses don't count, because, since they didn't involve assignments, tests, or grades, I never once bothered to open the book and study. It's amazing that I picked up what little I did.

This is something I really want to learn, and I figure that a more structured class will be good for me. Classes start August 27th. A friend at work wants to take the class also, which would be nice, but when she tried to enroll she found that the class is full! She's on a waiting list, but most likely won't know if she can enroll until August 23rd, when payment is due and those who don't pay will be dropped.

I have to admit that I am addicted to my cell phone. I pretty much knew this, but this morning it hit me hard. My phone was working as of 3:00 AM, because when I woke up I saw a text that had arrived then. By the time I left for work, I had no service. This lasted all the way to work, and I proceeded to get extremely nervous and panicked. My stomach was in knots...I receive emails on my phone, I've given my cell number for all these jobs I've been applying for...what was I going to do????

Once I arrived at work, I called my carrier, who found that many cell towers from Sacramento to Reno were not working. They didn't have an estimated time when it would be fixed, but I did get 100 free minutes. Lo and behold, less than 30 minutes later, I was back up and running. Yes, I completely freaked out when I had only been without service for an hour! (Well, it was longer than that, but I didn't know about it so that time doesn't count). I can't even go an hour without my cell phone...what does that say about me?!

I need to turn the damn thing off once my class starts so I'll be able to get some studying done!

8 comments:

jessica said...

congratulations on your new "italian" class.
not sure if it is addiction to the cell phone, sounds like you depend on it for lot of communication, so you need it. totally understandable. i am that way with my computer. i was without out for almost one week. i would go to any internet shop, friends, any place to check my email, etc.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you're taking the class. You can practice with me if you like.
I think we start depending on conveniences and then feel lost without them.

I'm more addicted to the internet than the cell phone.

Good luck on your job search.

Anonymous said...

Yay! You enrolled, good on you. By the time you get back to Italy your italian will be perfect.

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

I wish I could get back to class this semester but I'm will be traveling. You are going to learn so much.

Have fun.

Kathy said...

Jessica - I definitely depend on it, perhaps too much! Oh well, at least I got the free minutes. I'd probably be the same without my computer too!

Carole - Thanks, I'd love to practice with you. That will definitely help! I'll email you after my class starts, if not before.

Cleo - let's hope so! I know almost everyone speaks English there, but I want to communicate in the native language (not to mention being able to know what certain people are saying when they think I don't understand!)

NYC - you will certainly be busy the next few months! Hopefully you can pick it up again after you get back from Toronto.

Roam2Rome said...

Yey! Congrats! Starting a new language is always exciting :)

Did you say Sacramento? That's not far from where I am! For the next two months I'm here in the San Francisco Bay... Rome is coming up soon :)

I see you know several fellow bloggers, that's super nice! :)

Kathy said...

Thanks, I'm excited...but nervous too! What if I flunk? lol

Yep, I'm in Reno, been here since 1989, when I graduated from high school.

How exciting that you will be in Rome soon! I've just started reading your blog...looking forward to hearing about all your adventures!

Jasmin said...

Hi Kathy!

Your blog entry made me chuckle. I'm a reporter for msnbc.com and I'm working on a story about how cell phone addiction can make you anxious just like you described. I would love to talk you for my piece.

Please e-mail me at jasminaline@gmail.com if you are willing to be interviewd. It should be a fun conversation!

Thanks!
Jasmin Aline Persch