Good and Bad week

So this week was both good and bad. During the week, I have decided to take the initiative in going out and meeting people. So, it started at the gym. I started trying to talk to people, and it actually kind of worked. I wish my Italian was better, but I can somewhat struggle through a conversation. Once they realize you speak English, they do all they can to help you. You become somewhat of an English teacher, and it goes both ways. It's kind of fun actually. Me and the girl at the front desk have an agreement that we will teach eachother something new everyday. Sadly, I'm a little more advanced in Italian than she is in English, so I have a feeling this deal helps her a little more than me.

Now that the summer has arrived, the center becomes alive. Every Wednesday, the shops in the center open at night, and people crowd the center. It was actually cool to see so much night life in Reggio. In the beginning, the center was dead. Now, its taken a complete 180. We will be hanging out in the center mostly every Wed. Sometimes they even hold concerts, but Italian music isn't anything to write home about. Thursday, one of the softball girls invited us to Parma, where she goes to University. We met up with her and some of her friends there. They were like any other college kids. They are all studying in the medical field, and are from all over Italy. It was cool to sit and talk with them about the different parts of Italy. At one point, they all started speaking in their dialects, and nobody could understand eachother. Amazing. It was a nice change of pace, and I'm sure we will be hanging out with them more often. We will teach them how to party like American college students, that's a promise.

This weekend we played at home against Rome. Rain was in the forecast, so I was worried that we wouldn't play. It seems like every home game, its supposed to rain. After the two games were over, I wished it had rained. I put up the worst weekend to date, going 0 for 8. It wasn't that I didn't hit the ball well, they just didn't fall. I was seeing the ball great, and felt very comfortable at the plate. I also put together some good at bats. Rome doesn't have a foreign pitcher. Instead, they have almost a full lineup of foreigners. They hit the ball very well, but there pitching is poor. Both me and my teammate Paul struggled, and we tried everything to break out. Needless to say, nothing worked. I'm sure me and him will be making some adjustments at practice this week. Regardless of mine and Pauls lack of production, the team played very well. We took two from Rome, and are sitting comfortably in first. This weekend we head to Messina, Sicily. It should be a hot one.

Right now, I am about to head to my teammates house to watch Italy. I hope every Dad out there has a great fathers day. Have a great day and Forza Azzuri!