Amici I've Never Met

Several years ago my two brothers and I decided we were going to learn Italian. (We grew up in an Italian family, and our maternal grandmother lived with us.  While 'passable' her English was considered 'broken', but we kids could understand her.  Our mother, who did not speak English until she began school, was made fun of.  So we children were raised as "American", only to fall in love with a language we partially understood.)  

I took a course at the local community college, and then with my brothers began to use RosettaStone (okay - but very expensive and the program is not super user friendly), and then Duolingo (much better -- free with limited use, and then very affordable with unlimited use).  I learned much, but wanted more.

I found a language school in the District of Columbia (Casa Italiana)  that offers both in person and online classes. (It used to be that we could get into DC within 30 minutes from our home, but congestion, construction, and traffic have made the trip as long as two hours, and one can never really predict.)

So I opted for an online course in which I met a lovely professoressa, and seven equally lovely campagni di classe (classmates).  For 12 weeks we met every Tuesday night for two hours.  By the end of the 12 weeks I felt a kinship with these gracious folks, and on this Sunday we will actually meet for the first time for coffee at the school.

PS  Everyone was lovely -- including the barista!!  What a wonderful place;  I felt at home.

A few members of out class and our teacher (second from left)...

The bells and tower remind me of St. Mark's Square in Venice.