October's not warm

The art class left this morning at 6 for Rome, where they'll be til Saturday. It's pretty weird not having them here...it's so quiet. While they're spending 4 days drawing in Rome, we're still writing poems. Tonight we will welcome the arrival of Wallis Wilde-Menozzi, a poet and author who lives in Parma. She'll be sitting in on our workshop tomorrow, giving her expert opinion on our poems. It'll be interesting to hear from an American writer who's lived in Italy for nearly 30 years.
Two nights ago we were all given down comforters, and it would seem they arrived just in time. The October air is not as warm as it has been, and at nights it gets downright freezing. I have no right to complain (not that I want to) seeing that GC in Wenham has already had their fair share of snow. The weather here is pleasantly brisk..but definitely cold enough to require slippers and sweatshirts when walking around the convent. From what I'm told, I understand it will be getting a lot colder in the upcoming weeks and months. Coming from Michigan/Massachusetts will make it considerably easier. I have pity for the Californians who think 50 degrees is cold. They're certainly in for a shock.