Just how cold is it?

Today was my first Italian class. They have split the class into 3 parts: Beginners, Intermediate, and Italians. I'll be in the intermediate class with only 2 other girls, so I hope it will help my language greatly. Conversation is my biggest need! I spent a lot of time today hanging out around a bottle of wine with a group from class, and I continue to be so excited about being with all of these people who care about and know about food just as much if not more than I do. We have had some great conversations and just because of this connection there is already a great sort of kindred spirit among everyone.
Tomorrow I will again put myself in harm's way of Italian red tape. I have to apply for a permit of stay, which requires several trips to the post office. I have already made my document copies, a ridiculously large number of them, so now all I need is to go to the tobacco shop and buy a tax stamp, fill out the forms I pick up tomorrow at the post office, then return to the post office with said forms completed and all 20 document copies, then wait for 5 months. Then I take the receipt and go to another office for a fiscal code, fill out who knows how many forms. It is processes like this that make me thankful for the efficiency of America.
I took a picture today out the window of one of the classrooms looking into the english garden attached to the palace that the school is in. Note the fountain and surrounding "free-form ice sculpture"!