First Family, First Party

At my first italian families' home. It's weird, but not so bad. It's definitely uncomfortable though. The family is very nice and even though they speak little English, they do try. We use google translate a lot. The mom is sweet and very expressive. The dad just keeps asking if I'm ok. There are two brothers that keep telling me they are going to show me the dark side of Italy (the club scene), an older sister who smiles at me a lot, and the fourteen year old who is in the camp. They are so interested in me, America, and showing me their culture. The village, Ciazzgo, is small. You can ride your bike around it in about 5-10 minutes, but it's cute.

So yesterday was my first day here. We went to a festival in the piazza with another coworker, Lia, and her host family. It was cute like a little community festival in the states except instead of beer and BBQ it was espresso and pasta. Afterwards, I went to Lia's "sister" boyfriend's birthday party. Get this, the couples names' were Francesca and Francesco, and they we're the cutesy couple I have ever seen. All giggle and warm and loving. You couldn't help but enjoy being with them. It was contagious. Their friends were so warm and welcoming, speaking English at the party, calling everyone bella or bello, lots of hugs and the three kisses to say hello and goodbye. My first Italian party. Who would of thought. It was pretty calm, we drank wine sat outside and they talked and joked with each other. Even if I couldn't understand their words, I could get the jest of what they were saying with body language. My goodnesses do they love American culture. Surprising, I guess I take it for granted.

What I Learned About Italy/Italians

1. They complain a it's hot, but never use fans and rarely us AC.
2. You can understand 40% of an Italian conversation by body language alone.
3. Italians are really beatiful people.
4. Eating is very important. Always pack meals not snacks.
5. Their compliments ar wonderful and given whole-heartily.
6. Competition is good!
7. Wine is wonderful!
8. Dinner should always be in courses, with pasta as the first course.
9. Nutella is good on everything: cookies, gelato, fruit, cheese, cake, etc...
10. A whole pizza to yourself if perfecto.
11. Distance for Americans and Italians mean two different things. Italians tells you it's close, just around the corner. Then the American will be walking for thirty minutes and go around four corners to get there.
12. Lunch for a single person or child should always be packed in a medium to large sized cooler not a tiny lunch box.
13. Italian passion, although wonderful and exciting can be dangerous i.e. temper
14. Italians have natural swagger.
15. Italy uses olive oil. America used ketchup, ranch, BBQ, mustard, mayo, miracle whip, etc...

Last night of orientation

I had so much fun at orientation this week. San Remo is so beautiful and the people are so friendly. The beaches are nice even though the are rocky. The town has charming markets and bars. This is somewhere I definitely want to visit again.

Last night was our last night here at orientation. Our trainers took us out for pizza. How amazing is it that in Italy you each get your own pizza! We went to Tahiti restraunt right on the water. We ate on the patio outside, and after we took group pictures near the water. Many pictures where taken. Then, after dinner we plugged in someone's iPod to speakers each bought w bottle of wine and let loose making our own dance floor. I think after a week of intense training everyone was in need of a fun night.

Open Mic Night

The trainers setup open mic night for us after dinner. I felt like I was truly in Italy while walking up the stone path to the hidden 'La Cave' in the basement of a building on what I would call an alley. They had instruments and a mic and let us go to town with them. One boy played piano and Isabel played drums. People got up on stage to sing, and I danced and sang right along with them in the audience. So much fun. I feel so open and free here. I'm more outgoing, silly, and talkative with these people that I just met. I'm more comfortable and confident in my own skin.

On the way home, a group of italian guys applauded as we walked by them. I guess that's a compliment?

And have I told you how much I love gelato? So much better then ice-cream. I've eaten it almost everyday, but with all the walking I don't care. We went to our favorite gelato place after the bar, it's in Piazza Columbo. Apparently we weren't the only ones with that idea. So many people are out late at night, even children. Anyway, our trainers were there eating gelato too. We stopped and talked with them. They told us about living in Italy. How they love working in the camps and how they love spending their summers there. Then one of them noticed Isabel's ukaylaylee and asked her to play for us. So there, in a crowded piazza Isabel sang Hey Jude for us. She received a lot of applause.

It's so beatiul here. This is truly one of the best experiences of my life.

Orientation

Orientation is a week long. They put you up in a hotel, provide your meals, and even some entertainment. Orientation is pretty much going through the camp experience yourself. It's long and tiring, but kinda fun in a goofy way. I'm making some amazing friends. It kinda reminds me of the college dorms. I even have roommates, Chloe and Lindsey. Also, I still hang out with the Canadians and another teacher I met, Anna.

Even though we hangout a lot together, I am still trying to meet everyone and talk to a lot of different people. Everyone is from somewhere different and they are so interesting. I love hearing there stories.

This is the first time in probably years that I have ever been able to just relax. All my worries from home are gone. I just concentrate on my work here and have fun the rest of the time. With no phone and limited Internet, I'm almost completely disconnected. Which is probably pretty unbelievable for me if you know me. I will admit it was hard at first, but I actually like it. It has forced me to relax and take care of just myself for a change. I think it's what I really needed.

Tonight at dinner we learned something very important about Italian cultural. Just because food is put on the table does not mean it's free. When the waiter started putting trays and trays of meats, cheese, and breads on our table with out our ordering, we thought it was just a really friendly place. No, if you touch it you pay for it. Our bill was a bit high that night, but now we know. On the way home, we amused locals by singing and dancing down the street followed by picture taking by little cars. I forgot now nice it can be to be goofy sometimes.

The People of My Travels

It started with my trip to San Remo, Italy. Twenty four hours to take three planes, one bus, and two trains. It was an interesting trip with some interesting people along the way.

First, was Evan the Israeli solder in the Chicago airport. He was from Atlanta Georgia, but got citizenship in Israel on his 19th birthday so that he could join the Israeli army. I wish now I would have asked him the important question, why? But I didn't want to get into politics. I regret that now. It could have been an interesting conversation. He did tell me how beautiful the country side is there and how he loved to camp out. Which to be honest, I never really thought of when i heard of that country. He was getting out of the army in November and planned on working odd jobs to travel around the world.

Next, was Kieffer the Canadian/neverlander traveling with friends through Italy. When he was done with Italy, he planned on going to the Congo. His mother was there studying rape in warfare for her PHD. I met him on the first train. I told him how brave I thought he and his mother was. He said he wanted to help protect his mother. He had just graduated High school. I'm twenty nine and I don't think I could ever be that brave. Not only to travel to the Congo alone but also Italy.

When I finally got to the hotel, I met Derek. He was an American who just quit his office job to take on odd jobs abroad for as long as he can. He worked for ACLE last year and came back this year for another summer of it. When summer was over he was to go to China to teach English there for a year. I have to say, after twenty hours of traveling and almost no sleep, it was nice to be with an American. He took me to get my first gelato. I fell in love with that cool creamy desert right there and then.

Finally, there where my hotel room neighbors Sabrina, Emma, and Isabel. New to the job like me and all Canadians. I now love canadians. Such friendly and nice people. We ate a dinner of cold cuts, fresh bread, and wine on their rooftop terrace watching the sunset over an Italian church and the sounds the meditraian sea in the background. What a wonderful, crazy day. Already I was meeting such interesting people. They were really opening my eyes to a world that I never experienced before. This was sure to be a wonderful trip.

#9: Travel to a Foreign Country

So the next few posts will be about my adventures in Europe. Yes, I made it out of the country. Not just out of the country but overseas to Europe. Italy and France to be exact. It was exiting, scary and wonderful. I am definitely a traveler at heart. I only hope I get more oppurintites like this past one too see more.

This past experience came along when my hairdresser told me I should look into teaching ESL during the summer overseas. I took her advice, went online, and found ACLE. This is an organization that has summer camps in Italy to teach Italian children English. So without a thought too it I applied, and surprisingly enough got the job. I would spend three weeks being trained and then teach English in a summer camp setting. Well, this wasn't enough. I wanted to see more then just Italy. So, I looked for some friends that would want to travel with me. I found Katie and Kim. They agreed to travel with me to Rome, Paris, Nice when I was done working. And so I spent the past month in Europe. I did 7 cities in four weeks. It was exhausting, but one of the best times of my life. Everything was an adventure, including just getting there.