So my sleep schedule is pretty messed up! Up at 6 am yesterday... couldnt go to sleep last night so I didnt set an alarm. Of course I slept till noon. Alice called up stairs to see if I was ok and if I was coming down to lunch at 1! Dont want to be sleeping the day away. They go by so fast. Went down to eat at bar, came back up and set up this blog. Vanessa brought the new student workers (rc) up for lunch and we talked and walked around for a while. They were really nice! Should be seeing them again once I learn to ride the skooter!
Elia and I had a good evening. He cried a lot when his mom left but we got settled back down. Could not get him to go outside before dinner so we went after. Fed the rabbits and he climbed a hill over and over; sliding back down on his butt. Stade out till about 9:30. Very busy day here. People everywhere! Had trouble getting Elia to sleep because there is a crazy party going on up the hill a bit. Have a generator with lights strung up, lots of cheering, dancing, singing...actually chanting and playing drumbs now...its almost midnight. Guess I should go join the party! Ciao! Im going to shower tonight because I watch Elia all day on sundays starting at 10:30 am. The restaurant is open for lunch too!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Friday May 22
Woke up early today (6 am!) and couldn’t go back to sleep so I decided to go for a run! Wasn’t much running involved. So so out of shape! It was nice to explore a bit. I need to take so many photos. Its just gorgeous here!!! The view over the valley is amazing. Elia likes to look down and see the trains pass. (one way to entertain him)El treno! (just eno to Elia) The mountain is actually pretty big. Not a mountain like Colorado, of course, but still pretty big. It is pretty high up here which is good because it is much cooler than in the valley. No air conditioner so thank heavens for that! Alice gave me a fan…makes a world of difference for sleeping! Ive passed out the last few nights so no telling if I will have trouble sleeping later. Its not really hot yet so that should be pretty interesting…not looking forward to it. No hotter than Texas but we have AC!
Went to the market with Alice and Elia. Elia did not behave very well but its nothing in comparison to some kids Ive seen. (clear memories of nana having to sit on trey in the middle of the grocery store). It was a super market similar to ours…they have these in big cities (Arezzo is I think around 100,000). This was no trip like I have ever made. The restaurant is open this weekend so I have never seen so much fresh food bought before. We had a basket overflowing with not a single thing pre-packaged. The restaurant is precious! The inside is pretty much just for winter (open Friday-Monday) but during the summer they eat outside. Not sure what all they serve. I need to look at the menu. The other day the chef was making pesto filled pasta. Looked delicious! Alice cooks and serves too.
I helped Alice unload the groceries and wondered around the restaurant kitchen trying to be of some sort of help. Probably more annoying though (lots of questions!) She laughed at me. Been telling her things I like and don’t like…Im keeping dislike list short. I can make myself eat most things. I did say no anchovies! Buh! No pizza nappoli for me! I told her gnocchi (type of potato based pasta) was one of my favorites and she said I could help her make some from scratch next week! She was not very pleased with my typical cooking and eating habits! “No Popcorn!” She agreed with everyone else that popcorn does not constitute a meal! Completely disgusted with the idea of cooking in a microwave; not one in the house!
So (alora)…I just finished my first night alone with Elia! Went really really great. Better than I would expect with a two year old that could not understand a word I say. Im very hopeful that the Italian will start to come to me. I will have to study a lot to learn to conjugate verbs…otherwise I will just know vocab and will not actually put together sentences.
So here is my schedule:
They have Elia all day till 5pm. I will still help with him during the day; not going to ignore him if I am in the house. I wake up and make myself breakfast. If I am here I will eat lunch with A&A&E. Usually just pasta. Sometimes salad too. I eat some too! Ive had salad with a few meals…ate strawberries (frigola). I want to eat what’s fixed for me. There are only a few things that I would have trouble eating and Ive tried to tell them those (mushrooms – eh).
Im still spending the days here and getting settled. Skooter lessons soon! Though Im not quite sure how I can actually get anywhere. Terrified of getting lost. There is a small town at the base that I can take a bus from but I think I would rather learn to drive to Arezzo or Castiglion. Maybe Castiglion…Arezzo is much bigger. Rather ride the train to Arezzo.
Elia naps from 3pm-5pm
5pm – wake up and snack
5pm till dinner – Play outside
8pm – dinner – comes up from the restaurant. I can eat what Elia does (meat and veggies or pasta and veggies). Tonight was very good. A rice like pasta with olive oil and cheese on top. Delicious. Steamed veggies too!
After dinner – play…outside or inside (no tv). Around ten I give Elia a bath and get him ready for bed. He sleeps in a crib and I sit beside him and hold his mano (hand) till he falls asleep. Very sweet boy. He was so stanco tonight that he just passed out. No crying for mama! I don’t think I will always get so lucky!
11 or 11:30 – Alice come up to get the baby monitor and Im free to do whatever. Pretty far out so I don’t think I will be doing much. Im pretty worn out today. We played hard.
Right now it is harder than Im making it sound. It takes a lot of effort to keep Elia distracted. We don’t play far from home and he knows mama and babo are working downstairs. He will randomly cry and start running home! It takes some work to settle him back down and distract him. I know Alice is more worried then she says. The language barrier is a bigger barrier between me and Elia than expected. He may not be speaking a lot but he understands Italian. Moslty I have to learn his own language. He leaves off the first part of the words…I don’t know the original word so I really cant make out Elia version. (like treno is just eno) Im learning!
Tonight was different too. Elia’s aunt and cousins came up to eat dinner. I tried to let Elia socialize with them but he cries for his parents when he sees them. He was good alone with me and perfect at dinner! He was better at dinner then other nights with his parents. We played hard so I bet he was really hungry. He ate all his food and sat playing at the table while I unloaded the dish washer. I don’t think you can expect that of many two years! He is warming up to me…staring to laugh and play and be more affectionate. He gave lots of hugs and kisses when we got ready for bed.
Still in diapers so wow…didn’t think about that. Im changing dirty diapers! Been a while since Ive done that. We will start potty training soon!
Went to the market with Alice and Elia. Elia did not behave very well but its nothing in comparison to some kids Ive seen. (clear memories of nana having to sit on trey in the middle of the grocery store). It was a super market similar to ours…they have these in big cities (Arezzo is I think around 100,000). This was no trip like I have ever made. The restaurant is open this weekend so I have never seen so much fresh food bought before. We had a basket overflowing with not a single thing pre-packaged. The restaurant is precious! The inside is pretty much just for winter (open Friday-Monday) but during the summer they eat outside. Not sure what all they serve. I need to look at the menu. The other day the chef was making pesto filled pasta. Looked delicious! Alice cooks and serves too.
I helped Alice unload the groceries and wondered around the restaurant kitchen trying to be of some sort of help. Probably more annoying though (lots of questions!) She laughed at me. Been telling her things I like and don’t like…Im keeping dislike list short. I can make myself eat most things. I did say no anchovies! Buh! No pizza nappoli for me! I told her gnocchi (type of potato based pasta) was one of my favorites and she said I could help her make some from scratch next week! She was not very pleased with my typical cooking and eating habits! “No Popcorn!” She agreed with everyone else that popcorn does not constitute a meal! Completely disgusted with the idea of cooking in a microwave; not one in the house!
So (alora)…I just finished my first night alone with Elia! Went really really great. Better than I would expect with a two year old that could not understand a word I say. Im very hopeful that the Italian will start to come to me. I will have to study a lot to learn to conjugate verbs…otherwise I will just know vocab and will not actually put together sentences.
So here is my schedule:
They have Elia all day till 5pm. I will still help with him during the day; not going to ignore him if I am in the house. I wake up and make myself breakfast. If I am here I will eat lunch with A&A&E. Usually just pasta. Sometimes salad too. I eat some too! Ive had salad with a few meals…ate strawberries (frigola). I want to eat what’s fixed for me. There are only a few things that I would have trouble eating and Ive tried to tell them those (mushrooms – eh).
Im still spending the days here and getting settled. Skooter lessons soon! Though Im not quite sure how I can actually get anywhere. Terrified of getting lost. There is a small town at the base that I can take a bus from but I think I would rather learn to drive to Arezzo or Castiglion. Maybe Castiglion…Arezzo is much bigger. Rather ride the train to Arezzo.
Elia naps from 3pm-5pm
5pm – wake up and snack
5pm till dinner – Play outside
8pm – dinner – comes up from the restaurant. I can eat what Elia does (meat and veggies or pasta and veggies). Tonight was very good. A rice like pasta with olive oil and cheese on top. Delicious. Steamed veggies too!
After dinner – play…outside or inside (no tv). Around ten I give Elia a bath and get him ready for bed. He sleeps in a crib and I sit beside him and hold his mano (hand) till he falls asleep. Very sweet boy. He was so stanco tonight that he just passed out. No crying for mama! I don’t think I will always get so lucky!
11 or 11:30 – Alice come up to get the baby monitor and Im free to do whatever. Pretty far out so I don’t think I will be doing much. Im pretty worn out today. We played hard.
Right now it is harder than Im making it sound. It takes a lot of effort to keep Elia distracted. We don’t play far from home and he knows mama and babo are working downstairs. He will randomly cry and start running home! It takes some work to settle him back down and distract him. I know Alice is more worried then she says. The language barrier is a bigger barrier between me and Elia than expected. He may not be speaking a lot but he understands Italian. Moslty I have to learn his own language. He leaves off the first part of the words…I don’t know the original word so I really cant make out Elia version. (like treno is just eno) Im learning!
Tonight was different too. Elia’s aunt and cousins came up to eat dinner. I tried to let Elia socialize with them but he cries for his parents when he sees them. He was good alone with me and perfect at dinner! He was better at dinner then other nights with his parents. We played hard so I bet he was really hungry. He ate all his food and sat playing at the table while I unloaded the dish washer. I don’t think you can expect that of many two years! He is warming up to me…staring to laugh and play and be more affectionate. He gave lots of hugs and kisses when we got ready for bed.
Still in diapers so wow…didn’t think about that. Im changing dirty diapers! Been a while since Ive done that. We will start potty training soon!
Thursday May 21
Slept in a little (ten maybe) and woke up to get ready to meet some relatives. Alfonzo’s brother is married to an American (Amanda) and she came up with her nanny, son Russ, and new baby Lola! Amanda went to A&M and is from Bryan; nice to talk to her.
They run the velvet underground and the garden... This is the local bar we spent much time at when I was a student!
I took a fat nap after lunch! Still exhausted! Went for a longer play date with Elia. Practice for a first night alone on Friday! Again, pretty good but he goes through bouts of crying…just have to try to distract him. Went back and we all ate dinner outside the bar together. Pork and zucchini. Very very good! Had coke too! Wasn’t expecting that…it was a rare treat last time I was here. They have coke in Italy but it cost a lot more! Sitting there was for sure surreal. The whole scene is picturesque, adorable outdoor set up with surrounding forest and view out over the valley. Elia took photos and watched for trains passing in the valley.
They run the velvet underground and the garden... This is the local bar we spent much time at when I was a student!
I took a fat nap after lunch! Still exhausted! Went for a longer play date with Elia. Practice for a first night alone on Friday! Again, pretty good but he goes through bouts of crying…just have to try to distract him. Went back and we all ate dinner outside the bar together. Pork and zucchini. Very very good! Had coke too! Wasn’t expecting that…it was a rare treat last time I was here. They have coke in Italy but it cost a lot more! Sitting there was for sure surreal. The whole scene is picturesque, adorable outdoor set up with surrounding forest and view out over the valley. Elia took photos and watched for trains passing in the valley.
so wild hogs come up to eat bread at night from the restaurant! a little scary but not aggressive like ours...no tusks. looks like there is a mom and two babies. they are pretty scared and run off if you get too close
Wednesday May 20
Vanessa was here in the morning. Alfonzo fixed pasta for lunch and then Elia and I went for a test play session for just a little bit before dinner. He does well if I can keep him distracted but as soon as he slows down and remembers he is away from mama and babo…he goes running and crying back to the house. Alice came and got us and we went to Arezzo (near big town) and had dinner at Alfonzo’s best friends pizzeria. Ordered a calzone. Very good! Introduced me to friends… Aflonzo made fun of my zero Italian! He can because his English is better than my Italian but Im going to get to work on that! I just smile a lot because for the most part I have NO Idea what they are saying!
So it begins... May 18-19
So it’s off to never never land I go! All packed into one beast of a bag and a back pack that is flashing me back to my last return to the states when tiff and I nearly killed ourselves running through the paris airport with backpacks that weighed as much as we did. (I busted after removing my boots through security and running in only socks to the gate) This load is not quite there…(I weigh more now!) So… Gran took me to the airport. My last meal was Whataburger (ha, gran did not like me calling it my last meal) which it might be when I try to ride that skooter down the hill for the first time!Flight to London went well. It was nine and half hours and I think I actually slept a lot of it. The plane sat 2-3-2 and was not that full. I was in a set of two seats and had no one beside me. I was able to sprawl a bit. I would have read but my light was broken so I had no other choice but to sleep! Served chicken and pasta…edible… and a warm croissant for breakfast.
leaving texas Arrived on time to London Heathrow…rode shuttle to my next terminal. I had two hours but it went by quickly. The airport is very nice and brand new. It reminded me of the Madrid airport except all white. I be
t it is Norman Foster as well.
Flight to Rome was just 2 and a half hours (I think) it all blends together a bit. I was very tired at this point. From here I had very good luck. The Rome airport sucks, baggage takes forever, and then you hike to the Leonardo Express (takes you to Roma termini - main train station) with all broken escalators. My bag came out first…the escalators were all working…and I caught the Leonardo Express that was going to let me catch the faster train to Arezzo (cost more but arrive an hour and a half earlier). Too much good luck at this point. Leonardo express took an extra 25 minutes so I had to wait over an hour for a regional train to Castiglion Fiorentino. This train took 2 and a half hours and arrived at 9:30 pm (Italy time). I spoke with Vanessa at this point…she was picking me up and we were all having dinner together when I arrived. Very sweet of them!
A bit dead on my feet upon arrival. Not sure how smart this “one suitcase” idea was. It was no fun getting it on and off the train. A nice man helped me put it up above…nearly broke his back but the train was packed and my suitcase took up a valuable seat! Once people got off he helped me get it back down because he was getting off before me. Very kind. My Italian is quite pathetic. We had soooo much trouble communicating and any progress that was made was by the random English words others said…not my random Italian!
Alfonzo (dad) says ZERO! When I say “I speak Italian very little” I like him very much. I think he would be very funny if I was able to actually understand him! But not there yet!
Meeting my Italian Family:
Vanessa got me from the train stop and drove me up to Alice and Alfonzo’s home. So sweet of her to go through so much trouble to get me settled. She stayed the night since I arrived so late and played translator all the next morning. Alice and Alfonzo are wonderful! They made me feel so welcome. They have been together for about 25 years and lived together in this home for 9 years. They did so much work to it. Not sure how old the home is but there is a stone with a date over 200 years old. They have done a beautiful job restoring it! (douglas – not like the villa at messina hof! Haha) I will post pictures from all over.
My room is actually pretty big. Was not expecting that and they have it set up to make it as convenient as possible. Of course a twin bed but they have 3 little wardrobes and I was able to hang up all my clothes. There are towels, blankets, and Alice had a new robe laid out for me as well. So thoughtful! The room is the only one upstairs (the whole home is on the second floor so my room is technically the third). Its sort of a loft (still open to the floor below) but large enough that I have plenty of privacy.
There is a small desk and chair and lots of baskets for my things. Vanessa brought me books too! Lots of reading but I think I want to spend most my reading time for a while studying Italian! Alice says she does not know much English but she does a very good job. Alonzo tries so I need to make an effort to be able to communicate!Elia! He is two years old and a very sweet boy. For sure a mamas boy but isn’t every 2 year old? It will be hard because he spends ALL of his time with mama and babo so he cries when he is away from them. Ok...on to other days
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