Teaching lessons, learning lessons.

I will begin this blog by inserting a silly poem that I sent to my girlfriends. It will give you a simple summary of my life this week:

I am sorry for my silence these few days
I have been in a busy craze
I finished a week of being a professoressa
I tried to pass with a bit of finessa

The students are all cute and sweet
and I give them projects to complete
My work would be much easier
if my Italian colleague was breezier

She in fact is a type of b*tch
not willing to give a stitch
I have to be patient and nice
while trying to melt her ice

She is one of the oldest at the school
always used to working by her rule
therefore, I will bide my time
and I will insert Medusa in my rhyme.

Gian and I are doing well
Am I in looove, it's tough to tell.
He came to Milan Thursday, improvised
and I was pleasantly surprised.

After an art show and a good pizza
we then strolled back to casa mizza(mia)
At one point, he turned to me, very sincere
saying, "I believe I am in love with you, Dear."

To put it simply, I like him a lot
We have lots of fun, and I think he's hot
he speaks no inglese and wears dumb socks
and I cant resist his curly locks

He is intelligent and very caring
Passionate and respectful in bearing
Where we are headed, I dont know
I dont care, Im having fun, I go with the flow

I am now in Tuscany having a lovely time
visiting cousins, eating food and drinking wine
Tonight cousin Francesca had some news to share
in June, a second baby she will bear!!!!

Okay, now I'm tired and already said too much
I need to go to bed and things as such
I heard there was a lot of snow your way
I cant believe it, what else can I say/

I leave Florence in a train tomorrow
parting with a bit of sorrow
but I turn to Milan to my activities and such
busy as always, missing my Doves so much!

HAHA. Basically that describes my life for the last few days. Over the weekend, I went to to Florence--Chiesina Uzzanese, near Montecatini Terme--to visit my cousins. I had wanted to visit them since I returned to Italy, and I finally found a bit of calm this weekend to take the trip. It was wonderful to see them, and I feel very welcomed and at home when I spend time with them. Lorenzo, my little cousin, is precious, and I love him so much. He calls me "Carina."

To help you understand the relations of the people I am talking about: Liliana and Giocondo had Matteo and Francesca. Matteo currently lives in London--Francesca lives in Chiesina with Francecso, and their adorable child is Lorenzo. Lorenzo is a fantastic boy, intelligent and full of energy, and he has blond hair and huge lively blue eyes.

Before dinner, Giocondo and Liliana took me to see Luca, a city 20 minutes away. It is one of my favorite cities in Tuscany, and it is a classic and unforgettable pit-stop in the "tour of tuscany." It was one of the only cities not invaded in the history of battling Italian city states, and it functioned for a while under the control of Parma. It is famous for its huge earthen/stone walls that surround the center city--nowadays people bike, run, and take passeggiatas on top of the great walls hugging the city. The sunsets seen from this point are incredible. Luca also had its birth in Etruscan Roman times, and it reminds me very much of Parma in its livable, "built to the measure of man"attributes. It is a proud city with a rich cultural tradition, its typical dishes and culinary products, and it birthed hailed historical figures such as the famous composer, Puccini. The people of Luca are rightly very proud of their city, and there is a society "Lucesi nel Mondo (People from Luca in the World." Basically once every year, the Lucesi around the world in this association return to their city, and they process through the city's various "doors" to the center. They are Italo-Americans, Swiss, and Australians, and they come from all over the world to return to their beloved city.

Liliana, my cousin, had the family over Saturday night for dinner. As we all sat down to eat, Francesca, in her graceful and shy way, asked Francesco if they should relay their news. "What news??" They are expecting another baby in June!!! How fantastic, and I was so excited that I got to be there when she announced it to the family. She found out the day before, and I found them very content, excited, and proud about this new chapter.


This week: I have continued teaching, and it has been going well. I started teaching art history to the students of 1st year high school, and the first lesson covered the Neolithic stone age. Let me tell you, megalithic stone circles are thrilling! haha...NOT. Poor kids. I am throwing in a lot of vocabulary for them as well because there are simple descriptive words that they don't understand in English. Teaching has been going well, but it has been rather challenging because I have absolutely no teaching experience and I have been thrown into the environment completely cold and foreign to the idea of instructing children, grading assignments, giving tests, etc. Not to mention the fact that the Italian schooling/grading system is completely different and confusing. Organization is KEY...and it is hard to be very firm while showing them that I care about them. Anyways, mamma mia! It is an experience, and every day I learn how to handle certain situations, How I should conduct my relationship with the students, how I should properly prepare, if I should try to put more or less information into my lessons, if I should include more discussion or lecture (HS), etc.

The school is beautiful, and I love my english-speaking counterparts. They are Americans from around the country, English folk, Australians, and a girl from Malta. I go and get tea with the English teachers and it is hilarious that tradition. They all have funny and interesting stories of how they ended up in Italy. I enjoy using my American humor/personality with them because I am a bit out of practice. Americans have a wonderful dry sarcasm and self-deprecating humor that Italians just don't get. In general, Italians are more "permaloso" or "touchy", but it all depends on the region, their personality, ect. However, on the whole, the cultures have very different ways of joking around, different funny expressions, and different ways of provoking laughter or conveying emotions. I don't think I am capable of developing a very Italian sense of humor, and even if I was able, I wouldn't know what type of Italian mannerism to adopt--what regional dialect, what wild flying gestures, what facial contortions, what swear words, what expressions, etc.


Kevin is the "Veicolare" (english-speaking) teacher that has been at the school the longest. He is from California, he was a swimmer, and he has a funny and down to earth personality. He is a huge soccer, AC Milan, fan; I still don't know his story-why he is still in Italy, etc. However, I have noticed a ring on his finger, and I am betting that he has remained for love? We will see. Nonetheless, I get along great with Kevin, and I love how I don't have to explain my culture or passions when talking to him. He understands implicitly. Linda is an American from Washington State who found herself in Milan working in fashion. She fell in love, and she remained teaching english and other subjects at the school. Amber is a younger American colleague who is also my coordinator. She is hilarious, and we have a great relationship thus far. I love joking around with her and discussing stories, and we also enjoy being able to make a commentary about the Italian society. For example, it is great to have an Am. friend to share our take on Italian men and how they tick, as a whole, and how they differ from our American boys. Adele and Kevin are from England, and I love having tea with them. The girl from Malta is sweet as pie, and the others that teach elementary are really fun as well--however, we havn't talked much yet.

I have received some nice comments from various students, and one parent told my coordinator that her son "just loves his new art teacher, and he is learning so much!" Another student told her mother that she adores me. These few initial comments are really nice boosts for my confidence. Also, my highschool coordinator was very impressed at the students' attention to my lecture I gave on the importance of "visual communication"--during a substituted class. Ahhh, Sigh....we'll see.

This week was better with the Medusa Italian art teacher, but it will always be a careful balance that I have to reach with her. She has to know that I respect her, she has to feel like she still retains her power, she has to understand that I want to work with her and not against her. I can't impose my ideas, and I really cant propose elaborate projects until she digests the idea of our collaboration better. She actually laughed at me when I wrote their homework on the board--jerk face. I only did that because half the students were missing when she yelled out the homework, and they, at times, don't bring their homework because Letizia does not explain it clearly. Also, we still have to iron out different details of our working relationship, how we conduct the lessons, etc. For instance, I suggested that we talk to the principal on how to grade the different students--we decided to meet at the office after class--and she never showed up. Good old Letizia. However, hopefully we will have a meeting, organized by the principal, on Monday to iron out some guidelines.

Matteo and I are doing very well. I think we are boyfriend/girlfriend now, and I am supposed to meet his freaking parents this weekend in Genova!!! AHHHHH. It is also his father's birthday on Saturday, so I might have to bring a present. My roommates suggested bringing Grappa, the after dinner alcohol. Yikes--I might run away.

He told me that he believes that he is in love with me. I see that every day he becomes mushier and mushier--for instance, he called me his "little strawberry" yesterday. (In reference to the strawberries I have left to paint in the hospital) He also said, "Dear, you are special, the most special person that I know. I really care about you." He is such a considerate and loving boy, and I really enjoy our relationship....I don't know whether or not I should run for the hills. However, I like him enough still to not get scared/disinterested and flee. I don't know where we are going, but I am just trying to take it easy and enjoy the time we spend together. He still doesn't speak English, but he is trying--and it frustrates him when he isn't able to talk. Poor guy. He is coming to see me tonight, and I am excited!

However, I will insert: I had a dream/nightmare last night, and I wrote it down when I woke up. I was about to get married to someone, and I was all ready in my wedding dress. Before the wedding, I went to Mark's house and balled my eyes out. However, I collected myself, and I went to my wedding. It was a crazy themed wedding, and I was very agitated and discontent. I didn't know what to do, I wanted to call the wedding off--but everyone was there and ready to celebrate! I decided in a moment of tragic decision, that I could not go on with the ceremony, collapsing in disolusion in my white dress. In that moment, Mark appeard from the crowd saying: "Everyone, there is no need to leave because there will still be a wedding today. Cara will you marry me?" Ahhhhhhh!!! I might go crazy. I just need to put things in focus--that relationship was almost 5 years agoooooo!!!! I am with Matteo, and I am very happy!

That dream might have been sparked by the fact that the childhood love of my life--Brian--is now engaged. I actually cried a little because I realize that those moments and memories that we have--together in my back yard, swinging on my swingset and looking up at the stars, are now long gone. We played games with the backyard gang for years, flirting and always joking around with one another. I was always so happy when he would come over and smile his pretty smile--but I would always tease, "Out of my yard, Bri!" When it would rain very hard and the water would collect up in our alley way, us kids would all run out to play in "Lake Erie" that had formed. Worms would collect in the rain water, and he once threw a worm at me that landed in my mouth as I was speaking. Unforgettable.

I really "loved" him, and I always pictured myself marrying him back in the day. He was cute with dark hair and green eyes, athletic, and caring. He has grown up to be a fantastic person, and he is now working as a teacher--a very very good teacher. The girl that he will marry has a son, and Brian, in his great gentle and loving capacity, first approached the son to explain his intention and ask him for his permission. He will become a husband and a father in one single moment. Stopp! Time! I command you!

More news:

I think I am starting an internship with an international art magazine in Milan, called Flash Art, and I will be a copy editor, correcting English articles, etc. We'll see, It could be a great opportunity for me to learn about art publishing. I'll let you know more as I start getting involved, but I am correcting my third article today. I love the people that work there, and I am thrilled that it is a magazine that holds painting as an important contemporary art form (as some have shied away from the traditional categories of artistic expression--horrible, this is a tirade of mine). They are all very down to earth, and we had a very lovely interview/chatting session where we laughed and discussed the parameters of this job.

I had my interview on Tuesday, and it was a long long lonnnnng day. I woke up at 5:30am to catch the right train at 6:37am. I taught class at 8:10am, I was a substitute for a class, I prepared for lessons, I taught art, I left at 4:20pm--took at bus, to catch a train, to catch 3 different metros, to walk 5 minutes, to arrive exactly at 5:30pm for my interview. It was insane, but I was completely content after I was finished. After the interview, I took the metro to the Duomo where I decided to marvel at its beauty for 15 minutes, looking at the golden Madonna (Mary) perched at its pinnacle.

I prayed for a bit in the piazza because He has helped me weave my little ways here in Italy, He has protected me, He is with me during my days.

After this blog I have to add--for the peace of various people that read my blog--primarily my grandfather: "Pap, I won't fall in love and remain in Italy! Don't worry, I'll always be coming home!"