LET IT SNOW!!

Che bella la neve!!  It snowed here in Florence last Friday!  And not just a little bit – it snowed for about 6 hours starting at 1PM.  Even though the paper the day before forecast snow, everyone here obviously didn’t believe the weathermen (they usually are wrong).  But this time they were right – snow and lots of it!!  It was beautiful! I dressed for the weather with my thermals and brought along my camera just in case – and sure enough, it was a sight to see.  It started snowing just as I left school to walk to the bus stop and wait for the bus to the business school on the outskirts of town.  After waiting a while and watching only one bus pass at about 5 mph, I called the secretary and she said they were going to cancel school or we would never be able to get back to the center after class and the students needed to get home as soon as possible.  So I took a stroll around the center and enjoyed the beautiful snow, watching people walking their scooters home or waiting hopefully for a bus that wasn’t going to come, and watching the snowball fights that ensued.  I moved up my last lesson so I finished at 5 – still snowing – and walked home.  Since I usually walk to and from school it was nothing special but it was a little slower going with all the snow coming down pretty hard, plus the occasional stops to enjoy how beautiful Florence is when covered with snow.  The main streets were a mess as everyone was trying to get home somehow, cars were sliding, buses just pulled over and stopped on the side of the road, and lots of people walking.  It’s incredible how a little snow can immobilize an entire city and all of Tuscany!

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      Today is Sunday and there is still snow on the ground.  It snowed about a foot – which seems like a little – but you would think a blizzard hit because everyone is kind of hunkered down and it’s still difficult to get anywhere.  About half the buses are running now but school was cancelled yesterday and tomorrow, our Christmas concert tonight was cancelled and the other branch cancelled church entirely this morning (although we, however, had church as usual with about half the people).  It may seem strange, but it hasn’t snowed like this in at least 5 years, and it has been cold enough that everything has turned to ice (amazingly I only fell once walking home from church today).  There are NO snow plows and few people have chains to drive around – but finally something that the motorinos can’t drive through.  Those who live out in the country and hills are better off staying at home than trying to drive their cars on these roads.  It was warm enough today to melt about half the snow but it will probably just make more ice tonight, although it is supposed to rain.  It is suppsed to warm up in the next couple of days and just rain.  As long as all the airports reopen and I make it to Sweden on Friday (cross your fingers).
It has been a fun weekend – a good reason to stay at home and make 20 dozen sugar, gingerbread and chocolate chip cookies (to give away at church).  It ALMOST made me want to live in the snow – but I’m sure I’ll get my fill in Sweden and then be happy not to have to walk in it every day.  Although, I have preferred this freezing cold to the 2 months of endless rain we had before.  But now it really seems like Christmas with the snow!!  I have been missing all things familiar that make up the American Christmas but this has helped..  Merry Christmas!!

BUON Natale!

Christmas is really the best time of year here in Florence!  There are lights strung up all over town – stars, fleur-de-lys, trees, balls, ceilings of lights.  The German market is in town with great food, and fun gifts and booths.  And of course it’s hot chocolate and christmas cookie season!!  I have been on the hunt for molasses and a gingerbread cookie cutter and I am determined to make some gingerbread men!  Who knew cookie cutters could be so priceless? 
I am SO excited for a little Christmas break – although it will only be about 10 days – it will be nice to not have to explain grammar for at least that long.  I have been super busy lately and I think I’ve worked every Saturday for at least 2 months.  At least, this Wednesday was a holiday and I finally got out of Florence for a visit to Siena to see the lights and the festivities.

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   I’m going to Sweden to visit Laura and her family for Christmas and I am excited – should be lots of fun, although maybe just a little cold . 
Buon Natale!  Enjoy those christmas cookies, candy canes, See’s candies, and every sugar-filled American treat!

		Firenze Natale VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Il Giorno del Ringraziamento aka Thanksgiving

I promised my roommates at the beginning of November that if they bought a turkey I would cook them Thanksgiving dinner.  Not that I have ever made a whole Thanksgiving dinner (I usually stick to pies) but I figured it would be a challenge and they were curious to try all the American food.  So I spent a lot of time searching for ingredients here and planning what I could make.  I had to skip the cranberries because you just can’t find them here, the yams mostly because I don’t really like them anyways and without the mini-marshmallows to pick off there’s really no point, and grandma’s jello because there is pretty much none of those ingredients to be found..
But the dinner was a huge success!!  I thought it was all great – everything tasted amazing and came out just right.  Even the turkey which had to be cooked in two separate 2 hour time frames since no one was home for the entire four hours in the afternoon to watch it.  Titti went to the market and came home with a 6 kilo bird (like 13 pounds) freshly slaughtered with some of the feathers still on.  I can’t say that I have ever cooked a turkey but I slathered it with some olive oil, rosemary and thyme and covered the skin with salt, put it in a pan and put it in the oven.  Everyone laughed at me when I asked about finding a meat thermometer because they apparently don’t exist here – so we just trusted the four-hour time frame and it came out perfect. 
Since I had to work until 8 the night before and then the whole Thursday afternoon – I ended up staying up really late and getting up really early but managed to get everything done.  I must point out that EVERYTHING was homemade from scratch – even the pumpkin pie made from a real pumpkin (so much better than from a can!).  I made rolls, stuffing, apple pie, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy and a turkey – most of which I have never done before.  We invited over our friends Erica, Gabriele and Leticia and had a great time eating and talking.  And I tried to explain all about the pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving  - at least I think they got the point.  We all reflected on our many blessings and the things that we have to be thankful for (especially such good friends).  It was a day that lived up to its name.                                                                                                                     
“Quando camminiamo con uno spirito di Gratitudine questo attirera` su di noi le benedizioni del cielo".”  President Monson                                    In my translation: When we walk with a spirit of gratitude this will bring upon us the blessings of heaven.

What happened to Autumn?!

We somehow skipped autumn here – well, maybe we got a couple of weeks but it went very quickly from 70 degrees to 50 degrees and it has already snowed in the mountains.  I have already pulled out my winter coats and need to go buy myself some gloves tomorrow!  I can’t wait until the heaters get turned on next week (somehow most of the city must wait for heat until the 1st of November).

Otherwise, I have been good.  School finally started and I have an intermediate class and business classes, along with a bunch of SAT students all madly prepping for their exam next week.  I wish I could take that test again – I would get every Math problem right and most of the English (it’s always a bad thing when you get an answer wrong teaching but it happens – and then you just have to blame it on it being a terrible question, right?)  So I’ve been pretty busy and have worked the past three saturdays – as well as the upcoming one.  But I love the teaching and the other teachers and always I love my students.  Especially my class with 3 15 year-olds and a 33 year-old who seem to have so little in common but always make me laugh.

Tom and Monique went on a vacation of Paris and Rome the middle of October.  So I took the train down and hung out with them for a couple of days. We visited St. Peter’s and walked to the top of the dome (lots of steps) to see the awesome view of Rome, shopped, took the train to a little villa city on the outskirts and ate great food.  It was great to see both of them!

So that’s about it for me.  We got Halloween decorations (and candy ) at work this week and that was great.  I will miss seeing all the kiddies dressed up this year (and the candy pumpkins).  It’s funny how pagan Halloween is viewed here – when for me it’s all about fun and candy..Monday is a holiday (although not for me) – the Day of the Dead where you theoretically go and visit graves and cemeteries (haven’t found a student with plans to do so yet, however). I can’t believe it’s almost November! Where did October go?

Sotto il Sole della Toscana (Under the Tuscan Sun)

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    Getting out of Florence and into the countryside is one of my favorite things to do on the weekend.  My friend Christina came down from Siena to spend the weekend and we debated going to Viareggio for one last beach day..but the weather was threatening rain.  So we went to the train station and chose a new destination:  Cortona.  Anyone having seen Under the Tuscan Sun remembers the beautiful scenery (and the crazy middle-aged women). 

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It turned out to be a cloudy-sunny day in a quaint Tuscan town with some beautiful panoramic views of the countryside.  Anywhere in the hills is just so peaceful, green and stunning.

Corri la Vita!!  Run for Life!  Sunday was the annual charity 5K walk (more of a stroll really) for charity.  Since church was moved to the afternoon, we decided to take part in the walk.  There ended up being over 20,000 people that took part (and 4 portapotties) – it was crazy and fun.  The crowd amassed at Piazza Signoria, the mayor made an appearance, the gun blew and the masses were off.  There wasn’t really any need for traffic control because no car would be a match for that many people.  The walk proceeded through the Boboli Gardens and some random courtyard stops along the way, and thankfully people dispersed to wander the gardens, stop for a macchiato or panini, and to enjoy the sunny day.  Fun times..maybe next year I’ll run the 12K, although there’s nothing like taking a passeggiata through town with 20,000 other people in Fiorentina viola T-shirts..

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This week promises to be quiet.  Just as an update, my no sugar for a month resolution lasted only 5 days (who’s surprised?) but who can pass up dulce de leche chocolates homemade by your roommates’ grandma in Brazil? But don’t worry – I’ve just added an extra day to my month just to see if I can do it - even though I’ve decided it’s a ridiculous notion to try and live without sugar. Classes don’t start for another week so it’s mostly private lessons, studying Italian, birthday parties, running, and conference this weekend.  That I’m looking forward to.   But I do need a new hobby…any suggestions?

Un giro per quasi tutta l’Italia

It was a marvelous July.  I got to see a great deal of Italy and spend time with my family.  Everything started off with my mom arriving in Rome, where we quickly caught a flight to Sardegna, an island off the coast of Italy.  We saw lots of gorgeous seas, some ruins and spent some time on the beach.

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Our next stop was to meet my father and brother in Pisa and then to head up to Venice.  Venice is always beautiful – even with the almost unbearable 90 degree, 100% humidity weather.  Let’s just say that the entire month was pretty hot and humid and we all got used to being covered with sweat most of the time.  We saw the usual – churches, pigeons, palaces, art, gondolas, blown glass, magical Venice.. We met my uncle and his family in Venice to enjoy the day.

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Then it was off to a quick visit in Florence to see my house and to give me the chance to show my family the city.  We saw the David, took a night tour of the Palazzo Vecchio, went up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the best view of the city and walked around and enjoyed.  

Next stop – Rome.  Jean met us there and we toured around the city. I hadn’t been back to the Coliseum and the Roman Forum since high school and it was really impressive (and hot) walking around all the old ruins of ancient Rome.  The Borghese Gallery was also very impressive, as is the rest of Rome.  I love Rome.

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Dad and Matt returned home (and air conditioning) and the rest of us continued on our way to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.  It was beautiful – the charming towns built on the steep hillsides, the beautiful sea and coastline.

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Sicily was our last stop – we sure got a lot in on our vacation and everyone was pretty tired by the end of the trip.  We stayed in Catania and visited Mt. Etna and Siracuse. 

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After Jean and mom returned back to the US, I stayed in Sicily to enjoy the beautiful country.  It was so totally different from the rest of Italy.  Let’s just say fashion and looks are not the priority that they are here.  The people were friendly and fun and motorcycle helmets were obviously optional.  The whole family can fit on one little scooter.  The lemon and almond granite were to die for – they really are the best in Sicily, just like the best pizza really was Napoletana.  It was a great, long, enlightening vacation and I’m happy that I got to see so much of this beautiful country!!