Italy is obsessed with holidays. It seems like everything centers around one holiday or another – each with its own treats, decorations and traditions. So after Christmas..comes Carnevale. Carnevale here is pretty much Halloween at home – except with lots of confetti and parades..and sadly, no awesome candy. Okay, so I guess just the kids dressing up in fun costumes is the same. My friend Christina and I went to Parma for the weekend before Carnevale, mostly just to see the town and were happily surprised by an awesome parade. It was a really nice town with beautiful buildings and a beautiful Duomo. The parade was the best, though, with lots of Smurfs, turtles, princesses, pirates, greasers, animals, etc. and even paintings brought to life very creatively. We had a great time and I was cleaning confetti off of me even after we returned home. Oh..and I tried a horse burger and it was actually pretty good..
I have been busy with school – mostly lots of private students and a few classes. I had this week free from classes and it was so nice to have a normal schedule and a little free time. I am tired of 50 hour weeks and working 9 hour days..packed with students all coming back to back. On Wednesdays I go from intermediate business, GMAT, beginner, SAT math, biology, TOEFL prep and then intermediate English. It can get tiring and be stressful. But it’s nice to have work for sure. And there are only 12 more weeks left (not that I’m counting). I do love most of my students though; they can be so entertaining and amusing.
It is finally Spring!! I have been waiting forever to finally stop wearing boots, coat, tights and a scarf every day. Finally, the day arrived and I walked to school without tights (although my legs are a scary white), a scarf, and no more brown coat! It has been a beautiful week. I know I better enjoy it because it is going to get hot, humid and mosquito-infested soon. But for now, it is great. So now it’s everything Easter here – with the huge chocolate eggs, the Colombo cakes, chocolate bunnies and Spring flowers. This year my goal is to dye some eggs and have an easter egg hunt…and find somewhere to go for the weekend. And it’s not too early to start planning a great summer vacation, right?
