~~ ThE ZaNZarE ArE CoMInG!!!!!!!!!!! ~~

That means mosquitos. 3 bites and counting...and let me tell you...they aren't any nicer to me here then they are in the states...if you know me...you know what my "bites" look like.

Anyway...Friday night...It was quite an experience for me. I went out for dinner with the family and some friends of theirs, and their kids, 5 and 14months. We just went to a really nice pizzeria near the office in Trastevere. There weren't many people there when we arrived, but they sat us all the way in the back of the restaurant...outside. I didn't understand why...at first. We sat down and the first thing the kids did were start to pick up the menus, which were rolled up and rubber banded, and start hitting things and eachother. There were wine glasses on the table and 2 hurricane candles on stands, but that didn't matter...they hit those too. No one said anything and the candles almost got knocked over a bunch of times...so I finally picked it up and moved it.

Dinner came and all was quiet for a few minutes, but then the kids started getting antsy...They wanted to get out of their seats, they were running around and screaming. Climbing on the fences and ripping leaves and things off the trees...An American couple came and sat down at the table behind us...I can just imagine what they were thinking. I for one was embarassed, but I guess that's normal. The kids misbehaving...a waiter did come over and talk to the older boy and tell him to stop. Alessandro was pushing his lego car around on top of his uneaten pizza.

I just didn't get it.

Yesterday was a lazy day...I didn't do very much and was pretty tired all day. I did manage to organize all my clothes in my closet and put things in more logical places now that I had another wardrobe to use...AND...my summer clothes finally got here! We went to the park in the evening and then came back here and had dinner with Giulios parents...we had carbonara! MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM! After dinner we played an Italian card game. Me, Giulio and his parents. It was fun...They left and we continued to play. I felt like I was back in Wisco... :)

I will be soon!!! Counting down the days... We are at 22 :) I can't believe I have been here for over two months...It seems so much shorter than that, but I can't wait to see everyone!!!

See you all soon!

Ciao a tutti!

~~ STaLE DoRitOS & ChEerIoS ~~

So...The journey began on May, 11 2009...2 boxes carrying precious cargo (running shoes, summer clothes, cheerios, and doritos...only the essentials) left Milwaukee for their flight over the ocean...They cruised through Franklin, went through Wilmington, Ohio, on to NEW YORK CITY, a quick stop in Leipzig, Germany and then made it to Rome...a quick week trip...

The precious cargo sat for a few days...then a few more...and a few more after that...no movement...Clearance delay...clearance delay...

Then we got a fax at the studio saying they needed a copy of my passport and my codice fiscale (my italian social security #)....SENT!

2 days later...nothing...clearance delay...clearance delay...some phone calls...clearance delay....some more phone calls...clearance delay...2 weeks sitting in customs all alone...

Then yesterday there was breaking news....Clearance processing complete...and then this morning at 6:40a.m it was processed at the DHL facility...8:27 it departed the facility...9:30 it was with the delivery courier...and at 2:29 pm...the precious cargo no longer had to await its arrival...THE 2 Packagers were DELIVERED!!!!

I am still awaiting the packages as I had already left the studio to go to the Italian school to get more information about classes so...I am hoping Giulio will bring them home with him...but he's going to pick up the new FORD FIESTA COBALT BLUE...so there is a chance they will be out of my grasp for another day...One more day isn't bad after I have already waited 3 weeks...what's another day right!?!?!?!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!!

~~ FuNNy, AwKWaRD & StRaNGe ~~

So....today was the day of weirdness. I first started out the day of seeing three clumps of doggie doo on the sidewalk...for some reason people don't clean up after their animals...including the cats...The flies love it though I am sure. GROSS!....A few moments later I witnessed and old lady, topless, catching some rays on her balcony on the way to work.

Work was pretty normal...just a regular ol' day, nothing to exciting. Although, I am designing a lamp, so that's a little strange...but fun!

Afterwards, I went to pick up Alessandro...who, while playing, decided it would be a good idea to run head on into the stucco wall outside...(sidenote...the three previous days he has come home with some sort of mark on his body from falling, from another child, or self inflicted...I am sure his parents must think I beat him or something when he doesn't listen...jk)...

On the way to the park we always stop at San Pauolo Basillica because Ale likes listening to the bells on the quarter hour...here was saw an albino pigeon...creepy...Alessandro then became frightened of a mannequin in a store front...a new fear he has developed along with old men...which is kind of a good thing.

Once we arrived at the park there were tons of kids running around and playing. One of Alessandro's classmates was there and they were "playing soccer" together. Alessandro continuously kept stepping on top of the ball not understanding that when he did that he would then bounce off of it and land on his butt in the grass...priceless...I then witnessed a, approximately, 7 year old boy take off his pants, throw them at his mom, and continue to play without a problem. This was followed by two girls who were running around with out their shirts on screaming, granted they were young, again 7 or 8, but still...to top off the day as we were leaving the park an Indian women walked in with her two kids, she spoke in both English, with an English accent, and Italian...just caught me off guard...

We left the park, and as we did Giulio was coming home, which was really strange because it was only 7:00ish...he usually doesn't come home until 8:30 at the earliest...but we got home and sang and danced...Alessandro loves music and dances around in circles...somehow when you dance and sing like a weirdo with an 20 month old, you can make a fool of yourself and it doesn't matter. :)

It was a good day all around...I was happy...the sun was shining...I laughed and smiled a lot...and felt good!!!

Til next time....
Ciao a tutti!!!!!!

~~ DroPpEd ThE BaLL OncE agAiN ~~

Things here have been going pretty well...

I have my days where I miss everyone and want to come home, but that will happen...I am thousands of miles away now and not just an hour drive home from Madison. I know that, and have been dealing with it pretty good. I have started to talk to more people on skype, and facebook is always good for a few chats here and there once people wake up over there on that side of the world. (for those users of facebook i did put up some photos...I think they are the same ones I linked to on my blog...but there should be more coming...)

I have been patiently awaiting a package from my dad for a few weeks now. It was supposed to be delivered on the 13th, but still with no luck fedex is in possession of very important parcel objects. I am crossing my fingers that it will arrive tonight, and Giulio will bring it home, or it will arrive tomorrow while I am at work. Either way it will bring a smile to my face. Eventhough I have to pay some weird sanitation tax...whatever that is...and a delivery fee...It will be worth it I am sure!

Yesterday we actually went to the sea!!! It was BEAUTIFUL!!! It was an immediate feeling of summer. I am sure that will be a regular weekend activity for me once it gets a little warmer out, even though it is already in the 80's. We just laid out in the sun and tested the water. It's still pretty chilly! Nothing like the polar plunge though. Nothing will ever compare to that. I told people about that here and they pretty much think we are flippin nuts...(we kinda are, I guess). Anyways...I did manage to miss a few spots with sunscreen so I am a little crispy in those areas...my knee for one has a weird blotch, and also near my armpits...aloe time! I have to figure out how to say that in Italian so I can go buy some...SOON!

Today was the second day of the strike at Alessandro's school. Last Thursday when Giulio and I dropped him off there weren't enough teachers there to handle the amount of kids so we had to wait and see if more teachers would show up....A little background...Each kid has a drop of time and Ale's is 9-930. So all the kids that have an earlier drop off time usual get in without a problem. So if a teacher is sick or can't come to work...all the kids that have late drop off times have to come to school and wait...or have to be sent home. The teachers have to call in by 8:00 if they aren't going to be in...So Thursday, we had to wait...and Guilio was a little upset because why if the administration knows that the teachers aren't going to be in...why can't they call the parents to tell them. There aren't that many kids. SO....Giulio was speaking to the Coordinator who told him that there no phone calls will ever be made and that they cannot call everyone, but he has gotten phone calls from Ale's teacher before asking if he was going to make it by 430. She straight up told him that he was lying and that no one has ever called...So when Marilena got there this lady confronted her about the phonecalls and Marilena confirmed Giulio's story. Well the coordinator told her that no she never called....The coordinator did say that if we came back at 10 on Thursday Alessandro could get in. So meanwhile we went and got breakfast and then came back and when we did there was a huge sign posted on the door saying that the school was not guaranteeing on Friday May 15th and Monday May 18th, that the school would be open for service. Retaliation from the coordinator...Things run a little different in these parts.

So Friday we went at 9 but couldn't get in until 10 and today we got there and the school was closed completely. So Ale and I made the most of a beautiful sunny, 84 degree day, and went to the park and played.

The weather is getting soooo nice, and its still not summer...Not til the middle of June...84 and sunny is summer for me. I think I might melt or spontaneously combust come July and August...And I don't think they have air conditioning. I will be drowning in my own sweat. Oh the exciting things to look forward too!

That's all for now...It's about time for dinner. I hope!

CIAO ATTUTI!!!!

~~~ Is iT diNneR TiMe yeT?!?!??!?!?! ~~~

This 9 o'clock, 9:30, 10 o'clock dinner thing is killin me....
I guess it's snack time...

Ciao

~~~ A haRd TiMe ~~~

So...I have had my first trying time this past week. My best friend, Dave, has been in the hospital since Tuesday, and it is not easy being halfway across the world. I didn't even know for a few days why he was in the hospital and was worried that something terrible was wrong. Once I found out I was relieved, but still in worry mode. I will be in that mode until I know for sure that everything will be ok. Its hard for me to be here knowing that he and Rachel and Brooke are going through this and I can't be there with them. I know there is nothing that I can do to fix anything but being there for them in anyway that I can has to be done from across the ocean now, and that is hard for me to deal with. Trying to find a time to talk to each other has been difficult too. I know they know I love them, but it is still something that is hard for me.


~~~ Buon Maggio ~~~

Yesterday, I had something to keep me from worrying myself sick. May 1st here is like our Labor Day at home, so everyone and everything is closed. We headed out midmorning to Giulio's Uncle's Villa. It was a day filled with food and fun. I met a lot of new people and ate a lot of new foods...and old ones too.

There were about 15 tables that seated about ten each under a canopy of trees and umbrellas overlooking the horses in the pasture. There were caterers running around still setting things up when we got there. Drinks were set out...sangria, water, wine, soda...When the first round of food started to be set out people came flocking, and that continued all throughout the day. There was fresh cheese of all kinds, including mozzarella, fresh bread, olives, salamis. I was full after all that but I didn't know what else was coming...then came the vegetables, and soup, then the pasta, there were people playing instruments and singing Italian songs...then came the grilled meat, and fried zucchini, fried zucchini flowers, fried oranges...felt at home there...then marinated vegetables...then came dessert strawberries and whipped cream, fried dough with cream and chocolate, and fresh fruit....then came coffee and biscotti, and other cookies...and then more wine and grappa...And to top that all off there was a mini soccer tournament at the end.

It was a great day. I felt like I was in some crazy Italian movie. It was great! Everyone was so kind.