PACE

(Which ironically means "peace" in Italian)

One of the reasons I love the midwest is because of the pace of life there.  No one is ever in too much of a hurry and if they are they will have time to think about it while they are stuck waiting at the next train crossing.  I find that even though we are in the city it feels similar to home in that regard but in different ways.  Waiting in line here is an art form.  Tardiness is accepted.  Students in my Italian classes and even the instructors will wander in five, ten minutes late and no one ever seems to care.  If I miss out on the farmers market one morning and have togo to the grocery store, I can never expect that just because there are more than three people in line that another register will open up.  I would not say that waiting in line is fun, but when everyone else is doing it, it's not so bad!  It is a practice that helps one to wade through the enormous amount of bureaucracy that exists.  A couple of weeks ago Nick went to the National LIbrary here in Florence and he applied for a library card.  It took him TWO HOURS!!  I stayed with him through the first hour and left to fend for himself as I headed home.  I cannot tell you all of what was said in taht first hour because it was all in Italian but there was a lot of the librarian talking and Nick nodding his head.  I had to laugh because whenever Nick tried to write something down that he thought was important the librarian would stop him and tell him that it was all written down ( I could understand at least that much).  But Nick still had to sit through and hour + of talk. (Later when Nick got home he seemed to think it was worth the wait because after I left he was given a tour by the librarian who had worked there for 30+ years.  The library was beautiful and the librarian talked a little about the flood in 1966 that destroyed many books in the library.)

OUR DREAM CARS...

Sunshine's Dream Car                 Nick's Dream Truck (Yes, it really is a truck!)

THE COUNTRYSIDE AND DOUGHNUTS ON THE BEACH

This past weekend we were able to enjoy some time outside of the city.  Janet, who is the director of the ACM Florence program (she has been here long enough that the children of former students are coming on the program) and her husband Giovanni, invited us to go with them to their summer/weekend home near the small town 

of Chianni.  It was a much-needed getaway from the city.  To be among the trees and the birds and animals again was a dream come true for me and the higher elevation meant cooler temperatures and less mosquitoes - a dream come true for Nick.  We were also only 20 minutes from the beach and were able to spend the afternoon swimming and eating lunch on the beach of the Ligurian Sea (which blends into the Tyrrhenian Sea, I'm not sure exactly which one it was.)  After lunch, the doughnut vendor walked by and I couldn't resist the idea of eating doughnuts on the beach so I bought one stuffed with cream filling.

At Janet and Giovanni's place there is a fox named Lola who comes by everyday, conveniently around diner time. After being named it was discovered that Lola is in fact a boy fox but the name stuck.  Lola has been coming around for several years now and has grey whiskers.  He is tame enough that he will eat food if you hold it out for him, but he's still a fox so he won't stay close for long.  If were all in the house Lola will sometimes come up to the door and peek inside.  Aside from the fox there are also three cats that meander in and out during the day.  The moderate climate means that the doors and windows stay open most of the day when you are home so even though the cats live outside they can come and go as they please.  They are not very affectionate since they are still a bit wild.  ONly the momma cat dared to let us pet her. I also must add about our weekend that Giovanni is a wonderful cook and fed us well while we were there making the weekend like a mini-vacation for Nick and I.  The first night we had mussels and clams with pasta and for the first time ever I got to eat squid that wasn't deep fried in a restaurant - this was my favorite.

THE ACM STUDENTS (AKA - The English Speakers!)

The students all arrived safe and sound about two weeks ago.  A few of them had to wait a few days for their luggage to catch up with them.  Nick and I helped to get all twenty-five of them moved from the hotel into their host homes.  I have been ever thankful for the student's presence not only because I love college students but also because they all speak English!  Shortly after my second week here I practically cornered a couple in the wine shop when I heard their American accent.  First, I said, "Oh, you are American?"  and after getting a positive reply I just gave a big grin and said "HI!"  They were from Washington, CD and, thankfully, they were quite nice and chatted with me for a bit.  I think that they realized I just wanted to talk to someone in a familiar language.  I was sorry discover that they were only vacationing and would be gone in a few days.  Being able to speak English with other English speakers is like comfort food for the brain.  However, when I'm out in public going into the shops or at the market I always try to use my Italian.  Even when you're bad at it most of the locals seem to appreciate it when you try.

Last week I started the second level of Italian classes.  I love my new instructor, Maura.  She is very funny and animated which makes her easy to understand even when you don't pick up all the words.  One student that I sit next to is Anna who is from Amsterdam.  Anna is 19 and Italian will be her 5th language.  This is her first time away from her family ever.  She and I have become friends and went out for cappuccino one afternoon after she expressed how horribly lonely she was feeling.  After our cappuccino we walked through the market and decided to visit one of the bigger museum/churches that neither of us had been to yet.  I realized walking around with Anna that it was my first time walking through Florence with anyone other than Nick.

ODD MOMENTS OF CITY LIFE

Having the market in our backyard can, at times, be a source of entertainment.  I love to listen to them set up in the morning.  On Saturday mornings the market is always the busiest.  One Saturday I had the windows open and Iheard the beautiful female operatic voice coming form the market below.  I looked out to see a man in a big yellow hat and a red plaid skirt on over his jeans.  As he stated to dance toward one of the vendors they shooed him away.  He stopped singing but I guess he wasn't discouraged because he proceeded to pull out a small white balloon and blow it up and used the air in the balloon to play a recorder/flute Then he looked around, packed up and left!  

CHURCH SERVICES

We have attended various church services all over town.  The first one we went to was a monastery where they had the monks chanting as part of the service.  It was quite stunning to hear this live and not just as a concert but as the actual worship in the service.  it was even more stirring because the service was held in the crypt of the church and the sounds echoed off of the stone walls.  It was held in the crypt, I presume, because it was a small service and the chapel there is more size appropriate.  The Sunday before last we hiked up the hill to a tiny little church that was small enough that even my language instructor hadn't heard of it.  I have liked this one the best because even though it was in Italian it was the first church that felt like a genuine community and not just a place where tourists visit.  It was so nice to see everyone lingering around to visit with each other afterward.  I also enjoyed seeing children there too.  I'd like to go back there but it was quite an uphill hike to get there and we were covered in sweat when we arrived.  There are only two services that I know of in the city center that are in English.  We have been to one of them but I actually don't mind going to the Italian speaking churches as long as there is something on paper to follow along with.  Being familiar withthe Bible enables me to translate the verses and at the very least I can think on that and the images of the centuries old art for the duration that we are there.

A STORY ABOUT HOMEMADE PIZZA

One night I made homemade pizza.  It was a good lesson in which yeast to buy for bread making and pizza dough.  Don't get the kind that I bought.  End of story.

Hey, but it turned out okay.  (Anything tastes good fried!)

Tomorrow we leave for Venice for a trip with the students.  It will be a short trip and very scheduled but I can't wait.  And Oh!  We had a rainstorm today almost as good as the ones in the midwest.  That's twice that it has rained since we've been here.