2009: Time for a new adventure

Ah, December 31st. Here we are again. This has been QUITE a year. To sum up:

I graduated from McGill University with great distinction.

 I spent 2 weeks vacationing in Hawaii with my Dad and step-mom. 

I worked and traveled in Italy for 3 amazing months. (My dermatologist would scold me, but I miss that tan!)

 And to top it all off, I found a job and a sweet apartment in Boston where I will be welcoming 2009. 

So here's to fondly cherishing memories of the past year and embracing those that will be made in the year to come. Cheers!

Simple gifts

I am an only child with four parents. So, basically that means, I love Christmas.

This is the time of year to get sappy, so I'm going to do it up right. If you don't have the stomach for gushy, I suggest you stop reading now. 

Yes, I get showered with presents, and I'm not gonna lie, that's pretty sweet. But so much more importantly than that, because I have four families, I am surrounded by a lot of love, and it makes me feel little-girl-special (I just made that overly-hyphenated word up, but I trust you get the picture). Yes, there's a lot of stress, a ton of craziness, even a short temper or two, but, also a lot of love. 

I would like to say that I am grateful. I am so grateful for so many things. You know that trick of counting your blessings as you fall asleep? Yeah, I actually do that, and I've never run out. I won't enumerate them here, cause that might get tedious for you, but I just want to point out that I am acutely aware of how fortunate I am, and it inspires me to work harder to be a better person. 

I am poised on the brink of a new chapter in my life - a big one, some might even say THE one. I am excited, and nervous, apprehensive, curious and a hundred other adjectives, but I am also ready. I am prepared for this; I know I'll be able to handle it. And the reason that I am now in this tremendous position is due in very large part to my incredible support network. 

Yes I have worked hard to get here, but where did that work-ethic come from I wonder? That's right, by the positive and thoughtfully crafted examples of my families and friends. I owe so much to you all, and you make me smile! I know some of you are far away, some of you don't even know I have a blog, but I feel the need to just put this out there, to know that it's bouncing around cyberspace. Articulating my gratitude this way makes it that much more tangible and sincere. So, in the simplest of words, thank you, merci beaucoup and grazie mille.

Mission. Accomplished.

Well. As you've probably guessed from my absence here, I've been busy. Yes, that's right - this unemployed girl is unemployed no more! I start my first real world job January 5th. How about that? Pretty crazy huh? The past couple weeks have been a whirlwind. I actually had, not 1 but 2 job offers; one with a brokerage firm in downtown Boston and one in a youth staff position with Royal Caribbean. Now as some of you know, I've been talking about working on a cruise ship for a couple years now. And yet, without hesitation I found myself gravitating towards the more responsible, grown-up job. What gives? Well, in the words of Inigo Montoya, lemme esplain. 

The cruise ship position is a 7 day a week, 10 hour a day position with a five month contract. Those are loooong hours working with little bratty kids on vacation. I would be living in a 10x10 room with another person. I'm an only child - I'm used to having my space, thank you. Yes room and board are accounted for, but the wages are still piddly. But the biggest downer, I realized, was that after that 5 mo contract, unless I signed up for a second contract (fat chance), I'd be back where I started - living at home and looking for a job in a horrendous employment market. 

The brokerage firm, though not where I initially envisioned myself, is a small company that employs mostly young people. I was surprised to find that it had a fun, youthful vibe. They go out together after work for drinks, baseball games, you name it. And they bring their friends. In terms of relocating, what better network could you ask for? And being part of such a small firm, I would be learning a ton about the business. So if it turns out this stuff does interest me, it's a terrific foundation.

I got a call the day after the interview with the offer. Holy crap - things happened fast! So then I had to find an apartment. I spent last Sunday in the city with a friend of mine who came as my moral support and sounding board. We went all over, spent hours on the T, but the last place we looked at was just beautiful. The girl who would be my roommate was friendly, and more importantly - she seemed pretty normal. She travels a lot for work, so I'd have the place to myself a lot of the time. Let me tell you about this place to myself: soaring ceilings, exposed brick, structural beams, open floor plan with an island in the kitchen (with dishwasher - hallelujah!), a and a freakin' baby grand piano. No joke. Got a call the next day to say that I got the apartment. I'm getting used to this instant gratification business. 

But honestly, things have just spun around since Thanksgiving. I now have a job and an apartment in the big city. And the nice bonus about starting after the holidays is that I still get to go on my Florida vacation with my family. Leaving this afternoon. Gotta go pack! Check ya later! 

PS: yeah... I know this post isn't as finely crafted and witty as some of my better work, but I had a lot to catch you up on! So get over it :)

Downward facing dog

Not having a job means I have lots of time. So, after a summer's hiatus, this spare time gives me a chance to get back into my yoga practice. I've started going to a studio here in town that seems to do the trick. While it is somewhat different than the yoga classes I took at school, it's given me a fresh perspective and introduced me to numerous new poses. In addition, I make it a point to practice at least once a week on my own, though in all honesty, sometimes it's more, but sometimes it's less. 

When I do roll out my mat at home, I frequently have company - in the furry form of my adorable dog. He loves that I'm on the floor, all the more accessible for cuddling. Sometimes he just curls up and goes to sleep, with one paw on my mat and his pesky nose nestled in his tail. But he has also been known to stretch with me. No joke. His downward facing dog sure beats mine. There is photographic evidence, but let's just say it doesn't show my best side (thanks for that Mom) so the picture will not be included here. 

As cute as he may be, let me tell you a cold wet nose does render meditation significantly more challenging. Who am I kidding though? I like having him there. His presence might not contribute to a sense of peace in yoga terms, but his company certainly contributes to my feeling of well-being. 

All dressed up and nowhere to go

As you're probably aware, I'm currently faced with the oh-so-pleasant and encouraging task of job-hunting in this horrendous employment market. While it's nothing an eager, hopeful, bright-eyed college grad shouldn't be capable of managing, it is a tad wearisome.  

In light of these circumstances, I received an early Christmas present last week. My mother took me shopping for an interview suit and work clothes (this included shoes!). When the standard shopping locations failed to prove fruitful, we moved on to uncharted territory for me: Talbots. Holy crap - what was I doing in a Talbots? My grandmother used to swear by this brand - so why did I suddenly find myself there with an armload of clothes? Well, when I started trying them on, I understood.

Black suit, cherry striped button down shirt, black pumps. I looked sharp, sexy even. Hello business chic! Hello Talbots! And I felt powerful. In this suit, I don't need to settle. I can take my pick from any non-sales, non-IT, non-finance, entry-level position in the Boston area that suits my fancy (badump-bump-tish!) Yeah, well, as you might imagine that isn't as easy as it sounds. 

But at least now I feel prepared. If, and when, I get an interview, I'm gonna knock-'em dead before they even ask the first question. It's all about getting that red, suede pump clad foot in the door. And I'm ready. Just as soon as anyone wants to give me a chance. 

Hello? Anybody out there? Yeah, no, ok - well, I'll be here. And my Talbots suit is awaiting it's debut.

Yes We Can

Just a quick note to commemorate today's momentous events. 

Having lived outside the US for the better part of four years, I had come to feel like my nationality was no longer a large part of my identity. But, over the past few months, the energy and enthusiasm that has been building around this election has swept me up and welcomed me back, no questions asked. In a way, it's a relief to be home, but now even more so, to be in a country that promises a brighter future at home and abroad. 

My right to be a part of this moment is a privilege that I share proudly with my fellow Americans. My voice, your voice, we comprise the voice of a nation. Our opinion is recognized, and more importantly, it makes a difference. We have influenced the course of history on a monumental scale. Tonight, more than ever, I am proud to be an American.

Hip hip HOORAY!

People Watching

People fascinate me. They do funny things. I needed to get out of the house, so I packed up my computer and drove downtown for a cup of coffee and a little visit to the outside world. The vehicle behind me for most of the ride was a large utility truck who's driver was a dead ringer for the Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew. Every time I glanced in my rear view mirror, I could see him, with his sunglasses and red stubbly goatee bobbing up and down and singing enthusiastically. It made me laugh out loud. I also enjoy catching people picking their noses in the car. Hey Buddy - your car has windows on all four sides. I don't know why you think I can't see you. But actually, I wouldn't say anything even if I could. Why stop free entertainment? 

A few weeks ago, I hit the people-watching JACKPOT. I was walking my dog with a friend of mine down town, and we packed a picnic lunch. We stopped to eat at a beautiful fountain in the center of town. The fall weather was comfortable, and a gentle breeze swayed the yellowing leaves in the trees overhead. As we relaxed, we watched a young couple; the woman in a pretty, simple baby-yellow dress, the man in a full-on sailor uniform, complete with jaunty navy cap. They were quietly canoodling a few benches over from us, but stood up when a clean but sloppy looking man with a worn-out briefcase arrived on the scene. The three shook hands and exchanged a few pleasantries. 

Then Briefcase-guy arranged the couple in front of the fountain so that they were standing face-to-face, holding hands. He took out a small book, and ceremonially began reciting from it. Whooooaaa.... hold up! Is this what I think it is? Next thing I know, Briefcase-guy is asking the few of us around the fountain if we have any objections. For some reason he looked kindly, yet pointedly at me. Perhaps I was gawking a little too obviously? Then there were rings exchanged, a kiss, and photos taken with a bright yellow disposable camera. That's right - I was witness to an impromptu wedding. 

The couple left, the bride clumsily traipsing through the grass in stilettos, while the groom, 5 inches shorter, did his best to steady her. As quickly as it had begun, it was over. My friend and I looked at each other to verify that we hadn't imagined it. Nope, the wedding was real. Surreal, but real. I guess I'm going to have to wait a while before I have the pleasure of casually observing something as wonderful, and odd, as that again. But I'll savor all the little entertaining moments I spot in the mean time. 

P.S. I know people-watching goes both ways, and I wouldn't hold it against you if you catch me dancing in the car. 

The procrastination instinct

I wake up every morning with the best of intentions. I will accomplish things. I will get the ball rolling. I will cross things off my to-do list. But my actual resolve to follow through on these things varies from day to day. I always intend to, I always want to, but my firm commitment to achieving these simple tasks isn't always what I wish it to be. And today, as I came to realize it wasn't one of my better "getting-stuff-done" days, I started to ponder the notion of procrastination.

This human inclination makes no sense to me. What evolutionary purpose could the need to procrastinate possibly fill? I don't get it. And I think that it's an instinct specific to humans. You don't see geese hanging around New England till mid-December thinking to themselves, "Well, I guess I could fly south today, but I'm just gonna wait till tomorrow." If you suggest going for a walk to my dog, he doesn't roll his eyes and sigh, "Maybe later..." He gets up! He's ready. Now. Why don't I enjoy this same get-up-and-go attitude? Hmm? What advantage am I reaping by putting stuff off? I know I feel better after a day of being productive than a day of doing nothing, and yet I'm still so inclined to sit around stagnant. 

I've just finished a book, The Last American Man, by Elizabeth Gilbert. It's a nonfictional account of a man who leaves his home at the age of 17 to live off the land in modern day America. Not my usual fare, but interesting nonetheless. And I can't help but grin sheepishly at the irony: me, sitting around for 3 hours today reading about a guy who is entirely self-motivated, who fills every minute of his 20 hour days working, planning, learning and teaching. Tirelessly. I don't have a lot of desire to go find my own road-kill dinner, but I do wish I could have a little more purpose in my life. That I could go to bed at night proud of what I'd accomplished during the day, and itching to start again tomorrow. 

But today, my list of accomplishments basically stops after: finish book. Check. Maybe I'll stop considering the logic of procrastination, and actually make a little more progress tomorrow...

Getting over Italy

My romance with Italy was love at first sight. Fresh, exotic, decadent views of the Mediterranean acted as my introduction to this new world. Deep blue water with sun sparkling on every cresting wave, yachts reflecting bright-white in contrast with the color of the ocean. I watched from the train as the coast rolled up from the shore in lazy hills, and I knew that I had fallen hard. How could I resist the innumerable charms of this country? The stunning landscape, food and wine worth dreaming about, and not to mention the generous and kind-spirited people who would look out for me during my stay.

But I knew it would be a short-lived affair; a romance with a built in expiration date. I did my best to prepare myself for my transition back to life in Connecticut, and at least initially I did fairly well readjusting. But now the reality of all I witnessed and experienced in Italy is settling in on me and I can't help but make comparisons to my life now. Like with any human relationship, after it's over, we all tend to idealize what it was. I find myself at the grocery store, stopping at the magazine rack and flipping longingly through Italian cooking magazines hoping to find a photo of somewhere I've been. And I reminisce. A lot. But Italy and I shared something that people here can't always relate to, that or they just get sick of hearing about. They sigh, and roll their eyes when I launch into another story that starts, "When I was in Rome..." I can tell that they're all thinking, "Why doesn't she just get over it already?"

But maybe I'm not ready to move on! Maybe Italy and I shared something real. I find myself wondering if we could make it work. The sound of church bells floating through the air, evening strolls through the side streets of Rome, sharing a smile over an espresso...

On the other hand, perhaps what I need is a rebound adventure to take my mind off Italy. I can hear France calling my name... or is it Belgium? Germany, Switzerland, the UK... I've realized that, really, I could be happy anywhere. It's simply a matter of choosing to be so. But for the moments when that decision is difficult to commit to, I'll always have Italy. 

Take the money and RUN

I have never been a fan of taking the cans to be recycled. Though the extra $9.50 is nice - yeah, I put it off as long as possible - you get all sticky, the awkward room off the grocery store always smells funny, and frequently, you encounter a few sketchy characters. When I went this morning, I breathed a sigh of relief when I found the place recently cleaned and empty of people. 

At about can number 600, my luck was about to change. I was joined by a tall, husky, unshaven man in his mid-forties, a bit like a chinless version of Robert from Everybody Loves Raymond. I got a dad-vibe from him, and didn't pay him much mind. On can number 620, he says to me, "You're almost as tall as I am." Ok, so he was being friendly, that doesn't bother me.

"Haha, I'm getting there," I responded with a smile.

"How old are you?"

"Hmm?" The question took me off guard - this was not headed where I thought it was...

"How old are you?" he asked again, awkwardly.

"Um, 22, so I guess I'm probably done growing anyway."

"Oh, I thought you were younger. Single?"Oh man, he did not just ask that! A recent SNL line floated through my mind: Really?! Are you serious?

"Yes, for the moment," I said.

"Yeah, you look it." Seriously? Seriously? Is that a pick-up line? "You look single." Am I supposed to be flattered? "Well, let me give you my number. 498-"

I cut him off, "Actually, I'm looking to get out of the area."

"Oh, relocating?"

"Mmhm, sorry." He turned and left quietly. 

I hate when that happens. It wasn't really as creepy as it sounds in the relaying, but it was horrendously awkward. I never like turning people down, but what's a girl supposed to do? Everybody needs a little reality check sometimes, and just a hint, you should probably not be asking out people who are half your age, despite what's portrayed in the daily media. I mean, if I tried that, I'd be dating 11 year old boys. Not cool.  Just not cool. 

And when did I start needing to be on guard against father figures?! That through me off. I'm not in Kansas any more, ladies and gentlemen. I'm in the land of the divorcé looking to get back into the dating market, with delusional ideas about twenty-something women. I gotta get out of here. 

I cashed out and took my $9.30. I'll go buy my own drink thank you very much.

Coffee Buzz

I recently returned from the summer of my life traveling and working in Italy. While this experience was life changing in countless ways, one of the most obvious impacts it had on me was to convert me into an espresso lover. As a present, one of the host families I was living with gave me a Bialetti stove-top espresso maker, and I now put it to good use every morning.

I enjoy the little buzz running through my veins that allows me to type this so speedily - if not entirely accurately. But what is the point really? As a recent grad, I have yet to find full-time employment. I don't actually NEED to be awake and alert in the morning. In theory I can lounge around all day in my jammies watching movies and hiding from the light of day. But this is not what I choose to do with my time, even though its a perfectly valid option at the moment. 

My espresso buzz gets me dressed, presentable, and ready to face the world, even if I don't make it past the end of my driveway. It's a reason to keep a good head on my shoulders and reminds me that some day soon, I'm going to need it for more than just a reason to get out of bed. 

Blogging for beginners

So I'm jumping on the bandwagon and starting my own blog. But what does that really mean? I dunno yet. Let's see...

Display name: check

blog web address: check

blog entries: erm, under construction?

So far so good. Stay tuned for the misgivings, mishaps, mysteries and miscellaneous adventures that are bound to accompany my first forays into the real world.

The Dolomites this week

Hello everyone,

Here I am again, this time writing from the Dolomites in Belluno. It's just breathtaking here, very different from the countryside I was used to down south.

Last week was just wonderful for me. The family I stayed with spoiled me rotten and I really enjoyed their company. The parents spoke beautiful English and were eager to practice with me. We did yoga every day after camp (I think the parents liked it more than the three kids). I got to be quite close with the mother, Michela, in particular. On Thursday after dinner, they had a treasure hunt for me. It was so sweet, there were presents and everything, for no reason in particular. There was a book in Italian, chosen specifically because it's a level of language they thought I could cope with. Next there was a camisole and panty set. I'm assuming this was chosen because all the clothes I brought to Italy are ones I don't care about, aka kind of old and ugly, so Michel must think I don't own anything nice and wanted to treat me to something. I thought it was funny, haha. And finally a framed pictures of the three children. Honestly it was so nice, I was blown away. 

They wanted to take me to their lake house on Lake Garda on Saturday, but when I called my new camp director to see if i could arrive a day late ( I was supposed to change camps on Saturday) I was very surprised and disappointed that she wouldn't give me the extra time with the family. Usually the camp directors are very easy going and understanding. But alas, it was not to be. But rather than taking the train, my family insisted on driving me the two hours to Belluno, and we made a nice day of the trip, packed a picnic lunch and stopped in some beautiful mountain towns along the way.

It's always sad to say goodbye, but it's also fun to be somewhere new. My family this week is also working out very well. It's a little more relaxed than last week, a single mom and her 8 year old son. The catch is that they speak no English so this is my first week of Italian immersion. It's fun, I'm enjoying it and learning a lot already. Lorenzo is really good, eager to learn English and to engage me in conversation (but mostly in Italian).

I had a meeting today with the other tutors. There will be 6 of us this week working with 51 children. The tutors seem pretty nice, though the camp directors do seem pretty strict, which is to bad. It's been my experience so far that everyone has more fun (including the kids) when the atmosphere is more relaxed, but we'll make it work.

So that's the news on my end. Thank you for the updates, I really enjoy them. Now that I'm living with families, it's beginning to strike me that I'm not with my own at the moment, so I'm a little homesick, so it's nice to hear from everyone! Hope things are good!

Thiene/Venezia

Ciao tutti!

So now I'm in Thiene, outside of Vicenza and Venice. One of the tutors I worked with last week is working with me again here. He's very nice, but a little obsessed with his new Italian girlfriend who he is texting constantly. It gets a little old. But if that's the only thing to complain about, we're doing pretty good.

I'm staying with a wonderful family who actually took me on a spur of the moment trip to Venice today. It really is as amazing as I thought it would be. We wandered around, went to Piazzo San Marco and several cathedrals. It doesn't feel like a city because there are no cars or scooters. Its much more relaxed than the other cities I've visited here. And yes, there are gondolas, which are actually much bigger than I thought they would be. The city is full of steep bridges and windy narrow streets lined with artsy stores selling masks, glass and lace. It's so easy to get lost, but at the same time, who cares, you're in Venice!

So tomorrow my fifth week of camp begins. It's at the local middle school and we have I think 45 students split amongst 4 tutors. I have a meeting tonight with my camp director and the other tutors. I'm hoping I might already know some of them, but we shall see. 

Anyhoo I should hop off the computer so I don't monopolize it, but hopefully I'll have a chance to use it some this week. Love to all, let me know what's new!

Capua/Caserta (aka middle of nowhere)

Hey Guys!

This is actually 2 emails Ive written pasted together, so bear with me!

Things here are fantastic. Pompeii was cooler than I possibly imagined. It was one of those things where when you first enter you are just blown away, but you're actually only on the outskirts of the city, so as you keep going, it gets even more amazing. Unbelievable. The artistry of that society blows my mind. I mean, I think of them as a primitive culture, but in their hey-day, these buildings would have been stunning. Murals on the wall, ornate tiling, mosaics, fountains, just blew my mind. We took tons of pictures, so you will get to see, I promise.

Yesterday we went to a beach on the Amalfi Coast. It was beautiful and the water was perfect. My friend Eva and I met a couple Italian boys (you knew it was bound to happen, lol). Guerino and Giuseppe must both be over 6 ft 2, pastry chefs and amateur soccer players. Haha, anyway, they're taking us for gelato tonight or tomorrow. 

Today we went kayaking along the Amalfi Coast. It was fantastic. We went to beaches that you could only reach by boat and our guide packed homemade tomato and basil sandwiches. He also picked us up in his jeep right from the hostel so we didn't need to pay for food or transportation. The whole expedition (from 8 this morning to 5 this evening) was only 25 euros. Pretty good, eh?? But we've had lots of sun 3 days in a row so we're going to take it easey tomorrow, and then we're off to somewhere new on Saturday.

There's a barbecue tonight with the other tutors and we are hopefully finding out where to next, and getting 60 euros each for our food expenditures this week. Sadly our good friend Chad is off to Rome tomorrow. He's a really good guy, and looks out for us girls. It will be sad to see him go.

So now I'm here in a tiny town near Capua and Caserta with two other tutors, Kate and Jonathan. So far they are really nice. We're staying with the camp director who is also really nice, and an excellent cook. Only downside is that she's really loopy. Like, we have conversations just riddled with non sequiturs on her part. It's entertaining though, and she has a really sweet dog, which I'm loving of course.

Today me and the other tutors went to Naples. We had true neapolitan pizza (which lives up to its reputation, let me tell you!) and we took a tour of the neapolitan underground, which is a series of cisterns that were part of the Greek and Roman aqueducts for the city. In WWII it was used as a bomb shelter. It was pretty cool.

My friend and I did manage to go out with Guerino and Giuseppe for gelato and a tour of their home town. It was fun, and entertaining to get a dose of Italian romance. They are super generous with the compliments, which Eva and I just find funny, lol. I'm only an hour away from where they live this week, so I may have a chance to meet up with Guerino again. We'll see. So that's what's new. Probably no internet this week, fyi.

Let me know how things are at home! Miss you guys lots!

Hugs to everyone,

Love Melissa

Salerno this week

Hello everyone!

Sorry I've been out of touch! This past week I was still in Sicily but this time working as a counselor in an overnight camp so the hours were insane. We would wake the kids up at 7:30 am and had to make sure they were safe in their rooms after midnight. We were literally on our feet with the kids for 17 hours a day. Needless to say it was pretty exhausting and I haven't had a chance to find any internet.

On the plus side I got to teach yoga every day to some of the kids which was a lot of fun. They thought it was a little goofy but I think they enjoyed it. I tried to make it fun by doing the craziest poses I could think of, but as I was teaching, I realized how effective it is for learning body parts and prepositions. Cool! My lessons group was pretty well behaved but it was still a shock after the group I'd had for the first two weeks. I went from 4 girls and 2 boys ages 7-10 to a group of 7 boys and 2 girls ages 10-13. my approach had to change entirely which was a bit rough but in the end it was fun.

Last saturday four of us went to Taormina, a beautiful ancient town on a hill overlooking the sea. The main attraction is a 3rd century BC Greek theater with fantastic views of the ocean and Mt Etna. I also had a chance to try granita which is what American "

Italian ice" is based on.

My birthday on Wednesday was nice. The kids all sang to me (in English of course!) and we had chocolate pudding for dessert instead of our usual plate of fruit. I was able to have a couple of hours off in the afternoon to nap and relax by the pool. Then in the evening some of my favorite girls presented me with happy birthday posters. This is the first chance I've had to check my email in more than a weeks, so I'm just getting birthday messages now. Thank you so much for all your happy wishes!

Because last week was so exhausting, I've opted to take a week off this coming week. The organization has an apartment in Castello San Giorgio which is outside of Salerno, not far from Pompeii and Capri. Counselors get to stay there for free, and I'm traveling with 2 of the people I worked with this last week, Chad and Eva. I had the option of working a second week of overnight camp and then taking a break, but actually this works out better because the end of July and the first week of August there's generally no work to go around (because all the Italians are on vacation!). This way I'll have a week off, then be able to work a bit more before a second break at that time (Agustina let me know what your plans are!!!).

So things are good - I'm working hard but having a wonderful time. I hope everyone is well. Miss you guys!

Love Mia

La Sicilia

Hey Everyone,

Well Ive survived my first week at camp and to be honest it went as well as I possibly could have hoped. There are 23 children and 4 of us tutors. Honestly Im so spoiled because I only have 5 and they are all really good kids - 2 boys, 3 girls ages 7-9. I work really well with the other tutors - Chad (20 from Phoenix), Jill (22 from Boston) and Amy (25 from Australia).

 Were a pretty good team and bring diverse perspectives to the job which means we have a lot of good ideas all pooled together. Whats even better is that we only minimally bug each other, and since we spend all day and night together, thats a good thing! At the moment we are in Palermo, about a 3 hour trip from the camp ground we are staying at. Palermo is really cool, lots of gorgeous architecture and the main sites are pretty close together (good for walking).

Tomorrow we are planning to take the cable car up mount Etna. In fact, the night we arrived in Sicily, from the train we could literally see lava flowing down the side of it - no joke. We freaked out a bit, logically, but after speaking with the locals we learned that its when you DONT see lava that you should actually start worrying cause that means theres a blockage somewhere which potentially would lead to an eruption.

Weve made friends with some of the other people working at the camp - the lifegaurd, the chef, the receptionist, the acting troop. Everyone is really friendly and patient/encouraging with our Italian. Its a little tricky during the day because we need to pretend in front of the kids that we dont speak or understand any Italian, so we have to play dumb with the staff. Its difficult and makes us look stupid, but hey, thats the way it goes. Honestly im having so much fun practicing and its astounding that ive only been here 2 weeks. the amount of progress ive made and how much more comfortable i am in that short amount of time is very promising.

Apparently the fours of us have been a big success at the camp because weve been invited to stay for another 2 weeks. Im really tempted because im really enjoying Sicily and the campgrounds are a really nice place to stay. The downside though is that for those 2 weeks the camp will be an overnight camp... im not sure im ready for that. In addition, well have about 50 kids and 8 tutors - much larger scale. So im debating. Ill keep you updated of course!

So theres no internet where were staying to speak of, but once in a while the receptionist will let us check our email on his computer if the big boss man isnt around. So I have time to read messages but not really to send them. But please keep in touch!

Miss you all

Mia

Italia!!

Ciao tutti!!!

Just thought I'd fill you in on the beginnings of my italian adventure 2008. In a nutshell: so far so good! I got to San Remo with no problems and actually met a girl on the train from Nice to San Remo who ended up being my roommate this week. Our accommodations were beautiful - a balcony overloking the town and the Mediterranean (google the Villa Maria in San Remo).

The orientation week has been a whirlwind but really really informative. Weve had a chance to make lesson plans and work with groups of local children. We've played camp games, learned songs and done crazy skits. Its been just like going to summer camp. Our orientation group has really bonded and had a great time. 

Orientation finishes up around 5 each afternoon. Then me and my roommates (4 of us) make a daily trip to the cell phone store because one or all of us has some kind of problem. My Italian has really really come in handy, and my vocabulary has really expanded in the domain of cell phone related issues. The people at the store recognize us ll and actually felt so bad for us they gave us a free sock for our cell phones. Finally things are more or less under control. 

My incoming calls are free, so if anybody wants to call me in Italy, you're more than welcome to! :) After our trip to the cell phone store, we usually get gelato (tiramisu and caramel is my favorite, but honestly you can't go wrong!). Then we all go back and get ready for dinner. At night we all go to dinner at a privately reserved restaurant (there's about 70 of us, so we take over) then we usually hang out at a bar for a little while before heading back to our hotel. 

 

So orientation week was pretty sweet - way better than I possibly imagined! Up next I'm traveling to Sicily with 3 other tutors from our orientation session. We will be working in a day camp for the next two weeks at a campground called Acireale (also feel free to google that one and check out the pool - we got pretty spoiled!) We'll be staying in bungalows on site, unfortunately not with host families, but with luck I will have an opportunity to do that at the next camp. We will be the only 4 tutors there in addition to the camp director. Our orientation leader told us (me, Jill, Amy and Chad) that they picked us for this camp because they have been really impressed with us this week and think that we will be well cut out for handling 30 rowdy sicilian children. We shall see I suppose! But we're leaving tonight on a sleeper train to Rome, then catching another train that goes straight to Acireale - and yes, Sicily is an island. Appoarently the train detaches itself and goes right onto the ferry! Cool huh? Yes, but basically this is a 20 hour journey, and we all know how much I love trains - not!

 

But I need to finish packing and get ready for dinner. I would love to hear from you guys, but please understand that my internet access will be sporadic throughout the summer, so bear with me! I'll check it whenever I can. Also, fyi I don't think I'll be able to look at any attachments, and I doubt I'll be able to upload any pictures before I get home. But don't worry, I'm taking tons!

 

Wish me luck!! Miss you all, let me know how you're doing!

xoxo

Melissa

PS I thought I'd Europeanize myself a bit, so I'm going by Mia here at camp!

Good thing I got here early!

Ciao tutti,

So we found out today that the train station at Ventimiglia that I connected through yesterday is actually closed today because they found a bomb from WWII (not a recent one - don't freak out!) but needed to deactivate it. Not too sure I believe that story, but thats what one girl told me. Anyway, apparently many people have been waylaid because of it. Of the 70 some that are supposed to be here for orientation, only like 25 have made it.

Instead of stressing out about travel and luggage and making it on time, my new friends and I spent the day strolling around, sampling local cuisine (the coffee is aaaaamaaaazing) and laying in beach chairs by the Mediterranean. I feel like Im on vacation all over again! But im sure that feeling will be all gone by tomorrow! Orientation starts at 9 and its a half hour walk from Villa Maria (our hotel).

Im the only one of our group that knows any Italian, and im more than a little surprised to find that its serving us well and i can communicate more often than not. Its probably not pretty, but its effective. Everyone is really nice about it, and they even let me try instead of switching to English (they dont let my friends try though, hahaha) So far so good!! Were off to meet the other tutors that have arrived so far at a local bar - im wearing my new dress Mom, and looking very European.

Glad to hear everything is going well across the pond!

Talk to you soon

Melissa

PS no luck with the cell phone yet (hopefully because its sunday) Ill stop by the cell phone place tomorrow if theres still nothing. Oh and i cant really open attachments because i dont have my own personal computer.

PPS only 2 declarations of love so far, hahaha

Yipee!

Ciao raggazzi!

I"m here! Everything went really well. Nothing eventful on the flights and connections. I was able to purchase my train ticket and navigate the train station all in French (I was so proud). On my train to Ventimiglia I crossed paths with another girl in the program which was fortuitous because we were actually waiting around in Ventimiglia for about 3 hours. Her name is Jenn. She's  middle school teacher from pennsylvania. We strolled around, walked down to the beach, got gelato. I had tiramisu, caramel and coffee flavors. OMG, so good! By the time we got to san remo it was about 430 here. Some of the administrators were there to meet us and took us to the hotel which is beautiful and rustic. Its on the top floor and looks out over the ocean. It even has its own clothesline! Adorable! There are four of us sharing for the week - Jenn is actually with me Theres another woman named Stacey (from AZ) whos very nice and a girl named Jess (from NY) who is a little exclusive with her friends down the hall.

But I couldnt call because my phone isnt activated yet. From what I can understand of the Italian voice recording it sounds like its because it hasnt yet processed my passport email. Unfortunately I dont think that will happen till the beginning of the week because it said up to 3 business days. I asked at the desk and I cant use the hotel phone with my calling card. I need to go downtown. Im currently at an internet cafe with Jenn and Stacey about 10 minute walk from our hotel.

I am so glad that I dont have orientation tomorrow. Im exhausted but very happy and excited. It looks exactly like that picture. I am literally in a postcard - I love it!!! It sounds like i wont know where im going until late next week. But right now im ready for anything (sorry about my bad punctuation - these keyboards dont appear to have apostrophes).

This evening Jenn and Stacey and I wandered around and got our bearings and had pizza and wine and as soon as I finish this email Im going straight to bed! Ill check in again soon and call you as soon as im up and running.

All is well! Ciao tutti!

Mia