Can you believe it's happening? In six months, you'll be in Italy! (actually six months from right now, we'll be on a bus, heading north from Sorrento towards Siena, getting ready to make a stop near Tivoli)
What to do between then and now? Ah, so many things. But to start, be sure to hug your parents once every day and thank them for this chance, all the way up to our departure date. (yes, that's LOTS of hugs) They're sacrificing their own opportunities JUST FOR YOU. Then, make sure you get the most out of this - what are your interests? Art? Food? Travel? Language? Music? Your job is to share your interests - mine is to fulfill every opportunity to enjoy these which I can give you. Dante Alighieri is one of the best Language schools around (it's international, even - people learn Italian in Mexico City from them!). We'll be in Siena during the Palio, and you'll learn more than you ever wanted to know about horse racing during that time. There's a music conservatory in Siena - the Chigiana (yes, named for the Chigi family) - and there will be summer evening concerts while we're there. DA has an internationally-recognized cooking school attached to it, which your nose will notice every day. You'll have opportunities to join me each day for visits to churches/museums/views, where you will gain an amazement for what the Siennese have done for Italy over the centuries. And, of course, the food - you'll dine amazingly at your homestays, and you have the opportunities to snack on gelato, a granita, or even a cannelloni as we pass through town on our daily walks!
And that's just the start . . .
a piu tarde!
Laura :)
Monday, December 29, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Grazie Mille
Of course, Rome was AMAZING. And the group was so great and tolerant of the death marches - we covered in 24 hours more than what most people see in a week of visiting the city. They will be coming home with handouts labelling every spot we visited, just in case there has been tourist overload. :)
I wanted to personally thank each of you who were on the trip for an amazing experience this year. This was, by far, the best trip I've ever led, and it's all thanks to each of you for adding to it. Maddy, thank you for being so easy-going and always bringing your bright, smiling attitude to the group. Grace, I SO appreciate your patience and sense of humor - you're able to find the fun in every situation. Lauren, it was so nice to have those great chats together - thank you for being such a wonderful listener. Grace, I'm sure everyone in the group would join me in thanking you for your being the one person they can all turn to for help, whether in directions, in instructions, or just in common sense!!! Barbara, it was a treat to continue building our friendship on the trip, and I look forward to sharing our memories through the entire next year. Stephen, thank you for keeping me mindful of staying patient and understanding - you are always such a great example of how to keep peaceful stature in challenging situations. Thomas, your sense of adventure and willingness to explore is so admirable - you made this trip so much better because of your drive to check out new opportunities. And, Mark, you were amazing on this trip - you truly became an Italian during this experience - so much that you even fooled the locals!
Thank you to all of you for this experience. There are murmurs of a possible reunion, and I'm all there!!!
Hugs,
Laura :)
I wanted to personally thank each of you who were on the trip for an amazing experience this year. This was, by far, the best trip I've ever led, and it's all thanks to each of you for adding to it. Maddy, thank you for being so easy-going and always bringing your bright, smiling attitude to the group. Grace, I SO appreciate your patience and sense of humor - you're able to find the fun in every situation. Lauren, it was so nice to have those great chats together - thank you for being such a wonderful listener. Grace, I'm sure everyone in the group would join me in thanking you for your being the one person they can all turn to for help, whether in directions, in instructions, or just in common sense!!! Barbara, it was a treat to continue building our friendship on the trip, and I look forward to sharing our memories through the entire next year. Stephen, thank you for keeping me mindful of staying patient and understanding - you are always such a great example of how to keep peaceful stature in challenging situations. Thomas, your sense of adventure and willingness to explore is so admirable - you made this trip so much better because of your drive to check out new opportunities. And, Mark, you were amazing on this trip - you truly became an Italian during this experience - so much that you even fooled the locals!
Thank you to all of you for this experience. There are murmurs of a possible reunion, and I'm all there!!!
Hugs,
Laura :)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Dolci Senesi
N.B. This morning, I typed a BRILLIANT entry, only to have had the network at the school crash before I could get it posted. I'm sure you may have heard from the kids about their lack of faith in the internet at the school, and the school is aware of this. When they hear ME complain about something, they know it's bad.
Wow - the last few days before we leave! What a time we've had this week! The kids have had the chance to enjoy things without my overbearing leadership (even though I'm always around for advice), and they're really enjoying the time to have with the city before our departure on Friday morning. Yesterday, several of the kiddos returned to the area near Rapolano Terme to visit those sulphur baths again (Thomas was totally prepared, in his woven straw hat, t-shirt, and swimtrunks - he looked like a young Jimmy Buffett). Thank goodness they met at the Mercato (large market in Siena every Wednesday AM) at the beginning of class today - let the market-goers enjoy the sulphur whiff!
Today, the kids experienced their last day of touring Tuscany by visiting San Gimignano. A cute little town up on a hill, it's most known for its towers (14 now, many fallen due to disrepair), and is a great place to stroll to get away from the madness of BIG CITY Siena. They also have the best Gelateria in THE WORLD, as far as I can tell (Gelateria Santa Fina - Sta. Fina is the patroness of San Gimignano, like Sta. Catherina of Siena). Perhaps the kids went up to the Rocca (their small fortress on the top of the hill) for some beautiful views, or perhaps they climbed the Torre Grosso? I also encouraged them to visit the Duomo of the city, where there are beautiful frescoes depicting the stories of the Old and New Testaments, plus the chapel where the remains of Sta. Fina are kept.
Did the title tease you? Certainly not! The Italians are very proud of their food - if a restaurant is open, it's not going to be bad - the locals wouldn't tolerate bad restaurants in their neighborhood (even in a large city like Rome). In Tuscany, some of the favorite foods are Pecorino cheese, Prosciutto al cinghiale (wild boar), and other smoked meats and sausages, hot and smoking on the plate. But, most of all, the Siennese are very proud of their sweets. Here are a few:
riciarelli - soft, crumbly cookies coated in a thin layer of powdered sugar. Often have a hint of orange or lemon zest.
Panforte (or its sister panpepato) - Italian ( = good) version of fruitcake, it is made with honey, candied fruits, and sliced almonds. YUM
cantucci - hard cookies, looking similar to small biscotti ("twice-baked" cookies), served soaked in vin santo, a local dessert wine. Not a pleasure to eat on their own (can break your teeth!).
I promise - I'll encourage your children to consider bringing one of these home for your sampling!
Tomorrow, we're headed for a stroll through town (not unlike our first one when we were learning about the town on our first day), then to the Fortezza for a time of sharing and journaling, before we all return home to pack and prepare for our Friday morning departure. How quickly time has flown - they're all hesitant and not looking forward to leaving (always my goal). What memories they're going to bring home to you - of their friends at school, of their homestay families, of their dining experiences, of their times in the Campo, of their MANY tours with me . . .
Again, I'll try to find time while we're in Rome to write, but it may just have to happen after we return!!!
un abbraccio,
Laura :)
P.S. Thank you, Moores, for letting me know your group size! Please, if you plan to join us for dinner on Friday or Saturday night, contact me so that I can include you on my counts! a piu tarde!!!
Wow - the last few days before we leave! What a time we've had this week! The kids have had the chance to enjoy things without my overbearing leadership (even though I'm always around for advice), and they're really enjoying the time to have with the city before our departure on Friday morning. Yesterday, several of the kiddos returned to the area near Rapolano Terme to visit those sulphur baths again (Thomas was totally prepared, in his woven straw hat, t-shirt, and swimtrunks - he looked like a young Jimmy Buffett). Thank goodness they met at the Mercato (large market in Siena every Wednesday AM) at the beginning of class today - let the market-goers enjoy the sulphur whiff!
Today, the kids experienced their last day of touring Tuscany by visiting San Gimignano. A cute little town up on a hill, it's most known for its towers (14 now, many fallen due to disrepair), and is a great place to stroll to get away from the madness of BIG CITY Siena. They also have the best Gelateria in THE WORLD, as far as I can tell (Gelateria Santa Fina - Sta. Fina is the patroness of San Gimignano, like Sta. Catherina of Siena). Perhaps the kids went up to the Rocca (their small fortress on the top of the hill) for some beautiful views, or perhaps they climbed the Torre Grosso? I also encouraged them to visit the Duomo of the city, where there are beautiful frescoes depicting the stories of the Old and New Testaments, plus the chapel where the remains of Sta. Fina are kept.
Did the title tease you? Certainly not! The Italians are very proud of their food - if a restaurant is open, it's not going to be bad - the locals wouldn't tolerate bad restaurants in their neighborhood (even in a large city like Rome). In Tuscany, some of the favorite foods are Pecorino cheese, Prosciutto al cinghiale (wild boar), and other smoked meats and sausages, hot and smoking on the plate. But, most of all, the Siennese are very proud of their sweets. Here are a few:
riciarelli - soft, crumbly cookies coated in a thin layer of powdered sugar. Often have a hint of orange or lemon zest.
Panforte (or its sister panpepato) - Italian ( = good) version of fruitcake, it is made with honey, candied fruits, and sliced almonds. YUM
cantucci - hard cookies, looking similar to small biscotti ("twice-baked" cookies), served soaked in vin santo, a local dessert wine. Not a pleasure to eat on their own (can break your teeth!).
I promise - I'll encourage your children to consider bringing one of these home for your sampling!
Tomorrow, we're headed for a stroll through town (not unlike our first one when we were learning about the town on our first day), then to the Fortezza for a time of sharing and journaling, before we all return home to pack and prepare for our Friday morning departure. How quickly time has flown - they're all hesitant and not looking forward to leaving (always my goal). What memories they're going to bring home to you - of their friends at school, of their homestay families, of their dining experiences, of their times in the Campo, of their MANY tours with me . . .
Again, I'll try to find time while we're in Rome to write, but it may just have to happen after we return!!!
un abbraccio,
Laura :)
P.S. Thank you, Moores, for letting me know your group size! Please, if you plan to join us for dinner on Friday or Saturday night, contact me so that I can include you on my counts! a piu tarde!!!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Sciopero
The word just gives me chills, as a tour guide. sciopero = strike. The Italians have a beautiful sense of this word. When in America, we hear the word "strike", it usually hints at "an indeterminable stoppage in productivity to prove the value of a service". It does have a similar idea here in Italy, but whereas a strike only ends when a union is appeased in America, groups have a strike day in Italy, then, when it's time to bargain, they show their effectiveness back on their giorno dello sciopero. Today is a transportation strike in Italy. Well, not for trains, but for all busses and metros. That means that at 9 PM last night, the metros in the major cities all stopped, and, after the morning and lunchtime rush hour (2 PM) today, the busses stopped. No real concern - they'll be going tomorrow, and we'll all be back in class and work, and the day will continue on. But they made their statement today.
This weekend was wonderful. On Saturday, some of us went to Arezzo to see the city. We visited the Chapel, the Duomo, the city park, the Fortezza, and viewed the frescoes of Piero del Francesco, which are infamous in the town. The weather was perfect for touring - clear, sunny day, but enough shade to keep comfortable. It was WAY fun for me - the first time to visit this very cute town. And there was an antiques market going on that day, which was fun for the kids. :)
Can I tell you how impressed I am with your kids' sense of adventure? Have I said it too many times? On Sunday, a group went out into the countryside and visited one of the many bath sites which are in Tuscany. In fact, they went to the SULPHUR baths. Took some bus travel and some walking, but they had a great time! This system is much like the baths at Hot Springs, but has the salutory aid which sulphur gives to your skin and pores. Needless to say, they all returned to their homestays on Sunday evening, only to all find their homestay families announce, "Yikes! You went to the sulphur baths!" And their classroom this morning did have a whiff of rotten eggs . . .
Because of the strike today, the kids didn't have any planned activity. Tomorrow is their last free day in Siena, where they can work on getting themselves together before our departure on Friday morning. All of the kids have been given a challenge for this week: They are to make a collection/collage of everything they are going to miss in Siena (whether by list, drawings, or digital camera). At dinner in Rome on Friday night, we'll present all of our collages, and vote on the best two, which I'll award with a treat on Saturday night. Considering the imagination of these kiddos, we'll have some great ones!
My husband has joined us for this week. He absolutely loves spending his one week off a year with the kids here in Italy, seeing how they have enjoyed the trip, and how they have become Italians. And I love having him here, getting to share this experience with him. Ah, the vacations of those married to teachers!
Wednesday will be the next blog entry. This week has various opportunities to the kids - it's the Chigiana (the music conservatory) music week, where they have concerts in various places throughout town; there are movies at the Fortezza every night; the Campo is beautiful as ever, and the weather perfect in the evenings. They're going to really enjoy their last few nights before our departure, and will have to make goodbyes with people with whom they have shared these past three weeks. What great memories we have from here!
a piu tarde,
Laura :)
This weekend was wonderful. On Saturday, some of us went to Arezzo to see the city. We visited the Chapel, the Duomo, the city park, the Fortezza, and viewed the frescoes of Piero del Francesco, which are infamous in the town. The weather was perfect for touring - clear, sunny day, but enough shade to keep comfortable. It was WAY fun for me - the first time to visit this very cute town. And there was an antiques market going on that day, which was fun for the kids. :)
Can I tell you how impressed I am with your kids' sense of adventure? Have I said it too many times? On Sunday, a group went out into the countryside and visited one of the many bath sites which are in Tuscany. In fact, they went to the SULPHUR baths. Took some bus travel and some walking, but they had a great time! This system is much like the baths at Hot Springs, but has the salutory aid which sulphur gives to your skin and pores. Needless to say, they all returned to their homestays on Sunday evening, only to all find their homestay families announce, "Yikes! You went to the sulphur baths!" And their classroom this morning did have a whiff of rotten eggs . . .
Because of the strike today, the kids didn't have any planned activity. Tomorrow is their last free day in Siena, where they can work on getting themselves together before our departure on Friday morning. All of the kids have been given a challenge for this week: They are to make a collection/collage of everything they are going to miss in Siena (whether by list, drawings, or digital camera). At dinner in Rome on Friday night, we'll present all of our collages, and vote on the best two, which I'll award with a treat on Saturday night. Considering the imagination of these kiddos, we'll have some great ones!
My husband has joined us for this week. He absolutely loves spending his one week off a year with the kids here in Italy, seeing how they have enjoyed the trip, and how they have become Italians. And I love having him here, getting to share this experience with him. Ah, the vacations of those married to teachers!
Wednesday will be the next blog entry. This week has various opportunities to the kids - it's the Chigiana (the music conservatory) music week, where they have concerts in various places throughout town; there are movies at the Fortezza every night; the Campo is beautiful as ever, and the weather perfect in the evenings. They're going to really enjoy their last few nights before our departure, and will have to make goodbyes with people with whom they have shared these past three weeks. What great memories we have from here!
a piu tarde,
Laura :)
Friday, July 4, 2008
In Rome - please e-mail if you're meeting us there
This may feel a little early, but things are CRAZY for us when we get into Rome. So, for those of you who plan to meet your child in Rome, here are our plans:
Arrive Friday around 1, drop off bags at hotel (we can't check in until later), and tour Ancient Rome stuff (Bocca della Verita to Colosseum, then view St. Clemente and St. Pietro in Vincoli). Return to hotel, tired and dusty, around 6:30 for showers, then head to Piazza Navona for self-chosen dinner location and team-based cultural scavenger hunt. Return to hotel around 11 PM.
Saturday: 7:45 Tour Medieval and Renaissance Rome (Mausoleum of Augustus, up to Piazza del Popolo, then down along a route which ends at lunchtime at Piazza Navona). Lunch on your own. Afternoon: Vatican Museums (if your preference), then later tour the Vatican together. Return to hotel for showers, then dinner at Pizzeria Montecarlo (located just west of the Piazza Navona) around 8 or 8:30. Spend an hour or two at Piazza Navona, then return to hotel to pack bags and sleep briefly.
Sunday: We catch our shuttle from the hotel at 6:30. Thus, checkout at 6 AM.
You can each choose how it would be best to hook up with us to transfer bags and child. The best way I have found in the past is to meet (with bags) at Pizzeria Montecarlo, so that we can all have our last dinner together. Some people choose to take bags back to their hotel that evening after dinner and a little time at the Piazza (i'm always happy to share my favorite Tartufo spot - Tre Scalini - if you want to join me for chocolate decadence). Some people choose to pick up their child with bags (or sometimes without bags) on Sunday morning at 5:30 AM before our departure. It's totally your call. You child will have a Romapass with them which will be valid for the entire day on Sunday, so they can use the Metro or city bus that day with that card.
Even if you want to get your child on Sunday morning, please consider joining us for dinner on Saturday night! It's really a fun, festive spot, with GREAT pizza. If you do plan to join us, please inform me before Thursday as to how many are in your party, so that when I make reservations on Friday morning, I'll have the right number. Also, if you want to share your hotel information and contact info (cell phone, perhaps?)with me by e-mail, I can keep all that on track, and can give you more information on easily meeting up with us (and maybe a few great spots near your hotel).
Grazie tanti!
L :)
Arrive Friday around 1, drop off bags at hotel (we can't check in until later), and tour Ancient Rome stuff (Bocca della Verita to Colosseum, then view St. Clemente and St. Pietro in Vincoli). Return to hotel, tired and dusty, around 6:30 for showers, then head to Piazza Navona for self-chosen dinner location and team-based cultural scavenger hunt. Return to hotel around 11 PM.
Saturday: 7:45 Tour Medieval and Renaissance Rome (Mausoleum of Augustus, up to Piazza del Popolo, then down along a route which ends at lunchtime at Piazza Navona). Lunch on your own. Afternoon: Vatican Museums (if your preference), then later tour the Vatican together. Return to hotel for showers, then dinner at Pizzeria Montecarlo (located just west of the Piazza Navona) around 8 or 8:30. Spend an hour or two at Piazza Navona, then return to hotel to pack bags and sleep briefly.
Sunday: We catch our shuttle from the hotel at 6:30. Thus, checkout at 6 AM.
You can each choose how it would be best to hook up with us to transfer bags and child. The best way I have found in the past is to meet (with bags) at Pizzeria Montecarlo, so that we can all have our last dinner together. Some people choose to take bags back to their hotel that evening after dinner and a little time at the Piazza (i'm always happy to share my favorite Tartufo spot - Tre Scalini - if you want to join me for chocolate decadence). Some people choose to pick up their child with bags (or sometimes without bags) on Sunday morning at 5:30 AM before our departure. It's totally your call. You child will have a Romapass with them which will be valid for the entire day on Sunday, so they can use the Metro or city bus that day with that card.
Even if you want to get your child on Sunday morning, please consider joining us for dinner on Saturday night! It's really a fun, festive spot, with GREAT pizza. If you do plan to join us, please inform me before Thursday as to how many are in your party, so that when I make reservations on Friday morning, I'll have the right number. Also, if you want to share your hotel information and contact info (cell phone, perhaps?)with me by e-mail, I can keep all that on track, and can give you more information on easily meeting up with us (and maybe a few great spots near your hotel).
Grazie tanti!
L :)
l'istrice ha vinto!!!
It's official - the Porcupine contrada won, and it was a pretty clear victory. Things got a little tight on the third circle around, but at the last corner, Torre's rider, who was closing in, didn't quite clear the corner and wiped out, slowing down his horse, as well.
Many of the kids were right there in the center, watching the whole thing, which is exciting. In fact, a few of them stood close to the most dangerous (for the riders) corner, which actually has its own name - San Martino (there's a church to San Martino in the very next piazza back from there). On the first lap around, one of the horses lost his rider. Always chaotic at that corner.
Speaking of chaotic, I'm SO happy to have the fervor and frenzy of the Palio over. The city is cleaning up, the tourists have reduced greatly, and the people are back to their calm selves. Except for the Istriche group, who will march through town with flags, drums, and the Palio for the next several months. Thank goodness for earplugs! If you see pictures of a newly victorious contrada, look closely - you'll see that, at the knot of their scarves they have a pacifier. This is because they are the newest "babies" to have won the Palio. Not unlike newly pledged sorority girls wearing the same thing around their necks (or, terribly enough, newly chosen cheerleaders - let me just express my disgust at any hazing in this mode - as a pledge trainer for four different pledge classes in college, I was well trained on how to avoid hazing, but "traditions" among groups still occur outside one's control).
Yesterday, we visited the Duomo of Siena. People, don't ever allow yourself to be confused - the Duomo of Florence is beautiful on the OUTSIDE. The Duomo of Siena has far more to offer, and the inside is amazing. We saw panels on the floor of the church which depicted Sibyls of ancient Greek and Roman times quoted by historians and poets . . . quotes which hinted at Christological references. It's not just your Old Testament any more! We also learned a little about Piccolomini, someone very important to Siena, and who eventually became Pope Pius III (taking his name after his uncle, Pope Pius II . . . nepotism at its finest). Bernini created four beautiful statues which are located in a side chapel of this church - his depiction of St. Catherine is so realistic!
Today, the kids took their first bi-weekly test, and they can share with you their individual performance. After class, we're heading back out to the Fortezza (just like last week), where we get to do a little second-week journaling. The weather has become SO much more pleasant these past three days - partially cloudy, a pleasant breeze from the north, highs of high 80's and low to mid 60's in the evening. NORMAL SIENNESE WEATHER for this time of the year. Then, at 6 PM, we're meeting back up here at the school. Actually, we're meeting downstairs at the Cooking School, because SPI has booked us for a great experience - we're having our Festa di Pizza, where we all make our own pizzas (from scratch - dough and all) and desserts, and enjoy a wonderful dinner out on the terrace behind the cooking school. Can't wait!!!
This weekend offers us many opportunities. Tomorrow, we're going to Arezzo for a day of touring with the school there. Grace is excited, because there's a church she has always wanted to visit. I'm excited because I've never been to Arezzo before, and have high hopes to see the Archaeological museum!!! We'll return in the mid-afternoon to be able to enjoy a quiet evening in Siena. Sunday is their last free day in Tuscany (nay, their last Sunday in Italy!), so the kids are grouping together to make plans for themselves. Beach? Assisi? San Gimignano? Everything is just a bus away!
As we approach this last week of our time here, the kids are starting to realize how much they have grown in this experience. This next week is such a strange one - the kids have made this town their own, and it's truly a home for them. They have their favorite places - internet, pizza, GELATO. They have the familiar faces they have come to know as they live out their daily routines here. They have the comfort of the safety of the town - Siena embraces her visiting students! They will have as much a transition when they return home as they had the first week here.
I will be sure to blog at least twice next week. On Friday morning, we head for Rome (by bus, then train, then walk/dragbag) for two VERY busy days of touring (even more busy than the first weekend). If our hotel has internet capability, I'll pause to enter a few quick notes, but you may just have to wait in suspense until we meet next!
N.B. To those of you who are meeting us in Rome, I am about to post instructions on a separate blog about our plans and information!
Grazie tanti,
L :)
Many of the kids were right there in the center, watching the whole thing, which is exciting. In fact, a few of them stood close to the most dangerous (for the riders) corner, which actually has its own name - San Martino (there's a church to San Martino in the very next piazza back from there). On the first lap around, one of the horses lost his rider. Always chaotic at that corner.
Speaking of chaotic, I'm SO happy to have the fervor and frenzy of the Palio over. The city is cleaning up, the tourists have reduced greatly, and the people are back to their calm selves. Except for the Istriche group, who will march through town with flags, drums, and the Palio for the next several months. Thank goodness for earplugs! If you see pictures of a newly victorious contrada, look closely - you'll see that, at the knot of their scarves they have a pacifier. This is because they are the newest "babies" to have won the Palio. Not unlike newly pledged sorority girls wearing the same thing around their necks (or, terribly enough, newly chosen cheerleaders - let me just express my disgust at any hazing in this mode - as a pledge trainer for four different pledge classes in college, I was well trained on how to avoid hazing, but "traditions" among groups still occur outside one's control).
Yesterday, we visited the Duomo of Siena. People, don't ever allow yourself to be confused - the Duomo of Florence is beautiful on the OUTSIDE. The Duomo of Siena has far more to offer, and the inside is amazing. We saw panels on the floor of the church which depicted Sibyls of ancient Greek and Roman times quoted by historians and poets . . . quotes which hinted at Christological references. It's not just your Old Testament any more! We also learned a little about Piccolomini, someone very important to Siena, and who eventually became Pope Pius III (taking his name after his uncle, Pope Pius II . . . nepotism at its finest). Bernini created four beautiful statues which are located in a side chapel of this church - his depiction of St. Catherine is so realistic!
Today, the kids took their first bi-weekly test, and they can share with you their individual performance. After class, we're heading back out to the Fortezza (just like last week), where we get to do a little second-week journaling. The weather has become SO much more pleasant these past three days - partially cloudy, a pleasant breeze from the north, highs of high 80's and low to mid 60's in the evening. NORMAL SIENNESE WEATHER for this time of the year. Then, at 6 PM, we're meeting back up here at the school. Actually, we're meeting downstairs at the Cooking School, because SPI has booked us for a great experience - we're having our Festa di Pizza, where we all make our own pizzas (from scratch - dough and all) and desserts, and enjoy a wonderful dinner out on the terrace behind the cooking school. Can't wait!!!
This weekend offers us many opportunities. Tomorrow, we're going to Arezzo for a day of touring with the school there. Grace is excited, because there's a church she has always wanted to visit. I'm excited because I've never been to Arezzo before, and have high hopes to see the Archaeological museum!!! We'll return in the mid-afternoon to be able to enjoy a quiet evening in Siena. Sunday is their last free day in Tuscany (nay, their last Sunday in Italy!), so the kids are grouping together to make plans for themselves. Beach? Assisi? San Gimignano? Everything is just a bus away!
As we approach this last week of our time here, the kids are starting to realize how much they have grown in this experience. This next week is such a strange one - the kids have made this town their own, and it's truly a home for them. They have their favorite places - internet, pizza, GELATO. They have the familiar faces they have come to know as they live out their daily routines here. They have the comfort of the safety of the town - Siena embraces her visiting students! They will have as much a transition when they return home as they had the first week here.
I will be sure to blog at least twice next week. On Friday morning, we head for Rome (by bus, then train, then walk/dragbag) for two VERY busy days of touring (even more busy than the first weekend). If our hotel has internet capability, I'll pause to enter a few quick notes, but you may just have to wait in suspense until we meet next!
N.B. To those of you who are meeting us in Rome, I am about to post instructions on a separate blog about our plans and information!
Grazie tanti,
L :)
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Bonus!
Let's just say I'm feeling festive, but thought I'd add a little aesthetics to the blog . . .
During our stay, we learn about the saints who so influence the history of the area where we live. St. Catherine, for the love of the Church, built her influence so greatly that she was able to convince the Papacy to return to Rome, and to have a new effective Pope installed to the See. For the love of his city, Siena, St. Bernardino (he's recognizable by the IHS on his bible in any artwork) preached throughout the city and dedicated his life to ensuring the faith of the people of his city. When we get to Rome, we'll learn about the sacrifices which many people made to ensure that their gifts were used to bless the city. Out of love/respect for the Pope (and not necessarily pleasure), Michaelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel, and created such amazing works such as the Pieta. In love, Peter and Paul both brought themselves to Rome in knowledge that they would end their journeys there.
We do many things for love. Out of love for your children, you made the sacrifice emotionally and financially to send them on this experience. And, out of love of them, you listen to them and allow them to experience these great changes as young adults. For love of having a "family" in her home, my homestay mom continues hosting people, even though she has recently lost her only son (just this spring), after her husband's death a few years ago. For the love of Italy, I began this program, and specially choose the students who will join me each year. And, for the greatest love I've known, I will probably soon end these trips and continue my life onto even better unknown things.
St. Paul says that the greatest of all things is love, and I believe that, if you allow your life to be driven by love, everything else falls easily into place.
L ;)
During our stay, we learn about the saints who so influence the history of the area where we live. St. Catherine, for the love of the Church, built her influence so greatly that she was able to convince the Papacy to return to Rome, and to have a new effective Pope installed to the See. For the love of his city, Siena, St. Bernardino (he's recognizable by the IHS on his bible in any artwork) preached throughout the city and dedicated his life to ensuring the faith of the people of his city. When we get to Rome, we'll learn about the sacrifices which many people made to ensure that their gifts were used to bless the city. Out of love/respect for the Pope (and not necessarily pleasure), Michaelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel, and created such amazing works such as the Pieta. In love, Peter and Paul both brought themselves to Rome in knowledge that they would end their journeys there.
We do many things for love. Out of love for your children, you made the sacrifice emotionally and financially to send them on this experience. And, out of love of them, you listen to them and allow them to experience these great changes as young adults. For love of having a "family" in her home, my homestay mom continues hosting people, even though she has recently lost her only son (just this spring), after her husband's death a few years ago. For the love of Italy, I began this program, and specially choose the students who will join me each year. And, for the greatest love I've known, I will probably soon end these trips and continue my life onto even better unknown things.
St. Paul says that the greatest of all things is love, and I believe that, if you allow your life to be driven by love, everything else falls easily into place.
L ;)
Oggi . . . Il Palio
Today's the day! After 3 days of complete madness (among locals and tourists alike), today is the day of the Palio! Here's how our day will go:
8 AM - the Mass for the Jockeys - happened in Il Campo - Mark and Stephen had the chance to catch it while walking to school this morning - right there, in front of the Palazzo Pubblico, the Archbishop of Siena (who oversees the Mass at the Duomo) did a blessing over the jockeys and the Capitani.
9 AM - 1:30 PM class
Immediately after class, the kids either follow with their teacher or me to watch one of the services where they have il Benedictione del Cavallo (the blessing of the horse). Then, we will all go to hang out by the Duomo and watch the Passegiata Storica, a long parade where all the contrade present their standards and salute the Duomo with flags. Also, part of the procession includes a section where the virtues of Siena are presented (on standards), as well as each other city of Tuscany is represented by a standard and symbolic flag.
While the crazy tourists will camp out all day and bake in Il Campo, the locals all watch the procession, then follow it into the Campo, where they are the last to enter the center to watch more procession, more flag throwing, and more regalia before they begin he horse race (around 7:20). Many false starts are due to ensue, and the actual race will happen around 8:30 or so. False starts are simple - each jockey has drawn his position (first through 10th), and they have to line up their horses (startled by the huge crowd and probably a little doped - not approved, but not checked by anyone) in order. This gives the tenth position (il posto decimo) a great advantage - he comes running in to start the race, while the rest have been trying to stand at the starting line and in their right position with their poor crazed horse.
When the winner finishes the third lap, the whole event is over, except for the winning contrada, who will quickly grab the Palio (large flag in the corner of the campo) and run back to the church of Sta. Maria in Provenzano (to whom this event is dedicated) to sing the Te Deum (which, by the way, my brother-in-law played for my wedding party's procession at our wedding last year - thank you again, Curtis!) and first give thanks to her before celebrating for weeks.
On another note, I've realized that my posts have been pretty utilitarian, and rarely bring up some of the experiences and lessons of the trip thus far. I know that you're hearing the other side of anything which the kids share, because they're not bringing any of their concerns to me, but perhaps some of these following lessons learned might apply to your conversations?
1. If you live like a king/queen at the beginning of the trip, you're feeling like a pauper at the end. In Sorrento, kids were drinking cokes-Fantas-other expensive beverages (5 euros a pop!!!) like water, and unknowingly realizing the price of this. They also chose to take taxis rather than wait for the hotel's free shuttle. Ah, the petulance of youth! When we first arrived into Siena, they were continuing this lavish spending, buying 10 euro lunches, and choosing to participate in recreational activities (whether athletic - Mark is keeping up with his swimming skills at the local pool - a gym membership cost, of which I approve, or other adult recreational activities, of which they know I disapprove). By now, mid-trip, they're probably feeling the pinch, and realizing their extravagance. Please be understanding with them, but I'm completely supportive of you limiting their expenditures. If they had kept prudent about their expenses (thank you, Barbara!), they wouldn't have spent more than 100 E a week. I even buy a book a week (to read at night), and, with buying fizzy water, gelato/granita, and some other snack daily, plus the cultural experiences for which I invite them, where I also spend my own money, I don't spend that much. Can I inform you of this and next week's cultural expenditures? This week, we're doing the Duomo stuff (10 Euros, which we already spent), and, for our free day on Saturday, I'm suggesting we go to Arezzo (about 20 Euros total, with the bus tickets, a picnic snack, and an entry fee for the museum). Sunday is another free day, but I'm going to suggest they go to San Gimignano (8 Euros round trip) or Assisi (around 20 Euros for the experience). Next week, they have more time for themselves - I'm not expecting them to attend any museums or go on any trips, but even to get back to Florence is only 14 Euros, round trip. In Rome, their museum entrances (we'll go to three of them) and transportation is all covered - they only need money for meals and snacks/water.
2. With much freedom comes as much responsibility. Your kids are already respectful and responsible, as seen throughout this trip. When they arrive to class late, they're embarrassed, not indignant. When a misunderstanding happens, they want more to correct the miscommunication rather than insist the other party's fault. They're really the best group I've ever had, and I so appreciate what you parents have done to raise such outstanding young ladies and men.
We're very lucky to have another small group with us, from DuPage, a small community college outside of Chicago. Some of our kids have bonded much with these students, and they have developed some friendships. This group is in Siena until next Friday, just like us, then we're both headed to Rome for a little touring. While they are a little older in age, our kids are so mature that they actually seem older than this group, and they make a good pairing as friends. I'm encouraged daily to see how our group works well and enjoys time with other students, yet are still prudent in their decisions and choices. Perhaps I'm a little effuse about the whole thing, but I give thanks every day to have a group like ours for this summer!
On Thursday, we will be visiting the Duomo, the main church of the city (SO MUCH better than the Duomo in Florence!), where we will learn about the infamous floor of the church and get to know a little about Pius II (Piccolomini), a fascinating pope who came from Siena - he was actually Poet Laureate of Italy before deciding to enter seminary, and quickly (the fastest in history, I belive) climbed the ladder to the Papacy. The Duomo has a full chapel dedicated to his life and collections of works. I encourage you to learn a little about the place - it's SO cool - www.sienaonline.it/duomo.html or www.operaduomo.siena.it/ for the museum.
Friday, we'll be back to normal - the craziness of the Palio will be over, and our Siena will return to the beautiful, enchanting city that it is for our last week. Until then . . .
Grazie!
Laura :)
8 AM - the Mass for the Jockeys - happened in Il Campo - Mark and Stephen had the chance to catch it while walking to school this morning - right there, in front of the Palazzo Pubblico, the Archbishop of Siena (who oversees the Mass at the Duomo) did a blessing over the jockeys and the Capitani.
9 AM - 1:30 PM class
Immediately after class, the kids either follow with their teacher or me to watch one of the services where they have il Benedictione del Cavallo (the blessing of the horse). Then, we will all go to hang out by the Duomo and watch the Passegiata Storica, a long parade where all the contrade present their standards and salute the Duomo with flags. Also, part of the procession includes a section where the virtues of Siena are presented (on standards), as well as each other city of Tuscany is represented by a standard and symbolic flag.
While the crazy tourists will camp out all day and bake in Il Campo, the locals all watch the procession, then follow it into the Campo, where they are the last to enter the center to watch more procession, more flag throwing, and more regalia before they begin he horse race (around 7:20). Many false starts are due to ensue, and the actual race will happen around 8:30 or so. False starts are simple - each jockey has drawn his position (first through 10th), and they have to line up their horses (startled by the huge crowd and probably a little doped - not approved, but not checked by anyone) in order. This gives the tenth position (il posto decimo) a great advantage - he comes running in to start the race, while the rest have been trying to stand at the starting line and in their right position with their poor crazed horse.
When the winner finishes the third lap, the whole event is over, except for the winning contrada, who will quickly grab the Palio (large flag in the corner of the campo) and run back to the church of Sta. Maria in Provenzano (to whom this event is dedicated) to sing the Te Deum (which, by the way, my brother-in-law played for my wedding party's procession at our wedding last year - thank you again, Curtis!) and first give thanks to her before celebrating for weeks.
On another note, I've realized that my posts have been pretty utilitarian, and rarely bring up some of the experiences and lessons of the trip thus far. I know that you're hearing the other side of anything which the kids share, because they're not bringing any of their concerns to me, but perhaps some of these following lessons learned might apply to your conversations?
1. If you live like a king/queen at the beginning of the trip, you're feeling like a pauper at the end. In Sorrento, kids were drinking cokes-Fantas-other expensive beverages (5 euros a pop!!!) like water, and unknowingly realizing the price of this. They also chose to take taxis rather than wait for the hotel's free shuttle. Ah, the petulance of youth! When we first arrived into Siena, they were continuing this lavish spending, buying 10 euro lunches, and choosing to participate in recreational activities (whether athletic - Mark is keeping up with his swimming skills at the local pool - a gym membership cost, of which I approve, or other adult recreational activities, of which they know I disapprove). By now, mid-trip, they're probably feeling the pinch, and realizing their extravagance. Please be understanding with them, but I'm completely supportive of you limiting their expenditures. If they had kept prudent about their expenses (thank you, Barbara!), they wouldn't have spent more than 100 E a week. I even buy a book a week (to read at night), and, with buying fizzy water, gelato/granita, and some other snack daily, plus the cultural experiences for which I invite them, where I also spend my own money, I don't spend that much. Can I inform you of this and next week's cultural expenditures? This week, we're doing the Duomo stuff (10 Euros, which we already spent), and, for our free day on Saturday, I'm suggesting we go to Arezzo (about 20 Euros total, with the bus tickets, a picnic snack, and an entry fee for the museum). Sunday is another free day, but I'm going to suggest they go to San Gimignano (8 Euros round trip) or Assisi (around 20 Euros for the experience). Next week, they have more time for themselves - I'm not expecting them to attend any museums or go on any trips, but even to get back to Florence is only 14 Euros, round trip. In Rome, their museum entrances (we'll go to three of them) and transportation is all covered - they only need money for meals and snacks/water.
2. With much freedom comes as much responsibility. Your kids are already respectful and responsible, as seen throughout this trip. When they arrive to class late, they're embarrassed, not indignant. When a misunderstanding happens, they want more to correct the miscommunication rather than insist the other party's fault. They're really the best group I've ever had, and I so appreciate what you parents have done to raise such outstanding young ladies and men.
We're very lucky to have another small group with us, from DuPage, a small community college outside of Chicago. Some of our kids have bonded much with these students, and they have developed some friendships. This group is in Siena until next Friday, just like us, then we're both headed to Rome for a little touring. While they are a little older in age, our kids are so mature that they actually seem older than this group, and they make a good pairing as friends. I'm encouraged daily to see how our group works well and enjoys time with other students, yet are still prudent in their decisions and choices. Perhaps I'm a little effuse about the whole thing, but I give thanks every day to have a group like ours for this summer!
On Thursday, we will be visiting the Duomo, the main church of the city (SO MUCH better than the Duomo in Florence!), where we will learn about the infamous floor of the church and get to know a little about Pius II (Piccolomini), a fascinating pope who came from Siena - he was actually Poet Laureate of Italy before deciding to enter seminary, and quickly (the fastest in history, I belive) climbed the ladder to the Papacy. The Duomo has a full chapel dedicated to his life and collections of works. I encourage you to learn a little about the place - it's SO cool - www.sienaonline.it/duomo.html or www.operaduomo.siena.it/ for the museum.
Friday, we'll be back to normal - the craziness of the Palio will be over, and our Siena will return to the beautiful, enchanting city that it is for our last week. Until then . . .
Grazie!
Laura :)
Monday, June 30, 2008
La seconda settimana
Wow - we're almost halfway through this trip! But, in the madness of the Palio, it's easy to lose focus on the schedule . . .
First of all, if you're interested, the city has a website through which they post the prove and news about the Palio: www.sienanews.it
The tratta on Sunday morning was really interesting - there were some great horses (#21 lost his rider on the first turn, but still surpassed the rest of the horses, then kept running at the same speed for three extra laps before someone could stop him), many of which, including 21, weren't chosen by the Capitani. And the Selection was as usual - some groups were excited, and some not so pleased by the draw. My contrada, Aquila, hasn't won since 1992, and I think they were hoping for a winner this year, but it doesn't seem to be so. The kiddos have taken on their own chosen (or, perhaps, not so chosen - where they live?) contrade for the competition - Mark was mentioning that, with his Valdimontana flag on, he passed through a Nicchio group, who immediately got silent the minute he approached their previously-spirited conversation.
Your kiddos had a great weekend! Florence was HOT. Miserably. Even worse than Siena. But we got to see David (the real one), and enjoyed a great viewing through the Uffizi (and, I hope, they learned a little about Florentine art from me as we prepared to enter the museums). One of my roommates joined us, and we also met a friend of mine who is on sabbatical in Rome (she teaches Latin at the University of Vermont). Thank you again to SPI for getting reservations - ALL of the kids made a comment about how pleasant it was to pass the lines!
Sunday, while the first day of the Palio, was also the kids' first free day. Some stayed in town and experienced the craziness of the events, and some chose to walk a little out of town to enjoy a countryside picnic in perhaps a little cooler temperature. It is good to mention that these days are a little more crazy than usual - far more tourists, the locals are in their Palio frenzy . . . things can feel a little disorienting to the kids. Especially this week, with the overbearing heat. At least it's only until Wednesday, then we can get our beautiful, TRANQUIL Siena back for the last week and a half!
There are still opportunities to experience the treasures of Siena, too. This afternoon, we're going to do a little walk around town to see the two places sacred to St. Catherine (yes, they are going to see her head), and perhaps all head out to the Fortezza for a brief reprieve from the city's heat. Tomorrow, we start a three-day experience in the Piazza del Duomo, to see the view from the Museo dell'Opera and to see the beautiful interior of the Duomo itself (the floor has very interesting sections - all pictures of secular - sibyls, Latin-Greek authors - references to the coming of Christ). Wednesday will be the Palio, and all the madness which ensues with that. Until then, there will be prove at 9 AM and at 7:45 PM every day. I'll share with you more about the actual Palio day on Wednesday!
The kids are all doing well - enjoying their homestays, enjoying the city, enjoying being Italians - the first week has passed, and mostly so has their homesickness and culture shock. There still may be a little of it (admittedly, I REALLY miss my husband), so know that they still need you to be a sympathetic ear!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share this time with them - what a great experience we're all having!!!
Grazie tanti,
L :)
Again, please feel free to check out the Siena News online to see what we're seeing . . . you may even see us standing there among the crowd!
First of all, if you're interested, the city has a website through which they post the prove and news about the Palio: www.sienanews.it
The tratta on Sunday morning was really interesting - there were some great horses (#21 lost his rider on the first turn, but still surpassed the rest of the horses, then kept running at the same speed for three extra laps before someone could stop him), many of which, including 21, weren't chosen by the Capitani. And the Selection was as usual - some groups were excited, and some not so pleased by the draw. My contrada, Aquila, hasn't won since 1992, and I think they were hoping for a winner this year, but it doesn't seem to be so. The kiddos have taken on their own chosen (or, perhaps, not so chosen - where they live?) contrade for the competition - Mark was mentioning that, with his Valdimontana flag on, he passed through a Nicchio group, who immediately got silent the minute he approached their previously-spirited conversation.
Your kiddos had a great weekend! Florence was HOT. Miserably. Even worse than Siena. But we got to see David (the real one), and enjoyed a great viewing through the Uffizi (and, I hope, they learned a little about Florentine art from me as we prepared to enter the museums). One of my roommates joined us, and we also met a friend of mine who is on sabbatical in Rome (she teaches Latin at the University of Vermont). Thank you again to SPI for getting reservations - ALL of the kids made a comment about how pleasant it was to pass the lines!
Sunday, while the first day of the Palio, was also the kids' first free day. Some stayed in town and experienced the craziness of the events, and some chose to walk a little out of town to enjoy a countryside picnic in perhaps a little cooler temperature. It is good to mention that these days are a little more crazy than usual - far more tourists, the locals are in their Palio frenzy . . . things can feel a little disorienting to the kids. Especially this week, with the overbearing heat. At least it's only until Wednesday, then we can get our beautiful, TRANQUIL Siena back for the last week and a half!
There are still opportunities to experience the treasures of Siena, too. This afternoon, we're going to do a little walk around town to see the two places sacred to St. Catherine (yes, they are going to see her head), and perhaps all head out to the Fortezza for a brief reprieve from the city's heat. Tomorrow, we start a three-day experience in the Piazza del Duomo, to see the view from the Museo dell'Opera and to see the beautiful interior of the Duomo itself (the floor has very interesting sections - all pictures of secular - sibyls, Latin-Greek authors - references to the coming of Christ). Wednesday will be the Palio, and all the madness which ensues with that. Until then, there will be prove at 9 AM and at 7:45 PM every day. I'll share with you more about the actual Palio day on Wednesday!
The kids are all doing well - enjoying their homestays, enjoying the city, enjoying being Italians - the first week has passed, and mostly so has their homesickness and culture shock. There still may be a little of it (admittedly, I REALLY miss my husband), so know that they still need you to be a sympathetic ear!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share this time with them - what a great experience we're all having!!!
Grazie tanti,
L :)
Again, please feel free to check out the Siena News online to see what we're seeing . . . you may even see us standing there among the crowd!
Friday, June 27, 2008
la prima settimana . . . finito!
Wow - we have finished our first week! I mentioned to the kids that today is the end of the first third of the trip, and they couldn't believe it. In one way, it feels like time is flying through the trip, but, on the other hand, they're feeling so settled in and comfortable that it's like they've been here for a long time!
Yesterday was the kids' first free day, and, besides seeing me at the breaks between class, they didn't have to deal with me at all. Well, Stephen and I had a laundry date (everything of mine is stained from the sweating in this heat), but besides that.. . . Today, we will be heading to the Fortezza which is located just on the edge of town to do a little journaling and share our experiences from this first week, plus look forward to our opportunities this weekend and next week.
A little aside about the Fortezza - most cities in Tuscany have a "Rocca", or small fortress which sits on the highest point of town, and overlooks the countryside, defending the town. Siena is a little different - their biggest foe in the medieval times was Florence, and, to defend themselves, they simply don't have any gates on the north side of the city (which is the way it is still today)! They were such rivals with Florence that, when the Guelfs overthrew the Ghibellines in Florence, Siena embraced the outcast Ghibellines with open arms. When Florence finally subjected Siena (one of the last cities in that area of Tuscany to give into the Florentine expansion), the Medici family of Florence had the Fortezza built, so that they could live there and keep an eye on the Siennese, to avoid any fumes of rebellion.
This week, we learned about the difficulty of finding ourselves in a new world, having to live a new lifestyle in a new home. This transition is extremely challenging and difficult, even for me, who returns to the same family every year! I have been so impressed with the fortitude and maturity with which your kiddos have handled these changes (in diet, in lifestyle, in living space) - truly, they made this the easiest first week for me. They appreciate the differences, but still have found a way to make themselves comfortable and settled into this new lifestyle, as well as to develop a relationship with their homestay families. We also learned a little about Siennese art history and the politics of Siena during the medieval times through the art which we have viewed. It really differs greatly from Florentine art - sure, you see the development of the incorporation of perspective, but the Siennese actually used more of the dichotomy of light and dark to emphasize and focus.
Tomorrow, we are headed to Florence for our day of culture there. For the first year ever, SPI has booked reservations for us for both the Accademia and Uffizi (no more 3-hour lines! Thank you, Jeremy and Becca!). Many tourists choose to stay in Florence, and then travel out to other cities in Toscana, but, to me, it's just another big dirty, dusty city for us to honor for a day, then return to the beauty and cleanliness of Siena. However, there are some great works we can't deny (THE David - none of those in-the-streets copies for us; the works of the great painters such a Botticelli, Raphaello, and the Dutch painters; sculptures of great artists, as well - Bernini is my favorite) which exist there, so we go! I'll also be sharing a history of art in Florence with them during our journey, so perhaps they can take something home to you afterwards!
Sunday is our official first "free day", where the kids have time to themselves to rest or to take opportunities of the events around them. Sunday is a big holy day for the Church, as well - the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, where, in Rome, the new archbishops are dedicated by the Pope outside in the Piazza di San Pietro (Vatican Square). And, in Siena, the 29th is the first official day of the Palio events. I'll share far more about the Palio on Monday with you, but here's a little about what's going to happen this weekend:
Tonight - Presentation of the drappelone, where all of the contrade's flags will be posted on the front of the Palazzo Pubblico, and will stay there until after the day of the Palio. This also means that the colors will be posted throughout the contrada - lamps are placed up on the walls, flags hung outside their windows . . . we don't decorate like this for Christmas in the U.S.!
Tomorrow - at 5 PM, the trial run on the Palio. Every year, there are about 30 horses which are chosen to be the best in the area (by veterinarians). The horses are released on the track (which is the gray part of il Campo - they laid a full packed-sand track down yesterday) to let them try out the turf.
Sunday - at 9 AM, the horses are divided into various batterie (groups), and the 10 jockeys who will compete will all wear the colors of Siena (the shield is simple - white on top, black on the bottom). Just like in every prova (practice run) and the actual Palio race on the 2nd, the last horse to enter determines the start of the race (he's called the rincorsa). At the end of this, the 10 Capitani (chosen leader of each contrada for this Palio) will meet together inside the Palazzo to choose the 10 best horses for the race.
THEN, at 1 PM is the Selection, where the 10 horses are assigned by lottery to each contrada. Each competing contrada marches in, with the jockey and Capitano at front, the leading men following along with them, the younger men just behind them, then the women and children in the back, all wearing the colors of their contrada, all singing the city Palio song. The Lottery is exactly as you'd imagine it - literally, there are 10 balls, each of which has the colors of the 10 competing contrade (out of the 17 total contrade), and 10 numbered balls, one for each horse (the number is painted on its rear). They come rolling down out of a big tumbling machine, done by the city officials in front of the Palazzo Pubblico, and a contrada is paired to a horse. From now on, the horse is the center of the celebration, treated like a king (they have their own personal human to take care of them the whole time - the barbaresco). In fact, the horse determines the winner of the Palio . . . even if it crosses the line first without its jockey, it wins. This event is quite a spectacle - if a contrada is paired with a good horse, people will be jumping for joy and yelling as they drag the terrified horse (by their jumping and yelling) back to their contrada. If a group is paired with a weaker (still one of the best among hundreds of others) horse, you'll see grown men crying in the streets, moping all the way pack with the horse to their contrada.
Finally, at 7:45 is the first trial run - the prima prova. This is the first time to have the jockey paired with the horse on the actual track, but jockeys aren't geared up - no nerbo (whip, made of a bull's tendon . . . NERVE) with which to hit each other (they tend to do this more than use it on the horse), nor zuccoto (metal helmet to keep their heads guarded from the nerbo). The starting order of the jockeys is determined days before in another lottery. Each practice run has myths attached to it, too - the first one, they say, often determines who the winner of the actual Palio will be. Last year, there was a big to-do - one of the horses got tangled up at the starting line, got its leg caught in the rope, and fell, hurting its leg (the contrada didn't get to compete, but the horse lived on) and taking a few other horses and jockeys down at first. The entire city had an ominous feeling about it. In fact, when the actual Palio happened, there was a discrepancy for about 20 minutes in the town before they determined the actual winner - and they felt that the fall in the first race was almost something that cursed the whole festa.
More to share about this event next week, but I'll be encouraging the kids to join me for everything on Sunday in town!
Off to Florence!
Grazie,
Laura :)
Yesterday was the kids' first free day, and, besides seeing me at the breaks between class, they didn't have to deal with me at all. Well, Stephen and I had a laundry date (everything of mine is stained from the sweating in this heat), but besides that.. . . Today, we will be heading to the Fortezza which is located just on the edge of town to do a little journaling and share our experiences from this first week, plus look forward to our opportunities this weekend and next week.
A little aside about the Fortezza - most cities in Tuscany have a "Rocca", or small fortress which sits on the highest point of town, and overlooks the countryside, defending the town. Siena is a little different - their biggest foe in the medieval times was Florence, and, to defend themselves, they simply don't have any gates on the north side of the city (which is the way it is still today)! They were such rivals with Florence that, when the Guelfs overthrew the Ghibellines in Florence, Siena embraced the outcast Ghibellines with open arms. When Florence finally subjected Siena (one of the last cities in that area of Tuscany to give into the Florentine expansion), the Medici family of Florence had the Fortezza built, so that they could live there and keep an eye on the Siennese, to avoid any fumes of rebellion.
This week, we learned about the difficulty of finding ourselves in a new world, having to live a new lifestyle in a new home. This transition is extremely challenging and difficult, even for me, who returns to the same family every year! I have been so impressed with the fortitude and maturity with which your kiddos have handled these changes (in diet, in lifestyle, in living space) - truly, they made this the easiest first week for me. They appreciate the differences, but still have found a way to make themselves comfortable and settled into this new lifestyle, as well as to develop a relationship with their homestay families. We also learned a little about Siennese art history and the politics of Siena during the medieval times through the art which we have viewed. It really differs greatly from Florentine art - sure, you see the development of the incorporation of perspective, but the Siennese actually used more of the dichotomy of light and dark to emphasize and focus.
Tomorrow, we are headed to Florence for our day of culture there. For the first year ever, SPI has booked reservations for us for both the Accademia and Uffizi (no more 3-hour lines! Thank you, Jeremy and Becca!). Many tourists choose to stay in Florence, and then travel out to other cities in Toscana, but, to me, it's just another big dirty, dusty city for us to honor for a day, then return to the beauty and cleanliness of Siena. However, there are some great works we can't deny (THE David - none of those in-the-streets copies for us; the works of the great painters such a Botticelli, Raphaello, and the Dutch painters; sculptures of great artists, as well - Bernini is my favorite) which exist there, so we go! I'll also be sharing a history of art in Florence with them during our journey, so perhaps they can take something home to you afterwards!
Sunday is our official first "free day", where the kids have time to themselves to rest or to take opportunities of the events around them. Sunday is a big holy day for the Church, as well - the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, where, in Rome, the new archbishops are dedicated by the Pope outside in the Piazza di San Pietro (Vatican Square). And, in Siena, the 29th is the first official day of the Palio events. I'll share far more about the Palio on Monday with you, but here's a little about what's going to happen this weekend:
Tonight - Presentation of the drappelone, where all of the contrade's flags will be posted on the front of the Palazzo Pubblico, and will stay there until after the day of the Palio. This also means that the colors will be posted throughout the contrada - lamps are placed up on the walls, flags hung outside their windows . . . we don't decorate like this for Christmas in the U.S.!
Tomorrow - at 5 PM, the trial run on the Palio. Every year, there are about 30 horses which are chosen to be the best in the area (by veterinarians). The horses are released on the track (which is the gray part of il Campo - they laid a full packed-sand track down yesterday) to let them try out the turf.
Sunday - at 9 AM, the horses are divided into various batterie (groups), and the 10 jockeys who will compete will all wear the colors of Siena (the shield is simple - white on top, black on the bottom). Just like in every prova (practice run) and the actual Palio race on the 2nd, the last horse to enter determines the start of the race (he's called the rincorsa). At the end of this, the 10 Capitani (chosen leader of each contrada for this Palio) will meet together inside the Palazzo to choose the 10 best horses for the race.
THEN, at 1 PM is the Selection, where the 10 horses are assigned by lottery to each contrada. Each competing contrada marches in, with the jockey and Capitano at front, the leading men following along with them, the younger men just behind them, then the women and children in the back, all wearing the colors of their contrada, all singing the city Palio song. The Lottery is exactly as you'd imagine it - literally, there are 10 balls, each of which has the colors of the 10 competing contrade (out of the 17 total contrade), and 10 numbered balls, one for each horse (the number is painted on its rear). They come rolling down out of a big tumbling machine, done by the city officials in front of the Palazzo Pubblico, and a contrada is paired to a horse. From now on, the horse is the center of the celebration, treated like a king (they have their own personal human to take care of them the whole time - the barbaresco). In fact, the horse determines the winner of the Palio . . . even if it crosses the line first without its jockey, it wins. This event is quite a spectacle - if a contrada is paired with a good horse, people will be jumping for joy and yelling as they drag the terrified horse (by their jumping and yelling) back to their contrada. If a group is paired with a weaker (still one of the best among hundreds of others) horse, you'll see grown men crying in the streets, moping all the way pack with the horse to their contrada.
Finally, at 7:45 is the first trial run - the prima prova. This is the first time to have the jockey paired with the horse on the actual track, but jockeys aren't geared up - no nerbo (whip, made of a bull's tendon . . . NERVE) with which to hit each other (they tend to do this more than use it on the horse), nor zuccoto (metal helmet to keep their heads guarded from the nerbo). The starting order of the jockeys is determined days before in another lottery. Each practice run has myths attached to it, too - the first one, they say, often determines who the winner of the actual Palio will be. Last year, there was a big to-do - one of the horses got tangled up at the starting line, got its leg caught in the rope, and fell, hurting its leg (the contrada didn't get to compete, but the horse lived on) and taking a few other horses and jockeys down at first. The entire city had an ominous feeling about it. In fact, when the actual Palio happened, there was a discrepancy for about 20 minutes in the town before they determined the actual winner - and they felt that the fall in the first race was almost something that cursed the whole festa.
More to share about this event next week, but I'll be encouraging the kids to join me for everything on Sunday in town!
Off to Florence!
Grazie,
Laura :)
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Settling in
Buon Giorno, Tutti!
Today is our third day of class, so I thought I'd share with you a little about normal life here in Siena (especially since, beginning Sunday (Domenico) and going through Wednesday (Mercoledi), nothing will feel normal around here due to the Palio).
In the mornings, we awake to a very nice, fresh, cool morning (mid-60's), where strolling through the city is comfortable. I met Lauren and Grace this morning on our stroll to the school, and they mentioned, "Why can't it always be like THIS?" In fact, it is hotter in Siena than usual right now, which, just like in Texas, when the weather is hot, tempers flare and patience is tried. (Dina, my homestay mom, just told me today that I needed to have more patience with things - what can I say? I'm a Leo - everything should go the way I want it, right?) But, as in the north U.S., people don't have air conditioning here, and complaining about the heat really feels ridiculous (as if the person I'm standing next to/complaining to is standing in some other individually-cooled zone). At least it's not as hot as it was in 2002 - in June, the temperature soared to 40 degrees centigrade (around 102-105) in Rome, and caused the death of many French people. Talk about feeling ridiculous - I, in a small skirt and tank top, complaining about the heat to a full-habited nun who is waiting for the same bus? I often find myself echoing the same words she told me - You know, I'm standing here, too. Really, when the sun doesn't touch your skin, it's never too uncomfortable (as opposed to the heat-carrying humidity of Texas) - it's something the kids quickly learned - if you're going to be outside standing around, be in the shade!
Classes start on usual days at 9 AM, and the kids learn about grammar, vocabulary, conversation, and culture, all integrated. The school diligently works to stay on top of the most recent research about learning language and immersion - it's cool to sit in on classes and see what they incorporate into just a 30-minute lesson. There is a break around 10:30 or 11 for 30 minutes for a snack-stroll, then classes resume for another 1.5 hours. We're all released at 1:30 for the day. But that's not the end of our day.
I don't want the kids to ever feel that I monopolize their time, and that they don't have any "free time", but I do want them to know what the city here has to offer - amazing art, history, opportunities! Yesterday, we went to the Pinacoteca to view the city's collection of religious art by artists from this city. Then, around 5 PM, one of the teachers at the school gave a lecture about the Palio, the Contrade, and Siena. (I'll share more with you about this during the event next week) Home for dinner, then out for a stroll in the evenings - a standard plan every evening! Again, once the sun is down (even as early as 6 PM), the city is very pleasant. In fact, that's the time you see the locals.
At 7 AM - 9 AM, before the tourists arrive, the locals sit out, chatting in the streets, and enjoying the beautiful morning. When it's hot, they're hiding in their homes. Then, from 6 - 9 PM, there is la passegiata every evening, where the locals come out from their homes to the comfortable evening to chat and enjoy each other's company. Tourists are enchanted by Siena, but it's really most charming when you're there overnight, to enjoy the true spirit of the locals.
Today, we're going to visit the Palazzo Pubblico, and the kids will have a chance to climb the Torre del Mangia (right on the Campo) to get one of the two awesome views of the city itself. Lots of pictures to follow! The frescoes in the palace are very famous, and depict allegories, scenes from history, and recollections of authors and artists. With the weather as hot as it is, I'm choosing for us to visit indoors spots, and hope that we'll get slightly cooler weather next week to do our "gire" around town. The kiddos are becoming familiar with those important saints of the city (Catherine - in the black and white with the lily - and Bernardino - the guy with the IHS symbol), and they're going to get a brief lecture about the history of the city today before we enter the palace.
Don't worry - they get a day or two every week (Thursday afternoons and Sundays, usually) for themselves. I do have to do laundry eventually! But seeing as we haven't reached those days, yet, I'll just have to keep you in suspense until then . . .
L :)
Today is our third day of class, so I thought I'd share with you a little about normal life here in Siena (especially since, beginning Sunday (Domenico) and going through Wednesday (Mercoledi), nothing will feel normal around here due to the Palio).
In the mornings, we awake to a very nice, fresh, cool morning (mid-60's), where strolling through the city is comfortable. I met Lauren and Grace this morning on our stroll to the school, and they mentioned, "Why can't it always be like THIS?" In fact, it is hotter in Siena than usual right now, which, just like in Texas, when the weather is hot, tempers flare and patience is tried. (Dina, my homestay mom, just told me today that I needed to have more patience with things - what can I say? I'm a Leo - everything should go the way I want it, right?) But, as in the north U.S., people don't have air conditioning here, and complaining about the heat really feels ridiculous (as if the person I'm standing next to/complaining to is standing in some other individually-cooled zone). At least it's not as hot as it was in 2002 - in June, the temperature soared to 40 degrees centigrade (around 102-105) in Rome, and caused the death of many French people. Talk about feeling ridiculous - I, in a small skirt and tank top, complaining about the heat to a full-habited nun who is waiting for the same bus? I often find myself echoing the same words she told me - You know, I'm standing here, too. Really, when the sun doesn't touch your skin, it's never too uncomfortable (as opposed to the heat-carrying humidity of Texas) - it's something the kids quickly learned - if you're going to be outside standing around, be in the shade!
Classes start on usual days at 9 AM, and the kids learn about grammar, vocabulary, conversation, and culture, all integrated. The school diligently works to stay on top of the most recent research about learning language and immersion - it's cool to sit in on classes and see what they incorporate into just a 30-minute lesson. There is a break around 10:30 or 11 for 30 minutes for a snack-stroll, then classes resume for another 1.5 hours. We're all released at 1:30 for the day. But that's not the end of our day.
I don't want the kids to ever feel that I monopolize their time, and that they don't have any "free time", but I do want them to know what the city here has to offer - amazing art, history, opportunities! Yesterday, we went to the Pinacoteca to view the city's collection of religious art by artists from this city. Then, around 5 PM, one of the teachers at the school gave a lecture about the Palio, the Contrade, and Siena. (I'll share more with you about this during the event next week) Home for dinner, then out for a stroll in the evenings - a standard plan every evening! Again, once the sun is down (even as early as 6 PM), the city is very pleasant. In fact, that's the time you see the locals.
At 7 AM - 9 AM, before the tourists arrive, the locals sit out, chatting in the streets, and enjoying the beautiful morning. When it's hot, they're hiding in their homes. Then, from 6 - 9 PM, there is la passegiata every evening, where the locals come out from their homes to the comfortable evening to chat and enjoy each other's company. Tourists are enchanted by Siena, but it's really most charming when you're there overnight, to enjoy the true spirit of the locals.
Today, we're going to visit the Palazzo Pubblico, and the kids will have a chance to climb the Torre del Mangia (right on the Campo) to get one of the two awesome views of the city itself. Lots of pictures to follow! The frescoes in the palace are very famous, and depict allegories, scenes from history, and recollections of authors and artists. With the weather as hot as it is, I'm choosing for us to visit indoors spots, and hope that we'll get slightly cooler weather next week to do our "gire" around town. The kiddos are becoming familiar with those important saints of the city (Catherine - in the black and white with the lily - and Bernardino - the guy with the IHS symbol), and they're going to get a brief lecture about the history of the city today before we enter the palace.
Don't worry - they get a day or two every week (Thursday afternoons and Sundays, usually) for themselves. I do have to do laundry eventually! But seeing as we haven't reached those days, yet, I'll just have to keep you in suspense until then . . .
L :)
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Slideshow at bottom of page
Ciao, Tutti!
Just a quick note - I figured out how to download pictures from our trip, so all pictures at the bottom of this blog are from our trip so far! Enjoy!
This afternoon, we're going to get a brilliant art history lesson (from me) on our visit to the Pinacoteca of Siena!
More to share tomorrow . . .
Grazie!
Laura :)
Just a quick note - I figured out how to download pictures from our trip, so all pictures at the bottom of this blog are from our trip so far! Enjoy!
This afternoon, we're going to get a brilliant art history lesson (from me) on our visit to the Pinacoteca of Siena!
More to share tomorrow . . .
Grazie!
Laura :)
Monday, June 23, 2008
We have conquered Campania
Buon Giorno, Tutti!
What a great first weekend we had! We were so busy that I didn't get a second to steal away to an internet stop. So, here it goes . . .
Everyone met up at Newark airport, over a stretch of about 5 hours. They were all excited to head out, and even more ready to meet each other. The flight to Fiumicino was very comfortable and pleasant, but the kiddos had a hard time going to sleep, knowing that the next place we'll plant our feet was Italy! The plane was nice, and service was great - everyone even had their own small TV screen for watching TV shows, movies, or even playing games, which made the flight pass far more quickly.
We landed into FCO, and easily passed through Passport check and Customs, to find our bags arriving on the belts as we were coming to baggage claim. And everyone's bag arrived!!! This could possibly be my first time to have not problems with bags!!! We met our driver (Franco) after a little bit of a hunt, and piled onto the nice, comfortable bus to head to Pompeii. A good opportunity for everyone to have a 2-hour rest before hitting the cobblestones of Pompeii! We walked through the entire city, from the Theatre to the Amphitheatre, to the Forum, then up to the Villa dei Mysteri! Slightly jetlagged, very tired, sweaty, and covered in Pompeiian dust, everyone climbed onto the bus to enjoy the beautiful drive along the Sorrentine peninsula, until we arrived at our hotel (fancy - 5-star). The kids wanted to simply crash then, but I gave them an hour to clean up, and we went into town for our first night's stroll - dinner at a pizzeria, and the best gelato in town, plus a nice visit to the sunset! Upon returning to the hotel, I don't think anyone saw 10 PM (including me)!
Saturday brought us an EARLY rising - we had to catch 7 AM taxis to get to the Marina Piccola in Sorrento for a boat out to Capri. Again, just like Friday, the kids willingly took on every opportunity and chance to experience Italy. We took the Funicolare up to Capri, then walked from Capri to the Villa Jovis, one of Tiberius' twelve villas on the island. Even had a little chat about architecture and archaeology of the first century, A.D. We then strolled back, stopping at a spot for my treat of granite di limone (refreshing and sweet!), and caught a bus back in Capri up the cliffs to Anacapri. From there, we caught a chairlift up to Monte Solaro, the other peak of Capri island (Villa Jovis is on the other one), and got FABULOUS pictures of the view of the island, the Sorrentine Peninsula, and the Bay of Naples completely. With swollen feet and exhausted kiddos, we returned to the marina grande of Capri and caught a boat back to Sorrento. Some kids chose to immediately return to the hotel, where they spent some time at the pool and snack bar. Barbara and Stephen joined me for a few more hours around Sorrento, visiting the lemon grove and having a nice lunch. We all met back at the hotel, cleaned up again, and returned together to Sorrento to enjoy a great dinner (and an entertaining waiter) at Zi'Ntonio's, located near the Piazza Tasso. We all then enjoyed another sunset on the cliffs, and had a few hours of free time to stroll the streets with the locals of Sorrento before returning to the hotel, exhausted and filled with the spirit of Sorrento.
Sunday morning, we slept in, and several of us met for breakfast (very nice spread) before our bus picked us up at 12 noon for a 6-hour drive to Siena. That traffic-filled, winding ride out of Sorrento to Naples always takes down a group, and, as usual, we were all pale-faced and weak by the time we got up from the cliffs. We arrived into Siena around 6:30 to meet our homestay families, and everyone headed to their Siena home to have their first dinner and a good night's sleep before classes today!
The kiddos are almost already done with their first day of classes, and we'll go for a stroll through town to learn about the city of Siena, and the basic services they have for us! I can't express to you how proud I have been of them this far in the trip. You have some amazing kiddos - appreciative, mature, adventurous - as I told them on our bus ride yesterday, they have given me the best experience I've ever had as a Director this far!
As I shared in past blogs, this week offers many big transitions for the kids - they're truly learning how to live a completely different life! Homesickness and culture shock will plague them. Some situations will be challenging for them, and others will be fascinating. If you hear from your kids, offer an open ear and share your love with them, as you always would. Ask them questions (rather than offering solutions) if they seem to be challenged by a situation. If you have concerns, please feel free to contact Jeremy, who will get to me immediately. Again, your kids are so mature and such great communicators that I feel very confident in their ability to work with me and the school in making their experience in Italy as safe and comfortable as possible!
Please know that I will be spending all my internet time on these blogs, and not looking at the group. You have the ability to post comments about any blog, and, believe me, if you're thinking of something, another parent has the same thought. Please post comments here, and I can easily reply to them!
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my own love for Italy with your students - I can already see them developing the same apprecation . . .
Grazie!
Laura :)
What a great first weekend we had! We were so busy that I didn't get a second to steal away to an internet stop. So, here it goes . . .
Everyone met up at Newark airport, over a stretch of about 5 hours. They were all excited to head out, and even more ready to meet each other. The flight to Fiumicino was very comfortable and pleasant, but the kiddos had a hard time going to sleep, knowing that the next place we'll plant our feet was Italy! The plane was nice, and service was great - everyone even had their own small TV screen for watching TV shows, movies, or even playing games, which made the flight pass far more quickly.
We landed into FCO, and easily passed through Passport check and Customs, to find our bags arriving on the belts as we were coming to baggage claim. And everyone's bag arrived!!! This could possibly be my first time to have not problems with bags!!! We met our driver (Franco) after a little bit of a hunt, and piled onto the nice, comfortable bus to head to Pompeii. A good opportunity for everyone to have a 2-hour rest before hitting the cobblestones of Pompeii! We walked through the entire city, from the Theatre to the Amphitheatre, to the Forum, then up to the Villa dei Mysteri! Slightly jetlagged, very tired, sweaty, and covered in Pompeiian dust, everyone climbed onto the bus to enjoy the beautiful drive along the Sorrentine peninsula, until we arrived at our hotel (fancy - 5-star). The kids wanted to simply crash then, but I gave them an hour to clean up, and we went into town for our first night's stroll - dinner at a pizzeria, and the best gelato in town, plus a nice visit to the sunset! Upon returning to the hotel, I don't think anyone saw 10 PM (including me)!
Saturday brought us an EARLY rising - we had to catch 7 AM taxis to get to the Marina Piccola in Sorrento for a boat out to Capri. Again, just like Friday, the kids willingly took on every opportunity and chance to experience Italy. We took the Funicolare up to Capri, then walked from Capri to the Villa Jovis, one of Tiberius' twelve villas on the island. Even had a little chat about architecture and archaeology of the first century, A.D. We then strolled back, stopping at a spot for my treat of granite di limone (refreshing and sweet!), and caught a bus back in Capri up the cliffs to Anacapri. From there, we caught a chairlift up to Monte Solaro, the other peak of Capri island (Villa Jovis is on the other one), and got FABULOUS pictures of the view of the island, the Sorrentine Peninsula, and the Bay of Naples completely. With swollen feet and exhausted kiddos, we returned to the marina grande of Capri and caught a boat back to Sorrento. Some kids chose to immediately return to the hotel, where they spent some time at the pool and snack bar. Barbara and Stephen joined me for a few more hours around Sorrento, visiting the lemon grove and having a nice lunch. We all met back at the hotel, cleaned up again, and returned together to Sorrento to enjoy a great dinner (and an entertaining waiter) at Zi'Ntonio's, located near the Piazza Tasso. We all then enjoyed another sunset on the cliffs, and had a few hours of free time to stroll the streets with the locals of Sorrento before returning to the hotel, exhausted and filled with the spirit of Sorrento.
Sunday morning, we slept in, and several of us met for breakfast (very nice spread) before our bus picked us up at 12 noon for a 6-hour drive to Siena. That traffic-filled, winding ride out of Sorrento to Naples always takes down a group, and, as usual, we were all pale-faced and weak by the time we got up from the cliffs. We arrived into Siena around 6:30 to meet our homestay families, and everyone headed to their Siena home to have their first dinner and a good night's sleep before classes today!
The kiddos are almost already done with their first day of classes, and we'll go for a stroll through town to learn about the city of Siena, and the basic services they have for us! I can't express to you how proud I have been of them this far in the trip. You have some amazing kiddos - appreciative, mature, adventurous - as I told them on our bus ride yesterday, they have given me the best experience I've ever had as a Director this far!
As I shared in past blogs, this week offers many big transitions for the kids - they're truly learning how to live a completely different life! Homesickness and culture shock will plague them. Some situations will be challenging for them, and others will be fascinating. If you hear from your kids, offer an open ear and share your love with them, as you always would. Ask them questions (rather than offering solutions) if they seem to be challenged by a situation. If you have concerns, please feel free to contact Jeremy, who will get to me immediately. Again, your kids are so mature and such great communicators that I feel very confident in their ability to work with me and the school in making their experience in Italy as safe and comfortable as possible!
Please know that I will be spending all my internet time on these blogs, and not looking at the group. You have the ability to post comments about any blog, and, believe me, if you're thinking of something, another parent has the same thought. Please post comments here, and I can easily reply to them!
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my own love for Italy with your students - I can already see them developing the same apprecation . . .
Grazie!
Laura :)
Monday, June 16, 2008
Last-minute Packing Tips
Buon Giorno, Tutti!
This could be my last entry before our departure on Thursday . . . how quickly this time has flown!
So, here's my philosophy on packing: As long as you have your passport and deodorant, you can get anything else when we arrive. Now, with that said, you'll see that even I perform the crime of overpacking (but I'm working on whittling down the piles right now) - it's innate to want to make sure that you have not omitted anything before our fun trip!
Jeremy included a great packing list on pages 5 and 6 of the Orientation folder which you received to prepare for the trip. Follow it closely (yes, I think it's madness to pack such few tops and bottoms, too, but believe me, it preserves your sanity and strength). And even though the bolded section in "Electronics" seems madness, too, please take it seriously. You can buy a hairdryer when you arrive into Siena (we'll have them in our hotel in Sorrento) - your homestay may even already have one there!
As for the rest of the list, let's dissect it a little for clarification:
Clothes - believe me, you'll think you've overpacked if you put in more than what's recommended. You'll have time to do laundry (or have laundry done) at least once a week. Definitely want a swimsuit - I think we just got upgraded to a hotel with a pool in Sorrento, and you may want to journey out to the Tuscan beach for one of our free Sundays! Also, I choose to wear my swimsuit on our heavy touring days (Capri), rather than pit out another pair of underwear. Much easier to clean in the shower. You can combine the sweater/sweatshirt/jacket combination - I am bringing a cardigan to help me with that magic. And, my best advice, pack in themes. Almost all of my skirts/capris will go with any of my tops I'm packing. As I said before, pick out your favorite pair of dress shoes, and pack your "nice" outfit to match with it.
Toiletries - Everything on there is good. Be sure to pack any medication in your carry-on, and, if it's prescription, have it in its original bottle (for custom's sake).
Miscellaneous - great suggestions here. May I add one or two more? Bring a keychain so that you'll have a way to carry any keys to your homestay (we aren't tourists anymore!). If you need something to use to read at night, or for the sake of just having light around when it's dark at night, consider bringing a mini flashlight or maglight . . . wait . . . aren't there ones with a keychain link on them? :) And the more you can combine, the better (watch with an alarm clock? Windbreaker jacket which doubles as a raincoat?). I'll take you by a school supply store the first day we're in Siena, so don't overload with the supplies before we're there.
Do not bring - Seriously, if you can't live without it, you can probably live without it during our three weeks together. Every year, I leave behind my engagement ring just to make sure it's not going to become an Italian trade piece - ensured as it is, it's still in better shape sitting in my jewelry box at home. And if it's a "just in case" thing, you can buy it there. We are living in a civilized area of the world where there are grocery stores and department stores.
Carryon - This isn't mentioned much in the orientation folder, so I thought I'd give you my "from an experienced traveler" carryon packing list, and reasons (for those of you who doubt):
Passport - once we get through customs in Roma, I'll take this from you, and you'll get it back from me the day of our return to the US. thus...
Copy of Passport
Master Checklist - to turn in to me when we meet at Newark
Few favorite snacks - our first day of arrival is going to feel like the LONGEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. Your schedules will be totally off - it'll feel to your body that we're landing in Rome at midnight, and I'll expect you to pick up and hop to the bus, hop to Pompeii, and hop through over half of Pompeii before we stop at the cafeteria for lunch. Remember those cheese and cracker combos I gave you in the baggie (Maddy, you're getting yours when we meet in Newark)? They're for our first day.
Change of clothes - just pack your cute outfit for Capri in the carryon. That way, if our bags are lost and we can't get them until Sunday, you're still looking cute. But with good sturdy walking shoes. Which brings to mind...
Necessary toiletries - not your entire makeup kit from home, or the large bottles of shampoo. Just what you'd need if we lost our bags. And please remember that we're staying in a NICE hotel in Sorrento - they'll have the usuals (shampoo, soap, etc.).
Prescription medicine - if you'll need it within 48 hours, it should be in your carry-on. And please be sure it is in that original container!
Whatever you need for plane entertainment/comfort - Kids, it's a long trip. We'll get movies, and I'll encourage you to sleep on the plane, but you'll be too excited. And I'm not perky on flights, thanks to Dramamine. Sudoku? Crosswords? My monthly newsletters (you've GOT to know some of those Italian words by now)? A good novel? My husband just bought me a hand-held Solitaire game, which will get me through ALL the travel on Thursday! :) Also, I make it a point to bring comfy socks, and quickly get out of my shoes when we board. Perhaps earplugs or an eyemask for those of you who can't do noise or light?
I am so thrilled to see all of you on Thursday! Please feel free to COMMENT to this blog for any last-minute questions - I'll be doing all updates through this blog only, rather than with the group.
BIG HUGS,
Laura :)
This could be my last entry before our departure on Thursday . . . how quickly this time has flown!
So, here's my philosophy on packing: As long as you have your passport and deodorant, you can get anything else when we arrive. Now, with that said, you'll see that even I perform the crime of overpacking (but I'm working on whittling down the piles right now) - it's innate to want to make sure that you have not omitted anything before our fun trip!
Jeremy included a great packing list on pages 5 and 6 of the Orientation folder which you received to prepare for the trip. Follow it closely (yes, I think it's madness to pack such few tops and bottoms, too, but believe me, it preserves your sanity and strength). And even though the bolded section in "Electronics" seems madness, too, please take it seriously. You can buy a hairdryer when you arrive into Siena (we'll have them in our hotel in Sorrento) - your homestay may even already have one there!
As for the rest of the list, let's dissect it a little for clarification:
Clothes - believe me, you'll think you've overpacked if you put in more than what's recommended. You'll have time to do laundry (or have laundry done) at least once a week. Definitely want a swimsuit - I think we just got upgraded to a hotel with a pool in Sorrento, and you may want to journey out to the Tuscan beach for one of our free Sundays! Also, I choose to wear my swimsuit on our heavy touring days (Capri), rather than pit out another pair of underwear. Much easier to clean in the shower. You can combine the sweater/sweatshirt/jacket combination - I am bringing a cardigan to help me with that magic. And, my best advice, pack in themes. Almost all of my skirts/capris will go with any of my tops I'm packing. As I said before, pick out your favorite pair of dress shoes, and pack your "nice" outfit to match with it.
Toiletries - Everything on there is good. Be sure to pack any medication in your carry-on, and, if it's prescription, have it in its original bottle (for custom's sake).
Miscellaneous - great suggestions here. May I add one or two more? Bring a keychain so that you'll have a way to carry any keys to your homestay (we aren't tourists anymore!). If you need something to use to read at night, or for the sake of just having light around when it's dark at night, consider bringing a mini flashlight or maglight . . . wait . . . aren't there ones with a keychain link on them? :) And the more you can combine, the better (watch with an alarm clock? Windbreaker jacket which doubles as a raincoat?). I'll take you by a school supply store the first day we're in Siena, so don't overload with the supplies before we're there.
Do not bring - Seriously, if you can't live without it, you can probably live without it during our three weeks together. Every year, I leave behind my engagement ring just to make sure it's not going to become an Italian trade piece - ensured as it is, it's still in better shape sitting in my jewelry box at home. And if it's a "just in case" thing, you can buy it there. We are living in a civilized area of the world where there are grocery stores and department stores.
Carryon - This isn't mentioned much in the orientation folder, so I thought I'd give you my "from an experienced traveler" carryon packing list, and reasons (for those of you who doubt):
Passport - once we get through customs in Roma, I'll take this from you, and you'll get it back from me the day of our return to the US. thus...
Copy of Passport
Master Checklist - to turn in to me when we meet at Newark
Few favorite snacks - our first day of arrival is going to feel like the LONGEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. Your schedules will be totally off - it'll feel to your body that we're landing in Rome at midnight, and I'll expect you to pick up and hop to the bus, hop to Pompeii, and hop through over half of Pompeii before we stop at the cafeteria for lunch. Remember those cheese and cracker combos I gave you in the baggie (Maddy, you're getting yours when we meet in Newark)? They're for our first day.
Change of clothes - just pack your cute outfit for Capri in the carryon. That way, if our bags are lost and we can't get them until Sunday, you're still looking cute. But with good sturdy walking shoes. Which brings to mind...
Necessary toiletries - not your entire makeup kit from home, or the large bottles of shampoo. Just what you'd need if we lost our bags. And please remember that we're staying in a NICE hotel in Sorrento - they'll have the usuals (shampoo, soap, etc.).
Prescription medicine - if you'll need it within 48 hours, it should be in your carry-on. And please be sure it is in that original container!
Whatever you need for plane entertainment/comfort - Kids, it's a long trip. We'll get movies, and I'll encourage you to sleep on the plane, but you'll be too excited. And I'm not perky on flights, thanks to Dramamine. Sudoku? Crosswords? My monthly newsletters (you've GOT to know some of those Italian words by now)? A good novel? My husband just bought me a hand-held Solitaire game, which will get me through ALL the travel on Thursday! :) Also, I make it a point to bring comfy socks, and quickly get out of my shoes when we board. Perhaps earplugs or an eyemask for those of you who can't do noise or light?
I am so thrilled to see all of you on Thursday! Please feel free to COMMENT to this blog for any last-minute questions - I'll be doing all updates through this blog only, rather than with the group.
BIG HUGS,
Laura :)
Monday, June 9, 2008
Homesickness and Culture Shock
Buon Giorno, Tutti!
Last Thursday, while in my dorm room at cheer camp (yes, I'm alive and in one piece), I realized that we have only TWO weeks left. And now, that's just 1.5 weeks left. If you're in Dallas, be sure to come by Penne Pomodoro at noon on Thursday, June 12, for final chats and questions. Those of you who are not in the Dallas area, please send out e-mails with comments and questions! You can always access each other's information through the SPIItaly 2008 Google group, if you'd like to get to know your roommate!
Parents, this one is more for you, while, students, these are good signs to watch out for, especially during our first week or so.
Homesickness and Culture shock are real, and can really affect your point of view whenever you're experiencing life in another place than the comfort of your home. Those of you who have been to camp or have spent an extended time traveling understand this feeling. It's that irritibility with everyone and everything around you, for no explicable reason. Or perhaps it's a terrible longing for something you can't determine. It can even get so severe as to cause physical problems, including gastro-intestinal problems or headaches. Anyone (and probably everyone) can be a victim to culture shock. I know I have a little bit of it every time I get to Italy, and I've been going almost every summer since 1995!
Parents, when you speak to your kiddos during their first week's stay in Siena, they may say some things which are strongly indicative of culture shock or homesickness. When you hear these phrases, you need to understand that they're just wanting you to listen to them, and be compassionate with them. Let me share some standard phrases which indicate homesickness, and the actual translation of these things you'll hear:
What they say: "They don't feed me enough/The food is terrible"
What they mean: "I'm not being fed what I want"
What they say: "They yell (at me) a lot"
Translation: It's a tendency to raise one's voice in common conversation in Italian, but it doesn't indicate anger - rather, it's just part of the excitement of speaking Italian.
What they say: "I'm bored/There's nothing for me to do"
What they mean: "I'm hiding away in my homestay/Not getting out at all or meeting people/not taking advantage of the many opportunities Laura is offering"
What they say: "I can't understand anything"
What they mean: "I'm not practicing the language or seeking out help with learning Italian"
What they say: "I live SO far away from everyone"
Translation: Siena is a VERY small town. And even the homestays outside of the wall are never more than a 1/4 or 1/2 mile walk from the walls. "I'm not used to using something besides a car to transport myself"
What they say: "I don't like my homestay (for whatever reason)"
What they mean: "It's not home" (what a wonderful experience for a teenager to realize how much they appreciate what YOU have created for them!)
Of course, if your child is bringing up issues of discomfort, they probably haven't spoken to me about it yet. Please contact SPI if you hear about anything which truly concerns you. In the Parent Departure Powerpoint, I ask you to please contact SPI if you hear about anything inappropriate/unsafe, or if you want to share anything great/inspiring (Jeremy really needs it during these months of management). They will contact me immediately (even if it's in the middle of the night), and I'll speak to your child the very next time I see them. My first question to the student will always be, "Are you inconvenienced, or are you uncomfortable?"
I'm here to always be a support to your child. Always. My number one job is to ensure your child's safety and well-being on this trip. I also am in daily communication with the homestays (through the school homestay secretary - yes, they have a person at Dante Alighieri whose job is JUST to be in communication with homestays and me). As my theme has been throughout these blogs, COMMUNICATION will keep all people happy.
With this said, what a WONDERFUL experience for your child to learn appreciation for the comforts of home by living in such a beautiful other world for a few weeks! And in Tuscany - truly, a paradise not many people have the chance to experience. I can't wait to share this time with all of you!
Hugs,
Laura :)
Last Thursday, while in my dorm room at cheer camp (yes, I'm alive and in one piece), I realized that we have only TWO weeks left. And now, that's just 1.5 weeks left. If you're in Dallas, be sure to come by Penne Pomodoro at noon on Thursday, June 12, for final chats and questions. Those of you who are not in the Dallas area, please send out e-mails with comments and questions! You can always access each other's information through the SPIItaly 2008 Google group, if you'd like to get to know your roommate!
Parents, this one is more for you, while, students, these are good signs to watch out for, especially during our first week or so.
Homesickness and Culture shock are real, and can really affect your point of view whenever you're experiencing life in another place than the comfort of your home. Those of you who have been to camp or have spent an extended time traveling understand this feeling. It's that irritibility with everyone and everything around you, for no explicable reason. Or perhaps it's a terrible longing for something you can't determine. It can even get so severe as to cause physical problems, including gastro-intestinal problems or headaches. Anyone (and probably everyone) can be a victim to culture shock. I know I have a little bit of it every time I get to Italy, and I've been going almost every summer since 1995!
Parents, when you speak to your kiddos during their first week's stay in Siena, they may say some things which are strongly indicative of culture shock or homesickness. When you hear these phrases, you need to understand that they're just wanting you to listen to them, and be compassionate with them. Let me share some standard phrases which indicate homesickness, and the actual translation of these things you'll hear:
What they say: "They don't feed me enough/The food is terrible"
What they mean: "I'm not being fed what I want"
What they say: "They yell (at me) a lot"
Translation: It's a tendency to raise one's voice in common conversation in Italian, but it doesn't indicate anger - rather, it's just part of the excitement of speaking Italian.
What they say: "I'm bored/There's nothing for me to do"
What they mean: "I'm hiding away in my homestay/Not getting out at all or meeting people/not taking advantage of the many opportunities Laura is offering"
What they say: "I can't understand anything"
What they mean: "I'm not practicing the language or seeking out help with learning Italian"
What they say: "I live SO far away from everyone"
Translation: Siena is a VERY small town. And even the homestays outside of the wall are never more than a 1/4 or 1/2 mile walk from the walls. "I'm not used to using something besides a car to transport myself"
What they say: "I don't like my homestay (for whatever reason)"
What they mean: "It's not home" (what a wonderful experience for a teenager to realize how much they appreciate what YOU have created for them!)
Of course, if your child is bringing up issues of discomfort, they probably haven't spoken to me about it yet. Please contact SPI if you hear about anything which truly concerns you. In the Parent Departure Powerpoint, I ask you to please contact SPI if you hear about anything inappropriate/unsafe, or if you want to share anything great/inspiring (Jeremy really needs it during these months of management). They will contact me immediately (even if it's in the middle of the night), and I'll speak to your child the very next time I see them. My first question to the student will always be, "Are you inconvenienced, or are you uncomfortable?"
I'm here to always be a support to your child. Always. My number one job is to ensure your child's safety and well-being on this trip. I also am in daily communication with the homestays (through the school homestay secretary - yes, they have a person at Dante Alighieri whose job is JUST to be in communication with homestays and me). As my theme has been throughout these blogs, COMMUNICATION will keep all people happy.
With this said, what a WONDERFUL experience for your child to learn appreciation for the comforts of home by living in such a beautiful other world for a few weeks! And in Tuscany - truly, a paradise not many people have the chance to experience. I can't wait to share this time with all of you!
Hugs,
Laura :)
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Mangiamo!!!
Okay, Thomas, this is for you . . .
I write much about food in my Food column at the bottom of every newsletter, so you should feel familiar with some of the terms which you'll use frequently. So, now, it's time to get REAL about food in Italy.
There's a huge pride concerning food in Italy. "Bad" restaurants just don't exist in Italy (unlike those which are actually CHAINS here) - people won't tolerate it over there. Here, we're so ready to be given what we want that we're willing to tolerate mediocre to get it. The food which you'll be fed will be made from what is good right now, which is the best way to do it. Tomatoes are at their freshest, and only fruit in season will be served. If you're a cherries fan, you're in for an amazing treat - I don't even LIKE cherries, and I devour them in Italy. Canteloupe will be great (one of my favorite dinners - prosciutto and canteloupe), as will figs.
In Sorrento, we choose where we're going to eat each night (we're on our own for this). I have a great, cheap pizzeria which I like to frequent on our first night in, but perhaps consider seafood for Saturday night? We ARE in a beach town, after all . . .
Check out this FABULOUS Recipe and Sorrento Restaurant website, given by sorrentoinfo.com:
http://tasteofsorrento.sorrentoinfo.com/
While in Siena, you can eat every night at your homestay if you like. In fact, I'll make it a point that we return even on our touring days to be home in time for dinner every night. However, if you head out for dinner, you can really savor some of the regional delicacies. Grilled meats, pastas with pesto, and the bruschetta with the tuscan spread (a bean mixture . . . kinda like a pate) are all tastes which should be savored at least once.
In Rome, our Friday night dinner is still up in the air. I have an idea of where we might go, but still looking around, and open for suggestions. However, my favorite pizzeria (great bookends of the trip, don't you think?) is the Pizzeria Montecarlo, located just near the Piazza Navona. We'll be there on our last Italian night . . .
Just a few weeks!
HUGS,
Laura :)
I write much about food in my Food column at the bottom of every newsletter, so you should feel familiar with some of the terms which you'll use frequently. So, now, it's time to get REAL about food in Italy.
There's a huge pride concerning food in Italy. "Bad" restaurants just don't exist in Italy (unlike those which are actually CHAINS here) - people won't tolerate it over there. Here, we're so ready to be given what we want that we're willing to tolerate mediocre to get it. The food which you'll be fed will be made from what is good right now, which is the best way to do it. Tomatoes are at their freshest, and only fruit in season will be served. If you're a cherries fan, you're in for an amazing treat - I don't even LIKE cherries, and I devour them in Italy. Canteloupe will be great (one of my favorite dinners - prosciutto and canteloupe), as will figs.
In Sorrento, we choose where we're going to eat each night (we're on our own for this). I have a great, cheap pizzeria which I like to frequent on our first night in, but perhaps consider seafood for Saturday night? We ARE in a beach town, after all . . .
Check out this FABULOUS Recipe and Sorrento Restaurant website, given by sorrentoinfo.com:
http://tasteofsorrento.sorrentoinfo.com/
While in Siena, you can eat every night at your homestay if you like. In fact, I'll make it a point that we return even on our touring days to be home in time for dinner every night. However, if you head out for dinner, you can really savor some of the regional delicacies. Grilled meats, pastas with pesto, and the bruschetta with the tuscan spread (a bean mixture . . . kinda like a pate) are all tastes which should be savored at least once.
In Rome, our Friday night dinner is still up in the air. I have an idea of where we might go, but still looking around, and open for suggestions. However, my favorite pizzeria (great bookends of the trip, don't you think?) is the Pizzeria Montecarlo, located just near the Piazza Navona. We'll be there on our last Italian night . . .
Just a few weeks!
HUGS,
Laura :)
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Communications
So, let's face it, we are in the communications age. Calls between Europe and the US aren't the same old echoey, scratchy chats we used to have in the 80's (or even the 90's, for that matter). Everyone is linked to everyone, and even a text message can reach someone on the other side of the word in the length of time it takes to dial a phone.
As in everything else, blessings and curses come hand in hand. When you can contact someone whenever you want, you're able to satiate that feeling of missing them. But every time you feed the need to talk to someone, it becomes more and more of a necessity. Really, dependency on technology for effective communication and maintenance of relationships is an addiction. I literally have to PRY cell phones out of some of my cheerleaders' hands at football games, because they feel the need for such immediate reception (a sign of approval, perhaps?).
When we're in Italy, yes, it is possible to be text messaging your friends, calling your pals, complaining to your parents WHENEVER YOU WANT. However, please consider this: just like you're having to learn to live in a different home, with different people, on a different schedule in a different town, consider finding different ways to explore your friendships. Send them postcards - how rare is it for people to take the time to WRITE letters nowadays! Buy tourist junk that makes you think of them. It will mean SO much more to your friends when you return with a gift that's specially picked out for them, rather that just talking/texting with them every day while you're in Italy (and causing an enormous expense), which is what you do whenever you're at home.
SPI shared options for renting a cell phone, and I won't ever question a parent's decision to spend the money to keep a leash on their teenagers - Jeremy has his leash to me! Please consider that there are MANY ways of keeping in touch without the link (and expensive cost) of a cell phone.
Internet: Dante Alighieri has a computer lab at the school, and there are SEVERAL internet spots in town for very cheap use (did I mention that Siena encourages academic life - in such a small town, there are three universities there). Your child will have the opportunity to use the internet daily.
Telephone Calls: There are international calling centers throughout town, as well. The one I frequent has individual booths where you make calls for 10 cents a minute to the US. And, to be honest, I don't think I even speak to my HUSBAND for 200 minutes during our stay. Also, when you receive the information on where your child's homestay is located, you'll have the address AND their phone number included. In Italy, phone service is such that, if you receive a call, there's no charge to you. Charges only happen when you make outgoing calls. You can always schedule a weekly call at a specific time at the homestay, where you can be updated by your kiddo. $20 International Calling Cards at the local drug store will last you the entire trip - it did for my husband! I will also teach the kids how to buy and use international calling cards from Italy, which also are a great deal (not as good as calling from the US to Italy, though).
The Best Sign: Never hear from them - isn't that the sign that they're having the time of their life? Of course, I'll be posting blogs here at least every other day for all of you to hear about our events and experiences during the trip, so if you never hear from your kiddo, you'll at least know from me what we're doing daily.
Please take these ideas into consideration as you plan how you want to keep your child in touch with you. And, if you want a little more, I can share some horror cell phone stories with you: one year, a child's parents chose to buy her a tri-band cell phone for her to use to call them while in Italy. The child's roommate used it to call her boyfriend for 2 to 3 hour phone calls every night. When they returned home, the roommate's parents didn't reimburse the parents for the OVER $1500 bill which the roommate charged. UGLY. Another one, you say? I had a student whose parents called her every night to chat. Child was so homesick that she never acclimated to living in Italy, spent most of her time hiding away in her bedroom at the homestay, and spent the entire trip finding ways to get back home. Made my job SO fun.
I'll share with you some phrases which are standard indicators for homesickness/culture shock later this week. Parents, you, as the adults, are going to have to understand that, the more you insist that your child stay in voice-based communication, the less they're going to find their independence and appreciation for their life in Italy. Sometimes these trips are as valuable for parents as they are for the students, to teach us all about how much we can trust and appreciate our relationships, as we discover different ways of expressing love for our dearest ones.
pace,
Laura :)
As in everything else, blessings and curses come hand in hand. When you can contact someone whenever you want, you're able to satiate that feeling of missing them. But every time you feed the need to talk to someone, it becomes more and more of a necessity. Really, dependency on technology for effective communication and maintenance of relationships is an addiction. I literally have to PRY cell phones out of some of my cheerleaders' hands at football games, because they feel the need for such immediate reception (a sign of approval, perhaps?).
When we're in Italy, yes, it is possible to be text messaging your friends, calling your pals, complaining to your parents WHENEVER YOU WANT. However, please consider this: just like you're having to learn to live in a different home, with different people, on a different schedule in a different town, consider finding different ways to explore your friendships. Send them postcards - how rare is it for people to take the time to WRITE letters nowadays! Buy tourist junk that makes you think of them. It will mean SO much more to your friends when you return with a gift that's specially picked out for them, rather that just talking/texting with them every day while you're in Italy (and causing an enormous expense), which is what you do whenever you're at home.
SPI shared options for renting a cell phone, and I won't ever question a parent's decision to spend the money to keep a leash on their teenagers - Jeremy has his leash to me! Please consider that there are MANY ways of keeping in touch without the link (and expensive cost) of a cell phone.
Internet: Dante Alighieri has a computer lab at the school, and there are SEVERAL internet spots in town for very cheap use (did I mention that Siena encourages academic life - in such a small town, there are three universities there). Your child will have the opportunity to use the internet daily.
Telephone Calls: There are international calling centers throughout town, as well. The one I frequent has individual booths where you make calls for 10 cents a minute to the US. And, to be honest, I don't think I even speak to my HUSBAND for 200 minutes during our stay. Also, when you receive the information on where your child's homestay is located, you'll have the address AND their phone number included. In Italy, phone service is such that, if you receive a call, there's no charge to you. Charges only happen when you make outgoing calls. You can always schedule a weekly call at a specific time at the homestay, where you can be updated by your kiddo. $20 International Calling Cards at the local drug store will last you the entire trip - it did for my husband! I will also teach the kids how to buy and use international calling cards from Italy, which also are a great deal (not as good as calling from the US to Italy, though).
The Best Sign: Never hear from them - isn't that the sign that they're having the time of their life? Of course, I'll be posting blogs here at least every other day for all of you to hear about our events and experiences during the trip, so if you never hear from your kiddo, you'll at least know from me what we're doing daily.
Please take these ideas into consideration as you plan how you want to keep your child in touch with you. And, if you want a little more, I can share some horror cell phone stories with you: one year, a child's parents chose to buy her a tri-band cell phone for her to use to call them while in Italy. The child's roommate used it to call her boyfriend for 2 to 3 hour phone calls every night. When they returned home, the roommate's parents didn't reimburse the parents for the OVER $1500 bill which the roommate charged. UGLY. Another one, you say? I had a student whose parents called her every night to chat. Child was so homesick that she never acclimated to living in Italy, spent most of her time hiding away in her bedroom at the homestay, and spent the entire trip finding ways to get back home. Made my job SO fun.
I'll share with you some phrases which are standard indicators for homesickness/culture shock later this week. Parents, you, as the adults, are going to have to understand that, the more you insist that your child stay in voice-based communication, the less they're going to find their independence and appreciation for their life in Italy. Sometimes these trips are as valuable for parents as they are for the students, to teach us all about how much we can trust and appreciate our relationships, as we discover different ways of expressing love for our dearest ones.
pace,
Laura :)
Monday, May 12, 2008
The Spirit of Italy
With the history of the region, it's undeniable that Italy is a center of spiritual activity. Pompeii haunts its visitors with the ghosts of those who died in the volcanic burial in the first century. Capri shares over 30 centuries of history in its small island area. Tuscany reveals its historical background throughout the ages, with its Etruscan Tumuli, its Roman remains throughout the area, the medieval towers which loom over cities like San Gimignano and Monteriggioni, the Renaissance air blowing through Florence . . . Siena itself was the final stopping point for all pilgrims traveling to Rome - even Il Campo (the major center piazza of the city) is shaped like a shell, a symbol of baptism. Rome, in itself, is the focus point of pilgrims and historians alike.
So, perhaps you're not so driven to learn about these spiritual leaders, perhaps you're wanting to renew your time with some favorite artists or history-drivers? Want to see Raphaello's grave? Or perhaps the spot where Julius Caesar was burned . . . IN THE FORUM? Artists, did you know that every piece of art in the Vatican is either a sculpture or a MOSAIC???
Throughout our trip, we'll have the opportunity to visit the burial places of important saints and spiritual leaders. For those more politically- or historically-driven, we'll also visit the burial spots of important leaders, artists, and scientists (if you stop by the Museum of Science in Florence, you can even see Galileo's finger!). Either way, find a way to make this your own pilgrimage experience on this trip. A little research right now on your part will make the trip so much more meaningful while we're there! I always make it a point to stop by somewhere new every time during our visit, which takes quite some research on my part (when you've lived somewhere every summer for 13 years, it's a challenge to find a new spot to discover). Give me the challenge to help make your experience that much more interesting!
Hugs,
Laura :)
So, perhaps you're not so driven to learn about these spiritual leaders, perhaps you're wanting to renew your time with some favorite artists or history-drivers? Want to see Raphaello's grave? Or perhaps the spot where Julius Caesar was burned . . . IN THE FORUM? Artists, did you know that every piece of art in the Vatican is either a sculpture or a MOSAIC???
Throughout our trip, we'll have the opportunity to visit the burial places of important saints and spiritual leaders. For those more politically- or historically-driven, we'll also visit the burial spots of important leaders, artists, and scientists (if you stop by the Museum of Science in Florence, you can even see Galileo's finger!). Either way, find a way to make this your own pilgrimage experience on this trip. A little research right now on your part will make the trip so much more meaningful while we're there! I always make it a point to stop by somewhere new every time during our visit, which takes quite some research on my part (when you've lived somewhere every summer for 13 years, it's a challenge to find a new spot to discover). Give me the challenge to help make your experience that much more interesting!
Hugs,
Laura :)
Friday, April 25, 2008
GREAT QUESTIONS!!!
Ciao, Tutti!
I just had to share this e-mail which Lauren had sent - it's so good, and I'm sure several of you were wondering the same things . . .
"I was reading over the blogs you have posted today and I had a few questions that I would love to have cleared up before I go to Italy and make a fool of myself. The first one is about what to pack. Is there going to be a way for me to do laundry, or do I need to pack a whole bunch of clothes and a massive amount of deodorant? Kind of silly, but I really don't know. Also about the Homestay entry, you said that if I do not eat my whole meal my mom will think I am ill, I don't eat a whole bunch of food at meals, so is it going to be an issue if I do not complete my meal every night, or should I just stuff myself? Also, I believe on my application I remembered to write that I have a certain dietary limitation. Is my mother going to take offense if I do not eat the food if it has to do with this restriction? At home if my mom cooks a meal with this I just eat the rest of the meal prepared and have a little more vegetables than I normaly would. "
With packing, definitely plan to do laundry. In fact, most homestays will do a load of laundry for you each week (plus, of course, washing the sheets and towels in your room). If you discover that your homestay doesn't do laundry, that's okay too - mine doesn't. Instead, I just take one afternoon a week to take my few outfits (I usually pack four tops and four skirts, and that's it) to one of the laundromats in town and do my own laundry. Gives me time to enjoy a little reading or watch the news, anyways! If you're not in the mood to do your own laundry, there are also laundromats who will do your laundry for you, for a higher charge.
Eating in the homestay is an issue which I'm careful about, mostly because I find that different people view eating differently. The homestay hosts are REALLY good about watching the eating habits of their new tenants, and quickly alter their serving amounts for the tenant. By all means, don't STUFF yourself to misery at dinner - that isn't the point of enjoying Italian food at all. Just keep in mind that it's all about communication. When I don't finish something on my plate, my homestay Mom's first reaction is "what, did you not like it (no ti piace)?" I just have to be prepared to explain that it was too much food for me, but that it was delicious (as always).
In the past, I have had students who have performed self-destructive types of behavior in their eating habits (which, I often suspect, were habits before the trip), including not eating at all or often rejecting meals. The rudest student I've ever had actually rejected the homestay's meals, then went out and bought dinner for themselves, and returned home with leftovers. This made the student seem insolent, and the homestay parents were greatly insulted. Had she simply informed them that she was a picky eater and preferred to determine her menu, the homestay would have probably been more proactive in chatting with the student before they began dinner preparation. In another instance, I've had a wonderful student who had a chronic problem with her stomach (but didn't think to inform me or the program about it). Her homestay contacted me, concerned that she closed herself in her room, and hardly ate any dinner. Turns out that, if she had simply informed us and them about her dietary needs, they could have suited her quickly. As always, it's all about communication.
It's so smart of you to mention your dietary limitations in advance, because your homestay hosts do view themselves as professionals, and that you are their guest. Thank you for being proactive - you'll find that, even on nights when they prepare a dinner in which you can't eat one of the ingredients, because of your requests on your document, they will make you an alternate dinner.
Of course, if you should ever make plans to go out for dinner with your peers (and you do have this option), you simply inform your homestay at breakfast that you will be eating out that evening. There are some AMAZING restaurants in Siena, and it's always fun to get away for an evening with friends. The only downfall is the fact that dinner at the homestay is paid for in advance, and you'd have to pay for your dinner if you're dining out!
Wow - thank you for the great e-mail, Lauren!!! Keep sending them!!!
un' abbracio,
Laura :)
I just had to share this e-mail which Lauren had sent - it's so good, and I'm sure several of you were wondering the same things . . .
"I was reading over the blogs you have posted today and I had a few questions that I would love to have cleared up before I go to Italy and make a fool of myself. The first one is about what to pack. Is there going to be a way for me to do laundry, or do I need to pack a whole bunch of clothes and a massive amount of deodorant? Kind of silly, but I really don't know. Also about the Homestay entry, you said that if I do not eat my whole meal my mom will think I am ill, I don't eat a whole bunch of food at meals, so is it going to be an issue if I do not complete my meal every night, or should I just stuff myself? Also, I believe on my application I remembered to write that I have a certain dietary limitation. Is my mother going to take offense if I do not eat the food if it has to do with this restriction? At home if my mom cooks a meal with this I just eat the rest of the meal prepared and have a little more vegetables than I normaly would. "
With packing, definitely plan to do laundry. In fact, most homestays will do a load of laundry for you each week (plus, of course, washing the sheets and towels in your room). If you discover that your homestay doesn't do laundry, that's okay too - mine doesn't. Instead, I just take one afternoon a week to take my few outfits (I usually pack four tops and four skirts, and that's it) to one of the laundromats in town and do my own laundry. Gives me time to enjoy a little reading or watch the news, anyways! If you're not in the mood to do your own laundry, there are also laundromats who will do your laundry for you, for a higher charge.
Eating in the homestay is an issue which I'm careful about, mostly because I find that different people view eating differently. The homestay hosts are REALLY good about watching the eating habits of their new tenants, and quickly alter their serving amounts for the tenant. By all means, don't STUFF yourself to misery at dinner - that isn't the point of enjoying Italian food at all. Just keep in mind that it's all about communication. When I don't finish something on my plate, my homestay Mom's first reaction is "what, did you not like it (no ti piace)?" I just have to be prepared to explain that it was too much food for me, but that it was delicious (as always).
In the past, I have had students who have performed self-destructive types of behavior in their eating habits (which, I often suspect, were habits before the trip), including not eating at all or often rejecting meals. The rudest student I've ever had actually rejected the homestay's meals, then went out and bought dinner for themselves, and returned home with leftovers. This made the student seem insolent, and the homestay parents were greatly insulted. Had she simply informed them that she was a picky eater and preferred to determine her menu, the homestay would have probably been more proactive in chatting with the student before they began dinner preparation. In another instance, I've had a wonderful student who had a chronic problem with her stomach (but didn't think to inform me or the program about it). Her homestay contacted me, concerned that she closed herself in her room, and hardly ate any dinner. Turns out that, if she had simply informed us and them about her dietary needs, they could have suited her quickly. As always, it's all about communication.
It's so smart of you to mention your dietary limitations in advance, because your homestay hosts do view themselves as professionals, and that you are their guest. Thank you for being proactive - you'll find that, even on nights when they prepare a dinner in which you can't eat one of the ingredients, because of your requests on your document, they will make you an alternate dinner.
Of course, if you should ever make plans to go out for dinner with your peers (and you do have this option), you simply inform your homestay at breakfast that you will be eating out that evening. There are some AMAZING restaurants in Siena, and it's always fun to get away for an evening with friends. The only downfall is the fact that dinner at the homestay is paid for in advance, and you'd have to pay for your dinner if you're dining out!
Wow - thank you for the great e-mail, Lauren!!! Keep sending them!!!
un' abbracio,
Laura :)
Monday, April 14, 2008
Being Italian
I once read that PEOPLE are what really make a PLACE, and this is absolutely true in Italy. Italy is a wonderful place because of the people who live there - they make amazing food, they keep it a great tourism location with their pleasant personalities, and they even make it visually beautiful because of their beauty as a people.
By the end of our stay, you, too, will have become an Italian, if only for a short time. Here are some things to expect in this transformation:
1. You'll have a more discerning taste for Italian food, which is a good thing. Too many Americans tolerate their pasta being drowned in a mediocre sauce (more is better, right?) and overpaying for greasy pizza (ewwwwww).
2. You'll pay more attention to how you seem to others. It is a civic duty, as an Italian, to make sure you're respectable when you're out in public, both in your habits/behavior, and in your dress (see Homestay entry).
3. You'll complain far less about things you can't control. Complaining about the weather is inane to Italians. It's common conversation for Americans. Worrying isn't really part of Italian culture (except by parents, for their children), and people seem more willing to find contentment in their lives, rather than wanting to continually claw up the ladder.
4. You'll appreciate the slower things in life. Sure, I'll MAKE you do journaling time at least once a week, but, by the end of the trip, you'll be asking for more days at the Fortezza, sitting, watching. A favorite pasttime of an Italian is watching others, who are probably watching you. What is better than to immerse yourself in humanity for a while?
Just a few things to anticipate as we move closer to our departure date! Can you believe we're just 2.5 months away??? Tell me you have your passport . . . anything else can be bought there.
un' abbracio,
Laura
By the end of our stay, you, too, will have become an Italian, if only for a short time. Here are some things to expect in this transformation:
1. You'll have a more discerning taste for Italian food, which is a good thing. Too many Americans tolerate their pasta being drowned in a mediocre sauce (more is better, right?) and overpaying for greasy pizza (ewwwwww).
2. You'll pay more attention to how you seem to others. It is a civic duty, as an Italian, to make sure you're respectable when you're out in public, both in your habits/behavior, and in your dress (see Homestay entry).
3. You'll complain far less about things you can't control. Complaining about the weather is inane to Italians. It's common conversation for Americans. Worrying isn't really part of Italian culture (except by parents, for their children), and people seem more willing to find contentment in their lives, rather than wanting to continually claw up the ladder.
4. You'll appreciate the slower things in life. Sure, I'll MAKE you do journaling time at least once a week, but, by the end of the trip, you'll be asking for more days at the Fortezza, sitting, watching. A favorite pasttime of an Italian is watching others, who are probably watching you. What is better than to immerse yourself in humanity for a while?
Just a few things to anticipate as we move closer to our departure date! Can you believe we're just 2.5 months away??? Tell me you have your passport . . . anything else can be bought there.
un' abbracio,
Laura
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Movies about Italy
Are you a big movie fan like I am? There are some great movies which can give you a great sense of life in Italy (and some which present a fluffier version of it):
Il Bianco e il Nero - documentary about Siena and the Palio
Under the Tuscan Sun - if you like this kind of fluff :) - the book is far better in helping get a sense of living in Tuscany!
Viaggio in Italia (1954) - a married (but suffering) couple has to journey through Italy to sell a deceased uncle's house - images of Capri
La Vita e Bella - Italy in WWII - just for the love of Roberto Benigni, you've gotta see this one (he has others - very cute and light ones)
Roman Holiday - ah, when Gregory Peck passed away a few years ago, they showed "Roman Holiday" on Rome TV for 4 weeks straight!!! A must see to rekindle your love for Rome
Ieri, Oggi, Domani - Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni - a classic comedy based in Rome
Three Coins in a Fountain - the American parallel of the above movie
Wow - so many others to see! Are you a documentary fan? Perhaps check out Scorsese's "Italianamerican", about his parents lives, both in New York and in Sicily. Into musicals? Check out the MANY operas out there, by greats such as Verdi and Puccini.
I am not saying that the above movies are the best Italian ones out there - have you seen one which is your top? Share!!!
Ciao
Il Bianco e il Nero - documentary about Siena and the Palio
Under the Tuscan Sun - if you like this kind of fluff :) - the book is far better in helping get a sense of living in Tuscany!
Viaggio in Italia (1954) - a married (but suffering) couple has to journey through Italy to sell a deceased uncle's house - images of Capri
La Vita e Bella - Italy in WWII - just for the love of Roberto Benigni, you've gotta see this one (he has others - very cute and light ones)
Roman Holiday - ah, when Gregory Peck passed away a few years ago, they showed "Roman Holiday" on Rome TV for 4 weeks straight!!! A must see to rekindle your love for Rome
Ieri, Oggi, Domani - Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni - a classic comedy based in Rome
Three Coins in a Fountain - the American parallel of the above movie
Wow - so many others to see! Are you a documentary fan? Perhaps check out Scorsese's "Italianamerican", about his parents lives, both in New York and in Sicily. Into musicals? Check out the MANY operas out there, by greats such as Verdi and Puccini.
I am not saying that the above movies are the best Italian ones out there - have you seen one which is your top? Share!!!
Ciao
Monday, April 7, 2008
Bella Campania
Ahhhh, Campania, the playground of the rich and famous since (and before) recorded history. From the time of the ancient Phoenicians, Greeks, and Cretans all the way to a modern playground for celebrities, the area’s incomparable beauty draws all people to this home of literary wonders. The Bay of Naples hosts such mythological places as Lake Avernus (Virgil’s entrance to Hades in book VI of the Aeneid), the buried cities of Herculaneum, Stabiae, and Pompeii, and the well-known Amalfi Coast. And we’re staying here for three days.
Caveat lector: If you like surprises, don’t read the rest of this. If you are a planner, and would like to see what’s in store for our first weekend, READ ON!
We’ll travel by hired bus from Rome to Sorrento the day we fly in. We’ll stop on the way down at a filling station (truck stop) to grab some lunch. At these great spots, there are usually three different dining options – a sandwich bar, a pizza restaurant, and a hot food/cafeterium option. Be ready to know how to order food – I’ll be jet-lagged and grumpy. Ask my husband and last year’s group. Soon after that stop, we’ll take our first excursion in Pompeii, a perfect induction into the appreciation of ancient Greek and Roman culture, and the dustiest place we’ll visit. You’ll love it. One warning: All tourist places (this is the same as in Rome) are surrounded by vendors selling, well, junk. It’s all the same junk at all the different stands, and it’s all JUNK. If you’d like to buy the junk, wait until we’re leaving Pompeii – you can bargain better in the afternoons/evenings than in the mornings, and you can decide whether you’d really like to carry the junk with you all the way to Siena, then to Rome, along with your bags which we’ve carried around since Friday. Pompeii is absolutely incredible, and there are SO many websites about this ancient city – feel free to look around the internet! However, as it is always true – if the story you’re reading seems incredible, it’s probably not true. These people from Pompeii lived very standard, regular, middle-class lives. Look through to see if there are specific places where you’d like to visit, and make note – I can adjust our tour to your own likings – there’s no way to get through ALL of Pompeii in one day, so we’ll see samples of various issues of Roman daily life.
Have you noticed that we haven’t checked into a hotel yet? After our Pompeii tour, we’ll head down to Sorrento to check in, clean up, and hit a great pizza place just to the east of Piazza Tasso, on the main street (Corso Italia). We might also get a little stroll around town, just to see how wonderful the city is. Plan to be surrounded by loads of beachcombers and interesting folks. Plan to be on your feet and in the same clothes for these two days (Thursday and Friday), and wear COMFORTABLE shoes on the plane. We’ll have flown from your home town to Newark to Rome, will have taken the bus to Pompeii, walk for at least four hours around Pompeii, then take the bus to Sorrento in late afternoon Friday/tourist/beach traffic. We’ll smell the same as the beachcombers.
Once we arrive into Sorrento, we’ll drag bags to our hotel (great location – center of town), where we’ll take our first shower in about 48 hours, and then we’ll all meet up, ready for dinner, and stroll the town of Sorrento, hunting for pizza and saunter for a while until we find gelato (Gelateria Davide, anyone?).
Now, I’m not a big fan of uncooked tomatoes in America. In fact, I request no tomatoes on my burgers at restaurants. But in Campania, tomatoes (pomodori) are the most incredible food – sweet, solid, delicious. One of the most famed dishes from Campania is the Insalata Caprese – slices of tomatoes with slices of fresh mozzarella, with basil and olive oil sprinkled over the slices. It’s my favorite dish from this region.
After an early evening, we’ll stroll back to the hotel and crash. Capri will be incredible. We’ll meet early for breakfast, then hustle to the Marina, where we’ll catch a boat out to Capri (usually about a 20 minute ride – bring the Bonine if you have problems like I do). We’ll immediately catch the funicolare up to the main Piazza in Capri, from where we’ll hike up to the Villa Jovis, the largest of Tiberius’ 13 villas on Capri. There is a walking trail, but it’s steep – I wore backless shoes on this walk . . . once. Awesome site – you won’t believe it until you see it. Then, we’ll slowly stroll back downhill, stopping for a spremuta (orange juice) or granita (Italy’s far superior version of an icee), back to the main Piazza. Then we’ll catch a local bus up to Anacapri (an adventurous ride, to say the least), where we’ll take a chairlift to Monte Solaro, the other peak of Capri, where another of Tiberius’ villas was located. We’ll return to the Piazzetta in Anacapri to decide whether to stroll out to the Villa Damecuta (yet another of Tiberius’ villas – do you see a repeating theme?) or the Villa San Michele. If the weather’s good, we might walk down to the Blue Grotto to see if we can enter (it’s been years since I’ve been able to – the weather’s always been a little too rough). After much walking, we’ll need lunch, and we’ll decide where and when we want to stop. Of course, shopping is very important in Capri, so you’ll be given a little time to do some purchasing of the famous lemon-based items (soaps, perfumes, treats) or ceramic gifts (we may even stop by the ceramic production shops) before we take the bus back to the main Piazza, take the funicolare back to the Marina Grande of Capri, and sail back to Sorrento. We’ll enjoy dinner in Sorrento, and stop by woodworking shops to learn about the inlaid wood production which is SO famous in Sorrento.
On Sunday, we’ll meet with packed bags for breakfast, and check out. We’ll catch a bus and head to Siena (Road Trip, anyone?). We’ll stop again at a filling station to get lunch on the way up. *A little fun story about Italian truckers – in December, they were so tired of the rising gas prices that they went on strike (sciopero – something you’ll hear me curse at least once on our trip) for a few days! Closed down the filling stations, too! These Italians are serious about their strikes, and they do them often in summers.* We’ll arrive into Siena around 6 PM, where we’ll meet our homestay families at the train station, and I’ll see you off until we meet on Monday morning (8AM) for your placement tests to get you into the right level! Classes will start at 9 AM following this day.
Feel free to research any of the places which I mentioned (or will mention) in these e-mails. Here’s a brief list of search topics, if you’re interested:
Continental Airlines (air carrier from Newark to Fiumicino)
Fiumicino or Leonardo da Vinci Airport
Campania
Circumvesuviana (the local train line in Campania)
Sorrento
Capri
Anacapri
Villa Jovis
Monte Solaro
Villa Damecuta
Villa San Michele
Grotto d’Azurro
Capri ceramic production
Capri lemons
Sorrento inlaid wood
Pompeii
Of course, start keeping an eye on the conversion websites, checking to see if the dollar is getting any stronger against the Euro. I won’t do any exchanging until we get to Fiumicino (I use my ATM card only to exchange money, but will have a few euros left over from an earlier trip this summer to France), and hope that the dollar will fight to regain strength – last year was a pricey one.
Next entry: What to expect with your homestays!
Ciao!
Laura J
Caveat lector: If you like surprises, don’t read the rest of this. If you are a planner, and would like to see what’s in store for our first weekend, READ ON!
We’ll travel by hired bus from Rome to Sorrento the day we fly in. We’ll stop on the way down at a filling station (truck stop) to grab some lunch. At these great spots, there are usually three different dining options – a sandwich bar, a pizza restaurant, and a hot food/cafeterium option. Be ready to know how to order food – I’ll be jet-lagged and grumpy. Ask my husband and last year’s group. Soon after that stop, we’ll take our first excursion in Pompeii, a perfect induction into the appreciation of ancient Greek and Roman culture, and the dustiest place we’ll visit. You’ll love it. One warning: All tourist places (this is the same as in Rome) are surrounded by vendors selling, well, junk. It’s all the same junk at all the different stands, and it’s all JUNK. If you’d like to buy the junk, wait until we’re leaving Pompeii – you can bargain better in the afternoons/evenings than in the mornings, and you can decide whether you’d really like to carry the junk with you all the way to Siena, then to Rome, along with your bags which we’ve carried around since Friday. Pompeii is absolutely incredible, and there are SO many websites about this ancient city – feel free to look around the internet! However, as it is always true – if the story you’re reading seems incredible, it’s probably not true. These people from Pompeii lived very standard, regular, middle-class lives. Look through to see if there are specific places where you’d like to visit, and make note – I can adjust our tour to your own likings – there’s no way to get through ALL of Pompeii in one day, so we’ll see samples of various issues of Roman daily life.
Have you noticed that we haven’t checked into a hotel yet? After our Pompeii tour, we’ll head down to Sorrento to check in, clean up, and hit a great pizza place just to the east of Piazza Tasso, on the main street (Corso Italia). We might also get a little stroll around town, just to see how wonderful the city is. Plan to be surrounded by loads of beachcombers and interesting folks. Plan to be on your feet and in the same clothes for these two days (Thursday and Friday), and wear COMFORTABLE shoes on the plane. We’ll have flown from your home town to Newark to Rome, will have taken the bus to Pompeii, walk for at least four hours around Pompeii, then take the bus to Sorrento in late afternoon Friday/tourist/beach traffic. We’ll smell the same as the beachcombers.
Once we arrive into Sorrento, we’ll drag bags to our hotel (great location – center of town), where we’ll take our first shower in about 48 hours, and then we’ll all meet up, ready for dinner, and stroll the town of Sorrento, hunting for pizza and saunter for a while until we find gelato (Gelateria Davide, anyone?).
Now, I’m not a big fan of uncooked tomatoes in America. In fact, I request no tomatoes on my burgers at restaurants. But in Campania, tomatoes (pomodori) are the most incredible food – sweet, solid, delicious. One of the most famed dishes from Campania is the Insalata Caprese – slices of tomatoes with slices of fresh mozzarella, with basil and olive oil sprinkled over the slices. It’s my favorite dish from this region.
After an early evening, we’ll stroll back to the hotel and crash. Capri will be incredible. We’ll meet early for breakfast, then hustle to the Marina, where we’ll catch a boat out to Capri (usually about a 20 minute ride – bring the Bonine if you have problems like I do). We’ll immediately catch the funicolare up to the main Piazza in Capri, from where we’ll hike up to the Villa Jovis, the largest of Tiberius’ 13 villas on Capri. There is a walking trail, but it’s steep – I wore backless shoes on this walk . . . once. Awesome site – you won’t believe it until you see it. Then, we’ll slowly stroll back downhill, stopping for a spremuta (orange juice) or granita (Italy’s far superior version of an icee), back to the main Piazza. Then we’ll catch a local bus up to Anacapri (an adventurous ride, to say the least), where we’ll take a chairlift to Monte Solaro, the other peak of Capri, where another of Tiberius’ villas was located. We’ll return to the Piazzetta in Anacapri to decide whether to stroll out to the Villa Damecuta (yet another of Tiberius’ villas – do you see a repeating theme?) or the Villa San Michele. If the weather’s good, we might walk down to the Blue Grotto to see if we can enter (it’s been years since I’ve been able to – the weather’s always been a little too rough). After much walking, we’ll need lunch, and we’ll decide where and when we want to stop. Of course, shopping is very important in Capri, so you’ll be given a little time to do some purchasing of the famous lemon-based items (soaps, perfumes, treats) or ceramic gifts (we may even stop by the ceramic production shops) before we take the bus back to the main Piazza, take the funicolare back to the Marina Grande of Capri, and sail back to Sorrento. We’ll enjoy dinner in Sorrento, and stop by woodworking shops to learn about the inlaid wood production which is SO famous in Sorrento.
On Sunday, we’ll meet with packed bags for breakfast, and check out. We’ll catch a bus and head to Siena (Road Trip, anyone?). We’ll stop again at a filling station to get lunch on the way up. *A little fun story about Italian truckers – in December, they were so tired of the rising gas prices that they went on strike (sciopero – something you’ll hear me curse at least once on our trip) for a few days! Closed down the filling stations, too! These Italians are serious about their strikes, and they do them often in summers.* We’ll arrive into Siena around 6 PM, where we’ll meet our homestay families at the train station, and I’ll see you off until we meet on Monday morning (8AM) for your placement tests to get you into the right level! Classes will start at 9 AM following this day.
Feel free to research any of the places which I mentioned (or will mention) in these e-mails. Here’s a brief list of search topics, if you’re interested:
Continental Airlines (air carrier from Newark to Fiumicino)
Fiumicino or Leonardo da Vinci Airport
Campania
Circumvesuviana (the local train line in Campania)
Sorrento
Capri
Anacapri
Villa Jovis
Monte Solaro
Villa Damecuta
Villa San Michele
Grotto d’Azurro
Capri ceramic production
Capri lemons
Sorrento inlaid wood
Pompeii
Of course, start keeping an eye on the conversion websites, checking to see if the dollar is getting any stronger against the Euro. I won’t do any exchanging until we get to Fiumicino (I use my ATM card only to exchange money, but will have a few euros left over from an earlier trip this summer to France), and hope that the dollar will fight to regain strength – last year was a pricey one.
Next entry: What to expect with your homestays!
Ciao!
Laura J
Homestays - what to expect?
The day we head to Siena, we'll be taking an extended road trip. While you'll want to be comfortable, we still have to drag our bags through Sorrento to meet the bus, which makes this a good time to address public dress versus how you dress in private.
Italian men and women put great pride in their appearance in public. Really - they don't leave the house if they're not presentable. Head to toe. Hair done, clothes in good condition, attractive shoes. And, opposed to rumor, their hygiene is taken care of, too. For as important it is for them to be attractive, it's important that others around them put in the same effort. Along with the traditional greeting of the two kisses, the unspoken part is the full-scope of the person you're with - shoe check, clothes check, hair check. Believe me - you want to look appropriate when you're out in public. And, for the sake of the homestay, outside of your room is considered "public" - at the kitchen table, hanging around the patio, etc. Being in class is considered "public", too. And with me. If you don't brush your hair before leaving the house, if you're in jogging shorts or tank tops, if you're strolling around publicly in pajama pants, EVER, I probably won't recognize your presence.
With that said, we'll arrive at the Siena train station just before dinner, and your homestay families will meet you the minute you walk off the bus. When you make an amazing impression for them, you'll pile into cars and drive to their homes, to settle in, enjoy your first meal together, and get moved into your new room.
Homestays usually have two twin beds in each room, along with some form of dresser/armoire/closet where you can store your clothes. Expect to share a room with someone else from our group ONLY, and plan to also share a bathroom. When you sit down to dinner, you may learn that you have other roommates, as well, who may know English, but are also students at Dante Alighieri, learning Italian just like you. Get to know them, so that you can introduce them to our SPI group (and me) on Monday.
Dinner at a homestay usually consists of three courses (in some form or another) - the primo (pasta or salad), the secondo (meat dish)...sometimes with contorni (vegetables), and the dessert (usually fruit). If you don't eat all that's been served to you, your homestay mom will assume you're sick, so please be sure to space out your eating throughout the day so that you can eat your dinner well! During dinner, you'll be informed as to what time you'll have breakfast the next morning. Set your alarms to make sure you'll be ready for that. Breakfast will consist of some sort of pastry and a drink (milk, juice).
After your first dinner, consider taking a walk (passagiata) around the neighborhood in which you live - is there a gelateria nearby? A grocery store? A fountain? What geographical spots will help you find your way home if you get lost? Perhaps even ask if there are nearby bus stops (if you'll be taking a bus to school).
Then, get a good night's sleep before our first day of class!!!
Next blog: Monday, June 23 - Dante Aligheri!!!
Italian men and women put great pride in their appearance in public. Really - they don't leave the house if they're not presentable. Head to toe. Hair done, clothes in good condition, attractive shoes. And, opposed to rumor, their hygiene is taken care of, too. For as important it is for them to be attractive, it's important that others around them put in the same effort. Along with the traditional greeting of the two kisses, the unspoken part is the full-scope of the person you're with - shoe check, clothes check, hair check. Believe me - you want to look appropriate when you're out in public. And, for the sake of the homestay, outside of your room is considered "public" - at the kitchen table, hanging around the patio, etc. Being in class is considered "public", too. And with me. If you don't brush your hair before leaving the house, if you're in jogging shorts or tank tops, if you're strolling around publicly in pajama pants, EVER, I probably won't recognize your presence.
With that said, we'll arrive at the Siena train station just before dinner, and your homestay families will meet you the minute you walk off the bus. When you make an amazing impression for them, you'll pile into cars and drive to their homes, to settle in, enjoy your first meal together, and get moved into your new room.
Homestays usually have two twin beds in each room, along with some form of dresser/armoire/closet where you can store your clothes. Expect to share a room with someone else from our group ONLY, and plan to also share a bathroom. When you sit down to dinner, you may learn that you have other roommates, as well, who may know English, but are also students at Dante Alighieri, learning Italian just like you. Get to know them, so that you can introduce them to our SPI group (and me) on Monday.
Dinner at a homestay usually consists of three courses (in some form or another) - the primo (pasta or salad), the secondo (meat dish)...sometimes with contorni (vegetables), and the dessert (usually fruit). If you don't eat all that's been served to you, your homestay mom will assume you're sick, so please be sure to space out your eating throughout the day so that you can eat your dinner well! During dinner, you'll be informed as to what time you'll have breakfast the next morning. Set your alarms to make sure you'll be ready for that. Breakfast will consist of some sort of pastry and a drink (milk, juice).
After your first dinner, consider taking a walk (passagiata) around the neighborhood in which you live - is there a gelateria nearby? A grocery store? A fountain? What geographical spots will help you find your way home if you get lost? Perhaps even ask if there are nearby bus stops (if you'll be taking a bus to school).
Then, get a good night's sleep before our first day of class!!!
Next blog: Monday, June 23 - Dante Aligheri!!!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Learning Italian
Trust me - it's not that difficult. Especially with your background in Latin (and, if you're lucky, other modern Romance languages). If you don't have experience with spoken languages, your self-confidence will be your biggest obstacle (mine still is). So, be sure to start using the language NOW!
Ciao! Come Stai? Come va?
Ciao! Come Stai? Come va?
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