moving on up

Next week I will be moving to Florence and living with a family. They are a family that is well known by the place that I currently work for or else I probably wouldnt be putting myself in this situation. I met the mother of the family and she seems really nice. They will be taking care of rent and food in exchange for a little bit of help and I will still be able to work and save more moeny. I think that they are only going to need me for a bout two months. Sometimes I cannot believe that I am here and that I am doing this and for the most part I am doing it on my own, and with the help of really amazing people that have been put into my life. I am quite blessed to say the least.

My tuesday thursday class is going well. They are alot smaller than I thought they would be. I have Livia who is three, Giorgio who is 3 and a half and quite a little jerk and Giovanni who is 2 and a half, freaking cute but dead set on eating the playdough and not listening to a word that I say. I think that they are learning a little bit though which I am happy about, at least they are hearing english.

It's been really beautiful weather but I think that it is about to start raining. I think that after all this hard work I am going to treat myself to a pair of shoes. I am definately looking at money in a very different way than I used to. I have always had respect for it and the things that I buy but now it's much more precious and I have a fear of spending any of it.

The end. a posto.

Camp is over

I am definately feeling the pressure of life but right now it is more exhilerating than anything else. I need to find a place to live. Easier said than done. There are so many possibilities right now and things that I need to keep looking into. I have a feeling that it will all fall into place, and I hope that it does. I just need to start making some big decisions and my energy is coming back after being sick , so maybe everything will seem a little bit simpler now. These are some pictures of where I work and the children that I work with. I hope that everyone is doing well. I am very happy.

greek theatre with people who can hardly speak english

This week has been really interesting. I found out that i get wireless at the camp. The kids are not nearly as devlish this week. I created skits from greek myths and they are putting them on. They are doing a good job and i am really proud of them. I am really nervous for the final performance at the end of the week. I hope that everything goes well.

I committed to the job in Florence for the time being but will need to find other work on top of it. It is teaching an english lesson for a hour and a half tues and thurs and the working on saturday as well. There is not much money in it starting but they have also put me in contact with a lady who will rent me a room for not very much money. I still need to talk to her but living in Florence again will be nice. I am also going to get in contact with the theatre that is there so that i can audition for something and get back to my actor roots. I have a really bad cough which made me roomate here at camp abandon me and go sleep in another place. I feel terrible but there is nothing that i can do about it. I love you all and i hope to get some emails soon. I like them, it makes me happy and comments would be nice just so that i know that someone is reading this. I love you all

amanda

first week

This week was nuts. I thought that I did pretty well but I am absolutely exhausted. We had really awful kids this week which made everything a little bit more rough. I got really really sick the last day but managed to make it home. I have been sleeping and preparing for the next week. There a couple of different opportunities for work which are pretty exciting. I love you all and miss you.

Amanda

it's me

cold feet and wet beds

This morning was amazing. Alessio woke up before I did and I came into the kitchen and his sweet little eyes greeted me this morning. I heard a tale about a terrible dream in which Max was mad at him and something horrendous had happened to Thomas the Tank Engine involving a monster. After listening intently I looked at him with excitement and said, "what's today?" "MY BIRTHDAY". The dream was soon forgotten and the presents, cake, and all the big boy things that a five year old can do went flashing through his mind. I then brought to his attention the perfectly wrapped yellow package that sat on the table. I read him the card that was beside the package and then gave the go ahead to begin tearing through the paper. My heart filled with anticipation as well. Memories flashed back of Christmas and birthdays past where I too had the gleefull somewhat savage "present" look in my eyes. The frustration that came along with the paper was soon overtaken with the joy of a beautiful new Cars alarm clock, and for a brief second everything seemed perfect. It is strange how watching the moments that children experience can bring such clarity into the eye of the beholder. These must be some of the moments that parents live for when all the hard parts of taking care of children seem to melt away and nothing but love fills your heart.


Max was in a great mood too this morning and for the first time he didn't ask for his bottle. I was impressed. We then spent the rest of breakfast looking over an American monument pop up book and I taught them the Star Spangled banner (more like I had a theatrical moment in the kitchen using a paper towel roll as my microphone and using the opportunity to sing at the top of my lungs.

I am going to miss them when I leave. I find it strange that the older I get the better I am getting at letting people go but holding memories extremely tight. I am learning that I infact have very little control over this roller coaster of life and the more willing I am to just ride it the easier it seems to be to live.

In other news, Italy is still beautiful. It's getting a little too cold for my taste but I have a beautiful new jacket to take care of that. I have also learned that no matter how calloused and blistered your feet get they still work.

I don't know why I am so joyful right now; it might be all the espresso or maybe it's that clarity moment sticking with me. Either way I hope that I can feel like this for awhile.

la vita e bellissima

Every morning when I wake up and look out my front door I see an ancient Etruscan wall and every time some part of me has forgotten that I am in Italy and that I live in front of this wall and a smile that starts in my heart creeps out onto my face.

I love this place.

I have begun my preparations for leaving. Charolette said that I can have my room back on the weekends and that I can leave my stuff here. That is one less thing that I have to worry about. I can also stay here for a couple of weeks after I finish camp while I am finding work and an apartment.

I am having trouble sleeping but 6 o'clock will come very early tomorrow. O how i love thee espresso!!!!