Settimana Bianca

So every year around this time all the schools in Rome (and maybe Italy, I’m not sure) get one week off from school. It’s called ‘Settimana Bianca’ or the ‘White Week’ apparently named so because everyone goes to the mountains. My family, of course, took an extra week, so one week down, one week to go on this unbelievable winter break.

We’re in Cortina d’ Ampezzo, which is famed for holding the Olympics in the 50s, being the set of a stunt scene in For Your Eyes Only and is known as the play place for Europe’s jet-setting, filthy rich. In keeping with the “mind-blown by this lifestyle” theme, I’d say that sounds about right.

Schedule-wise, it’s much like being at home since the kids are gone with their ski instructor from morning to mid-afternoon. So during that time I keep myself entertained with of course the scenery, window shopping (since I definitely can’t afford anything at any of the stores here and am not much of a shopper anyway, so that’s fine), reading some random books I found in my room that happen to be in English (I’ve discovered Danielle Steel books are silly and unrealistic but entertaining nonetheless), and multiple trips to the post office. And if you know me at all, more than my fair share of naps. I think if I want to ski I have to pay for it, which isn’t possible so there’s that.

The girls are tired of skiing already. First world problems? They complain every morning but then seem to have had a good time when they get back. Coming into these two weeks I was worried I’d loose it but they’ve been decent and we’ve had lots of fun. They’ve discovered my iPhoto files so we’ve spent lots of time looking at all my pictures and videos of friends, family and adventures. It makes us all happy but me a little heart sick as well. Worth it to keep them quiet and entertained. So far their favorite is a video Amanda and Mary Beth made one time when they brought Kobe, Amanda’s dog into the dorm. It’s hilarious and Amanda, I don’t even mind the puppy talk J

The condo is actually pretty modest. I think it’s a time-share, which would mean my family can’t decorate or furnish so I’m sure that has something to do with it. Four bedrooms, three bathrooms with a kitchen, dinning room and den. It looks stuck in the seventies complete with green, shag rug and orange bedspreads. I was surprised and very grateful to get my own room and don’t at all mind sharing a bathroom with Edward and Merci. But thank goodness for locks or I would have been walked in on somewhere near seven times by now.

The first week Nona Kicca was here. Nona means grandma and she’s Alessia’s mom. I LOVED her. She was so spunky and kind and definitely did not put up with as much wild outrageousness from all four of the kids. Marco got here Saturday night and besides the addition of cigar smoke (I happen to kind of enjoy it, for reasons I’ll keep to myself in this public forum) there hasn’t been much change to our routine or dynamic here. I don’t know how long he’s staying but Alessia said she’d be mad if he didn’t stay at least 2-3 days. Tomorrow Nona Laura, Marco’s mom, arrives tomorrow with Luca, Marco’s older and mentally handicapped brother. Both will stay until we all return to Rome on Saturday.

Lastly, I’d like to thank everyone for your comments! I really do appreciate and enjoy them. It helps me to feel a little less like I’m talking to myself (a habit that has unfortunately increased since I live mostly by myself J).

No Italiano

I have this problem where I always make eye contact with people in the street. In LA I accidentally made a lot of homeless friends. Here I've accidentally made friends with the Indian man near my post office, he sells cigarettes, umbrellas, etc to the people in the cars stopped at his traffic light. Also my neighbors, the guards at the gate to the Iraqi embassy. Robert, the Italian security guard at the US embassy. He said I only need to come there if I have emergencies or legal problems but I should feel free to come visit him anytime. And lastly, a waiter at a restaurant near the Pantheon. I was walking by last night and he stopped me to ask if my name was Jenny. He took my pause as an opportunity to greet me with the traditional kisses. Sly guy. It's just not in my nature to stare at the ground looking angry (as I was once advised to do in order to avoid making all my friends) so I guess I'll just make friends and claim "No Italiano" when it gets too awkward.

Speaking of, "No Italiano" are probably the Italian words I've learned best so far. I made it to a church this past Sunday. Finally! To my pleasant surprise there was a lady, Tonia, who speaks English very well and sat next to me to translate. Come to find out, she and her husband, Vittorio, have a daughter at Harding and they spent the spring 2011 semester there. (I even attended some meeting they held about participating in Avanti Italia. To be honest I heard there was going to be authentic tiramisu. There was and it was fantastic. So needless to say, I didn't exactly remember Tonia but luckily she didn't remember me either. But that tiramisu...) 

So since Tonia knows English so well she volunteered to give me Italian lessons! I had my first one Monday. It's going to be slow since we're only meeting on Mondays and I'll be out of town for the next two. Not to mention she's not a real teacher so she doesn't have a curriculum or anything. Our first lesson was mostly the alphabet and me asking her words or phrases I've heard frequently. I think I'm going to start bringing some of the kids books and maybe we'll work with those as our textbooks :) In addition, I might have to enroll in an Italian course at one of the local colleges for visa purposes. So in a way I'll be eating my words from all those times I said, "I will never have to go to class again!" Dad, you called it.

I spent one afternoon wandering (lost) and stumbled upon a kebab place. Similar to a Greek gyro, wonderful and delicious and CHEAP and our HUF group loved them when we came to Rome three years ago. But I forgot how difficult they are to eat. It's in kind of a pita pocket but they fill it past its capacity so...difficult. I'm glad I was by myself while simultaneously feeling sorry for the other people in the shop. 12 (I counted) tiny, non-absorbent napkins later, I finished. It was so good I didn't even care how disgusting I probably looked eating it. You're welcome for the mental picture.

And the snow. Last Friday Rome got a few inches of snow. The kids didn't have school Friday, Monday or Tuesday. Tons of places were closed, everybody put chains on their tires, buses and trains didn't run, our internet went out for a little bit, TONS of tree limbs fell. On my street one tree even tipped over, roots and all, it just tipped over. Our street kind  of looks like a war-zone from all the broken glass, crumbling walls, smashed cars and downed limbs. I have never seen any place so unprepared for snowy weather. Even the trees were unprepared! I mean the US south doesn't really know what to do either but at least they still function. This was crazy. Every time I went out I just laughed. Literally. I would walk down the street in shock and disbelief, laughing.

Which also reminds me that I got my first gelato this time around. I made a special trip to Giolitti's (famous) near the Pantheon. I got a small cup for 2.50 euros with a scoop of cannella, niccola, and cioccolata (my go-to choices of hazelnut and chocolate with a special treat of cinnamon because Giolitti's has the best) with whipped cream on top. I told Jenny that everyone I passed on the street probably thought I was making love eyes at them because I couldn't stop smiling and it's possible I was giggling a little. I can't help it. I love ice cream.