I don't like the flowers

I don't like the flowers.
I don't like the daffodils.
I hate the mountains.
But I do like the rolling hills.
I do enjoy a good fireside,
especially when the lights are low
but please no more "do whopping!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yad_i1Ze9S8
I've heard this camp song probably enough times for the rest of my life. We learned it at orientation, one of my roommates during orientation would sing it and at camp, once it was resurrected it never stopped. And its only June! It gets stuck in your head like nothing before. I'm sure people have gone crazy because of it. I don't like the flowers anymore.

With that said, this is the run down of what happened this week.

Last Friday I lost 2 campers and on Monday I got 4 new ones. For those of you that have worked with me know that I am big with nicknames or secret names for people. One of the new kids we called "Swiss model" and the other "Ron Potter" cause he looked like a combination of Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. The other kid that was part of this trio was just kind of around and the fourth was a kid who had the bluest eyes you had ever seen and you just melted when you looked at him. So when Robbie first met this blue eyed angel, Robbie during his interduction told him that all the girls would be after him especially when he was older (cause he is now 11) and he would be a real ladies man. This blue eyed kid was so sweet, he would follow me around and help me out and tried really hard with his English. The bad thing was he got sick and I only saw him for 3.5 days.

But the Swiss Model was the exact opposite. I have never met anyone more resistant to anything in my life. He was at English camp and I probably only heard him speak 3 sentences of English and those were all variations of "I don't want to do that." He couldn't even say the basic sentences that the 5 or 6 year olds could say like "Can I go to the toilet" or "I am 11 years old." There came a point where during our show rehearsal he had to say "My name is..." and instead of his name, he said another name. Uh....there might be a problem here. I had to have the directors talk to him several times to remind him this was "ENGLISH camp". He got better throughout the week especially when him and Robbie had a moment of doing some 70s dance moves. He also got better when I had someone tell him in Italian that if he didn't start speaking English, he could go to the class with the 6 year olds because they were all still learning the basics. He tried harder after that.

There was also one girl named Luna. She stood out in a crowd. She was literally in her own little world, but you wanted to go to there to see what was happening. She was on my Olympic Team. Doing relays like over and under where you pass the ball over, then under and so on, she would chuck the ball across the yard. Not like oops I dropped it but would throw it over her head far. We did not do well. But everything was that way for her. Dancing, talking, interacting, etc. One day during dodgeball, I was thinking "I'd make a movie about Luna" next thing I know, Robbie is saying there should be a indie movie about Luna and he came up with the title "From the Earth to Luna" or something similar. It was too clever to not mention.

Our final show for the week was a hit. My class did "Limena's Got Talent" like "America's Got Talent". My Swiss model was going to juggle. He surprisingly was good at it. However there was so much drama around the show. Who were the judges, what talent was each person going to do? What music? Oh so and so isn't here, who will fill in, etc. etc. Luckily, we had two hosts so a host became a judge, my blue eyed angel who was sick, came in JUST to do the show and was a judge and our original casted judge remained. We had dancing, basketball tricks, magic (which the guy was really good and worked really hard at) and juggling. Throughout the day, the swiss model kept telling me no, I don't want to do it, no no. He was great and the crowd loved him. But I was so over the Swiss model that I was happy to see him go. I have never seen anyone that lazy since I can rememebr.

I also went to downtown Padua a couple of times. I went to the Scorvegni Chapel. It is completely painted with about 18 different panels of the the life of Mary and the life of Jesus wtih the seven sins and virtues along the building. It was pretty neat. We then went to this resturant with tons of pizzas and I being too overwhelmed got mushrooms while the woman next to me got a pizza with scfilacci (horse) on it. So yes, there are people that order that. During my downtown excursions I also went to the University which was so cool. Also, around the university, there are big pieces of paper that have charicatures of people that graduated and stories about them written by their friends. They are the types of stories that your friends know about but you would never tell your parents. Basically its a big public roast on paper for all to see. Without being able to understand some of them, the pictures were graffic enough to get the point. I did not get to see the pulpit that Galileo taught at because they were renovating it but I did get to check out parts of it. They had the original door and I have a picture of that and the ceiling with tons of coat of arms on it that reminded me of walking into Hogwarts. I also walked through a coffeeshop not thinking much of it, everyone just told me to walk through it. My host family took me another day and told me it is one of the oldest coffeeshops in the world! Say what?! That's weird to think about. Before Starbucks, there were old, really old coffeeshops and I have been to one. Next time, I place an order.

Oh and because people keep asking me...the men of Italy. While Marlena and Rachel thought the lifeguard was cute and planned to duplicate the scene in the Sandlot where Squints pretends to drown to kiss Wendy Peffercorn (the lifeguard) I was looking around for other cuties. There was ONE guy I pointed out to Robbie when we went to the pool. He was a director at another camp. Robbie went to get a drink and came back and told me that my prince charming had anger issues. He was seen yelling at one of the kids and told them "I never want to see your face again" and then ordered a drink like it was nothing. So moving on...right ladies?

Summer playlist

This list will be updated from time to time but for now, here is the list of songs that remind me of Italy-Summer 2012.

All You Need is Love-The Beatles
Twist and Shout-The Beatles
Octopus's Garden-The Beatles
Achy Breaky Heart-Billy Ray Cyrus
Ai Se Eu Tu Pego-Michael Telo
Party Rock Anthem-LMFAO
Waka Waka-Shakira
Pay phone-Maroon 5
Ma Cherie-DJ Antonie
Crazy Love (Un Amor de Locos)-Consentidos (Incorreggibili)
Ninguna de los dos-Consentidos (Incorreggibili)
Todos las Chicas-Consentidos (Incorreggibili)
Rain Over Me-Pitbull
Give me Everything Tonight-Pitbull
Yellow-Coldplay
Bon Bon-Pitbull
Abracodabra-Alaska
One Million-Alexandra Stan
LEmonade-Alesandra Stan
Aqui Estoy Aqui Estas-Consentidos (Incorreggibili)
Nina Zilli-L'Amore E Femmina (Out of Love)
Aratos Taranta (band)
Shot Through the Heart-Bon Jovi
Sex on Fire-Kings of Leon
Use Somebody-Kings of Leon
We are the Champions-Queen
Call me Maybe-
Officina Zoe (band)
South Sound System (band)
Some Nights-Fun
Balada-Gustavo Lima
Tacata-Tacabrò
Summer Loving-Grease
Whistle-Flo Rida
Wonderwall-Oasis
Under the Bridge-Red Hot Chili Peppers

Venice-"A City for Beavers" ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I looked up quotes for the title of this blog. I felt that a trip to Venice needed a quote to welcome you to this post. This one made me chuckle so hence the post. But I feel that:

"It is held by some that this word VENETIA signifies VENI ETIAM, that is, come again, and again, for however oft you come, you will always see new things, and new beauties." ~ Sansovino

was better to share how I felt. I loved Venice. I had heard differing opinions and is it my favorite city ever? No but I absolutely loved the history and beauty of it all.

http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/5761018721/m/5821035281 (for other Venice quotes, click here)

I went with my fellow tutor Rachel's host family. We took the train in and got there at about 11. Just to let you know, try to use the restroom on the train cause at the train station they charge you to enter and there are only about 5 or 6 stalls to deal with tons of people. That line was deceiving and I waited a while in line. Anyway, when you get there, you are already greeted by the Grand Canal. Luckily, Rachel's host mom had a friend who was born in Venice, moved away and lives there again to give us a tour. So I was given a tour of Venice by a real Venitian. I totally thought of my friend Jeff, and how jealous he would be. So I hope he reads this. There water taxi's and buses are expensive. The chaepest is about 7 dollars one way. The glitz of Venice is mostly along the Grand Canal because they figure that is where the tourists will stay. Although, as we had a more personalized tour, we went all ni and out of the streets and around the different canals of the main island. (We didn't have a chance to get to any of the others, another day I suppose).

The water is a light cloudy green and yes I put my hand in it. But it wasn't as gross as people said but it wasn't clean. But, if you think of it as a road as what it technically is, then why would you expect it to be clean? Oh and apparently the men who drive the gondolas are millionaires. Why? They charge $50.00 a person for a ride. I would be a millionaire too. Oh and there is only one shop left that make gondolas. And then I wondered if they make them and ship them to the Venitian hotel in Vegas, or if Vegas has their own maker?

There is a bridge there which was known as the boxing bridge. People would box and then fall off and into the river. There is a railing now but footprints on the floor so you know where to stand as you wait in your corner. There is another bridge which apparently you and your lover put a lock on, and write your names on the lock and lock it to the bridge symbolizing your eternal love. Pretty adorable but I thought there would be more. And I didn't know about that bridge. Did you?

And because I'm a dork, last night I asked if they knew the building in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The people I was with thought I was crazy and didn't know. Our tour guide though took me there! I have a picture on the grate that Harrison Ford climbs out of in front of the building. Oh and you'd be surprised, not a lot of people knew the significance of that building. Pfh, some people.

We walked to Saint Mark's Square and were unable to go inside cause the line was crazy. There were tons of people there and the pigeons are aggressive. Because they know that the tourists will fed them, they will land on your hand and shoulder waiting for food. And they will crowd you and not let you go. They are crazy aggressive and fly right at you. I was scared for my face. Truly.

I didn't know that Venice is known for their glass. Did you know that? I didn't. And I knew they had the Venitian masks, but not the glass. But now I know, and you do too now.
The shops are lined with masks and glass, and yes, I did cave and buy some and bought some for a few lucky people as presents. Are you one? You will have to wait.

Last night they were wondering waht to do for dinner. I asked if there was a meal in Venice that they were known for that we should try. Yes was the answer. Sardines with onion soup. Uh...no thank you. They did have a similar meal with shrimp but we didn't eat in Venice so next time. They did have a special ice cream, or gelato if you will but I couldn't have it because the chocolate had nuts in it. I got strawberry instead. It was super refreshing and everyone should have been jealous. All in all it was a good day!

When I started writing this blog, I was in the kitchen waiting for the soccer game to start (Italy versus England) and there was what I thought was an infomercial for old 70s disco music but it was just bad clips of bad 70s disco music cut at really random times for bad transitions. It looked like bad 70s drag queen Kareoke or something worse.

Now to watch the game! Go Italy!

"A horse is a horse of course of course"

So in case you couldn't tell this is a food topic blog post. Today, I wanted to go to Venice or Padua to go check out the sights. I did neither. Instead this morning I went to a bakery but not the bakery I had been going to all week (who is the host family of another tutor so I felt like I was cheating on them) and then went to a meat market that ONLY sold horse.....For those of you wondering, horse looks darker than your average meat. It looks like the color of liver actually. Its a dark redish color. So they had sample horse meat....4 different samples....and I tried them all. Horse is saltier than I thought it would be and I don't know if its how they cured it or horse is naturally saltier but it wasn't easier for me to eat emotionally and physically. It wasn't bad, but it was like...oh, Mister Ed. Luckily my host mom bought the type I appreciated the most. I just don't know when I will get it in a meal now. Oh and it is expensive. I don't know how much exactly but I remember looking at the prices and thinking damn, that is pricey.

After the meat market we went to the grocery store. I really liked the experience to see what they had comapared to what we have. For starters, the shopping carts are all chained up but they each have individual chains. You put a euro in and it releases the chain so you can take the cart. Ater that, when you return it you get the Euro back. Very smart and they are not losing carts that way. Once inside, in the produce section, you have the bag where you put your fruits or vegetables but also little plastic gloves to pick said fruit to make it as clean as possible. The store has 2 different cheese sections. The first section are cheeses that are local growers. So all the chesses say the name of the cheese by so and so family and they were all really cheap, the cheapest cheeses I have seen EVER. The second cheese section are all imported cheeses and they were like 9 euro a whatever their unit of measurement was but that breaks down to about 13 dollars. No thank you imported cheeses, I will not be having any of you.

So then I came back and got an email from my fellow tutors about lunch. I went to meet up wtih them and we went to get pizza because that was the only thing open. I had a seperate menu from my friends. My menu had the name of the pizza, what it was in Italian and in English while my friends only had the Italian (keep in mind one of them knows Italian decently well). I ordered a brie mozzarella pizza with argula and cherry tomatoes. Yum. Robbie's was similar but better. Marlena got some other pizza that looked decent, healthy but something that I did not recognize on top. As the waitress put it down, Robbie who is our Italian langauge person says "cavallo"? Apparently it is shredded horse on top of her pizza! That was too weird for someone who even recently tried horse and didn't find it that bad. However, on the menu it was sfiliaccti (keep that in mind for those of you traveling in Italy) and it sounded ok right? No it was horse meat. We got that packed up for Marlena to take to her host family and ordered the same pizza without the horse meat. Luckily, Robbie was there and heard "horse" in Italian and saved her. It could have been bad.

We then walked around and hung out at Marlena's host grandmother's house talking or watching Robbie and Marlena bounce up and down on the trampoline. I enjoyed my pristine spot on the yard too much to lose it. Marlena's family apparently doesn't eat horse so they got a pizza without knowing what to do withit. However, it was so peaceful just to be there with nature on a beautiful not too humid day and just enjoy it. I was then dropped off at my home. Soon, I was invited to go eat with Rache's host family. Their neighbor came over and I don't remember what it was called but I rememebred what it was. For those of you that know me well, you know that I LOVE pumpkin. Well today, I had tempura flowers, but they were the flowers off the vine of the pumpkins. DAMN they were good. I asked for the recipe because I could have had the whole plate. I also had some cheeses, fruit, pasta and zuccini but the FLOWERS are what I will take away with from that meal. Can I have some more please? And with that, tomorrow I go to Venice. Apparently I have to get glass something as a present. Who knew about Venitian glass and how it was world famous? Not me. I missed that portion of my history class!

I cannot wait! More to follow!

Limena olympics

Today is the last day of the first week of camp. As a reward system we give them ACLE dollars. Each student averaged about 15 dollars per person. At the end of the week, today, we had a carnival. Let me back up, we have a carnival and a show that we perform for the parents. We have a bunch of prop guns for our different shows that we perform today. So during the carnival, my class started charging ACLE dollars to enter the classroom as they guarded the door with their propped guns pretending to drug traffic between the groups. My desks in the class were all flipped upside down as they hid behind them. Although there were organized games of bowling, bottle cap toss, Blackjack, and face painting. My fellow tutor, Robbie, started playing Blackjack with me and some students. Soon, a student, a Junior invitee that is allowed to hang out with the older kids, wearing a flag wrapped around his neck, found Robbie's money and with the guns stole the money. Luckily, Robbie and I got the money in time. Whew.

Picture this...two brothers about a year apart, who I call the anti-social brothers because they only talk to each other and sit on a bench that is too tall for them and rickety are now painted with yellow faces and are acting like lions. I'm tempted to paint my face yellow to try and interact with them.

Update: As I was writing the previous sentience, Break through...we talked to them and they have one younger brother. That was exciting.

Our shows were all done really well. Sherlock Holmes was a big hit and the kids pulled it off well. Even the tutors had their pictures taken. I had been warned that when going to small towns we would be the celebrities of that town. I totally got that today. Everyone around town knows who we are. I don't think it helps that we have bright red shirts that say "English Camp tutor" on them and don't bring extra clothes to change into after work cause we are so gross we want to shower first so we stand out. Now that our first week is over, I am in bed relaxing and updating this blog and any emails I need to. I hope you are all well, whoever my readers are.

Insert something witty or something about Italy here

I am sitting outside my host family's apartment complex waiting for my ride. Another tutor's host family is taking the tutor's out to look at the bigger town near us. This is also the same tutor that called my kids the dream team of dysfunctional and not functional dysfunctional as my brain remembered.

I went into Padua/Padova depending on where you are from. One of the other tutor's host mom's dropped us off. Before she did that she showed us a couple of the Piazza's there. The third one was awesome. It had one of the oldest clocks in the world. We ate in the piazza totally enjoying our evening. Because I'm a nerd, I wanted to check out the university. Oh, and people were making fun of me for that. I didn't get to go but I really want to because you know who taught there? Oh a little known astronomer, scientist, man of science by the name of Galileo. Maybe you heard of him. Now is that nerdy? NO! That is freaking amazing! Oh and apparently the city is also the main setting for the Taming of the Shrew. And this church that I saw that I thought was pretty average was built after a design created by Michaelangelo....pfh....don't worry, I have the church in the background of some pictures I am in.

I also forgot to mention that all families are really the same. During the birthday party for my host mother, I met both sides of the family. They of course asked me my age and then if I had a boyfriend, married, what kind of men I liked, etc. Also, you have th fun aunts, th fun uncles, the people you are just related to, and the favorite grandparents, the people that are dragged there and just want to watch whatever is on, and the little cousins that are just there.

I haven't watched a lot of Italian tv but after the news there is a show called Veline for an hour. The point of the show is to have pretty girls dress as slutty as they can without showing it all, dance and sing and the judges mostly men vote for the hottest. That is at least how I understand the show. I look up the words that are posted on the TV to try and understand more of what is going on but I just keep thinking, they could never have that type of show in The US. Too many people would complain caue it's just scandalous. But as a person that enjoys watching stupid people, I love it. Oh reality trash TV...how I have missed you.

Functional dysfuncctional kids

At least that's what I think a fellow tutor of mine called my kids. I have 8 boys that range from 10-11 and one girl. They are great kids, and are all very talented....seperately. Together though they bring out the worst in each other. I lost my voice either by talking too much or yelling, and not yelling mean things, just yelling like "hey kids, we are going inside." My kids feel bad for me. My host mother offered to take me to the hospital. No mom, it is ok. I always lose my voice when I talk too much. People like me better this way. My fellow tutor said the same thing today as he bought me a slushie.

My week so far has been a roller coaster. Personally, I felt like Monday could have been stronger so I can prepare better for the next camp. I have a bike that I ride to school. It is a very 80s bike with the bright colors. The pedal fell off....not a good start. Monday was also my host mom's birthday. I went looking for flowers and only found a grocery store open where I bought a potted plant of purple flowers. The WHOLE exteneded family came over and she showed all of them. It was quite sweet. Also, they all tried to speak English to me and fatten me up more. How do you tell an Italian enough is enough or no means no? YOU CAN'T! I watched most of the Italian/Ireland game with them until I got so sleepy I almost feel asleep on the couch. It started at 9! Who does that?

Also, I never thought my screen writing class would pay off. At the end of each week, we have to perform a show for the parents of the English that the kids learned or know. We are doing Sherlock Holmes. Upon introducing myself I mentioned that I loved Sherlock Holmes and was reading the stories. When I asked what they wanted to do, the discussion lasted half a minute-Sherlock Holmes? Yes, si si, Sherlock Holmes. Conversation over. I have one kid, very smart, his Engish is good and everyone looks to him to translate. He stresses out with the small details but he helped me write the basic plot of our script. Another kid has ADD. I've had people tell me "I have ADD" or "so and so has ADD" but never believed it because if you put those kids in a situation they are interested in or want to be, they will be attentive. I recognized that. But this kid, is my ADD kid. Adorable, simply adorable. I call him my artist. He has a protractor and ruler and made a cardboard safe that looks amazing in just an hour. However, for him, that was a big deal and if he is not doing anything artsy, he has an incredile hard time focusing. I have the class clown, and the heartbraker, I also have some of the sweetest boys that I will probably ever meet too. Seperately, they are all adorable, but together they feed off each other and are the best kind of crazy imaginable.

Tuesday, I got a bike upgrade! Two baskets to carry my stuff. Awesome! So...I have one kid who has one arm. He lost one in an accident when he was little. He put his arm in a meat grinder and...you know the rest. Oh back story, last year, the camp had a big issue cause one kid broke his arm and there wasn't anyone watching him so insurance was involved and the camp got in trouble. So they stressed that we needed to be viligant. So of course, my student with the one arm, has his hand flat on the floor as another kid walks by and steps on the back of his palm. Oh might I add that this is also the class clown so I thought he was joing when he told me he couldn't close his hand into a fist. The guy that stepped on him, starts crying thinking that he broke this kids only good hand and had this tremendouse burden of guilt. My injured student went to the emergency room and was late to school today. I started freaking out like "oh my God they pulled him out." No they didn't. He was fine, a little tender and a little sprained but A-OK. I was so relieved that he was ok.

Today was better. And tomorrow we play water games. I cannot wait. It is in the 80s here with 50% humidity. No that is not horrible but I am a California girl, not only that, a Southern California girl....humidity is bad. I am sweating in places I didn't know I could. And not only that, the school grounds are dusty so its like a layer of sweat and dust on me and I feel muddy with a layer of dirt crusting on me. Its really gross.

On that note, I leave you. Leave a comment!

Rabbit

...Today was a great, relaxing day. I got to sleep in until 9:30 which was a treat since all last week I have been waking up at 7. Walking out into the living room, the view that awaits me was row after row of corn fields and farmhouses in the distance. I could get used to this.

My host family belongs to a gym/country club of sorts. We went to the pool, went in and dried off by working on our tans. Apparently, you cannot go in the pool without a swim cap. That totally worked in my favor since my hair still has some brown in it. Hooray! After a full day of lounging around, we came back and as I prepared for my first day of teaching tomorrow, my host mother made dinner. I sat down and ate...and it was good. I thought it was tuna and pasta like a tuna salad. Little did I know, I ate rabbit. And you know what? It was good. It reminded me of tuna so much I would have thought forever after I ate tuna today. I also had the best peas I have ever had in my life. I am going to have them tomorrow too! They were delicious! Peas. Who would have known? My host family asked me if I ever tried horse. My answer was no. I think they are going to get me some....I think I'll be ok as long as they don't tell me before what I am eating. Tomorrow is my host mother's birthday. She invited her mother, her sister, her sister-in-law, her brother, etc. to celebrate. I am nervous! Ah! What do I wear? I hope I can find a flower shop to get her flowers on the way home. Also, I hope I don't get lost on my way to work tomorrow. That would be the worst. Wish me luck!

Padua/Limena

Go ahead. Ask me what I did today. You are going to be jealous of my answer. Oh, are you sure you want to know? I took a train ride across beautiful country side that reminded me of Olive Garden commericals, landed in a medium sized town where I was greeted by my supervisors for the next 2 weeks with presents. Oh and I have a host family for the next 2 weeks, where I have 2 little brothers, ages 5 and 8 (adorable!) and together with my host parents went on a bike ride in the Italian countryside (While Padua is a larger city, I'm in the city next to it-Limena- where the houses are spread out and fields seperate one house from the other) along a river which will be my daily route to work for the next two weeks....oh...you thought you wouldn't be jealous? I know you all too well. Oh yeah, and I'm 20 minutes from Venice. Probably going next weekend. Oh......yeah I know, I'm awesome. But really, this is all great. I think there are only about 5,000 people in this town. My host mother works at a farm that manufactures fruits and vegetables to Europe and she had the best tomatoes I have ever had in my life! She asked me what else I liked, I gave her a list and am looking forward to my meals here. My host father is a refridgeator manufacturer/repair man. The two little boys are so adorable. I already got a hug from one and the other one who was super shy started talking to me. Although my host family, parents included, don't speak much English, we are doing well with my broken Italin, their English and a language dictionary. They are very sweet and encouage their sons to speak more English. The mom called it "English intensive."

I got really lucky with this camp. Its a small camp with about 40 students. There are 4 tutors and one of them a returner who I thank God he is here with us. He calmed us all down and told us how lucky we are for this to be our first camp. I am working with the oldest age group of about 9 and 10 year olds. Nervous? HELL YES! But I am looking forward to expanding my imagination and for a new challenge. The directors have been there for years and know what to expect and where straight forward, down to business but in a loving way of creating a balance of work and play right off the bat. Oh and no pressure for our first day but the mayor will be coming by to say a welcoming message. With that said, I am going to start brainstorming ideas!

Italy!

So I'm currently on the train. I left this morning from San Remo and am on the way to Padua with a layover in Milan. I will be in Padua for 2 weeks, living with a jost family and working at a camp 8:30 to 4:30. I am traveling on the train with 8 other people but I will be in Padua with 2 other people from orientation. The houses along this train route are more modern as if you would see in the country side or what I imagined the houses to look life.

The Milan train station is beautiful. I wanted to take pictures but I know I'll be passing through again.

Now to talk about my time in San Remo. It was beautiful. So quaint and just chill and beachy. Wednesday, I had the most stereotypical day in Italy. I had pizza and went to a coffee shop and tried to update my blog but alas I did not but just caught up on emails. Historical stuff-San Remo, well old town is built in the shape of a pine cone circling from the outside moving in. The streets are so small to bottleneck potential invaders back in the day. I don't know how the little old ladies walked up and down the streets. They are so steep. The doors that align the streets were used for horses and mules as stables. The whole history was very interesting but seeing it in person was so much putting history together with modern day.

Training-training was a blast. It was so much like being at camp. There were a lot of theater people that made the experience so awesome. Hilarious, talented people. There was girl, Amanda who reminded me of a young Carol Brunett. So funny. Literally people from all over but for some reason, I'm one of the darkest. Especially with all the sun now, I really am one of the darkest. It was hard fitting in with the group considering I give off the worst first impressions. After a while though, I found a few people who I fell into a rhythm with and plan to hang out and travel with and visit. I learned a lot on how to articulate (thinking of buddins and budder and remembering to emphasize the t's to be buttons or butter) better and slow down. (I'll add more as I remember). Disney- they are huge on Disney here. Scrooge McDuck is huge here. Too bad for my purse strings. I haven't bought anything but food because I know I'll be here for 3 months I don't want to carry things and not able to have things to buy later. I also wanted to wait to see what the families would suggest in terms of buying things. I'm very grateful for this experience to see Italy and travel and see Europe! Stay tuned!

Mambo Italiano

Day 1: San Remo. So I look Italian. At least that is my interpretation of walking around Italy. I never got hassled, cat called or approached by people wanting to rip off touristS (well not yet anyway) until I started walking around with blondes or people who look less like they belong. Exploring by myself, I blended in. Kiah if you are reading this I thought of you and how I should go exploring alone. Best decision ever. Before I met my roommates for this week, I ventured out and got a fresh taste of Italy....now they barely let me out of their sights. They got "worried about me" and I think it's because when they go out, they are noticed, they stand out while I, the brunette with the olive skin blend in with the crowd. My first meal in Italy was...anyone want to guess? It was Indian food. I arrived on a Sunday and the only thing open was the Indian place or the Chinese food place. Sunday...things are closed! Oh those crazy Italians. Day 2: My first day of training. Walking back from training it dawns on me that San Remo reminds me of a less university filled version of Isla Vista, the little university town next to UCSB. I don't know how else to describe it. I totally feel safe walking around up and down the streets, (ok maybe that part is not like IV) and getting lost, going down alleys and checking out all the shops. You get the vibe that it is a very tourist town since half the stores are Disney themed merchandise but it's stuff I've never seen in the United States. It's rather odd. The Smurfs seem to be making a come back. Who would have known? I have met Irish, Americans, British, Kiwis, Scots and Canadians. I share a room with 3 other girls that range from 20 to 22. Nice, but being older than them sometimes I like the separation of working and living with them. I try to be ice to them but sometimes I use the short tone because I don't want to be best friends all day. I sleep in the top bunk of a bunk bed. My center of gravity and balance are tested morning and night. I haven't taken a nap cause I don't want to climb up and down. I have a camp Bestie. He name is Kevin. He's Irish and more Chandler to my Liz Lemon but we make it work. Although, I call him Jack being Lemon. However, he made a point that I make too many media references to TV especially. So in true TV fashion I used Neil Patrick Harris's phrase in How I Met Your Mother "challenge accepted" (which only one person got) and tried. It didn't not work well and 2 days later failed miserably and had to admit defeat as I caved and used a Seinfeld reference today.

I have more but haven't had time or energy to write more so check back later.

Buddins'

I'm still working on my first post about Italy and it will be up soon but in the meantime...for those of you that I have worked with recently instead of buttons, I say buddins. Most words that I should pronounce the "t", I end up saying the sound with a "d". Apparently as I'm learning, that is a typical American accent. Americans are notorious for not pronouncing their "d"s. So ha! Staff of mine. I have a typical American accent. All of you have more of a proper British accent pouncing the "t"s. there are apparently more notorious items that people from all over the world say differently that make their accents more stereotypical. I can't remember them now but if I do, I'll update.

Final conclusion...I sound ah-mer-can!

Nice is nice part duex

Riding around in Nice is mch like riding around in Ecuador; except Nice has a bit more organized chaos. For those of you that don't understand that comparison let me elaborate. Because the streets are so small and old all the cars are small and compact; so small that cars are parked on sidewalks and mopeds instead of trees line the streets. Also, at times you can't tell what part is the sidewalk. The streets are so small in some places it looks like a sidewalk through the buildings. So if you aren't paying attention and cross without looking you could get hit. Good thing the drivers are used to people walking all over the place and are quick to stop.

I went to the beach today. Prepared this time with my towel, bathing suit, music and book. For a Saturday morning, it wasn't crowded. The party crowd slept in and arrived later. The water there was beautiful. That clear, light blue water that means paradise. It was cold though so I admired it at a distance. The sun wasn't harsh at all and my pale body is not much darker. There were older Asian women walking up and down the beach offerng massages as people worked on their tans. Older men selling peanuts and beer also walked past many a sleeping tourists trying to sell them items. I tried to take my customary nap on the beach but only was able to sleep 20 minutes out of the 5 hours I was there. Instead of sand, rocks line the beach making it hard to get comfortable, but not impossible. By 2 o'clock the beach was filled and it looked like a typical beach scene in the movies.

I left at 4:30 hoping to catch on the tram and get back at about 5 to get in a nap. However, one of the tram drivers was assaulted (at least that's what I got from the broken translation of this woman who knew a little English) and they shut down the trams to investigate for an hour. I had no plans and didn't know where I was going otherwise so I waited. I ended up meeting an older Australian woman, Paula, who is traveling with her daughter and staying at the same place as I am now. So we chit chatted and had a pleasant conversation.

This time tomorrow, I will be in Italy! I cannot wait. Oh pizza and gelato....mmm.

Nice is nice....get it?

So for those of you that don't get it, Nice (the city pronounced niece) is nice....regular pronounciation. It is so what I imagined being on the French Riviera. I have pictures of these HUGE luxuary cruise ships that are privately owned parked in the little bay before they get to the ocean. They looked more rich and lavious than in the movies it was so ridiculous. Also, the beach here is rocky. Really rocky to the point that its stoney. But will that stop me? Hell no! I'm going to the beach tomorrow. Oh yeah, and I saw a lot of breasts today. I forgot that they do that here on the beach. Cause I forgot where I was so I saw some and said "oh yeah....France. They do that here" and its true, they really do.

I wasn't expecting to have another blog so soon but I had to tell what I saw today. I'm on the bus from the airport to my hostel and I see this older woman get on the bus and I was thinking, wow she has long hair that went down to her waist....and then I looked. She turned her head, but the hair didn't move...the hair was tied around the buttons of her jacket! Why?! And I couldn't look anymore to get the play by play to describe here but it was sooooo gross. So gross.

Oh and the food looks and smells so good but I'm saving money for tomorrow to go to Old Town Nice with some people I'm meeting that I will be working with. However, I walked by Subway and saw oh, 4.70....thinking dollars but no, its 4.70 euros...which is like 7 or more dollars for a Subway sandwich. 7 dollars for Subway? No thank you. I walked and found a little sandwich shop that made me feel like I was getting a Vietnamese sandwich from Lee's Sandwiches. I still have half and plan to eat it for lunch to start saving that money to go traveling after.

I'm in Nice for one more day. I thought I was only here a day but it looks like 2 and then San Remo. Oh Italian Riviera, I look forward to us meeting.

*Sorry for any typos,....its a French keyboard so it says all words are spelled wrong.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

For those of you that don't know where this post title comes from I have included the lyrics for you. There are two good versions, the Peter, Paul and Mary version and the Slightly Stoopid version. For the purposes of this blog, think of the Slightly Stoopid version because I am happy! And the Peter, Paul and Mary one is kind of a downer. But anyway, I'm currently in the United Continental Red Carpet/Mileage Plus Club. For my nerds out there, its like the Tardis, bigger on the inside. After you pass the "yes you are supposed to be here" front desk, you walk around the corner to a HUGE lounge with coffee, cheese, crackers, carrots with ranch, coffee and tea stations, soda fountain and bar. And for those of you that have traveled lately, you know nothing at the airport is free. BUT IT'S FREE HERE! And they give you interwebs! However, when I first got here, I got obvious looks like "what is she doing here?" Granted, I dress like a young college kid, have purple hair and look young for my age. I also took forever trying to figure out where to sit because all the chairs looked so comfortable. Did I want brown leather? A Green rounded top of chair that my ex boss would pay a fortune for, or the long backed gray chairs that looked oddly cute? Too many decisions. I opted for the leather chair in the corner.

However, I am a minority here with most people looking all business people like and looking like they travel a lot on their phones, computers or Ipads doing work or like this lady across from me, Skyping to someone. However, as I sat down, and pulled out my Ipad and mini keyboard, I got approving looks as if, I have the materials, I can stay. I board the plane in about half an hour. I am going to leave the United States where I can communicate freely and get around because I know what to expect. Soon, I will be in Europe a whole new place to me and am nervous. However, I didn't feel as if I was leaving home until I was on the plane and in the seat pocket in front of me was the Continental magazine that promoted different travel destinations. On the cover....Quito, Ecuador. I was only there a year and a half ago. As I flipped through the pages, I kept saying "Oh, I went there, and there, and there" but it was cool to see it in a magazine. Then it dawned on me. I will be going to a country that I have seen in a million movies, learned the history of, seen in paintings and heard about in books....I am going there! I will be there in less than 2 days and I can see in person what I've only watched in movies. (Also, if you want a cute movie set in Italy, watch Only You.....worth it my romcom friends.) I plan to eat some more cheese and crackers and prepare to board soon. Counting the hours until I'm there!

All my bags are packed,
I'm ready to go I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn
The taxi's waiting, he's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could cry.

Chorus: So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go. (oh, baby, don't let me go!)
I'm leavin' on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go.
 There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around I tell you now,
they don't mean a thing Every place I go, I think of you
 Every song I sing, I sing for you
When I come back, I'll wear your wedding ring.
 (Chorus) Now the time has come to leave you
One more time let me kiss you
Then close your eyes, and I'll be on my way.
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times, I won't have to say,
 (Chorus)

"Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable. "~The Wizard of Oz

I saw this quote on someone's Facebook and I thought this is the perfect quote to start my blog. I leave for Italy soon. It is close enough where I can start counting the hours. Less than 24 even and I just checked-in from my bed. I am so excited to get away and meet myself again. I recently cut my hair slightly different (let's not get too carried away), got new glasses, and got purple highlights in my hair (and if you haven't seen me, trust me they are more transparent than noticeable, classy highlights if you will) and am excited to introduce the new Elizabeth to Europe. For those of you that I have taken into my confidence, you will know that for many years I hid behind my past, waiting for a dark chapter of my life to close which after 8 years the situation resolved itself and granted me closure. It's taken me a long time to get back to the lovable, bubbly, smart ass most of you knew so long ago but I'm here now and I am here to stay. For those of you that don't know what I'm talking about you all still gave me the same two words of advice-indulge yourself. My reply to you is-I will. 

The plan is to go work in Italy for three months. My contract starts June 10th and ends September 15th. While in Europe I plan to travel to Portugal, Sweden and England to discover my roots with friends, family or by myself for another month and apply to any jobs I qualify for. 

Many of you, friends and family have provided me with the encouragement, love and support to push me forward and make it easy for me to leave with the thought of not coming back for a long while. To those of you, I never said goodbye, it's arrivederci, see you soon! Some of you, you don't know it yet but I said goodbye for good. I said it in a whisper as I turned back and looked at you, or the building that I associate with you ready to move on without you in my life. Some of you though, said goodbye to me too. And now, I say it to those of you, now, out loud that have hurt me, used me, or we simply grew up and went our own way, "goodbye, thank you for the life lessons that I will take with me, best of luck." And yet, I haven't covered all of you. There are a few, a very select few of you who, I don't know what will happen to our friendship. It can go either way, yet the thought of never talking to you again scares and saddens me to the point that I shrug and say que sera, sera, (whatever will be will be) and as I finish my packing and prepare to go to Europe for the first time, I find myself at peace ready for the unknown with you and with the next 4 months. 

I never thought I would say this but USC has been my life for the last four and a half years. I have worked and lived it way more than I ever expected. I met so many amazing people that have helped restore my faith and energy and healed me in ways I never thought possible. Thank you USC. 

P.S. Not everything will be so mushy but I had to say what I was thinking. Keep checking back!