arrivado 28, December 2008

My suitcase has found its way to Rome.

I HAVE MY CLOTHES! For the first time in 4 days, I am wearing something clean and different.

Some friends graciously drove me to the airport last night, and we picked it up on our way to dinner.  Funny thing…the security guard looked at me and Fabio when we were entering the baggage claim.  He asked Fabio

°is it your suitcase or hers°

Fabio said °hers, but I am going to help her claim it°.

The security guard said Fabio could not accompny me, as the suitcase was mine, not his.

Then, the Italian security guard asked Fabio °is there anything that is yours inside of the suitcase°

Fabio thought for a minute and said °yes°.

The security guard looked at me and said °does he have something in the suitcase°

I said °no°.

The security guard said I had to go get the suitcase by myself.

Fabio later told me that as I was going to get my suitcase, the security guard said °I tried ot help you out.  But she didn’t know how to answer°.

!!!

I guess that, in Italy, there are times when you’re supposed to lie, even to those in charge.  I’ve got a lot to learn.

ps I’m sorry about these crazy typing errors.  I cant find the aostrophe, the question mark nor the apostrophes on this keyboard.

Travelling 26, December 2008

Ciao.
Here I am again in Rome (if you don’t know this, my boyfriend is from here. We have been coming for Christmas every year for the past 3 or 4 years).
In the one and a half days since I have arrived, we have been eating well. Pasta, lasagna, lamb, sausage, tiramisu, limoncello…and, as last year, the dog gets the leftovers of everything. Pasta, lamb…but don’t think about giving him the fat from the meat. It’s not good for him.

I have one big, giant problem this time.

My suitcase did not arrive with me.
I am here, wearing the same clothes I wore yesterday and the day before (don’t worry…the absolute necessities were borrowed from my boyfriend’s mom. How embarrassing). All of the stores are closed in Italy for the holidays. Even if I had to buy new clothes because my luggage was irreversibly lost, I couldn’t. And, truth be told, as I am paying off school loans and a new car, buying a new Italian wardrobe is not something I can easily afford.
Another problem with my suitcase being lost…I can not give anybody the gifts I spent hours choosing. So yesterday, as we were giving and receiving gifts, I was simply receiving.

So, while it is true that I am lucky to be here, I am also saddened by the prospect of wearing the same clothes for the next 8 days.

Don’t ask me to bring anything back this time.
I may have spent all of my money on more necessary items.

Winter clothing 21, December 2008

Usually I am a victim to fashion’s beckonings.

I hear her calling me from miles and miles away (usually in the guise of a Banana Republic store).

I want the long-sleeve, cowlneck wool sweater in blue. Maybe in green as well. For summer time, the “fluttersleeve scoopneck top” or a “lace seamless camisole” (quotes taken directly from BR site).

I have a pair of Italian boots in brown. And a pair of French boots in black.

HOWEVER.

The winter in Wisconsin extinguishes my usually burning desires. I wear long underwear. Pants I bought in college when I didn’t have to look semi-professional. Boots that aren’t made in Italy or France, and which aren’t made for fashion.

I feel that I have to justify myself because I am about to leave the house looking like I am walking around in a sleeping bag. I mean, I have 18 layers on, and my serious winter jacket is a giant fluff ball of down feathers.

In the last 2 days, we have had 1 million inches of snow. And today, the frigid temperatures are set to hit. I haven’t been outside yet but it looks like it’s about -87.

If you see me, feel free to tease me. I’m sure you won’t look much different.

Snow day 18, December 2008

I was talking with my kids about the possibility of a snow day tomorrow.  I told them that while I understood why they wanted to stay home, tomorrow was a day full of fun things (tomorrow is the last day before winter break).

One kid raised his hand and said

“Yah!  Would you rather have a day full of parties or a day full of video games?!”

The sad part…when I asked him which one her preferred…he said he preferred a day full of video games.

Nutcracker 14, December 2008

Yesterday, we went to the Nutcracker.

Only one of the four students we brought was interested in taking a picture with the dancers.

The lunch was at Miss Katie’s Diner (which is famous, by the way, for a visit by the Clintons years ago. There is actually a paper cut-out of Hillary. However, in opposition to recent news posts about Hillary cut-outs, nobody is touching her in this one).

The girls all played with the straws in their milkshakes.

All of the teachers who went took pictures with the girls.

I think that, all in all, we had a good time.

Near the end, one of the girls took out her imaginary violin and began to play along with the orchestra.

All of the girls particularly enjoyed the dancing rats and the dancing chicks. I guess that animals are alluring at all ages.

I made a big deal of telling Cherrell and Kaliaha that this was their Christmas present. I told them that it wasn’t something they could hold, rather it was a memory they would have. When I was driving them home, one of them asked me “Where is my Christmas present?”

No you didn’t.

I am in the process of putting together a picture card for all of you who contributed to the Nutcracker. It should be in the mail soon!

Merci beaucoup.

To teach, or not to teach 1, December 2008

It’s on days like these that I ask myself why I became a teacher.

If 4 days off of school is too much for 1st graders to recover from, then imagine how this class will be after 2 weeks of winter break. 

Someone have a drink ready for me, on the afternoon of Januray 5th…

I know that we expect too much of little kids.  Being quiet and walking in straight lines are not yet part of their normal, age appropriate behavior.  However, it is what we adults have deemed to be important for these 6 year-olds. 

Today, my students were not happy with the choices that adults have made for them.

And I was not impressed with the behavior that resulted from their unhappiness.