back in italy

WARNING: I am unable to spellcheck in English...so I appologise for my spelling...

So I haven't writen in this blog for two years. Two years since I went anywhere that was truly adventursome. But here I am, back in Italy.

So this adventure started with me arriving in Milan. I stayed there two nights before heading to San Remo. During the day I went to the duomo, the piazza della Scala (and boy, do I want to go see an opera there just so I can go into La Scala), and the castel Sforza. All of which were kinda cool since I've studied a bit of Milan Renassiance art and history, but for hte most part I have decided that I am not a fan of Milan. Not to mention I realized that even though traveling by oneself they get to do as they please, it is also quite lonely....So...then I was off to San Remo...

As you all know, I'm here working for an organization called A.C.L.E. They have English immersion camps set up all over Italy, and last week I had a week long orientation to learn how to teach English to none native speakers.

The orienation went alright. I made friends with a few of the people, but I was for the most part the shy person I am when I'm surrounded by people I don't know. Or at least I was until they served us wine every night at dinner. = )

Anywho, that is all good and done and now I have been shipped out to Nembro, a town near Bergamo (in Lombardy). Camp starts tomorrow and I was practically quaking in my boots a few hours ago. But since then I have sat down and made lesson plans and I feel so much better already. I'll be teaching the post-beginner, pre-elementary age level (ages 8-10), so keep your fingers crossed that I won't make a complete ass of my self.

So, here in Nembro I am staying with a host family--two parents and three kids. And then a bunch of lively family that live nearby. The brother of the father lives nearby and today I met his girlfriend. In a house in the back (which actually extends above my host family's) is where the father's parents live. They don't speak a word of English, but they are awesome. His father makes a bunch of jokes (only some of which I understand). However, when I do understand, he always gives me a little wink. It is just so cute.

Anyways...my host family is great. The mother understands English pretty well but is embaressed to speak, and the father doesn't understand much but loves to speak, so it is a pretty great house to be placed in. The kids understand very very limited English. I'll have the eldest in my class tomorrow so we'll see how that goes. As for the kids--there is Camilla (the oldest--and she is a total sweetheart), Fillipo (who is currently sick and just today went to the hospital), and a two year old named Ciara (whom I absolutely adore---she doesn't really speak any language, just invents her own, and it rocks).

Okay, that is it for now, I have to get back to preparing for my class.

Baci e amore,

Sarah