A little more like home...

A friend recently commented that I seemed a little distant lately. It made me realize that I do feel distant - from everyone and everything back home. Sometimes I feel like I am trying to hang on to the past by a very thin thread-that can break at any moment. The tighter I hold on...the more I seem to slip away. However, just recently things began to crack a little here. Michael and I decided to take a walk one night to a local pizzeria. Upon entering, we were greeted by two colleagues from school. We ended up eating and drinking with them. On our way home the same evening we ran into another friend and stood on the Cassis (the main street) and had a chat. A day or so later, while on a walk, I was greeted by honks and waves of a family from school...all of that made me think I live here and there are people who know me - making Rome feel a little more like home!

Last Sunday I decided to take a walk to a local park. I noticed many people were out walking, however, they weren't in excercise clothes like me. I quickly realized that many were either on the way to or home from church. Being me, I immediately felt somewhat guilty out there in my yoga pants and thought "next week Michael and I are heading to church. We're in Rome for godsake, the most beautiful churches inthe world." (we haven't gone yet) I then noticed that many people were carrying these packages wrapped in green paper with a gold bow. It didn't take me long to understand that these packages came from the local pasticceria (bakery) , and that they were carrying home treats for the family- of course I ventured in. Upon entering I was overtaken by the sweet smell of italian pastries, cookies, cakes and more. Ten euro later and more pastries than Michael and I could possibly consume, I immerged from the pasticceria with my own little green package with a gold bow. It's amazing how a little package gives you a sense of belonging. And as I carried my pack home to my family (Michael and me), for the first time I felt somewhat like a local!

School is an adventure in itself. I just wasn't prepared for the amount of italian that is spoken here by the students...it makes me wish I could wave my magic wand and understand and speak the language. I am certainly missing out on something special by not understanding what is being said during the free social times. After lunch each day, many of teachers head over to the coffee bar on campus for small expresso or a sweet treat...the high school students fill "the bar" as it is called, socializing as if they are out on the town. There is something kind of nice about teachers and students meeting together. The students play hard here...students have a lot of freedom to roam around the campus. Soccer is the game of choice for the boys and even the youngest in EC1 (3 & 4 year olds) play with the intensity and actions of the professional soccer players. They push and shove and yell out things I can't understand and just when the intensity increases and I think it is time to intervene, they are hugging and patting each other on the back with the same energy and intensity as when playing the game. I notice this out in town also. When sitting in a restaurants, families talk loud and with great passion (making the porricelli family seem quite quiet and mild). They can be laughing and talking one minute and then turn and give one of their children a quick slap on the head the next. I tmakes me jump everytime. It sounds like everyone is yelling, but I am learning it is just the way it is here - they are just excited!

I attended my first mass today (yes church at school) - the 2nd graders are making their communion. I must admit that at first I thought I would feel very uncomfortable with this, but it was so sweet and the children were so engaged, that I found it endearing. We will see if that feeling continues with time. Michael is still not blogging yet, but he is making friends and his social life is increasing - I think he has adjusted better than I. Our goal is to eventually do some exploring out of Rome...although there is sooo much to see here! Ciao for now!!