I refuse to give up!

     I expected this time in Italy to be full of the emotional ups and downs for sure. Thus far during my travels, I have tried to stick with posting only those fantastically wonderful ups, but now is an important moment for me to take some time and discuss those sometimes horribly depressing downs. My study abroad experience while at the University of Georgia taught me that homesickness would be one such obstacle I would have to conquer while living abroad for such an extended time. Little did I expect that those overwhelming, pit-forming moments would be so strong at week two. Luckily they only lasted for about a week, and were replaced by a stronger sense of personal adventure and excitement about truly living in Florence. They have since returned only for short moments and never as strong. Christmas I know will be full of mixed emotions, but all in all will be full of new experiences that I can treasure for a lifetime. It has helped to realized that the love I have for my home, family, and friends while difficult to physically express thousands of miles away, are no less strong and enduring than when I am surrounded by them. Love, I have come to understand knows no sense of distance nor is it limited by time zones or the magnitude of vast oceans. I can rest assured that those people and places I love are aware of my love and I of there's. It is also such a blessing to have Skype, which makes the longings for home much more bearable when I can see the faces and hear the voices of my loved ones back in the States. I have been placed in Florence, partly because of my own desire, fascination, and affection for this "citta bella", with its many cultural treasures, as well as, I believe, God's ultimate plan and desire for my life which will be to the growth of myself. Simply put, I am here so I choose to make the most of it! 

     However, as of late, another distraction from this bliss has interrupted and shaken my joy while living here. This obstacle is neither internal, nor is it self inflicted. The "honeymoon phase" with which I enjoyed approximately two month with the family and Giova has worn away to leave very distinct and visible differences in the methods and ways I was raised, and how Italians, and moreover this family, choose to raise Giovanni. Little Giova now is coming to the realization that I am not merely a playmate nor am I one who will blindly give in to his tantrums and his fits of anger. I try as hard as I know how to continue to show and tell him everyday how much I care and adore him, with the truth that I am his teacher, mentor, and a respected adult in his life. Finding a balance that suits both my needs and those of his parents has posed the greatest of challenges. I see my job and duty here as someone who must get the essentials like eating, getting dressed, brushing teeth, and bath time done, while also making sure to focus on the moments in between when playing, coloring, and having fun help to make our relationship strong and full of joy. In the last few weeks Giova has begun to blatantly ignore and sometimes intentionally sabotage my efforts. He knows that his parents can at times give in quite easily and when he is frustrated or angry with me, will run to them as a place of refuge and consolation. Mavi has even gone as far as to admit that it is his fault, but that I must evolve to work around it, which I find a bit laughable. They do not understand that this builds a wall between he and I and also destroys the relationship that we must foster where he respects my authority and listens to my advice. Giova also realizes that as for his parents, a well placed tear or a proper angry scream often warrants their intervention and thus continues in his achieving his goals and getting what he wants. I have tried to discuss this problem with his parents and thus far have had little in the way of help and support. I have been sustained by compliments and motivation from other au pairs and other mothers in the community who applaud my somewhat strict methodology and see that it is needed by Giovanni to help him transition from his more toddler-like mentality to a more responsible and respectful young childhood phase.

     Luckily for both his parents and I, Christmas holiday has come, and this time apart will give us both an opportunity to reevaluate what we need from each other, as well as what we want for and from Giovanni. I have been fortunate to have other au pairs give me advice, and in one instance, buy me a small toy to use for a certain technique she has taught me. I am so lucky to be supported by these great people as well as from everyone back home. I am having a fantastic few first days of my holiday break and am already excited about the families return, when I can start to tackle these problems and solve these issues in a more constructive way. I can always use more prayers, but I know I am firstly in God's hands, and secondly, determined in my own ability to evolve, adapt, and work hard through any problem. Man, who new moving to Italy would teach me so much! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!  

               

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

"Oggi nella città di Davide un salvatore è nato a voi, che è il Cristo Signore". Luca 2:11

We own another Villa!!!

     I am constantly amazed at the wealth and deep history connected with the Guiccardini Corsi Salviati family. In addition to the very grand and lavish "palazzo" we live in full-time at the heart of Florence's historical district, and the truly beautiful country villa in Maremma/Aquisti, this affluent and influential Florentine family also has another "rural" villa called "Villa a Sesto". I say "rural" with the explanation that at one point this villa was considered a retreat from the hustling, dirty, and often throughout history, plague ridden fortified city of Firenze. "A Sesto" literally means "a sixth" to geographically explain that the area surrounding it is approximately six kilometers from the nearest gate of Florence. With modern expansion and urban growth exploding far beyond the Medieval city walls, Villa A Sesto is no longer surrounded by rural pasturelands nor is it pastoral in appearance. The villa itself is enclosed within 8-10 foot high stone walls that help to block the modern sounds of cars and busses, and restricts the view of more modern structures like gas stations and hotels. Within these bastions a quiet and peaceful garden is still lovingly tended and labyrinths of neatly pruned hedges still invite you to wonder aimlessly for hours. The villa is now home to the University of Michigan and houses their students who wish to study art, history, and language. I am amazed at the expansive grounds that surround the even more unbelievable complex of buildings. We have antique lithograph drawings of this villa hanging throughout the palazzo and the villa seems to be the true pride of this aristocratic family. I have studied some about it while lounging in the living room as it appears in every major garden and villa book the family has collected as coffee table decoration. 

      I however would have a very unique first encounter with this place and would see it first in much a different way. I was told that we would be visiting the villa on a Saturday morning and that Giova wanted to take little bird traps to set as we toured the gardens. Of course I immediately, and with great joy agreed to go, not knowing that yet again, in true Italian style, some very important decision changing information was quite ambiguously missing. I discovered later that we would have to wake up around 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning so that we could set the traps in the dark as well as the freezing cold. I was still so excited about seeing this much written about Renaissance villa that I went along just remembering that I have woken up much earlier for duck hunting with the promise of much less in the way of entertainment. When we arrived we found the elderly grounds keeper and his lovely wife already up and prepared to graciously welcome us in. Luca chatted for a moment and at the begging of Giova we left to set around 18 small bird traps scattered throughout the "Bosque" or man-made forest setting to the south of the gardens. As the sun began to rise and my hands, ears, and feet began to thaw the gardens awakened with the sounds of birds, and the rushing of water heard in the distance. We would leave the traps to sit for a while and would wondered the gardens and I would become even more enamored with its beauty with each step. We left the now bobby-trapped forest setting to go and wonder through the more formal rose gardens and along the alleys of changing fall trees covered in bright orange and yellow foliage. The villa came into view as well, and was amazingly beautiful with the newly risen sun dappling it with spots of warmth. Statues and fountains scattered along numerous paths were a sight to behold as I felt amazed and lucky to not only be in Italy, but to experience this very grand garden that epitomized the stories and lectures I had so boringly sat through while studying Landscape Architecture back at Georgia. I was reminded of why I love the outdoors and nature by the very presence of a sunrise, and also why I love garden design by the most beautiful splendor seen here at the villa. After an hour or so of running and playing with Giova through mazes, over bridges, and past statues and after taking numerous photos, it was time to find our catch and head home. In all we caught 4 or 5 birds that day which Luca and Giova would enjoy for dinner that night. I myself am not so impressed with the tiny little scraps of meat that cling onto the bones of a bird no bigger than a sparrow, so I will let them enjoy that all to themselves. Luca promised that we would return in the spring to tour the house itself and to see the blooming of flowers that I am positive will prove to be gorgeous.

The "Militari" came to town!

     I pass through Piazza Santa Croce to and from home almost every day and today something was very different! The usually quiet square full of tourists and the occasional monk or priest going into the basilica was replaced with tanks, motorcycles, army bunkers, and soldiers or "soldati". The Italian military was having a promotion day hoping to lour local Florentines into service under the Republic, and had their different branches of armed forces set up in tents to hand out information. I was intrigued! I guess the American military does this at local campuses around the States and I often saw the regular army cadet at UGA handing out flyers, but this was impressive. The tanks were massive, and the recreated first aid or red cross station was so cool. The different branches also had their dress uniforms on, complete with feathered hats and shinning swords clanging at their sides. I walked through to see some of the sites, but still felt a little hesitant about my Italian, and did not want to make a cultural mistake here amongst Italy's bravest, finest, and most armed.

     When I picked Giova up from school that day, I told him that the "militari" were at the house, and looking for him. He smiled and said that it was not true, and I told him that we would just have to go and see. All the way home he kept asking me if I was "for real", sounding more anxious and nervous with every asking and as we got closer and closer. As we came to the corner of the Piazza his eyes opened so wide as he yelled "There they are!" we parked the bike, and started to walk around when he caught a glimpse of the tank standing imposingly in the corner, cannon pointed into the crowd. He immediately ran over towards it and saw another little boy wearing an oversized army helmet complete with eye-piece and antenna standing in the turret. He yanked on my hand and begged me to let him up in the tank as well. We waited for our turn and when the soldier placed the huge helmet on his head, it bobbed and bounced under the weight, while he tried to maneuver himself into the tank and up through the hole leading to the turret. We got our pictures taken in front of this goliath machine, and Giova got one taken while he was in the belly of the beast. Now that I had my little-bit-bigger-than-a-pocket translator with me I felt comfortable walking up to the booths and looking at the promotional materials. We collected pens, posters, post cards, and arm bracelets like the yellow "Live Strong" bracelets of Lance Armstrong. I wear my to this day to remind me of military service all over the world that keeps me safe and secure. I was thinking all the while about those friends of mine back in the states who were either already deployed on foreign service, or were in the process of their own enlistment. I cannot help but to be thankful for the commitment and strength they show by their service to our country and to providing freedom that I all too often take for granted. Asa and Cameron, love, miss and am so proud of you guys! This was a fun chance to see a side of a country that many tourists never even think about and most don't ever see. I am really impressed with the Italian military and am really glad to share this day with my bud Giova!

La Zucca Torta

     As the winter slowly approached here in Florence, and the cold crisp air signals the changing of yet another season, I am reminded of all the wonderful holidays that I have spent back home in Grayson, and I am flooded with thoughts about everyone back home. It is odd how only now I seem to truly realize the magnitude of spending 9 months abroad. I knew that I would be away for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, but had no idea the weird sense I have now of missing all the comforts and familiarity back home. Little things like a fire in our family room, or the food served for a big Thanksgiving dinner, all will be missing this year. I cannot replace the places or the people or even some of the things I left back home, but I know that this holiday season will have its own memories and its own sense of giving thanks and joy. Just as Florentines love the celebration of Halloween, they too are interested in the concept and tradition of an American Thanksgiving. On numerous occasions, when asked about the meaning or historical relevance of this day, I usually create a story filled with Indians and Pilgrims coming together for pumpkins and freshly harvested corn. They sit around a large table and share the bounty of the new world. And suddenly it hits me, this is what we tell children and what I myself have pictured occurring on this day, but it is all a contrived fallacy. Don't get me wrong, I love Thanksgiving and the story makes for cute decorations and funny crafts for kids, (thank goodness) and does its part in setting a fantastic mood, but now I realize that I love this holiday for exactly what the name implies. I love giving thanks for the blessings in my life, and even more so now that those blessings are more distant from me.
      So how do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Italy? Well, I knew they have pumpkins or "Zucca" and pie crust is simple enough, why not just make a delicious pumpkin pie, which is one of my favorite back home. It took me about a week to get all the ingredients needed for this classic holiday dessert and about a hour, to translate it from cups, tablespoons, and degrees F to grams, liters, and degrees C, but it was worth it. One of the hardest ingredients to find, was a replacement for graham crackers in the crust I new would be delicious for the pie. After tasting several sweet cookies, Mavi's breakfast cookie, I found, would work perfectly. I wanted to use this occasion to spend some time with Giova in the kitchen and to watch him enjoy the mixing, and measuring, and spoon licking that is all so much fun when cooking. Some of my favorite holiday memories back home include the smell of our kitchen when mom was frantically cooking the delicious food for our family Thanksgiving meals. And I remember being told during the holidays to stay out of my moms way while she cooked. All of us boys took the warning quite seriously, but would always listen for the sound of a blender or the tapping of a whisk to stop, and knew that in that very moment mom had finished something that would result in a sticky, sweet, messy kitchen utensil that needed licking. Anthony, Mitchell, and I would run in and inevitably she would ask, "Who wants the whisk, and who wants the bowl?" As I watched Giova pulverize the cookies in the blender, and gave him the finished whisk after the whip cream was ready, I was taken back to a very happy time in my own life. To see the joy in his face was worth the mess I would later realize we made. Once the pie was poured and in the oven, we went back to playing with toys and coloring, but this is now a memory of a Thanksgiving half a world away that I can carry with me forever and look back with fondness next year, years from now, and one day when I have children of my own.
     The family loved the pie, and again complimented me on another well done job in the kitchen. I really enjoy spending time mixing and cooking, and talking of back home with Giova while we bake delicious treats we can both enjoy. I would say my Italian Thanksgiving was a success, and look forward to my Italian Christmas here with the family, and to all those I love back in the "New World" Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Halloween!

     I think it a little strange but fantastic that Italians, and especially Florentines, find Halloween to be so intriguing. I knew that as a strongly Catholic country, the celebration of "All Saints Day" would be observed, which it is, but not nearly with such fervor and frivolity as Halloween has come to be celebrated. This most American of holidays, as many have referred to it, has only recently found favor among the children and youth of Italy. They see it as another way of appreciating and assimilating the American culture that has sprang up with the arrival of numerous American University programs and US nationals living within the city walls. I am amazed at how often I can hear English spoken in what is commonly called the "Cradle of the Renaissance" and in the heart of Tuscany. Often you hear the Queens English, rarely the Aussie dialect, and quite regularly a hodgepodge of Yankee speak, California slang, or Southern twang. Florentines apparently have a weakness for the gore and bloody aspect of the holiday, and many storefront windows display an array of ghoulish masks and ghastly costumes to get one in the holiday spirit. I myself have recently realized how much fun this night can be, and appreciate the fact that for one day out of a year, we can be scary, cruel, disgusting and everything that is downright opposite to what we are the other 364 days a year. It offers a chance to rebel within accepted limits and is interesting to ponder the effects of such a day on our psych. Living amongst a family with one small child, we tended to tone down the decorations and lightened the mood as not to over scare Giova, who for all his boyish gusto can still be scared quite easily.
     Eventually we escaped the town for our retreat off in the country where we could celebrate a more laxed and down home holiday. Our weekend was full of pumpkin carving, of course more hunting, and visits with friends and family. For lunch on Saturday I was charged with the task of cleaning and preparing the dove and "pigeone" for what is now Luca's favorite dove dish. I have to give credit to Casey Marbutt for his Philly cheese and dove breast stuffed peppers wrapped in bacon. I am a hit in Italy because of his recipe. The family and our guests were amazed by this simple preparation and loved my ability to both harvest the dove and then cook it within hours of each other. Our guests for the weekend were the Maretti family, father Corso, mother, daughter Olivia, son Leo, and their German Au Pair Frederike, who I have already mentioned before. It was nice to have someone my own age with us for the long weekend and I think she enjoyed watching and being involved in what was a fairly standard American Halloween. As I mentioned earlier, we spent a great part of the day carving pumpkins or "Zucca" in Italiano, which I later realized, that as the superior member of the gourd family was so called in comparison to zucchini or the little pumpkin. Anyways, I was still ecstatic after the news that my Georgia Bulldogs pulled out an amazing victory against you know who and for that reason my pumpkin proudly displayed the "G" in their honor (wish I was there). Giova wanted something scary, so his pumpkin face had a crooked smile and eyes slashed from his knife. We hoped to save the seed for baking later, but never got around to it. Later that evening we all dressed in our costumes and visited several houses on the property where workers handed out candy. Giova was a skeleton, Olivia a Spiderwoman, and I Spiderman. It was after we exhausted our limited homes within range, that we returned to the villa and again, in classic American form, poured out our candy to see what we had gotten. I received a few chocolate Euros, and several candy bars called Kinder which are milk cream filled and rank right up there as my favorite candy EVER!
     The next day was another beautifully warm day full of sunshine and great fun with all the kids. Giova had a few more friends over and wanted to show them my skills and uncanny ability to start small little fires in what we had named our fire spot. To be completely honest, I use plenty of matches, and it takes multiple tries, but Giova cares about only one thing, fire! When we had a small flame burning and some warm coals to speak of, he ran to the house and returned with a handful of chestnuts. We through them on the fire and watched them slowly open and crack to reveal the nut inside. I have never seen this process for myself, so I was in a bit in awe and amazement of the first time I had "chestnuts roasting on an open fire". The adults were also highly impressed when we showed and had this very Tuscan treat in hand. Again, Aquisti did not disappoint and for my first holiday experience abroad I would have to say that it was a fantastic hit. Happy late Halloween to everyone back home, and GO DAWGS!

Wine Tour Through the Val d'Oro (Valley of Gold)

     While in Firenze I have been lucky to find many new friends and have spent many fun nights hanging out and getting to know a little about where each one is from. Megan hails from the motherland of England, while Apryl is a hilarious Aussie, Frederike is from Germany, and Rachel is a fellow American from Seattle. These girls are all so much fun and fantastic in their own way and are helping me to feel more at home in this beautiful Tuscan city. A company known as "Florence for Fun" runs tours and vacation trips for students and young people here in town, and offers day trips to many famous sites around Tuscany. One such trip goes to the coastal towns of Cinque Terra perched high atop precariously ledges between mountains on one side and the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean lapping at their other. I had the pleasure of visiting these five towns on my last trip to Italy, but was still excited about the possibility to visit them again. Apryl and I had decided that we would make the trip and that it would be a great opportunity to get to know each other better and have one last weekend of sun and sand before the winter came to Italy. We spent the week leading up to the trip keeping a watchfull eye on the weather and quietly hoping for a blazing heat wave to roll in. Sadly our hopes were slowly eroded when we began to see pictures of rain and floods striking the coast. Massive devastation hit the town of Manarolo when a mudslide barreled down its historic main avenue and washed much of the town into the sea. I'm sure many of these pictures never made it to the States, but were morning, afternoon, and evening news here in Europe. Needless to say our trip was canceled just a day before we were to leave, but were lucky to reschedule a different trip through Chianti and its world renown wine country full of beautiful vineyards and old Etruscan hilltop towns. I was actually not so disappointed and looked forward to a relaxing day of hiking and breaks filled with delicious vino. Apryl and myself also hoped that this would be an opportunity to find more guys living in Florence that we could all hang out with and give me some relief from all the estrogen floating around when we hang out. The day started with a bus ride through the amazingly picturesque scenery of rolling wheat fields and the changing fall foliage of grape vines splashed with yellows/"gold", oranges, and reds.

     When we arrived into the little town where we were to begin our hike the air was crisp and the sun was warm on our sleepy faces. The hike was dotted with old villas, ruins of Etruscan temples, and even a small reliquary dedicated to a Catholic saint who brought faith to the region and discovered a small spring where he performed baptisms. For lunch we stopped in a small town where a wine maker and vineyard owner opened both his home and his wine to us. Lunch was very relaxed and full of information about the Chianti region and its many wine producers. After probably 3 hours of wining an dining we had to leave and catch our bus back to Firenze, but not before a toast of grappa and a heartfelt good-by by the owner and his family. This trip will for sure be a highlight in the memories I make here in Italy, and was a fantastic way to enjoy the fall season as well as the company of a new and now even closer friend.

A Hunter's Paradiso

     One of great things about living with the Guicchiardini family is getting to know some of the history and heritage that comes with this old Italian noble family. From medieval villas with lush gardens, to even older palazzos and town homes, this family has it all. Although we spend most of out time in Florence or Firenze in Italian, where Giovanni has school, swimming, and karate, we also spend a lot of time at the country villa called "Aquisti" in Maremma, Toscana, Italy. Here, the family has acres of open pasture space freshly turned over in preparation for winter wheat, and numerous barns, glistening lakes and other perfect habitat for every species of game animal you could imagine.  I knew that Luca, Giova's father, was overjoyed with my love of hunting, when I overheard him on the drive to Maremma telling a friend on the phone that he was bringing a " Cacciatore carino" or loosely translated "a cute/good Hunter" with him. We stopped on our way at a local gun shot where we loaded up with shells for the weekend and I had a moment to gaze at some of the most beautiful guns. This first weekend at Aquisti was spent still getting to know the family and settle down to the much slower Italian pace of life. When we arrived Luca became very enthusiastic about showing me around and giving me a tour of this working egg and dairy farm. Latte Maremma as it is known, is the families brand of milk and Uova Maremma is its egg branch. After the more formal drive through in what I think is a pretty awesome Land Rover, it was time for lunch. Family from all corners of what must be several hundred acres showed up to our house for a lazy afternoon in the sun with meats, cheeses, pasta, and plenty of wine. Afterwards, Luca again came to me with that childlike enthusiasm and said that it was time to show me his duck hunting spot. Little did I know that this "spot' was multiple spots, build into the thick bamboo marsh and dense brush that surrounded multiple large lakes. Dusk was settling on the farm and the sun was glowing bright orange behind the distant Tuscan mountains, when Luca and I slowly made our way onto a narrow bridge and through the brush to a little shack that sat right in the middle of a lake surrounded by all variety of waterfowl. I could hear the familiar sound of drake mallards call just in front of us and then the squeal of a teal as it flew overhead. "I had arrived" I though to myself as we sat in awe of this, our hunters paradise.
     We never discussed when we might make it out to hunt, but early the next morning, around 5 am, Luca knocked on my door and said "we go hunting now". A funny thing about Italians speaking English, is their lack of expressing the tone of a question. Theirs come across more as demands or as matters of facts that you have no hope of denying. I sprang out of bed groggy from a large dinner with healthy portions of wine to hurriedly dress in my UGA Ducks Unlimited t-shirt and jeans, and threw on my jacket and camo ball cap. I met Luca downstairs where he handed me a wooden stocked, gold triggered masterpiece of gunmaking that had "Barretta" engraved on its side. I was enamored by this beautiful gun and could not believe it was now mine to go hunting with. It was still dark as we drove to the lake we visited the day before and Luca dropped me off at another fantastic hunting blind. Standing quietly in the early morning fog I could not help but to feel so blest by such an amazing opportunity. As dawn broke, gunfire rang through the valley as duck hunters began the rush to shoot ducks on the move. Adjusting to the 20 Gauge over-under gun took some time, and still is difficult. But as the gunfire subsided and ducks were settling back down into their feeding spots, I finally achieved what I though was merely an unrealistic dream. My first set of curls! Those reading this with a hunters background will know that this meant for me, my first greenhead or drake mallard! I could not believe that I had actually done it, and that finally a bird folded midflight and landed in the water over my right shoulder. I was an Italian hunter now. As we gathered out birds and met back at the Land Rover it was so cool to have been part of this amazing experience.
     The rest of the day was again filled with a fantastic lunch, that was followed with a dove and pigeon shoot above the cow barn, which two weeks later resulted in my first ring necked dove as well. And this same story has been repeated over and over every weekend we spend out in Maremma. I look forward to my first Teal and eventually to the "Cinghiale" or wild boar hunt we are sure to experience during my stay here in Italy.
    
                         

Double Birthdays!

     I knew coming over to Italy would mean, that for the first time in my life, I would be in another country and quite far from home for my Birthday. 24 will forever be the year that I spent celebrating it with new friend and a new family. This day was full of emotion and mixed feelings about being where I was. The celebration actually started the day before my birthday, when I found out that "Nonna's" (Giova's grandmother) birthday was one the 18th the day before mine. The family was planning on a nice dinner here at the Palazzo with a few friends and close family. I decided that my gift to Nonna and to myself would be homemade bananna pudding! Thanks to Mom back home I had a recipe and thanks to Mavi going with me to the grocery store, I had everything I needed. Pudding ,called "Buddino" here, was a bit tricky to find, and Nilla Waffers would have to be substituted with Lady Fingers, but in the endn fresh cream toped it all off quite nicely. When dessert time came, I quietly and with some hesitation mentioned that I had made this most Southern of desserts, and to my surprise, everyone wanted to try it. Nonna got her's first, and instantly exclaimed "Que fantastico!", "How fantastic!". She loved the lightness and perfect level of sweetness, which I believe was the begining of her love of my cooking. The rest of the family also loved this dessert, and want me to make it again when they are all over. Feeling quite confident and inspired by this reception, we ended the night with more wine and conversation about my home. Speeking of home to these people was emotional, but felt nice to share a little of who I was and reminded myself of the wonderful place and loving people I had left behind in the States.

     I woke up the next morning, my birthday, as usual with the task of getting Giova ready for school. Once he was droped of and I returned home, the weight of this day began to dawn on me. I remembered that on my first trip to Italy, I lit a candle in the Duomo or Cathedral in Florence, as a symbolic prayer for my family back home. I decided that for my birthday I would lite one of these prayer candles in celebration for my birthday. Entering the cathedral the silence was moving and made the moment very special. I then decided that this would be my way of celebrating each and every birthday I would be missing of my friends and family back home. These symbolic "Birthday Candles" would burn for the day as opposed to being blown out as is the American tradition. After a day of erands and still adjusting to being in Florence, Giovanni came home and I spent the day playing Legos, my favorite!  After dinner and his bed time movie, I was invited to go out with some other Au Pairs for drinks and dinner. When they discovered that it was my birthday, free drinks started flowing and a round of Happy Birthday to You was sang in the middle of the Italian bar. When I returned to the Palazzo to Skype with my family I was met with a birthday cake cooked in my honor back home, candles and all. All in all this birthday was quite special and one I will never forget. I cannot wait to celebrate 25 back in America, but am so gratefull for this opportunity to have one abroad, and to recieve such an outpouring of love from everyone back home via facebook.

First week getting acustomed to the life of an Italian Au Pair

I'm trying to catch up on events that have happened in the last few weeks while I have been here in Florence. The very first week I was here was a whirlwind. I am so glad that Niel, the last Au Pair, was still in town and able to show me the ropes and teach me some of the most important Italian phrases like: "Basta!" which means "Stop!" (Giova hears it alot from me and his parents), "Piano" which means "Easy or Carefully", and "Lasha" which means "Let go". Giovanni, or Giova for short, had a few friends over this first week and I recieved a very fast and some might say harsh initiation into life with a 5 year old boy. Sword fighting is common among all young boys, myself included. I figured this would just be a simple and active way of playing and bonding. I was wrong! This was Giova's way of testing my will, patience, and phisical strength. His swords are solid wood and for a group of 5 year olds, their swings were quite accurate and strong. Needless to say I withstood quite a beating and was left with numerouse bruises. Niel later confessed he would have never taken the pounding for as long as I, and sat quietly in the background wondering when I was going to crack. This "torture" lasted for maybe an hour, but was excruciating and was made even more frustrating by my lack of Italian, which made communication very difficult. I would later retreat to my room and wonder to myself what in the world I had gotten myself into. This was the day Giova "lost" his favorite sword which will remain hidden firmly behind my bed out of his reach for the next I don't know nine months or so. His other habits include the not so funny "is my butt clean" question after every poop that is inevitably followed by a bend over spread eagle butt in the air. I say all this looking a few weeks back and laughing at how much better it has gotten. Giova still has his moments for sure, but other moments are much more enjoyable and are very sweet. Our nightly movie time means a snack, blankets, and Giova cuddled up next to me and falling asleep to some of the most fantastic Disney movies that remind me of my own childhood. All of the tantrums and cries for attention are emediatly erased by that sweet little boy sleeping next to me looking so innocent, and I realize it's my job to show him love and affection and how to become a strong and good man one day. This is going to be the most tiring job I have ever had, but I am also realizing that is by far the most rewarding and life affirming, gratifying, and most amazing time of my life. I can only imagine how I will feel when I have one of my own one day.

I made it to Italy!

Sorry for the long absence from this blog. I have had a whirlwind of a last few weeks. In the midst of all my travel plans and trip schedualing, I forgot the username and password for this blog but all is fixed and running smoothly again. For those of you who have stayed in touch via other outlets like Facebook, Skype, and Email, thank you so much. I am also so grateful for all the prayers lifted up for my travels and for my time spent here in Italy. God has sown me that I am abundantly loved not only by my family and amazing group of friends, but also by Him as well. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, as well as in America, England, and Italy. Continue to check back regularly for updates and I promise to keep this going while I'm abroad. I may post a few more times very quickly to catch up on things I have done while in Italy. Ciao!

Ciao

Ciao everyone! I will be starting this blog on the 9th of October when I begin my travels. Stay in touch and see what is to come...