Birthdays and Bikinis

Happy birthday Chuck Post! And Athen Ross! Sending my love your way!!!

And someone else's birthday is coming up too....hint hint.

Allegra celebrated her eighth birthday yesterday at Barbara's mom's house. There was about 40 people, food, and a swimming pool. Food consisted of pizza, focaccia, and guess what - pasta!!!

My responsibility was to watch out for Carlo - to make sure he didn't end up in the pool.

And speaking of pools, it seems like Italian girls tend to only wear the bottoms of their bikinis! All of the little girls swimming were topless!



I had no desire to go into the pool as it was FREEZING cold but some excitement did arise when one of the parents went diving in to the rescue, jeans and all, to save a little girl who apparently did not know how to swim?!?!?! Um....please don't go in the poll then!

What else...just finished reading Shadow of the Wind. Now searching for another book to read...I head to St. Meritz Wednesday evening and have an Italian test tomorrow. I better study up! I promise to take pictures in St. Meritz for you...I am guessing I am to see lots of beautiful views....and I will have no internet there, so I promise to post upon returning!

Okay - enough for now - until next time!
Ciao.

What I EAT

Besides pasta...

And it tastes just as good as it looks!

The Mansion

Remember?
The one that goes for $80 - $100,000 per week?

Well here it is!!!

Attempt # 1 and 2

# 1

To bike to Como and back.

First of all, I get lost going there and back.
Second of all, I never want to do that again - coming back is hell - all up hill. NOT WORTH IT. I will take the bus thank you very much.

(Jenny failing at biking home)

(much better thank you very much)

Aaron and I went to Bellagio and Menaggio on Sunday. We took the ferry, which took about an hour and a half there and 45 min back (speedboat). We ate some food, walked around, and took some photos.

And attempt # 2 failed!
I was about to put up some photos for you and my computer seems to not be responding. Um....until next time!

Out on the Town

Lucky me - I have met two people my age in two days!!!
Aaron - 24. From Texas. Going to fashion design school in NY when he returns in August. Seems like a nice guy. Speaks Spanish and French. I am going out with him on the lake today to explore some of the local villages by ferry which should be fun.

Then there is Guilia, pronounced Julia who is also my age. She is the cousin of a friend of Barbara's - going to school for management. Her and her boyfriend took me out to meet up with a group of their friends for Happy Hour at a local bar. Happy hour does not only include drinks, but free appetizers which consisted of (i'll let you guess) pasta, cheese, bread, and meat! I was joking around with Guilia about the pasta thing and she was saying, well in Italy if you are hungry the one thing that fills us Italians up is pasta! I don't get it - why can't it fill me up??? ARgh...

Anyways, I met some of her friends (including a cute guy from ARgentina) and I played darts for the first time. Ha! Then we went out for gelato and called it a night.

It was nice to be with people my own age and get out a little bit - hopefully Guilia calls me for more adventures and that I have fun with Aaron today - keep you posted!
Ciao.
Jenny
PS - I made bomb french toast for everyone this morning and they were all shocked that I woke up before 10:30! Haha. I promised them french toast - so 9am wake up call it was!

I hate pasta

I dont know how I am going to survive. Living in Italy and not liking pasta just do not work. Shit.
Oh well, its not like I really have a choice in the matter anyways.

Today I met Aaron who is an aupair for one of Barbara's friends. He is from Texas, and it was good to finally meet someone my age from the United States. Hopefully we will be able to have some adventures together.

He is in the house I had imagined I would be in. Lakeside villa. Gorgeous. Oh well, my spot is pretty cozy too...

Besides that not much else is new. Tomorrow I go out with a girl my age from Como and we will see what Sunday brings. Maybe I will explore the other areas of Como by ferry with Aaron. I'll see if he is interested.

OH - and I am booked to spend a week in Spain in June! I am stoked! Espana here I come!!!

I watched Carlo for most of the day today - one year olds are really exciting - NOT. I literally sit and watch him to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. I make some goos and gaas for entertainment and walah - he is happy.

Ummmm....what else...I am addicted to a stupid game on my phone called jewel quest - I recommend you dont try it or else....you will become addicted and never want to stop!

Allegra went from giving me awful looks to wanting to play with me all of the time. I think she had a chat with her mom...who knows. Its frustrating for her because she does not like to no understand, and due to the fact that she understands very little of what I say, well, I will let you guess from there.....its not pretty.

Giacamo - the same - loves to tell me no.

And I thought Italian bread is supposed to be good - maybe food in Como sucks, because I havent had any really good food yet. Isn't Italy all about the food? I am currently reading EAt Pray Love (which I really am not enjoying) and all she talks about is how wonderful the food is in Italy and how she gains 15 pounds. Well I might gain 15 pounds from eating all this damn pasta but I am definitely not finding pleasure in it like she did. (Maybe in the gelatos though, they are pretty good).

Alright, well I am getting a bit sleepy now.
Until next time.
PS - how many people are actually reading this blog?

Blank Stares

Blank Stares
Are what I get
When I talk to Allegra and Giacamo.

A brown goopey face
Is what I get when I talk to Carlo (he likes chocolate cookies)

It is frustrating, thought, that the kids I live with look at me like I am crazy, out of my mind.

Anything I say, I get blank stares or looks that state, who do you think you are and what the hell are you doing?
It feels silly, really.

Hanging out with Carlo is almost better because he doesn't know any better.
He just goos and gaas and cries. Or says nothing at all.

Right now there are seven kids playing in the back yard. One girl has one of the most annoying voices I have ever head. And energy that Sarah Orton used to have. No offence Sarah.

Today I went to Milan with Barbara. She met up with a friend and I walked around. The area I was in had lots of stores. Shopping, shopping, shopping. There was a new Abercombie store that I guess was a really big deal. I decided to walk in for kicks and got my fair share of shirtless model guys and girls in short shorts. It is kinda disgusting, actually. I think its offensive.

Besides that not much else is new. Looks like I am going to Spain mid-June for my week off!!!!! I am looking forward to that for sure!
Okay, until next time.
J

Things I Miss

Being abroad reminds me of well, being abroad!!!

I do not mean to compare Italy to Mexico, but there are definitely some things I do here in Italy that just don't cut it the way that Mexico did.

For one: Public Transportation.

I LOVED taking it in Mexico. You get on the bus and pay the driver on the spot, telling him where you are going. Then you sit amongst a crowd of people with their mini radios or cell phones playing music, not to mention the little boys or old men who would catch a ride to play or sing a song. And the traffic. I hated it when I was there, but long bus rides can be fun when you have music to listen to and people to watch. Here in Italy I have a pre-paid ticket, I get on the bus, sit next to old Italians in silence, and get off ten minutes later. Not quite the excitement of Mexico.

Food. Okay, I know I was spoiled to death in Mexico with my fresh tortillas, beans, rice, and vegetables, but if I eat pasta one more time I am going to SCREAM. SCREAM!!!! Okay. I did it, because I have no choice. I will eat pasta again. And again and again for the next three months. I may have to vow against eating pasta once I get home. If I don't my stomach may feel like this:



Okay, okay, I know that is a little much, but I hope you got the laugh I did out of it.

Anyways, we eat pasta pretty much every single day, it cracks me up because Barbara always talks like we are eating something new. Well this is ragout, tonight is spaghetti, then later we will have gnocci. It is all the SAME!!!!!! Pastsa is pasta if you ask me, but then again, I am American, not Italian.

I don't really get the craze about the pasta thing, I would rather eat something else, but oh well. It's not like I have a ton of choices anyways.

Open markets.
Okay, well it isnt' really fair for me to compare yet, because I have not been to the "real" open market here yet, but some of my best days with Dany in Mexico were when we would speed through the open markets, passing everything from fresh peaches to beans to mole to bananas and cheeses. My strolls around Como include passing by windows of clothing, clothing, and more clothing. And coffee and gelato, of course. Interestingly enough, I learned that it is not culturally correct to walk into a small store unless you are set upon buying something. It is for this reason that the large window displays exist, so that the customer can get a good look before making a decision and walking in. I am guessing this makes it a pretty easy job for the storekeeper inside.

Speaking of pasta again, (sorry, it is just a very large theme in my life) I have now had pasta with rabbit, pasta with prosciutto, pasta with tuna, pasta with shrimp, plain pasta, pasta with red sauce, pasta with white sauce, pasta with weird green thingies um, yea, a lot of pasta...

What else...Spanish. I miss being able to speak another language!!! There have been many large gatherings lately (lunches, dinners, etc) and I literally sit there and listen, not understanding a word. Fun.

I miss my neighbors in Mexico, and being more physically active.
Am I making Italy sound miserable? I hope not.

I miss hanging out with Dany, and our crazy adventures we had together.
I miss really hot days and multiple showers.
I miss the food. Did I say that already???

Anyways, happy May 15th! I would have graduated today if it weren't for my leave of absence. Whop whop! Congrats to the graduates of 2011. I am right behind you!!!

Okay, ciao for now.
Until next time.
J

Dui Gelatos

Yes, I have to admit it. I had two. I could not resist. The first one just did not quite do it. Yogurt and cinnamon. So I went for a second. At a second shop, of course - green melon and dark chocolate. Now that was the ticket. :-)

Sunday gelato is apparently the thing to do in Como. The two shops I went into were packed - I had to wait 5 - 10 minutes to even pay, let alone get my ice cream.

So yes, a day of ggggeeeelllllaaaaattttttttttoooooo. mmmmmhhhm.

(It is almost more fun to go in the shop and have to pick a flavor than to actually eat it!)

Da Mansion

Or villa, as they called it.
But I consider it the mansion on the lake.

Barbara and I went to Lennon, a small lake town next to Como, to check out a new "job opportunity" for her. She left me to explore the town and she went off to the "house" for awhile.

Little do I know, a few hours later I get a call from Barbara and she says that I am to come over for lunch and that the boat will come and pick me up.

Okay! I think. Food. Sweet!!!

Onto the boat I go, and before I know it a very large lakeside "villa" is in front of my eyes. The place is enormous, and makes you take a second look.

I learned that the owner of this villa chooses to be anonymous, and that the villa is rented out for $80 - $100,000 a WEEK. OUCH.

A few things>
# 1 I WOULD NEVER SPEND MY MONEY THAT WAY
#2 EVEN IF I WANTED TO SPLURGE, I WOULD NEVER SPEND MY MONEY ON THIS VILLA
# 3 I THINK ITS RIDICULOUS
# 4 THEY REFUSED BRAD PITT'S OFFER TO LIVE THERE FOR A YEAR
#5 WHY????

Anyways, I think you get my point....
Today, however, the villa was being used for a movie scene. A russian movie, about some guy who wins the lottery and how he chooses to spend his money, I think...
At first all is pretty calm, and then suddenly about twelve platnium blonde girls file out of the house, in the skankiest bathing suits I have ever seen. They are obviously props in the movie, but I cant help but to stare. They have on not only skany bathing suits, but the tallest high heeled shoes i have ever seen. Hair and make-up done to a T. They are all posing and taking pictures of themselves at this big $$$ villa.

Anyways, life at the villa didnt get too much more exciting than that. We had lunch - boring sandwiches and some pasta, a coffee, and we were on our way.

I will post pictures of the villa later.
Until then.
J

Pasta. Coming out of my ears, nose, and toes.

Pasta. I eat it for lunch. And then for dinner. And then for lunch again. And then, for dinner. Big surprise, eh? The one thing that sucks about pasta is that it is empty carbs - doesn't exactly fill me up - which sucks.

I also tried the gelato here - its good, but not as wonderful as I had imagined. I took an adventure to the lake itself - on the bus, by myself! The bus system was pretty easy, and it dropped me off literally on the lake. As it was a Sunday, it was packed! People all over the place - eating gelato, drinking coffee, basking in the sun. I took a walk along the lake, found a shady spot, and chilled out with my book. The returning home part sucked - buses only leave every hour on Sundays, and turns out I missed the first hour, so I got to wait an hour for the next to come. Whop whop! I am, however, excited to take some day trips to other areas of the lake...

Barbara and I went yoga hunting today. Turns out there is a place right down the street, but I think classes are pretty limited. We forgot to go by tonight, so we will check it out tomorrow. (As well as another place in Como we found online). Finding the little yoga place next door was fun though. Down an alleyway we went, to find a wall painted purple with fairies doing yoga on it. This is my place, I thought to myself!

What else - there is a swimming pool I am going to take advantage of that is only a bus ride away (yea, F*** You public transport in Cali.) so hopefully I will be getting there often.

Besides that not much else is new. Allegra is slowly picking up words in English, Giacamo thinks its funny to try to say words, and well Carlos, he doesn't exactly talk yet.

I keep forgetting to take my camera with me, but as soon as I remember I will post some pictures, promise.
Ciao for now!

"Hello." "Goodbye."

"Good morning."

Hello, goodbye, and good morning. This is about as far as we have gotten. This may be harder than I originally thought. Allegra and Giacamo, the children I am living with, know no English, and aren't really too interested in learning. Having them repeat after me is easy, but to have them actually learn English is going to take awhile. I have my job cut out for me then.

Life has been pretty slow so far. The kids are in school most of the day, so that leaves me with even less time to be with them and interact in English. Carlo, the baby, is very shy and timid of new people, and whenever I go to pick him up he starts to cry. Hopefully this won't last for long...

Today I took a walk around the neighborhood for awhile. There are mostly buildings and houses with a few funky cafe's and corner stores here and there. I am not sure what I had imagined, but the area is very different from what I had pictured in my head. Tomorrow we will explore Como and the bus routes, and I think Monday Barbara and I will bike to Como so I can really get to know the area.

OH, and have I mentioned PASTA? I have only eaten it for every meal except one so far. (breakfast not included). But pasta is definitely going to be my new food. Big surprise, eh?



Besides that, not much else is new. Slowly getting to know the family, my role, and my new surroundings.

Until next time then.
Ciao.

In a BRICK....House...

I made it!

(This is NOT my house. Real pics to be uploaded later)


Two plane rides and shitty plane food later, I arrive in Milano, Italy! After waiting for about 30 minutes for Barbara to pick me up, I finally spot her face and she greets me with not one, but two huge hugs. It felt to be embraced to tightly by a stranger.

Off to Barbara's house we went, and as we arrived, I realized that the house was completely different than I had imagined it to be. I am not going to lie - I think I was imagining a fancier, mansion like house, but instead, my new home is a very old, quaint, brick house. I am sleeping in Allegra's room, a very small room with the smallest bed I have ever slept in. The bed is quite comfy though, and I have an awesome view of the mountains when I look out of my window. I tend to get lucky with amazing views out of my room when I travel.

Barbara's mother's house, on the other hand, is much more like the house I imagined I would be living in. It is a gorgeous, old, Tuscan style home that has an amazing view that overlooks the lake. It is the house that Barbara grew up in!!! I am looking forward to explore more of the architecture and homes here that surround the lake.

What else...I had my first Italian pasta, and coffee, of course, and am looking forward to tasting the gelato! I can understand the Italian conversation about half of the time because of my Spanish, and am excited to take some classes to learn the basics.

OH, and have I mentioned, that the kids I am living with, Allegra and Giacamo, speak NO English at all! Fun for me to have the responsibility to teach them! This may take awhile...

I crossed the Swiss border today which was kind of fun, only to cross another gorgeous lake town. Again, I am looking forward to explore more!

Okay, I still feel a bit jet-lagged so I am going to leave us here, but I will be writing!

Until next time.
J