Our First Time....

 

One of the things I was asked prior to leaving Seattle was, "How will you deal with haircuts?" After avoiding this dilemma as long as we could, both Kim and I were more than ready to take our chances. With Jean's companionship/encouragement, we headed out to explore our options. In our wanderings, we had made note of several salons so we headed to an area where we had seen two a few doors apart. The shops and hairdressers are usually open during the rest hours, probably a busy time for them; as in the US, they are closed on Mondays.

Once arriving at our destination, we three walked back and forth, in front of the window, pacing, peeking in, looking for other customers and reading the sign showing us their prices. After a minute we decided to head on in to ask questions and "feel the place out". Upon entering, we were greeted by an animated Samuele who, with a quick "dicami" (which I've learned is like, "talk to me" or "may I help you?") invited us in.

All I can say is that we lucked out and hit the jackpot. Samuele and his other two co-workers were full of laughter and appeared delighted that we'd "chosen" them. In the beginning, there was the where are you from and why are you here? They laughed and laughed about us being in Alessandria. It was like "of all the places in Italy you could chose from, why h e r e? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

Throughout the visit they laughed and joked with us and their other customers. I let them know that it was Kim's birthday and right away Samuele kissed her on the cheek, then the other two hairdressers came over and gave her big birthday kisses, too. Then they were off again trying to sing her "haffy birfday" until I was almost hysterical with laughter because they were critiquing each others' pronunciation. And, well, truthfully, they all were a bit off. When Jean started taking pictures, their enthusiasm was amped up even higher with competition to be in the picture.

Happily, we were both just fine with our cuts and relieved to know that we'd found our "place" for our time here. As we left, there was lots of kissing cheek to cheek (including Jean who they included even though she was just the observer)with their best wishes for us to return soon. The three of us departed, laughing out the door, having never having had so much fun getting a haircut.

The Assumption of Mary

August 15, 2008

Today is our first big Italian holiday for which we were totally unprepared.
E V E R Y T H I N G is closed. We will have to survive with our current supplies; we will have to drink tap water.

Eating a little crow...

August 12, 2008

So, just a tiny admission: The Italians have shown zero coverage of gymnastics, track and field, etc. We googled when the events would occur and see that many already have, especially in regards to gymnastics, and diving. This is beyond annoying to me. What is up with that???? I am now the big baby.

Happy Birthday Kim!

 
 

August 12, 2008

We have been having just a fine time with our second visitor, Jean. Jean hails from Vienna and came to visit and help celebrate Kim's birthday. We've been spending a lot of time watching the Olympics; high interest is in swimming (Jean teaches swimming when she's not being a pediatric preemie nurse AND she gives me lessons). Both Kim and Jean complain about the Italian coverage (which I tend to like) because they cover all kinds of events--boxing, fencing, fencing, fencing, fencing, fencing, (note: I was forced to add fencing multiplicity because it was on most of yesterday; to make myself become superior, I googled the rules and while they complained, I explained.) sculling, kayaking, pistol shooting, skeet shooting, judo, tennis, swimming, basket ball, sand volley ball, archery. So far, no gymnastics or track and field; we wonder if it hasn't started as yet? They moan and groan when commercials or the news comes on; heaven forbid the war between Russia and Georgia cut in on the swimming heats!

One thing about the Italian coverage is that the focus is completely upon the athletes. When an athlete gets interviewed, we never see the face of who's doing the interviewing; just the back of their head and their outstretched hand holding the microphone. There's no "Back to you Howard or Bob" with their big smiling faces looking at us through the camera lens. In fact, we've never seen Howard and Bob as they commentate.

When the news is reported, it's someone standing holding a bunch of papers reading the news. No teleprompter or sitting at a desk. They tend to go into more detail about the story being covered. News occurs at multiple times during the day and runs for about 20 minutes, then back to programming. Speaking of programming, I like how they do it better than the US. Programs don't necessarily begin on the hour or half hour; they may begin on the hour, at 10 minutes past, at the half hour or 10 minutes to the hour. Depending upon whether it's an hour or half hour program determines commercial breaks. If it's a "half hour", it runs non stop for the actual 20 minutes and then there are commercials or the news. If it's an hour, it runs for almost 40-45 minutes before the break and then runs the last 5 to 10 minutes. I like the continuity better.

Tonight in honor of Kim's birthday, we'll go out for dinner--actually, this will be our first dinner out since we arrived. We don't know where we'll be going so I'm sure that will be another adventure...

The pictures are: Jean screaming with glee upon finally meeting SR Wendy face to face and the three of them (plus fan) watching the Olympics (and if you enlarge the picture, you'll see that it's a news break; what big babies!).

Do Something!

August 09, 2008

This week, one of my mother’s old friends wrote to me; I’d been in touch to let her know of our current Italian sojourn. As with most people, she let us know that she’s happy for us and hopes we will
enjoy our time. But, then she went on to add something that has been a bit of a struggle for both Kim and me and that is how we spend our time. In other words, are we keeping b u s y e n o u g h? Her wise words were,”Be sure to ENJOY la dolce fa niente”. Translation: enjoy the sweetness of nothing; just being.

Hardly a day passes where we don’t have a conversation about did we do something worthwhile today with the unspoken but very clear message, did we accomplish something? There is a big implication that it’s not okay to “just be” or just do nothing. Although we often do manage to accomplish nothing we do also manage to judge ourselves.

Why is not okay to just be, especially when we know that this “doing nothing” is time limited and that before we know it, we will be back in Seattle, looking for jobs, mowing the lawn and craving the weekend? I continually study Chinese medicine and history for heaven’s sakes; I’m supposed to understand the Dao and importance of being in the moment! The other day we were chatting with our Albanian friend, Julia. Kim was asking her about the work hours here in Italy for mainly “office workers”. Julia responded that usually the hours run from 8:30-Noon, followed by afternoon rest and resumption of work from 2 – 4:30. Hmmm, quick calculation on Kim’s part and she announced, “Why, that’s only a total of 6 hours; are you sure—only 30 hours per week”? Later, while we were out accomplishing a walk we discussed “how amazing” those short hours are and wondered, “Is that full time? Are benefits involved”?

At night we often joke with one another about what we’ll do tomorrow. Kim may say, “Tomorrow I’m going to shower AND clip my nails”. I respond with, “Will you do that all at once or will you break it up over the day”? We tend to take turns being defensive about not accomplishing something worthwhile even though quite regularly we do floss, take calcium, eat a Mediterranean diet, drink red wine, read and do brain stretching activities by studying and practicing Italian. These are ALL of the things that “THEY” say one “SHOULD” be doing to remain healthy and live a long, non long term care life. The one big omission is aerobic exercising or power walking but it’s too bloody hot and that could lead to death, a big contraindication.

Even now, as I read this aloud to Kim she says quickly, “But we’re social workers; shouldn’t we be contributing…” She quickly asks me, do I want her to proof read what I’ve written so far? No, I’m just getting started with my “long story short” and she quietly comments, “I was just trying to stay busy”.

Kim communicates regularly with her dear friend Ellen who is currently living in Honduras. Ellen went by herself and is in a small village. Regularly she writes and sends pictures of her many encounters with “la gente--the people”. She organizes the building of a play ground, she visits kindergartens, she meets with a mayor of another local village to try to help get a small school built; she fund-raises. She travels for miles over dirt, deep hole rutted roads to learn to grind corn by hand to make fresh tortillas while learning to throw mud pots. There is often no water or electricity. Ellen is a one person Peace Corps with boundless energy and unending daily activities. Did I mention that it’s really HOT in Honduras? Bless her! She is amazing and I have such great admiration for her but also, secretly I think “oh man, I hope Kim doesn’t get any ideas”. How totally bad is that? Bad. Bad. Bad.

While in Seattle, before we left and for sure knew that we were coming to Italy, we had long discussions about how a year off would manifest. We did talk very seriously about the Peace Corps but ultimately, you know what we decided. Salient points that nixed the PC were that at this point in our lives, we want our toilets to flush (plus to have one in our living quarters!), and to have electricity, and clean running water. (Oh shhhhhh, and for now we do not wish to volunteer). Also, secretly, I wanted to be somewhere where I could easily use a hair dryer.

Again, as I read this aloud to Kim she defensively adds, “But we ARE social workers and have been all of our lives. I work with the mentally ill; you worked with drug addicts for years. Do we HAVE to always be doing “good work?” We’ll be social workers for the rest of our lives….AND besides, before Ellen left, she was a musician…” Do you see how complex and circular this gets??

So, for now I will have to be satisfied that we did take a very long walk to buy a new boom box so that I can play the many Italian language tapes we brought. I am busily studying Italian. I go shopping many times per week. I do all of the cooking and food prep. I trouble shoot when the computer doesn’t work. I watch my favorite program with Rex the dog and other programs as accompaniments to my Italian lessons. I help hang the laundry and rotate it when necessary. I reposition our fan in the rooms as necessary. I am reading regularly and now have added watching the Olympics through the eyes of the Italian Rai sports broadcasters (another Italian boosting exercise).

And for my future, who knows? For the first time in oh so many years, I have allowed my hair to dry naturally and only use a hair dryer if I really want to.

Olympics

 

August 8, 2008

You absolutely MUST watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics!

Stunning.

Blessed Rain!!

 

August 6, 2008

After days and days of hot, somewhat humid weather, it's raining; actually pouring. Thunder began making its' presence heard here about an hour ago with low rumbling. At first I thought it was a heavy truck but it just kept coming, on and on.

Yesterday at about this time, (5PM) my little thermometer outside was reading 100 degrees, in the shade. We'd just gotten back from the library--a forced outing because we have been staying indoors a lot due to this heat. There is only a slight sense of accomplishment; so slight that today, both Kim and I have remained indoors all day in our same sleeping attire... We did both brush our teeth.

Yesterday, one of our neighbor's, I call her "La Signora," stopped me in the grocery store to say hello. Every time I see her, she speaks to me of the weather. I know she does this because I'm sure she thinks that's the only thing that I will understand; she's mostly correct ("Fa caldo, fa caldo" she says as she slowly shakes her head back and forth in disapproval). In any case, she informed me that this has been one of the hottest years in awhile (along with humidity). Great, I later thought! Dollar's the worst it's been in years and so is the heat! Oh well, I'm not complaining (too much) because this is our very terrific adventure!!

This picture is out of our front window, upon the inner complex. I tried to show the rain downpour but it's hard to capture. It continues to pour, the air smells marvelous, the thunder continues roaring, the sound of rain is blasting, and a nice cool breeze floats throughout our apartment. I love Italy and especially Alessandria!