We are officially in our new home in Trastevere. I know it seems like we have moved 20 times since we have been here, and it feels like we have too. We are officially in this place for the next six months though. It was nice to actually unpack my suitcase and settle in. The apartment is comfortable and in the same neighborhood that I mentioned before. It's a nice size, with an actual division between the "bedroom" and "living room/kitchen". The division is a curtain, but it does the job. We are planning our first Ikea trip for the weekend, to make the place feel a little more like home. The kitchen comes well equipped with all the necessary supplies to make pasta, as every apartment has had so far. It only has one fork, but at least has a cheese grater. Italians know what is important. I am making gnocchi now, which has become a regular with us. Sean is going to have to use the spoon.
I taught 5-year olds yesterday and actually get paid this time. There were 3 little boys named Alessandro, Francesco and Ricardo. Very cute and very eager to learn English. I love teaching little kids because I can always fool them into thinking I speak Italian. Their vocabulary in Italian isn't very advanced, so that makes it easier for me. They are very beginner level, so we started with the basics - colors, numbers, fruit vocab and letters. I spent hours preparing my lesson - complete with games, coloring activities and homemade flashcards. Sean was laughing at how into it I get. But, I know it's because I really love it. I always wanted to become a professional colorer, and now I am. The kids loved it too, and that made all the preparation worth it. The mother, who spoke no English, actually learned a bit from the lesson too, just from overhearing. I know this because as I was leaving she said "Goodbye", and that was the first thing I taught the boys, and the only thing she said to me in English the whole time. My Italian is improving slightly, but I think the main thing is having confidence to just talk, even if I say things wrong. Before I left the US, my Italian grandma said I need to put some attitude into it when I speak Italian...so I am working on that. Everyone knows I have the attitude in English...just need to make it translate now. I have been in contact with a few other schools who have said they want me to teach. I am just waiting on them to give me the hours, and I am ready to get to work - flashcards in hand. The motto here, we have learned, is "domani" which means "tomorrow". Italians have no problem pushing things off to tomorrow. One thing that was shocking to us both when applying for a job here, is we are asked questions that would be considered illegal in the US. There are no discriminatory laws here at all. Any employer can tell you that they do not want to hire you because you are a woman, a man, too young, too old, not Catholic, etc. It's crazy having to tell someone that you are Catholic, or that you are over 25 in an interview.
We are loving life in Rome together. We walk about 6 miles on any given day and have no problem because everywhere we go, we appreciate the magnificent sites. I can't even explain what we see every day - starting from the minute we step out to our cobble stone street, pass Isola Tiberina, pass St. Peter's Basilica and Castel St. Angelo, all the boutiques with designer boots and coats in the windows and the constant smell of fresh bread and garlic in the air. Italians will help you out not matter what. There is always a friendly face in the crowd and always someone you can ask directions to, or what bus to take. The barrista who takes such pride in his abilities that he watches as you take the first sip of your drink, so you feel the love he put into it. We love being called ragazzi (kids) when we walk into a gelateria, or when the little old lady says "grazzi signorina" with a warm smile when I hold the door for her. We love it all and couldn't imagine being anywhere else at this point...I will post more pics soon....maybe domani.