Sour Grapes?-
Well it has been exactly one week since I've left and it feels like much longer than that! I think it's because this is completely a new life for me and so this first week feels like an entire lifetime! I am finally getting into what will become my daily routine. The first few days Leone was gone at camp and so I wasn't doing much, and Monday he had to go to the dentist to get braces so he didn't go to school so yesterday and today have been the only two real days where I am doing all the work I must do. Getting Leone ready for school in the morning is quite a task! I wake up at 6:30 to get his breakfast ready, wake him up and make sure he eats and is dressed and ready to leave here by 7:10 for the drive to school. After that it's sweet freedom! Yesterday after I dropped Leone off at school I was so tired that I took a 3 hour nap in the back of the car, then walked around for a bit, got something to eat and then it was time to go pick him up again. Not very exciting. Today was better, though. I dropped him off, then parked and made my way to the Duomo di Botticelli. However, the tourist lines (or “queues” as the British call them) were horrible, so I investigated a school that gives Italian lessons to foreigners. I want to take a week of private one-on-one lessons, for two hours a day. I think that should give me enough of a platform to become conversational enough to learn on my own after that. I also had lunch with Lauren, which was alright. She seems like exactly the same old Lauren she always was. It was kind of awkward, maybe. I was nervous to be around her for some reason. I must admit that at first I was a bit jealous of her situation; living in downtown Firenze in a GIANT and modern apartment with wireless internet and satellite TV. Not to mention the fact that she has all the money and free time to do whatever the hell she wants. She's lying to her mom, telling Betsy (who is buying the plane ticket) that she's going to Spain when in fact she's going to AFRICA! Besides that, she's going to towns all over Italy every weekend and just in general it seems like a carefree lifestyle full of all the good and none of the bad. But, the more I think about it, I don't even think it would be that great for me. I mean it's nice and all for her to be on this extended vacation on her parent's dime, but it seems like in the end she will have not gotten much out of it all. If she spends all of her time hanging out with her 5 blonde, female roomates and partying and having fun she won't really get from Italy what (I assume) she came here to get. She'll have spent her year doing what any American collegiate could do but in a prettier setting. On the other hand, my experience here doesn't seem as outwardly glamorous as hers, but I truly feel that when all is said and done that I will have a richer, more authentic feel of this place. Years from now I can come back here and be able to speak the language, have friends here and know my way around. She will just have this hazy memory in her mind of a different country where she stayed a while.
Well it has been exactly one week since I've left and it feels like much longer than that! I think it's because this is completely a new life for me and so this first week feels like an entire lifetime! I am finally getting into what will become my daily routine. The first few days Leone was gone at camp and so I wasn't doing much, and Monday he had to go to the dentist to get braces so he didn't go to school so yesterday and today have been the only two real days where I am doing all the work I must do. Getting Leone ready for school in the morning is quite a task! I wake up at 6:30 to get his breakfast ready, wake him up and make sure he eats and is dressed and ready to leave here by 7:10 for the drive to school. After that it's sweet freedom! Yesterday after I dropped Leone off at school I was so tired that I took a 3 hour nap in the back of the car, then walked around for a bit, got something to eat and then it was time to go pick him up again. Not very exciting. Today was better, though. I dropped him off, then parked and made my way to the Duomo di Botticelli. However, the tourist lines (or “queues” as the British call them) were horrible, so I investigated a school that gives Italian lessons to foreigners. I want to take a week of private one-on-one lessons, for two hours a day. I think that should give me enough of a platform to become conversational enough to learn on my own after that. I also had lunch with Lauren, which was alright. She seems like exactly the same old Lauren she always was. It was kind of awkward, maybe. I was nervous to be around her for some reason. I must admit that at first I was a bit jealous of her situation; living in downtown Firenze in a GIANT and modern apartment with wireless internet and satellite TV. Not to mention the fact that she has all the money and free time to do whatever the hell she wants. She's lying to her mom, telling Betsy (who is buying the plane ticket) that she's going to Spain when in fact she's going to AFRICA! Besides that, she's going to towns all over Italy every weekend and just in general it seems like a carefree lifestyle full of all the good and none of the bad. But, the more I think about it, I don't even think it would be that great for me. I mean it's nice and all for her to be on this extended vacation on her parent's dime, but it seems like in the end she will have not gotten much out of it all. If she spends all of her time hanging out with her 5 blonde, female roomates and partying and having fun she won't really get from Italy what (I assume) she came here to get. She'll have spent her year doing what any American collegiate could do but in a prettier setting. On the other hand, my experience here doesn't seem as outwardly glamorous as hers, but I truly feel that when all is said and done that I will have a richer, more authentic feel of this place. Years from now I can come back here and be able to speak the language, have friends here and know my way around. She will just have this hazy memory in her mind of a different country where she stayed a while.
posted by J.B.K. at 5:47 PM
6 Comments:
Hey, I remember that statue, Rape of Lucretia (i guess it was called). If I remember correctly there was this gelato stand right next to it. It was awesome. Also, David was nearby. Did you go see that?
Yeah, you've got to see David. That was the most impressive piece of art that I saw in all of Italy. I really like Botticelli's Dome, though. It is an incredible piece of both architecture and engineering. Walk up inside the dome and see the construction.
Yes, David is a must as well as the Uffizi Museum (my favorite art museum in all of Europe!). You can get tickets to the Uffizi online without having to wait in the queue.
I liked your reflection on your stay in Italy versus Lauren's. I agree that you are getting a much better feel for the people and locale.
I really admire the way you are plunging into life there. You show a lot of maturity in your response to Lauren and her life style. You're right--what's the point of being in a foreign country and doing the exactly the same thing you'd do in America? Have you gotten in touch with Christof yet?
Mom
Hi Jimmy: Wow what a tale you have to tell. What an aventurre or however they spell it in Italian!! We're thinking of you and sending you "force-ful" vibes as you go through this quixotic journey... Marguerite
yeah lauren is missing out big time. go to germany when you have a break
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