Alba

I have to say, I feel like Maria from The Sound of Music on travel days, with my giant sun hat and matching luggage, going to teach children. I've noticed that people stare more frequently, trying to get a glimpse of who's under the hat. It's just because they know that I'm a celebrity and prefer to travel inconspicuously as to attract as little attention as possible. No big deal.

I was sent to Alba for a 2-week camp (my first 2-weeker in ACLE) and it seemed very exciting. I read online that Alba was known for their Ferrero chocolates - the creator of Nutella! I died of pure happiness. If you remember from last year's blogs, I developed a sick, unhealthy obsession with Nutella. And the town didn't disappoint. It was everywhere - plus our camp director's husband worked at Ferreo, so we received endless amounts of chocolates everyday, including the kind that contained a little shot of espresso. hehe

I was with a Red Book (10-11 year-olds) for these 2 weeks - they're one of my favorite groups to teach because they're easily excited and can generally comprehend enough English to understand what you're saying. My kids were great and listened very well - especially when compared to the rest of the camp. The camp as a whole was a bit difficult to control, probably because everything was new: the camp, the directors, the children, and 4 of the tutors were brand new to ACLE. Basically the entire camp was in my hands and those of the other returning tutor, Alyssa. It was definitely challenging keeping an eye on everything at once.

The first week in Alba was a bit rough because the camp directors had a different idea of what an ACLE camp should be like, and every day a different problem arose, so that we constantly dreaded the after0camp staff meeting. However, by the time the 2nd week came around, mostly everything got cleared up and we were free to do whatever activities we wanted to plan.

My group performed Scooby Doo

There was one time during free play when the boys kicked a ball far up in a tree. They tried throwing objects to knock it down, but to no avail. There were no branches low enough to climb up, so it looked like a lost cause. However, the tree was growing right next to 2 other trees. So being crazy genius and mega-muscle woman, I pushed my bacxk against one tree, feet against another, and pulled a Mulan by shimmying my way to the top. I received a round of applause as I threw the ball to the kids, but then I realized that I didn't know how to get down. It was too far to jump and I lost my footing from the other tree to get to the ball. I felt like a cat stranded. "Call the fire department!" But I was able to tree-hug my way down far enough for 2 of the camp helpers to grab my feet, assisting me to readjust my footing and jump the rest of the way.

The next day or 2, the kids ran up to me during break time, paning and saying that the ball got stuck on the roof. "Per favore, la prenda! Ti prego!" I just laughed. "Sorry guys, game over."

My host family for this camp was too precious. My mom Nadia, dad Federico, 2 children Angelica (9yrs) and Michele (5yrs) wer so sweet. Angelicqa and I frequently played dress-up, danced to Mamma Mia songs, and watched Italian Disney Princess films like Enchanted. Michele was like a cute little monkey that only weighed about 40lbs, so you could easily throw him over your shoulder, which I frequently did. He learned the English word "strong" after a day or day of being with me.

Michele: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uH0McmxmmY

We also went bowling for Angelica's 9th birthday party. She and some of her friends who also went to camp met us at a casino/bowling alley and we got pizza and played a game of bowling. I showed off my major skills by getting strike after strike, and all of the girls kept asking me to bowl for them as well. When I got 3 strikes in a row, I yelled "TACCHINO!" and they all cheered. Thanks to Bowlerama Saturday-morning bowling league for tuning my skills.

Angelica in the Mountains: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O81MQZ6MkpY

I got an adorable photo with all of the girls and me holding the bowling balls in front of the alley, but unfortunately I accidentally deleted the photo before I downloaded it. I finished by scoring a 171, which I also took a photo of, but again that one got deleted. Figures right? Now no one will believe me...

The first few nights in Alba I went out with my host family's neighbor, Fabio, and his friends. He took me on his Vespa through the mountains before meeting up with his friends for pizza, drinks, and guitar music, which they played "Sweet Home Alabama" for me. I have to say, I never completely understood why Vespas were such a big deal, but after riding on one I will never doubt its amazingness again. It was such an exciting, sensual experience - staddling some Italian guy on a vibrating machine and holding on for dear life as you zoom through the winding, narrow streets past the flying cars; the whistling sound hitting your helmet, your nose gathering the scent of the boy in front of you. Brownies, for some reason. Advice from me, if you ever get the opportunity to ride on a motorbike, by all means do it. It's something you won't regret.

The weekend was spent with my family in the Aosta mountains. They had a house up there and they took me hiking to the top of a beautiful mountain. I had a lot of fun in the car ride, teaching Angelica some English handshakes, while she then taught me some Italian ones. On the ride back home, both kids fell asleep on my shoulder, and me on them.

Hiking up to the mountains

We found a playground and took a break

Tutors are being separated next week. I'll be working with Mandhir and Sarah in the small town of Bistagno!

Genova

The weather in Cannes became very difficult to predict over the next few days. One day we woke up to an epic thunderstorm that shook the windows and was a continuous downpour. We were too afraid to leave the house that day, so we watched a few films until the storm stopped at about mid-afternoon. We spent an hour viewing a nearby museum and castle, getting a lovely panoramic view of the entire city before venturing back to our Irish pub.

At the pub that night I met a girl from Jersey who didn't believe that I am originally from the state right beside hers. Even though I spoke perfect American, apparently I just look too Mediterranean to be from Delaware.

We spent another day on the beach, and another visiting the town of Mougin. Most of the day was spent waiting for transportation, but Gabrielle and I were able to share delicious sandwich squares and a Bellini for lunch.

On Wednesday morning we packed and headed off to Genova. We had booked a hotel at a place called Hotel Acquaverde, and the men that worked there were quite the charmers. We phoned them once we were on Via Balbi because we couldn't find the entrance to the hotel, and Massino and friend (I can't remember his name) were leaning out a 2nd story window flagging us down. We were greeted with an iced caffe' and free pens, dropped off our luggage, and went to see the city. During those 2 days we visited Christopher Columbus' house, had cocktails by a castle door, and visited a few of the 35+ churches in the area. It amazes me that there can be so many churches of the same denomination in just one area. You could basically attend a different mass every week for nearly a year if you really wanted to!

Genova Piazza de Ferrari

View from on top of the old watch tower

One of my favorite moments in Genova was after we were coming out of one of the churches, and this elderly woman asked us in Italian for the time. Gabrielle took out her phone and pointed to the numbers, but the woman responded that she couldn't see because she was blind. I delivered the information to her, she thanked us, and we wished her a good day. We only took a few steps when we turned back and realized that she was trying to get up the 40-some stairs into the church. I ran back, offered my arm, and she looked relieved as she accepted and grasped my elbows. She chatted the entire way up the stairs, complimented me on my Italian, and thanked us profusely before entering the church. This good deed left me in such a good mood for the rest of the day...If only I were a girl scout, I totally would have earned a badge that day.

Genova Nervi

Not every area in Genova is nice, however. We had to learn the hard way that the port is not a place to pass through, especially at night. Too many hookers, too many creepers, too many uncomfortable feelings.

But all was better once we got back to the hotel. We befriended another guy named Kamel who worked at the desk. He was very interested in horoscopes...and in Gabrielle. We spent a few hours talking to him one night, and he could immediately guess my sign because I "think the think, but no speak the speak." And he gained an even more intense interest in Gabrielle once he found out that they were born only 1 day apart. He kept talking, and it took forever to get to bed that night.

I also had someone volunteer to be my Italian boyfriend. Remember the other Acquaverde desk clerk Massimo, as previously mentioned? Yes, he fancied me, and since we were only there for another night, I figured why not? It was so cute because we got special treatment during breakfast, and he would ask my permission to give hugs to other people, even to Gabrielle. However, his new title must have given him the idea that the rights to boyfriend were also his. He tried to kiss me many a time, key word: tried. But once we decided to stay in Genova for a third night, he was so excited that he swung me into a back bend and planted a big smacker on the cheek. That night he upgraded our room to one with a private bathroom at no extra cost. It's awesome being a female.

Massimo couldn't resist - somehow we were able to capture this on camera.

I'm now off to Alba for my first City Camp of the summer. I'm stationed there for 2 weeks, and have to take 5 trains to get there. Gabrielle's flying back to Ireland, so I'm on my own until I make it to Alba. Ciao bella, e buon viaggio!

Cannes

As I boarded the plane with my new Revo suitcase (came with 4 wheels and a 10-year warranty) I began to get excited as nearly everyone on board spoke French. In just a few hours I'd be landing in sunny Cannes! Right as I was about to sit in my assigned seat, the woman next to me was trying her hardest to speak in English, requesting that I exchange places with her husband. Of course it didn't matter to me, so I gladly obliged.

I sat down next to 2 young girls, about my age. I introduced myself and asked where they were headed. What are the chances, but they were heading to San Remo for their ACLE orientation! They were asking questions throughout the entire ride about my experiences from last year, the camps, host families, what to expect from orientation, if there was really a salsa party at the end of orientation, my favorite memories, etc. I barely got any sleep on the plane because of the uncomfortable seating, and was rudely awakened once when someone in the aisle bumped into my head.

I got off the plane, and we met up with another girl who was going to the ACLE orientation. We got our luggage, but the newest girl's went missing. While she was giving the airport her information, I went to use the restroom. Typically in Europe, the stalls have a little green or red sign on the door, indicating if the stall was occupied. This was true for this restroom, so I casually opened an unoccupied door. To my surprise, a woman was standing directly in front of me with her pants around her ankles. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed as I quickly shut the door. I heard a crackling voice come from behind the door, "I guess I should have locked the door...?" Yeah, ya think!?

I helped the girls order their bus tickets to San Remo as I bought mine to Cannes. I wished them luck and we went our separate ways.

I met Gabrielle at the bus station in Cannes, drudged up the hill to her beautiful apartment (equipped with garden), and immediately hit the beach. The sun felt so good on my body and I was so tired that I couldn't find the energy to flip over, even when I felt myself starting to burn. The entire week I've been suffering from an abnormally reddened buttocks.

That night we went to an Irish pub and met 2 genial bartenders, Michel and Jason. We conversed in the empty bar, got free shots, stole a water gun from behind the bar, and slipped out the back door to make it back to the apartment. All in good fun.

St. Paul de Vance

Antibes

The next few days were spent sightseeing at St. Paul de Vance, Antibes, and the Island of St. Marguerite (prison of the Man in the Iron Mask). We also toured a Picasso museum, went to an Absenthe bar, and had to use our creative thinking when we found ourselves in a restroom with no toilet paper. Good thing I asked for a receipt with my last purchase!

Island of St. Marguerite

At nights, we cooked our own food and ate in the garden by candlelight. We went back to our Irish pub to visit our 2 favorite bartenders and to return the water gun, but the place was so crowded that they didn't have much time to talk. We went to McDonald's instead, and still have the water gun.

Another notable night was when we went to some other French bar. We met 2 cute Austrian men, one of which proposed to me on the steps of the red carpet where the film festival took place. It was hilarious.

Before our epic outings, Gabrielle introduced me to a pip-poppy new song which we've danced to at least 10x a day. I'm totally bringing it back to the states with me. Feel free to watch the Jedward twins singing "Lipstick" on youtube ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x77sOUQhZU

I also learned what plimsolls are, bought a new sun hat, realized that I have an obsession with pine cones, and discovered what happened to the kid from Free Willy.

Our plans are up in the air for next week due to limited hostel availability in Florence, but we're somehow going to end up in Milan. Hopefully we'll meet up with our past camp director Pinuccia!