Bistagno

It was a nice easy trip from Alba to Bistagno with Mandhir and Sarah. A very short journey...However, Mandhir lost his train ticket and we all had to play stupid tourists that didn't understand Italian so that he wouldn't get fined for losing it.

Once we arrived in the small town, our camp director Alessandra took us to a fancy restaurant where we had homemade ravioli and wine, while we discussed the camp details. Afterwards we were taken to our host families, all of which lived within close walking distance.

That night there a festival going on in Bistagno, so my family took me out for some kebobs, endless Spriz's (a popular Italian aperitivo), and house music. My host dad also bought me some wine and we got into this big discussion about the best types, so from that night on he had me try a different brand every night at dinner.

The camp itself was so well organized, that it felt wonderful to be there after the difficult weeks in Alba. Honestly, the week just flew by and I actually forgot to take photos because we had so much fun that week.

I had a Blue book group of 15 students (ages 11-13). They were all so well-behaved and were excited about every activity that I had prepared for them. They made the job so easy.

A Medley of Fairy-Tale Characters

Also our camp director was so relaxed about what we did on our break time. Almost every day, Mandhir and I (and sometimes Sarah) would sneak off to a coffee bar down the street and talk to some of the locals.

Break time at the Coffee bar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwNQLn-Go2I

The Great Tower of Tutors

After camp the 3 of us would go for walks around the town. One time we went for a run, and my host sister and her fiance told us later that they saw us stopped by the old church stretching our muscles. As I said, this is a pretty small town.

This same host sister Alice and her fiance Matteo took me to Acqui Terme one night and we saw the Milano Ballet School perform on an outside stage. Afterwards they took me to see the famous hot springs, and then we went to get some gelato and fruit. At the gelato bar, we ran into Mandhir and Sarah and their host families, so we stopped to chat.

Hot springs

It was such a stress-free week that it flew by so quickly. My next camp assignment is somewhere up in the mountains --- at a convent! Oh God...pray for me.

Both Mandhir and Sarah are going sent together to a different camp, but I guess being the return tutor, I get the privilege of traveling alone for 12 hours up to the mountains. Our parting words to each other were singing to the song "My Heart will go On,"

as Mandhir piggy-backed me to the platform.