Where in the world is Kate...

Sorry I haven't posted any news in the past few months. It's been crazy!

Where am I now? Torino. I arrived back to Italy from Czech Republic earlier than expected, and spent a whirlwind week looking for a place to live in Torino. After several days search, I found out that because I do not have long term papers (i.e. work visa), I cannot rent a long term place. SO, that left me short term rentals. Thanks to Craigslist.com, I found a rental in Torino until November. I moved in on Monday but didn't officially start living here until yesterday. It's been a relief.

I spent most of yesterday and today just lounging around. I needed the break from all that's been happening all summer.

June was spent traveling - not sure if I posted about that. Right after school ended in Cossato, I went to work at the summer camp in the mountains (Oropa) for one week. I'd never worked as a "counselor" before so it was a new and exhausting experience, not helped by the fact that I was sick with a bad cold. After that was finished, I took a train to Siena then Roma. In Siena every year there's a month-long program for deaf Italians and deaf Americans to come together to learn ASL/English and LIS/Italian. Debra, a woman I met from NYC (also a former Fulbrighter in Italy), asked me to come and be a "sign model" for the deaf Italians and to talk with the group about my experience as an American living and working in Italy. Debra was working as a teacher of English and ASL. She's the one who I will be working closely with on several projects in the future - I'm looking forward to working with her, she's so sweet and has GREAT ideas! The teacher for LIS and Italian was Luigi, I only met him once, he's from Trieste and I saw him present about LIS linguistics at the LIS conference in Verona back in March. Then there was Carlo, who was teaching art history to both groups. I don't know if I mentioned him but met him when he and his friend Chiara came to Cossato for a series of workshops with the students (ages 4-10) on mosaic art. We became good friends through the times that they came to Cossato from Genova (I'd meet them every time they came and go out to dinner with them).

During the brief visit to Siena (GORGEOUS!!! Tuscan countryside, what more do I need to say???), we all took a day trip to Firenze. It was HOT in Firenze! We didn't do much other than see David (always nice to see David and the Slaves, also by Michelangelo) and walk around a bit. Coming back to Siena was a relief after the turgid heat of Firenze.

I went to Rome after Siena for a final gathering of US Fulbrighters before everyone went back to the USA (also an opportunity for the future Italian Fulbrighters to meet some of the Americans before they depart for the USA in September). It was an interesting time, I stayed at this hotel southwest of the main train station, which also happened to be really close to Elena's house. The hotel is in an old monastery, so that was interesting. :-) Free! What more can I ask for? I had the important opportunity to meet with Roberto Wirth, who was interested in having the RWFund fund some of my projects for this year (more on that soon).

After returning to Cossato, I attempted to finish up my projects, but due to the time left and the volume of work, I didn't have a chance to finish everything before leaving for the Czech Republic.

I spent a week in the Czech Republic before receiving an email from Elena asking me to fly to Rome to meet with Roberto Wirth about my projects. SO, back to lovely Roma I went. Since it was last minute, Elena had me staying at her house with her husband (Bruno her son was off in China for a 6 week trip to learn Chinese). It was a lovely coincidence that Debra and Carlo were in Rome at the same time, so I got to spend some quality time with them, although I wish we had more time! Elena was encouraging me to talk with Debra about possible projects, but we simply didn't have enough time to discuss everything. However we want to work together, so that's very positive news! As always it was nice to see Carlo - he again extended an invite to come to Genova, which I hope to do soon. It's near Cinque Terre and I am DYING to see it! Although I missed 2 important meetings the day of my flight (long story made short, I missed a crucial bus connection and thus my flight), I was able to meet with Roberto Wirth again before I flew back to CR. We weren't able to talk much about my project because Carlo was there as well - he needed to talk about his project too and Elena asked me to make sure they talked! But it was fine because RW said he will do his best to meet all my needs, but that he expects me to do some extra work for him. Whew!

Coming back to the Czech Republic after a hectic few days in Rome was almost like an anticlimax... During the first week that I'd arrived, we agreed to call off our relationship because we realized that I wanted to stay in Italy longer, Libor didn't expect to stay longer than one year. It wasn't worth it for him to make the move to Italy if his heart wasn't into it. After coming back from Italy I think we both realized how my life is changing and separating myself from him even more. It was a hard 2 weeks - we fought alot, and I just had a miserable time there. After the 1st fight, I decided I needed to get myself ready to leave if I needed to. I got all my stuff organized and packed (not easy, as I came to CR with the original idea of moving back there). Of all the stuff I brought with me from the USA, only 1/3 was packed in 3 of my backpacks for my solo journey back to Italy. Vale asked me later how I brought all this stuff with me in the first place, and I realized it was because we had shipped 2 huge boxes of stuff here. *sigh* it's not easy.

After our 2nd huge fight, I bought a bus ticket to arrive back to Italy 1 week early. We finally did make up from our fight the night before I left, but I refused to change the ticket. I wanted to leave on as positive terms as we could possibly do under the circumstances. Arriving in Italy, I was emotionally exhausted and just generally exhausted from living out of my suitcase for 3 months. It was time to have a place of my own.

I found this place, it's a small attic studio just north of central Torino in the middle of the "ethnic" neighborhood. In other words, many of the shop signs are in Arabic and you can see many middle eastern men hanging around outside, speaking Arabic. The street I live on is full of antique shops and caffe/wine bars. It's very nice. For this month I'm in a small attic studio until another, bigger studio opens up one floor down (same landlord). So far I'm really happy here - the landlord, Alex, has been a great help to me (speaks English fluently) and the flat is very peaceful. I'm tempted, in September, to see about renting under him for a longer time. I think it's good energy here and I feel taken care of, which I kind of need at this time (while still maintaining my independence).

Yesterday I needed food desperately, so armed with a list and advice from Alex, I made off for Porta Palazzo (also known as Piazza della Repubblica), which is the center of this HUGE market - kitchenwares, shoes, clothes, housewares, fruits, vegetables, cheese, meat, bakeries, fish... The only things on my list I couldn't find were milk, dish soap, hand soap, laundry soap (my place has a washing machine!), and paper towels. I walked all along the streets near my apartment and couldn't find ANYTHING. Today armed with knowledge of the exact location of the "small" supermarket, I was met with a closed store. Doh. Tomorrow morning I will try again, as I need to wash my dishes and do my laundry!! I did get milk from one of the "macellerias" (Middle eastern butcher shops), but it wasn't until this morning that I realized I had gotten fermented milk, instead of regular milk (it's like Kefir - the liquid yogurt). It tasted awful with the coffee, but very good on its own with honey. ;-)

Okay, now to explain my work for the following year. I can't start working at Cossato until probably January, as the school just hired 2 new teachers and they aren't sure if they will be ready for me. SO. In the meantime, Roberto Wirth gets his wish and I will be working on his project - doing research on how start developing a curriculum for teaching English as a foreign language to deaf students in non-English speaking countries. It will be alot of work, but I'm looking forward to it. It will also be invaluable experience for me, as this is the kind of career path I want for my future.

So, as you can see, I am taking advantage of this month to REALLY relax as much as I can (AKA - doing nothing at all but lay on my couch in my pajamas :-D).

I will be coming to the USA for the month of December, and honestly I'm really looking forward to it. I miss my family and I miss my American friends. I do not miss living in the USA though, but will be very happy to be home for 1 month with family and friends. :-) I am also curious what my experience will be like, being in the USA after 15 months abroad.

Hope all is well with everybody and keep sending those positive thoughts my way. :-)