August 30th/MOVE IN DAY!!!

So today was move in day!! I woke up early, as soon as I registered that the sun was shinning outside, I was so excited. I got up and had my shower, packed up etc and then Simone drove me to SRISA. We had some trouble getting there though because apparently the town is sectioned off near the center so that only cars with a red permit are allowed down the streets, so he couldn’t get onto the street we needed. So we ended up getting into the city area and parking near the indoor market and then walking with my suitcases all the way to the school. When we got to the street we actually couldn’t find the school, apparently it was still closed because they were only gonna open up a little bit before their first student was supposed to arrive, and they thought that I wasn’t arriving till noon because in my email I said that my flight would get in at noon, they didn’t really realize that the date was for July not August. So when they did open up I was the first in and I met Laellie, she’s the woman that I always emailed all my questions to and she’s very nice. I waited around for a bit, filled out the lease for my apartment etc and just relaxed. Then my apartment-mate Tess arrived and once she was done with her paperwork we were escorted to our apartment. Once there we were taught how to open the front door and how to get out the door (cause you have to press a button inside to unlock the door to get out). Then we had to drag our suitcases all the way up two stories because the elevator is broken, it wasn’t that bad, at least that time. I had to go back for my bigger suitcase, I had left it at the school so I could do them one by one. The larger one was impossible to get up those stairs, but I managed. Then I unpacked, and once I was done with that Tess and I went out to try and find a supermarket type of place to get some necessities like soap etc. So we went to the indoor market and got some cheese and fruit, then to this little grocery store and I got some prosciutto, yogurt, dish soap etc. Then when we got back to the apartment we had two more roommates: Avigayil and Jess. So I found out that apparently Avigayil is not from Israel, she was just there for the summer, she’s actually from Boston. And then I just hung out till Jordan arrived, our last roommate, and then I skyped with grandma and papa. I miss them so much. After that I put some laundry in and talked with Avigayil for a bit before we decided to head out and do something. So we went out to the school where the Piccell guys were helping people who had questions about their new phones, three of my roommates got new phones today. Then Jordan went back to the apartment to take a shower and go to sleep, Tess went to meet up with her best friend who is also studying in Florence, and that left Jess, Avigayil and myself. We decided to go on a walk to the Ponte Vecchio, it was so beautiful. Jess has actually been in studying in Florence twice, though never for an actual semester, just summer courses. But she knows her way around so that is really helpful. Also her birthday is tomorrow so we are gonna go out and buy her an ice cream cake at Gelaterio d’Medici, which is really delicious. We had dinner at a little place right next to the outdoor market, it was quite good, but also a little pricy. We only stopped cause they had a sign that I though said free gnocchi, ravioli and penne, but turns out they actually had written gluten free instead of given free which I thought it said. But oh well it was still an experience. Avigayil’s mother is actually half Italian and they lived in Italy till she was four and her mom speaks to her in Italian so she can actually speak it, no one else in the suite can. So then after dinner we walked back to our place, we were all exhausted, we had walked around the city for about three hours. So then we just all settled in, I hung out my laundry (cause we don’t have a dryer, just drying racks). And now everyone is going to bed even though it’s only 9:30, I think they are all still a little jet lagged. As for me I might stay up for a bit but I’m pretty tired too, its hot and I got extremely over stimulated today.

August 29th

So today the whole family, including Dora, went out for the day. The kids went to their friends house and the adults went to work and run errands. So I got to sleep in (yay!) It was very nice to finally sleep past 8 in the morning as I've been waking up before 8 everyday this month. Then I just had a leisurely breakfast of cheese and biscuits. Then I took and shower and got ready for a nice walk. I started walking and got to this beautiful house, I was actually following the road because I thought it was abandoned (it looked that way) and I wanted to see what I would find. But that house was definitely not abandoned cause it had decorations on the trees outside and security switches etc. So I started heading back the way I came cause that was a dead end, but there were so many horse flys everywhere! and they were trailing me and it got so annoying. So I started up a different, more used road, hoping I could get away from the majority of the flies, but there were just more. Plus I had brough Frida along with me since she seemed really excited yesterday when Chiara started pulling out the leashes. But it was a mistake to bring her, she is terrible on a leash, like a really strong puppy that doesnt realize that they have to not tangle the leash around the humans feet, and actually move etc. So I just got really frustrated and went back to the house. Then I just relaxed, kinda just a cat type of day, just lounging around without a care in the world. The family did not get back till around 7:30 and then we immediately had dinner. And apparently the boys went with their friends to see Madagascar 3 (which all the kids this summer that I met were obsessed with all of the Madagascar movies) so they we quite animated about the whole thing.

August 28th

So this morning I figured I could sleep in till 8am since the boys didnt get up till 9 yesterday, but I awoke to the sound of their voices well before 8 so I had to get up. They were still half asleep till about 9 so we just watched part of a movie till their nonna came over again. I'm assuming that the nonna is going to be coming over everyday to watch the kids. So once the nonna came over we got the boys outside and I played a bit of soccer with them, and then we started a game of 4 way catch, and then tried to throw the ball through a gap in the branches of a tree. And a miracle happened! Frida just walked up to me when we were playing catch with something in her mouth and just sat down next to me. So I took a look at what she had in her mouth (cause she eats everything) and she had my ping on ointment that I had lost!! and she brought it right to me! it was so amazing. So now I can finally have some relief from these stupid bug bites, yesterday was terrible not having the balm cause of course that was the day that the mosquitos decided to eat me alive. Then went we were finished playing outside we came back in. Mathew and I played some intensive games of, I dont even know what, but it involved a lot of tickling a giraffe laundry bin, a lightsaber and a balloon. It was lots of fun though. Then for lunch we just had left over pasta and after lunch we watched a movie, and for once we got through the whole movie. Then the nonna tried to get Edwardo to do some summer homework and he just keeps yelling at her and everyone. He is extremely temperamental and super annoying. I'm not even going to start ranting about him. Then a little later this boy named Jacamo came over. I met him for the one day that he came over to the beach house, he was really annoying at the dinner table but whatever. So the kids got re-acquainted and then started a movie, the same movie that they had just watched but whatever. So I decided to excuse myself since they are all together and just watching a movie, plus the nonna is watching it with them. Then when the movie ended and the nonna when home we played a very intense game of capture the balloon throughout the house. It was a ton of fun, but we all got too exhausted from all the running so we stopped and had a water break and then they got into a tv show. Chiara and Simone did not return from work till about 7pm. And for dinner we had beef, zucchini and ravioli. And tomorrow apparently the boys are going to a friends house for a playdate so I dont have to watch them at all, and I had the option of going into the city with Chiara, since she works in the center of Florence, and then spending a day in the city or staying here. I actually chose staying here just because I am going to be living in the city for a whole year, there is not telling if I will be invited back here and she told me when she gave me the mini tour yesterday that there is a beautiful walk up the mountain that just is a big circle that will lead me back to their house and I really wanna walk it. Also if I can find my way up there I really wanna visit the monastery that is abandoned from the 14th century. Plus this also gives me time to really get ready for tomorrow and totally relax on my last day of summer.

August 27th

So today I made myself wake up at 7:30 because Chiara told me the night before that she had to leave for work at around 8. So that way I had time to take a shower and be awake when the boys woke up, which they didnt wake up till around 9. Then we started watching Madagascar but then their grandparents arrived to visit. They had planned on going on a short walk to this small waterfall, but Edwardo was being difficult and didnt want to go so I stayed behind with him and eventually got him to go out etc. So we met up with the grandparents and went to the waterfall, but unfortunately there has been a shortage of rain so there was no water running down the waterfall. Then we went back to the house and the boys of course plopped themselves back in front of the tv and totally ignored their grandparents. I did manage to get them both outside for a time to actually interact with their grandparents but thats about it. Then we just hung around till lunch time where we had pizza and prosciutto and bread etc. After lunch everyone wanted some down time so the kids put on a movie and the grandparents read. After that Chiara and Simone came back from work so the kids talked with them for a while and the grandparents left. Then we had our english lesson, which went rather well, not our best lesson but still. Then Chiara and Edwardo went out to the market and I got some down time. Then Chiara took me on a quick tour of the house. Apparently it was built over top of a house that was here in the 14th century, but this new edition is not that old. There is one spot, in her bedroom, that is of the original house, its just a window but it is beautifully built out of stones. Also just in their yard they had a ton of rosemary bushes, mint, oregano, thyme, a lemon tree, a plum tree and a pomegranate tree. I actually just plucked a plum right off the branch and ate it, it was delicious. She also told me that I am welcome to look at any of the books in the house, which there are a lot of. And a lot of the books are art books, of course in italian, but I can still look at the pictures. For dinner we had pasta with zucchini, hamburgers, red and yellow peppers and cheese. I've already looked at two of the five books she gave me already to read and they have beautiful paintings in them. One is all 2D art works that were made my americans in italy, and its really making me wanna go paint. Which Chiara told me I was more than welcome to use their paints (they are just low grade water colors for kids) and go for a nice walk up the hill to use the view in my painting. I might just do that, especially if I can get the kids to come with me.

August 26th

So last night we had a really big thunderstorm, I would have watched it but I was just so out of it I didn’t really even register that it was thundering out.  But there was also no wind, which made for a very uncomfortable night of trying to sleep. This morning we had breakfast and were going to go to the zoo so that Silvana could pack everything up, but right as we were about to leave it started down pouring again. So all the kids ran into the house and just started watching cartoons. We finally got moving after lunch, and we didnt actually leave till a little before 3pm. For these next few days it has been decided that I am going to stay with Chiara (whom i previously spelt her name as Kiara) and her family at their house. Their house is huge!! And its also outside the city, on top of a hill. It was a beautiful ride, the roads scared me but you could just look down into the valley of Florence and see everything! And the house itself is filled with antiques and beautiful pieces of art. I feel very very very awkward though. I mean they are just letting me live with them for the next three days, I dont know them very well and they dont want me to watch their kids, which there is no need to since the boys just wanna play on their wii all day etc. I do know that they want english lessons, not today since we did the move, but tomorrow and wednesday. So at least I am somewhat paying for my food etc. But still I have no idea what to do, I mean I could go and watch the boys play their wii... or just stand awkwardly where every the majority of the people are.

So I did end up doing an english lesson with Edwardo, it went quite well actually considering he's the one who I have the most trouble with. He can now successfully, and on his own, answer "how are you?" "what is your name?" and "how old are you?" And he was the one who said he wanted english lesson, Mathew just ran away when Edwardo suggested it. And I also talked to Chiara and turns out that she was work tomorrow so I will be watching the boys for the day, so she broke out the paints and paper and we are gonna do arts and crafts outside tomorrow. The only downside is apparently this area is full of mosquitos, it sucks. For dinner we had gnocchi and eggs, really weird combination but whatever... the gnocchi was the same as last time except it was not in a red sauce, it was just with cheese, no sauce. Honestly it wasnt that good, but the cheese was. I'm actually starting to be a cheese person, I eat it almost everyday, just plain (but mostly on bread).

August 25th

So I really wanna slap the shit out of Bea. I know she is spoilt, but now I know that she is way beyond spoiled. I mean just today she threw more than five hissy fits over little things. We were playing charades in English as our lesson today and she started getting really pissed that she couldn’t go back up to act out an animal, even though she had already had several turns and she hadn’t guessed any right. But then she started crying and refusing to sit, which was distracting to the kids whose turn it was to go. So I had to sit her on my lap with my hands around her waist to keep her sitting, but she screamed and cried and tried biting me, she punched me a good amount of times and pinched me too. Then also she threw a fit because Gugu was using a bow tie that Bea wanted, even though her hair was already up in a hair tie. So she started bawling her eyes out and screaming at the top of her lungs and shrieking for her mom, who was actually out at the market for the whole morning. And also last night I was relaxing and was about to go to sleep and the kids were in the living room watching tv and my door was open and I was keeping an eye on them. So all the other kids left to go to the other house to play cards but Bea stayed watching tv, but when her show was over she got bored and came into my room and we watched an episode of Rugrats together, till she wanted to go to her mom. And I told her to go, her mom was just on the other side of the house, but she refused to go, she wanted me to take her to her mom. I told her no cause I had already changed into my pajamas and I didn’t want to go outside and see the adults in my pajamas, plus they had a guest over too. So Bea started shouting out the open window for her mom, and while she was doing that Francesca and Edwardo came back into the house and Bea joined them playing cards and watching tv. So I figured that they are all together that I could quickly run to the bathroom, and in this house I usually close the door to my room along with the bathroom door because Bea likes to just walk into my room unannounced, she actually did that today when I was changing into my bathing suit. So anyway my door was shut and when I got out of the bathroom I heard a knock on my door and it was Silvana. Apparently Bea told her that she was scared because she was in the house all alone and my door was shut. I tried to tell Silvana that that wasn’t true, because I had literally just had the door open and that Bea and I were even watching a show together on my computer and that I closed my door when I knew that there were two other kids in the house. But I don’t believe that she believed me, this is what I really hate about babysitting, or teaching nowadays, the parents will always put the words of their kids way above those of the person watching them. So now I fear that she’s pissed at me because I didn’t have my door open to watch the kids. But I mean what can I do? She’s still gonna believe that Bea was all by her lonesome and terrified because I was ‘ignoring’ her by having my door open. I mean this is the kid that just barges into my room whenever she feels like it, if she was frightened she would have just opened my door. I mean she did it before why wouldn’t she do it then? She once just barged in when I was taking a nap, and she saw that I was trying to sleep and she still badgered me trying to get me to let her play with my ipod. Which she has been after my ipod all the time, I used to let her use it I mean I have some games on it and there is no internet access so there is no risk of letting her use it. Until I saw that she had accidentally discovered how to delete songs from the device, and she was totally unaware of what she was doing. So since then I haven’t let any of the kids use my ipod at all. But that doesn’t stop them from wanting it and throwing little whining fits in my face about how they want it. I think I’m seriously the only firm hand they have ever had to deal with before. I mean if Bea or Gugu ever didn’t get their way they start getting violent, even with their parents, and the parents don’t do anything. Me on the other hand, when Bea tries to hit me I just grab her arm and say no, really firmly and look her right in the eyes, and usually she will just stop, but there are times when she will continue her assault and I just have to keep telling her no. I’ve also started a 1,2,3 count before I take matters into my own hands. Like when Bea refused to give up the ipad because it was time for lunch or English lesson I would count to three and by the time if she wasn’t done as I asked I will take it by force. She’s starting to get the idea, although that doesn’t stop her from being upset about it. She’s also so selfish, she believes that everything is hers, I mean we are guests in someone else’s house and she just does as she pleases, like when they kids are playing with the ipads, if she wants one she will just grab it away from whoever was using it. And her family only has one ipad while the other family has two so most of the time she is taking it from one of the boys who it actually belongs to. And the adults just feed the fire by letting her get away with it, I have seen little Mathew get scolded for not sharing his toys because he tried to get his ipad back from Bea after she grabbed it from his hands. It’s so irritating, and I can’t do anything, I mean I’m just a guest really and I don’t speak the language. Honestly I wish there was a way to just download an entire language into your brain, it would make everything so much easier. I mean I have read that when a kid has a hissy fit that you should stand firm in your decision, such as if the kid is not listening to you when you tell them to sit down and stay sitting you should put them in their seat and just let them sit there and don’t relent because if you do the kid knows that all they need to do to get out of their chair is to start throwing a fit. I know in public you don’t necessarily have to follow that, but when it’s a simple thing as the kid causing trouble in your home you shouldn’t let the kid be the one in control. But literally Bea has all the control in the house, even her siblings who do throw their own temper tantrums from time to time always relent and give Bea what she wants because she starts crying and screaming. Its ridiculous, thank you Sierra and Earl for never being like that, if you were I probably would have strangled you by now. Also the kids have somehow got it in their heads that I am their personal servant or something because they always are demanding that I take their trash and throw it out, or to go and get them something to eat etc. It’s ridiculous, they never do it for themselves, the food thing I can understand, but this house is a pig sty because of all the trash just lying around the house cause the kids cant be bothered to pick up after themselves. UGH! So the adults all left again this morning, Claudio went to go visit his uncle and Silvana took Andrea to play cards on the beach and then to the market. I honestly don’t know what Kiara does all day but she’s always at the house and yet she never raises a hand to help out with the kids. I had the kids all morning, doing English, through watching tv, which you would think would be relaxing but there are so many hissy fits while the kids are watching tv its hardly relaxing, and then the pool. I honestly didn’t even know she was home till I took the kids to the other side of the house for lunch and she was just there smoking a cigarette…. So I have no idea where she was when I was trying to control her children but whatever. So we had more pasta for lunch today and the kids are getting pretty good at their English, they all ask for me to pour them water please and I have to remind them but most of the time they remember to say thank you, and I respond with your welcome. That makes me proud to hear them ask, but they still are so difficult with their lessons. Bea started screaming today cause I dared to contradict her when she said that we were not gonna have English lessons today and I said we were. So the adults got back after lunch and the kids decided to clean out the outside play area, which is kinda like a gazebo, so play house in. So the got pillows and towels and toothbrushes etc, I helped bring stuff to them but then was told that I wasn’t allowed to play with them and to go away. So I just went to the pool to relax for a bit since the kids were still playing. Then Silvana and Claudio came to swim too, and I just felt awkward cause honestly I have no idea how they feel about me. I mean they are paying me to watch their kids but at this house there is really no need to watch them unless there are no adults around or they are at the pool. So when they joined I stayed for a bit and then just left, I was getting hot anyway. Which I haven’t been using sunscreen for the past two weeks and I haven’t got a single sun burn, and I’ve actually gone sunbathing in the heat of the day. Nothing. I just got a little tanner and quite overheated! It’s so weird, a nice weird though. So they said that we were gonna go to the beach today, not the one we normally go to. It’s a different beach that Silvana and Kiara took the kids to when Claudio and I had to go to Florence. Anyway apparently it is really beautiful, white sand and lots of fish and shells all around. So I was quite looking forward to that, but I really don’t think that its gonna happen…. Oh well. So I have nothing to do now. The kids are playing their game of house, which I cannot watch or participate it and the adults are in the pool, so I’m just sitting in the house on my computer…. So at dinner the kids wanted to eat in their play house that they had created so they all carried their dishes to their little house, which left me and Andrea to eat all alone in the kitchen. But Claudio instead made room for the two of us at the adult table. So the kids ate ravioli and the adults had some pasta with these little fish eggs mixed in it with an olive oil sauce, and left over sausages and pork from the other day. Also right before dinner I ate a bunch of different cheeses and drank a thing of sparkling white wine. I can now understand why cheese and wine go together, it made both of them taste a lot better. After dinner the adults just stayed and gossiped round the table and the kids just played in their little house and then watched a movie. So I just hung out at the adult table, and Kiara persuaded me to try this liquor that she was drinking. It was terrible, it tasted like it was made from pine needles, really sweet pine needles. And it was very strong; I didn’t like it at all. Then we all finally went back to the house at about 10:30pm. 

August 24th

So today was another relax day. We swam in the pool and the kids played with their yugi-oh cards. Which I dont understand the rules of the game so I didnt even try to learn. The mothers went out for the morning, Silvana to the market and Kiara took Mathew to get a tooth out. Then everyone had a very long nap time. I actually started it I think, cause I always get really tired after lunch so I went back to the house, since the kids were all busy on their electronics, and took a nap. When I woke up an hour and a half later everyone else was sound asleep. So I went back to sleep for a bit and then just watched a movie till everyone woke up. Then the kids just wanted to hang low, Bea went swimming again, and thats pretty much it. It has been quite boring these past couple days, I mean we really dont do anything. Its also almost the end of the vacation so everyone is trying to milk the relaxing out of these last few days. I am really starting to get excited about going back to school. My whole facebook is filled with everyone saying how they are at school or almost at school. I really want school to start!!!

August 23rd

So this morning Claudio and Silvana went back to Florence so I had to watch the kids all day. I had thought that Kiara would have helped out a bit watching them but she really did nothing except for while I was teaching Andrea she went swimming with the kids. So I pretty much was on my own with them till 5:30pm. We had English lessons after breakfast and then went swimming. Then lunch which was just pizza, and then a rest period filled with technology while Kiara slept, so all the kids had to be in our half of the house. Then when Claudio and Silvana got back I got to rest for a bit while they went swimming with the kids. For dinner we had lasagna, this time it wasn’t as good as before, it was a little burnt on the top. Then Silvana, Claudio and I took the kids to the beach area where you can walk the street and there are a ton of vendors, a carousel and bumper cars etc. We were only there for about a half hour though because Edwardo started feeling sick after riding the carousel and puked all over himself and Claudio. So we had to leave early, and actually it turned out to be a good thing cause I was looking for a small bag to use incase Edwardo had to vomit again and I found my ping on ointment!!!! I’m so Happy cause it’s been hell without it, I’ve got se many bites and some I’ve itched till they bled, not good at all. But now I have it back, and it’ll come in handy again when I return to Florence. So we are apparently leaving on Sunday to head back to Florence. And this time I am going to be staying in the house with the family, not with the grandmother. Cause the grandmother is getting a new house keeper and they think that it is probably best that they two of them get acquainted without having to deal with a non-italian speaking person also living  there.

August 22nd

So this morning started as all the mornings so far have gone, breakfast and the kids watching tv. We had our english lesson early today, and somehow I managed to keep all the kids at the table for a good 47min!! which is amazing for them. Also halfway through the lesson I remembered that old rhyme song "head-shoulders-knees and toes...." so I'm gonna have them learn it since it will teach them a few body parts. They found it hilarious when I did it really fast for them. Silvana Claudio and Andrea all left for the morning, Andrea and Claudio to the basketball courts and Silvana I am assuming went again to the beauty salon. So I was watching all the kids by myself today. It really wast hard, they all just played around the pool and they organized their own, peaceful, game to play. I just relaxed in the sun and got even tanner :) the only downside, I was wearing my sunglasses, so I have the beginnings of raccoon eyes.... Then after lunch, which was pasta again, Silvana and the rest got back and the kids just stayed inside on the tv, ipads etc. I tried out my new wifi and it works well, not excellent but thats also cause we are in the middle of nowhere. We really didnt do anything in the afternoon, and for dinner we had some weird concoction. It was a red meat, I think beef, but it was covered in a mayonaise sauce that tasted like it was made for a fish dish. So together is tasted weird but not bad. The kids of course complained, cause honestly it looked like cat puke, so Dora made everyone a small hamburger to go along with it. I had discovered earlier today that one of the X-Men videos I have has the option of being played in Italian, so the kids were all eager to watch it after dinner. We got about half way before they all started to get bored and went off to play on their ipads. But no biggie, I kinda wanted my computer back anyway.