Checking Email

I usually don't check work email on a Saturday.  At all.  I just need one day off, and it is difficult to get that already when you live WITH your students.  So I'm not sure why I checked it today.  But here is what I found.

Needless to say, that made my day (or week).  Maybe I should check email on Saturdays more often!

Happy Valentine's Day from Italy

So this is a joke...in case you are wondering why I look so mad in my Valentine's Day photo!  Another fine example of life in Italy.  A couple of weeks ago I needed some passport photos for my visa/permesso application (yes...I am still not entirely legal here after 6 months).  I had it all figured out; stop at the bus station on my way to the Questura to file my paperwork and get some photos from the photo booth that Kristen used to get her passport photos.  Easy right?  Well...

First, the photo booth was not there.  After using my terrible Italian to find the missing photo booth I found out it had been moved to the train station.  No problem, it's around the corner.  Go there to get my photos and find out it costs 4 euros instead of 2, but luckily I had brought extra change...I had 6 euros in coins with me thinking I'd get 3 chances to take my photos (thinking ahead that there would probably be some glitch...getting used to doing this now).  OK, here's the funny part...

I put in my 4 euros and sit for my picture, making sure not to smile because you're not supposed to smile for passport photos apparently.  I press the "instructions in English" button, and the photo snaps.  Hmmm....not what I was expecting.  Well, apparently when you press the "instructions in English" button on the photo machine it takes your picture and gives you this lovely Valentine's Day postcard instead of passport photos!

Hmmm....now what?  I just spent 4 of my 6 euros and I need to take another set of photos.  No problem, I have cash (again just in case).  Just need change.  Change machine is back in the bus station (wouldn't want one in the train station you know).  No problem, go back to the bus station to get change.  Change machine broken, no real surprise.  So I go back to the train station, buy some candy to get change, and finally get my passport photos.

And I got this lovely Valentine's Day postcard!

Ski Conditions

All of the students at my school get opportunities to try new activities.  Skiing (cross country and downhill) is one of these activities, and for students who come from countries with no snow or mountains or even real winter, it is a treat.  The bonus for us is that teachers have to drive the vans, and then get to ski (for free), too!


I started with a cross country trip in early January to Tarvisio.  The only problem was there was no snow.  Except for the fake snow that they made on a golf course.  Not the best conditions.  I skied around in circles for a few hours, then spent the rest of the day in the bar with a coffee and my kindle.  Not a bad day, but not the best ski conditions.


Last Saturday, Tom and I went along for the downhill trip to Zoncolan.  It was pouring rain when we left Duino, which meant it was snowing in the mountains.  And it snowed, and snowed, and snowed.  We had the slopes to ourselves, and the fresh powder kept things nice and slow for people like me.  The snow all day also made it quite wet, and kept us from seeing any of the mountains around us.  It didn't stop us from having fun, though!


The day ended with a long drive home through new snow (I got to drive with chains on for the first time, in a 9 passenger diesel van) which turned to rain by the time we got down the mountains.  Luckily, I stopped skiing a half hour early to warm up with a thick, rich cup of hot chocolate and make some progress in Flight Behavior while Tom enjoyed a few more runs.   We go again this Saturday, and I'm looking forward to that hot chocolate as much as I am the skiing!