week 1

Wow, this last week of my life has been so filled. I arrived in Fabriano last Tuesday afternoon after 2 planes and 2 trains. Navigating my way through the massive Rome train station with out previous experience or instruction was a choir. But I got on my train just to find out I was in the wrong car and also that I had failed to validate my ticket, which left me with a hefty fine that I tried not to calculate from euros to dollars to save my insanity. But I made it! On my first plane ride I sat near a lady who was a foreign exchange student in Germany 36 years ago. Since then she has hosted many exchange students. She was on her way to Europe to see her old German family and visit other students she had previously. She offered me advice and even gave me a contact over here in Italy. She told me after all this time she still can speak fluently, that once it clicked,  it was there for good. On my second plane ride I sat next to a man and his child who were headed to Italy, where his wife and the boys mother was from. They were headed to the grandparents house. He too offered me a lot of helpful advice for my stay. I love meeting people and hearing their stories, they have been so eager to help to and point me in a good direction.

Anyways, when I arrived in Fabriano,  Luciana, the mother of the family im staying with greeted me. She took me to lunch at a delicious little place here. I cannot say enough how great she has been and welcoming into their home. My first full day (also my 23rd birthday) I was sick all day with some virus I must have caught. I felt so bad that that was my first day but they took care of me and by the next day I was ready to go!

When I write about my experiences here I feel like words and pictures cannot touch the surface of how it has been. There are moments when it is difficult not to feel homesick and long to return; but there are moments that I wish I could relive over and over. Luciana's brother and his girlfriend arrived on Saturday.  Luciana and her brother are from Brazil but have lived in-and-out of Italy throughout their lives. To celebrate their arrival we went to dinner at a restaurant a few miles outside of Fabriano. I had no idea what a fun night that would turn into. It was a Napoli themed restaurant where we went through about four jugs of red wine and were brought 8 different plates of food. I was full the next morning still! They had karaoke and dancing the whole time (I sang Dancing queen) and we took full advantage! When we left the restaurant everyone in there told us goodbye and cheered. It was so much fun. Bu that time it was 12 but we went to the town center where they were having a 70's themed concert.  The back drop for this is: an old castle wall, a clock tower, and a full moon. It's so beautiful and I don't know how to describe that being all around you as you dance and listen to a concert with italian people all drinking and having fun. The next day Claudio, the father of the family im with, arrived back from Dubai. Last night we all went to their countryside home (im surrounded by mountains and hills in this commune). Their grandparents had left during properties for him and his brothers. The backyard is filled with fresh fruit trees and two hammocks. We all hung out out there and enjoyed the beauty out there. Its a small area with a few other families,  I met one and went into their home for a bit and spoke with them before dinner was ready. We had a big italian style barbecue out on the patio with Luciana and Claudio's families. There was so much food! We sat out there for about 2 1/2 hours and watched the World cup, ate, and enjoyed more wine. They also had me try this drink that is made with alcohol, the green stuff from nuts before they are ready, and rosemary. It sits for 3 months before it is ready. I tried fennel and figs for the first time yesterday. I ate fig, plums,  raspberries, and blackberries straight off the tree. Their families are so welcoming and incredible. I cant express enough how much I have enjoyed my time here already. I am learning and growing a lot.

This week I am going to Florence, they are helping me plan my weekends to go visit places throughout Italy that I must see. My position as an au pair is very different than I thought. I feel like I am apart of the family. My primary goal is to help the family with speaking English. They are so great to me. I know my time here is going to be one I will forever treasure!