3 Months

Well, I made it to the 3 month mark. On Wednesday night it was a full moon and since I arrived on a full moon it makes keeping track of the time passed quite simple. This last week has been interesting, busy but good. I feel badly I haven't been writing and keeping you all up to date, it's incredible how things just fly by and give very little notice at their rate/speed in doing so.

I have begun to go out more, maybe once or twice during the week and usually at least once on the weekends, which is great. I'm spending more time with the other au pairs I've met via LiNK (a local au pair club run by an American, [now Swiss as well] couple who just dedicate themselves to helping au pairs meet each other, providing support and reference services and someone to talk to when we need it). Becky & Paul are so great and their gift of this group has really helped make the last month and a half so much better. Things in general are just getting better. :D

EXCEPT... my allergies. Oh mon dieu are they bad! I thought I might have been able to shrug them off but this morning I woke up with what is starting to feel like an ear infection in my right ear, my nose is running but dry, my head congested to 3x its normal size and I sounded like a frog. Oh. Joy. It was funny when Ben asked me this morning why I sounded like I do, try explaining to a 4.5 year old what pollen/allergies are... then try doing it in a language where you have very limited vocabulary! It was interesting to say the least.

This week has been a busy one for me. Daniel & Solveig left early Sunday morning for Oman for a little vacation just the two of them (and how they deserve it, honestly, they work really, really hard and don't see much of each other it seems) but that meant that I've been on duty more like 20/7 since Sunday. Now, I haven't been alone, so that's good. Daniel's mom came down Sunday afternoon and has spent the week with us, helping me so I'm not totally alone and staying in so that I could have 2 nights out this week and not feel so stuck. (Speaking of which, those nights were great - Monday I went to bible study which after years of feeling nothing religious I'm really enjoying reviewing the spiritual side of my self; and then last night Thursday, I went to Geneva and met up with 6 other au pair friends and had a picnic near the jet d'eau [a big water jet on lake Geneva] it was great). But even with grandma here I've been working a tad more than usual (getting the boys up and getting them to bed & everything in between) I don't mind it too much, but it's been weird not to have Daniel & Solveig around. I must say although it's been nice to be "left in charge" so-to-speak. Makes me feel like a valuable asset to the family (despite the fact that judgement was finally passed on my little auto "incident" back in March and the Swiss government dorks found ME guilty! Merde. I got a fine and a "record" here in Swiss - but in exchange for my working overtime this week - including some weekend time, Daniel & Sol are paying the fine - thank goodness! Still that was totally lame and not the best moment of my last week or so) But it's all working out.

Tonight we'll be dining on my homemade mac & cheese again and while I haven't eaten it yet I think it might be my best batch yet. The béchamel was creamy and thick (but not lumpy) and the cheese gooey and I topped it with some crushed corn flakes for some extra crunch. I'm a genius ;) LOL

Meanwhile, I'm still going to French classes, and still struggling with it, but practicing as I can, and have discovered that I'm not all that horrible, and can only improve with time.

I'm going to try to write a little more frequently (although nothing like when I first arrived and had no life, because as amazing as it sounds, I finally have a life) but I will try to send updates as I can.

Life keeps moving on, faster than I can count on a lot of the time. 3 months down. 9 to go. What am I going to do?!

Love you all. Miss you immensely & can't wait to share more of my adventures as they come.

PS - upcoming events include a weekend getaway with the au pair club to Interlaken in May. Also MOM & DAD are coming to visit me in AUGUST!!! Can't wait!

Hey I actually wrote something....

After months of trying, and moments of wanting I finally sat down and wrote something. It's far from perfect but here goes:

When light fails and leaves the blackness

And no where seems to have the sense of home

I run in circles searching

For a memory to call my own

And in brief moments of self-reflection

And meditation of my heart

I hunger for the knowledge that we'd never be so far apart

In moments of desire

I find myself calling out your name

But it never leads me to you, I just crave it all the same

And in times of fear I tremble

Knowing you're there but far away

I worry that I won't find you when the night gives way to day

The strangest times in my life

Are the best ones to recall

When the sunshine isn't as bright

As all the times its been before

Like a child lost without a clue

I cower and I hide

I worry that if I go to far, I'll be stuck here without a guide

There is no balance or equilibrium

Just a constant back and forth

And just as time ebbs and flows

The world seems to be torn apart

I know that there are answers

But what are the questions we should ask

Our natural inquisition

Is often our demise

What will become of my life

When I slip away from this place

Is it over when we say goodbye

Or when the smile leaves our face

It's hard to comprehend this world

Harder still to accept the truth

That we are to be left to ponder

Until the world wants us too

Time cannot stand still

But it always seems to try

Events continue every day

But often don't touch our lives

We can't seem to let go of the moment when

Day gives way to night

And the world challenges us again

To pick up a sword and fight

If there is a purpose here then I am not sure of what it is

But in my constant self exam

I sometimes want the world to win

What will it mean when we leave this place

If there is another home out there

If the world has a better plan for me

Than what I see inside here

Like a child on an exploration

Looking at everything for the first time

Nothing seems to strike a nerve

Or cause fear inside her eyes

Its not until we see the dark

That the world seems so big

Why can't the world stay just as small

As the space inside which we live

Its a constant struggle to understand

A constant fear to overcome

That life will go the way it wants

Before the world comes to an end

The rule book is missing

And in a language I can't understand

With hidden pictures and meanings

Their significance I can only pretend

Its this challenge placed before me

In the dark or in the light

Either side is placing bets

On the success or failure of our lives

There is no yes or no

There is no wrong or right

Only truth and consequences

And a moment of light

I play the games as best I can

I try to comprehend

The answers to the questions

That seem completely out if hand

She used to be afraid of nothing

Used to know her way around

Until something clicked inside her

And made being alone unknown

It takes a grownup to find it

But a child's state of mind

I suppose that's the beauty of this planet

That we need one another to survive.

23 April 2010

12:00pm

Back in the saddle again...

Well, my trip was fantastic, thanks to everyone who asked, wondered, gave advice, sent positive vibes and missed me! As I was on my train(s) home to Céligny last Sunday evening it occurred to me that my trip to Italy was my first vacation in something like three years. And boy was it well deserved and well executed! As described in my previous post I saw Rome in a whirlwind. It is a place I will never forget. As I discovered with most of the places I went over my week away I was walking through a living museum. Everything is old, has a story, a history, a past. And I do believe those things are different. A story can be retold, but always changes. History is a learning tool and a past is something that keeps you grounded to where you've been, as you move forward. This was very true of both Perugia & Florence I felt as well. In my very short time in Perugia I discovered that it was rich in history but also alive with modern life. On Thursday afternoon when I arrived I discovered there was a festival happening that weekend, and the festivities were just beginning. Since I speak absolutely NO Italian (apart from vino, grazie and prego) I had to just go from what I saw... and what I saw was an event for children primarily - a celebration for them. Street artists, a man doing "magic" with bubbles, kids painting on long strips of paper, it was great! A university town I had expected to meet more people my age, but perhaps it was my location and short stay that didn't relate that feeling. I did however have a fantastic dinner on my own complete with a glass of vin santo (yummy stuff!).

Friday, I went to the Umbrian museum and saw some art older than anything I had ever really seen. A crucifix from the 13th century... panels from 12th century churches, seriously old, but beautiful stuff. It was a treat to wander on my own through this museum and see things that had more of a past than the entire life of the USA. After the museum, I had to head to the train station for the 4th part of my journey: Florence aka Firenze. And I'll start by saying this: WOW.

But that's getting slightly ahead of myself. Because of some chance or fate I was fortunate enough to have the chance to stay with some family friends who have lived in Firenze for 15 years. Starting as aquantences and turning into friends of my parents, I do believe I can now officially call them friends of mine now. Andrew & Nadia are a gift. After 5 nights in a hostel, 1 night in a B&B where the second B consisted of stale coffee and even staler (not sure if that's a word...) bread I was flooded with the feeling of acceptance and friendship. I hadn't seen either of them in at least 3 years, probably more and it was a wonderful reuniting. They met me at the station and we took a taxi to their place where we started my final lag of the trip with a coffee and chat. After, Andrew & I went for a walk. It was like having my own tour guide, full of information and happy to answer my pathetic questions. We went back to the house after sitting and having a beer along the river in an outdoor café and Nadia prepared some fish and spinach that was AMAZING. I never thought I'd ask for seconds of spinach in my life, but there you go... :D

We sat around talking until after midnight. It was bliss. Saturday morning I woke up after a full nights sleep without alarms buzzing or children screaming or neighbors talking. Again, bliss. I sat around reading and listening to music and then when Andrew & Nadia woke up we had coffee and toast and then headed off to walk around the city. We went up to the hill and overlooked the city (spectacular) and for once I had someone to take my photo without asking a stranger who may or may not understand my plea.

After a morning full of walking and talking and photo taking and watching a Chinese wedding party we headed back to the house for a great lunch of Risotto with porcini mushrooms (picked by Nadia's family near Pisa) and a prosecco and steamed artichokes. YUM Afterlunch they took a traditional sieste and I went out on my own exploring the city. I walked a lot. Past the Duomo, the David, Santa Maria Novella, and kept going. I loved just taking it all in. I must have taken about a 100 photos in a matter of 2-3 hours. It was awesome. I enjoyed just watching the world go by. That evening I went back to their flat and then Andrew and I went out for pizza at a truly Italian restaurant (no one spoke english, except me of course- it was great!) After dinner we went back, had a glass of grappa and again sat & talked until past 12. Sunday was my last day in Italy and I awoke to a storm. And I mean storm. Thunder, rain, wind. It was great! Mostly because I could stay inside and not feel bad about it. We all just stayed in our PJs for a while and then had a late breakfast and sat and talked all day. I had to leave for the station about 2 so it was a great last day.

I'm in the process of posting the photos to FB and will link them here, but until then, below is a link to my YouTube video created from photos I took & set to music by my awesome brother, Kyle Michael Porter. It's a quick one because it was set to the length of the song, but gives a taste of what I did/saw.

Mattie's Italy Trip!

Love to all!

Rome in a Whirlwind

Well, it's amazing how quickly 4 days in Rome passes. It is now Thursday, my last day and I think I did pretty well seeing the most important sights, etc. I even had a day with little stress and ended up sitting in a café having a glass of vino blanco. Of course photos are going to have to wait as I don't have any access to a computer/USB but I thought I'd use my brief remaining time while waiting for my train giving all y'all at home a little update of what I did. I came, I saw, I got lost & I walked. It was a great time, something I will never forget and I'm really glad I did. This afternoon I head to Perugia where I have literally less than 24 hours of exploration/sleeping, but I'll be in a B&B and will have my own room for a night, and after 5 nights of sharing, it will be excellent. :D
But enough about what's to come, because obviously I'll write about that later on. Here's what happened in Roma....
Saturday, 3 April: Spent the day on the train from San Remo to Rome. Of course my first train (San Remo to Milan) was a regional (i.e. SLOW) train. It took a long time but I finally made it to Milan where I had literally enough time to get off, walk to the end of the platform, find my connection and get on. With perhaps only 2-3 minutes to spare! But the good news is I made it. From Milan I was on a EuroStar train to Rome, so quicker & less stops but absolutely crazy weather outside. To be somewhat honest, I'm kind of glad I spent Saturday on a train since the weather throughout Europe seemed sort of dismal. Saturday evening I arrived in Rome, found my hostel, checked in and then went for a bite to eat: Spaghetti Carbonara (if I screw up spelling it's not my fault, spelling was never my strong suit, even in English). Followed by a veal steak, potatoes & a salad. And of course a glass of red vino. I made it back to the hostel and quickly drifted off to sleep.
Sunday, 4 April (Easter): I woke up the first time about 6am when a few boys in the room were getting up to go see Easter Mass at the Vatican. Let me tell you, when you're not for sure certain if a dorm is coed (no one was there when I passed out the night before) waking up to see BOXERS in front of you is a surefire way of finding out! :D I passed back out and finally got up about 8. Sunday's weather was yucky. I had breakfast at my hostel (a little pricey, but tasty) and then decided to hit the streets. I just started walking, no direction & a poor map. I wandered along until I found a Tourist Office where I walked in and got information on something called a RomaPass. Side note: The RomaPass entitles you to unlimited transit within the city (metro, bus & tram) and then entry into two museums/historical sites gratis. After that, you get a reduction on the ticket price of the museum/site. For 25 Euro you get that, and if you consider each metro/bus ticket it 1Euro and the Colosseum is 12 Euro it pretty much pays for itself with that. Then I ended up also going to the second most expensive museum, but more about that later. Which I bought with the intention to use starting Monday. Afterwards I walked to the Spanish Steps in the pouring rain. By the time I reached the Church at the top my pants were wet to my knees and my shoes were starting to squeak. (I walked down rather than up the steps and am somewhat thankful for that). At the bottom I met up with one of the few "Rome Free Walking Tours" which for free (or small tip to your guide) you walk and get a little bit of info/history. So I did the one that started just at 11 (I got there about 10:30) which was a walking tour from the Spanish Steps & Square to the Vatican. In the rain. (You'd think I'd be OK with the rain after living in Western Washington my entire life, but come on now, I'm in ROME! It shouldn't be that bad). Anyway, I walked with the guide across the Bridge de Saint Angelo and to the opening of the Saint Peter's Square which was exploding with people as the Pope had just finished his speech from the balcony, and a flood of wet patrons & umbrellas came pouring down towards the Metro stop. At that point I decided to start walking in another direction. (Mind you, all this time it was WET) I walked back towards the city center although I really had no idea where I was. I ended up in what I have determined was near the Piazza del Parlamento where I finally gave up the idea of trying to walk back to the hostel and instead catch a bus. So first I had to get to a Tabacci to buy a bus ticket (because I wasn't using my RomaPass until Monday) and then wait in line with 100 other people trying to get onto buses, many of which didn't have room for a single soul. We're talking so crowded that the doors couldn't open. It took me about 30 minutes, lots of pushing, and lots of missed buses before I finally got on one to get me back to Termini and my hostel. I got back to the hostel around 3 and within 30 minutes most of the other guests, too arrived to dry off and warm up. I befriended a Notre Dame student studying in London here for Easter weekend and we ended up going out to see Saint Peter's and then walked around the city trying to find a gelato place he had been to previously where they had about 60 flavors. We then got back to the hostel and decided since both our families were going to be having yummy easter dinner that we too would have an Easter dinner. So first we drank a bottle of wine he had bought and played scrabble, then went off for dinner together and talked about our families, plans, etc. We got back close to midnight when we met up with some other dormmates and sat around having even more wine and talking about the rain & day.
April 5, Monday: I woke up and decided to go to the Colosseum. When I got there via the Metro I was bombarded with people offering tickets and tours. With my RomaPass I could skip the long line, but seeing how I knew hardly anything about the Colosseum I decided to splurge the 8 Euro and join a tour, which also entitled me to do a tour of the Roman Forum afterwards which I personally enjoyed a lot more. My guide for the Forum was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable that when she said that she'd be giving a tour the next day of the Vatican museums I had to cough up the 40 Euro and sign up. So after my tour I wandered around the Palatino & the Forum for what seemed like hours. Monday's weather was really bizarre, sort of the type where if you don't like it, just wait 5 minutes. But in general it was nice enough that I didn't spend the day with my hood up and even at one point managed to be in just my t-shirt & jeans. After the Forum I went to Trevi Fountain where I was with about a thousand other people. But I threw in my three coins and got a picture. I got back Monday evening and decided to just go wander around Piazza Novona to find something to eat so I caught the bus and just started walking. I ended up going to this little Pizzeria where for 8Euro I got a glass of wine, tomato bruschetta and a pizza. A yummy, yummy pizza. I ate Al Fresco and enjoyed the calm of the evening. Ended up back at the hostel about 11 and passed out, exhausted from walking.
Tuesday, 6 April: This was the fun/interesting day. I had signed up for a tour of the Vatican (as previously mentioned) and so I got up, went to meet the guide outside and of course was about 30 minutes early, per usual. So I stood there and talked with Fe (our guide) about her experiences in Rome, what she used to do in England, what her plans were, etc. About 10:05 after everyone had shown up we walked to a small café across from the Vatican to get our little radios and fork over the cash. We left there and headed up the hill to the group/reservation entrance. By the time we got there even the group entrance was crowded and chaotic. We struggled in line for nearly 40 minutes and when we got the the entrance the Monsenior was there and said "NO" our reservation was for 10, it was now 10:50, granted we had spent 40 minutes in line, but he said no, and after trying to get in it just wasn't happening. (Now mind you reservations are good for an hour so even in worst-case at 10:50 we should have been OK, but when the monsenior says no, there isn't much you can do). Our guide was devastated. Here we were all ready to go in and we get shut out. thankfully most of our group was easygoing about it and we discussed the possibility of getting a later reservation to try it all again. We agreed to join at 1:30 and in the meanwhile our guide Fe would call her boss and do whatever they could to get us a second reservation. I ended up walking with Fe, I could tell she was stressed out, sad, worried, etc. And she invited me to have a beer while we waited for word from her boss. In the worst-case she was going to have to give us our money back which meant that she had to get the deposits from her house so she left to run home and I stayed just hanging out around the Vatican. I wandered around a bit, then about 12:15 ran into two others from the same tour and joined them for lunch at the café/meeting point. We sat and talked and then two more from the group showed up and then Fe came, completely thrilled that her boss was able to make a second reservation for 1:45 and so, the 20 of us all arrived by 1:30, got our radios and again headed up the hill to the group entrance where this time we made it in. After that the tour went quickly, so great though. Looking at art older than anything I have ever seen in my life. Antiquities and icons. Statues, frescoes, paintings, tapestries all stunning and magnificent. Our tour ended just before the Sistine Chapel and before I went there I wandered through some of the other rooms as long as I could. I finally made it to the Chapel which is absolutely awe-some (in the true sense of that word) I stayed in there, neck bent staring up as long as I was able, I pretty much stayed in the Vatican museums until it closed and they told me I had to go. Which was sort of sad, but simultaneously not so bad since I did get to see a whole lot. Got back to the hostel and then went out to dinner with a couple girls from the hostel, which was nice, not eating alone is always nice!
Wednesday the 7th - my last full day in Rome and there was so much still to do/see. I had a second free entry with my RomaPass and there is a Museum of Modern Art that looked really interesting (and also 2nd most costly) so I decided to go there. I got directions on which bus/trams to take but somehow got on the tram going the wrong direction. I ended up in a somewhat sketchy looking part of town where in my terrible attempts at getting help figured out I had gone the wrong way and needed to get on the tram and start counting. The only problem was I didn't know where I had started so counting stops become somewhat difficult. Thankfully there were two University students who spoke enough English they helped me find out I was 10 stops away and then I was good to go. Sort of, it was rather unnerving being on a dingy tram trying to keep count of stops as they went. But I made it to the museum and it was gorgeous. In terms of "Modern Art" it was rather limited. At least in what "we" normally consider modern art. In fact most of the museum was full of works from the 19th century and early at that (I saw a Degas, a Monet, and many wonderful Italian artists). There was a small exhibit of what I would consider "modern art" (abstract pieces and the like) but then there was a whole area on 1920's - 40's works, with Dadaism, Surrealist works, neo-cubism and more. On the other end was a special exhibit of the neo-feminist movement from the late 70's/early 80's which was also really cool/unique. Even saw a few Martha's who were big in the movement. After the museum I sat in the café and had a sandwich and a glass of white wine in the brilliant sunshine. Yesterday's weather was absolutely perfect. Then I walked back towards Piazza del Popolo where I got lost, again, but managed to get through and walk towards the Pantheon which was still on my to-do list. I made it there (stopping for some gelato on the way - chocolate & pistachio) and saw the inside of the largest dome from "pre-history." Again, such an awe-inspiring moment and place. We just don't have history like that in the states. It was so wonderful to see. Last night I went out with a girl from my dorm for dinner, we had no idea where to go so we hopped on the metro and just started walking. We finally ended up near the Piazzo del Popolo and had some yummy food & wine and talked and just enjoyed life. It was great. Was back at the hostel about 11, checked emails and went to bed.
Today, Thursday the 8th. It's my last day in Rome, not even a whole day... I got up and decided I needed to see the Circo Massimo which I hadn't yet seen so I hopped on the Metro and went down there. Walked around and took a few photos but there wasn't much to do. I then wandered around a bit, ended up taking the metro back to Termini and then wandered into a couple bookstores. I got back to the hostel and decided to catch you all up on what I've been doing, and will just be here until about 12:15 (not long from now since I've been sitting writing for nearly an hour) when I'll head across the street to the train station to catch my train to Perugia.
I hope I'll have a chance to see something in Perugia, if nothing else though I plan to sort of spoil myself at dinner if I can and I'll have my own room tonight which should be great. On Friday I leave Perugia for Florence where I'm meeting up with some good family friends who have graciously offered to let me crash there for Friday & Saturday night. Then Sunday it's back to Geneva...
I'm so grateful to have gotten this opportunity to travel, its certainly something I will not forget and although not all great it's been an adventure. I look forward to posting pictures when I'm back in Switzerland but until then... caio!
Love,
Matticus