A day in the life of an Italian farm girl is sort of amazing.  I got a whole week to play the part on my host family’s farm in Roccafranca with Lynnie as my cohort.  It went a little like this:

7AM: Still sleeping but smell espresso and hear chickens.  Snooze.

7:30AM: Chickens are back.  Attic window is starting to get light.  Walk over and see mist rising over the backyard cornfields.  How could you stay asleep?

Morning cornrise

8:00AM: Eat biscotti at a kitchen table made for 10.  Drink espresso.   Operating heavy machinery isn’t recommended before several cups.

It's my table and I'll eat if I want to

8:30AM: Ride the tractor and some broomsticks.

Harry Potter meets Old McDonald

10AM: Hop on the family bikes and cruise the cornfields onto the main drag, making sure massive tractor trucks don’t blow you off the non-existant shoulder.

The white line IS the shoulder

NOON: Eat a grigliata mista – DISCLAIMER: some pigs may have been harmed in the making of this lunch.

Sorry buddy

2PM: Watch beautiful 18-year-old host daughter, Chiara, play Farmville on Facebook.

Lynnie and Chiara virtual farming

3PM: Play the real Farmville.  Chase pigs, check for eggs, take farmy photos.

Be-GAAAAAK

The family pigs

Italy Hillbilly

5PM: Hike the mountains of Franciacorta with super-fit host dad Enzo (Big Papa).

Pinko Panko, Panko Pinko and Enzo

6PM: Freak out over the sight of Mamma Giovanna’s homemade Gnocchi alla Romana.

Gnocchi alla Romana alla Giovanna

10PM: Drink Enzo’s grappa (per digerire/for digestion)

11:PM: Remember that our rustic farm attic has wi-fi.  Blog myself to sleep.

The tutor penthouse