Unplanned excursions are favored among our crew. Here’s the tale of our very unplanned, very un-cultural evening in Florence:

The fountain of Neptune, Piazza della Signoria

We had planned to go to the Tuscan wine paradise of Montepulciano after camp, thanks to our Camp Director offering to leave Courts the keys to the minivan! She had the keys in her hand and we were piling in for the road trip when she realized that the car was stick shift, which she had only driven a few times. Despite my suggestion of a quick hurl around the block to get used to the clutch, she decided it was too risky so we ended up racing to Florence with Franzi and Taylor, the two other tutors we were working with that week.

So we’re on the train and a storm hits. “It’s ok,” we said, “It’s just a passing one to clear the skies.” And then came our usual reassurance of how nice the pictures will look when the Rainbow comes out! Not quite. We stepped in to Piazza Duomo which is the main square in Florence and the rain came down in buckets. We of course were again appropriately dressed in flip flops but were determined not to let it hold us back! Why does it rain in every city we visit?! Who knows! So we gave the other two tutors who hadn’t been before the mini tour, at top speed through the rain! We went from the Duomo di Santa Maria di Fiore to Piazza della Signoria on to Santa Croce.

The rainy Piazza Duomo

Then bright star here decided to try and locate what is known as one of the best pizzerias in Florence Il Pizziaolo in Via dei Macci. After circling Santa Croce and getting us lost for a while we got there and…..yep you guessed it no table til nine thirty which would lead to us getting stranded in Florence and not being at camp the day after so…..we came up with a solution. We found a pizzeria called Pizza Man (the direct translation in English of pizzaiolo, the other pizzeria!) We learned that just as one should not judge a book from it’s cover, one should not judge a restaurant from it’s napkin! Yep, the tacky looking diner with a heart shaped pizza logo actually handed out free vino nibbles and served up a top class pizza! All without meat as they believe at Pizza Man that the true pizza was made with tomato, cheese and veggies!

Don't judge a restaurant by it's napkin!

So after dinner it was decided to top it all off with an Italian ice cream. A lesson to be learned: never buy an ice cream in the center of big tourist cities! Franzi asked for a grande ice cream and was served up a mountain on a cone!! They then charged her 8.70 for the cone which was in fact half price as it would have cost 15 euro!

Then it was time to get back on the regional train to Arezzo, our home for the week. This was the most unusual trip I have had to Florence but one to be remembered!

Before living in Italy I was quite the tea drinker but that all changed when I went to live in Florence, Italy for my year abroad in 2005….I discovered coffee and what caffeine could do! Life changing! I associate Italy with that aroma of freshly ground coffee beans. I felt right back at home this summer when I went to have my first Italian coffee of 2010 in a bar and there was a heart on top. It’s amazing what these folk can do with a Cappuccino.

Coffee is a way of life here in Italy and camp would not be possible without it. We have a great coffeee machine that can get a caffeine rush with for just 35 cents. The staff in the school quickly noticed our coffeee addiction and gave us a little key so we can use the machine at any time of the day.

Coffee gives you wings

(more…)

Hey all! Well now that Courts the Bailey sisters and I are all together it’s time to fill you all in on the work sides of our adventure; something’s gotta fund the dolce vita!

Perrin and Sarah in action

Orientation began today so our schedule just got more intense, Courts and I are returning tutors having met doing this job before but it’s all new to the Baileys. Courts and I help run the orientation while the girls are on information overload in order to go to camp at the weekend! Where?? We have no idea and that’s what makes the adrenaline pump! It’s going to be a hardcore week of tuning our singing voice and brushing up on playing games while learning the ACLE methodology.

The ACLE Activity Book

Courts and I will be sleeping in the same place tonight for the first time since we got to Italy as it has been non- stop, however we will be room hopping again tomorrow! Musical Beds in order to be the proud owners of WI-FI.

OK, unlike the Bailey Sisters, my job at the mo is in fact not so different from the type of work I hope to find in Italy.  I am a native English teacher in Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands.

I came here two years to improve my Spanish and loved it so much I stayed an extra year! It’s a busy time in the Canary Islands as they are preparing for Canaries Day, their celebration day where they dress in traditional dress. Today we had a BIG lunch to celebrate:  Papas arrugadas con mojo (wrinkled potatoes with a spicy sauce very typical from here), cheese with a nice jam, garbanzo beans and even some lemon sorbet spiked with Cava (spanish fizzy wine).

Going with the flow and living Canarian culture!

I spend most of my day in a classroom, teaching conversation English classes to fifteen groups of 12-20 year-olds.  They are full of energy and boyfriend/girlfriend drama.  It’s a shame I am only just managing to remember all their names and it’s time to go!   I work in a school that may resemble something from Prison Break but inside it is in fact a very warm environment and one of the most technologically advanced schools on the island. Every class has an electronic white boar and Internet, which I still find challenging, but who knows, maybe Jet Set Zero will turn me into an Internet genius.

My school

I love working in the English Department because it’s all women who share my love for innocent gossiping and drinking coffee.  My favourite day is Tuesday when I have tea time with fellow teacher Kathryn, a great friend of mine here on the island.  She is from the south of England and we spend our breaks getting nostalgic and drinking tea with milk like the true Brits we are.  She also deserves a special mention as she filmed the lucky audition clips for Jet Set Zero.

Tea time with Kathryn

Only yesterday I realised how much I am going to miss not only Gran Canaria but also my students and workmates! I got to school yesterday to see that my students had organised me parties, made me cards, gave me a beautiful rose, a teddy bear, a powerpoint presentation and one boy even drew a Manga picture of me (think Japanese Anime). It is so touching to see the impact I have made in their lives, and how generous my cleavage is as a Magna girl!

Being a teacher is one of the most rewarding jobs ever.

Manga Me

The gifts from my students

Hey all,  My name is Lynne, and I’m your first-ever Scottish cast member on Jet Set Zero.  Get excited.  I like riding  trains with strangers, singing off-key and playing football.  That’s soccer to you, aye?