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

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Maybe it’s the pace, the irony, the rules (or lack-thereof) in Italy that sometimes makes going with the flow a challenge. Although Perrin and Sarah are quite the Italophiles already, Lynne and I thought this tip sheet would come in handy for those brief moments of utter frustration:

1. Queuing – a line, or fila in Italian is a mere suggestion and cutting (chinese back-cuts or otherwise) is socially acceptable.  TIP: Elbows out, keep your eye on the prize.

2. Speak-a-da’ language- Getting by with English is manageable in big cities but not in the remote spots Jet Set Zero prefers.  TIP: A few Grazie‘s and Va bene‘s go a long way.  And “Do you speak English?”  usually falls short.  When in doubt, just gesture.

Gestures speak louder than words

3. Dry your Hair or Else: Italian wives’ tales are tall.  A popular one is the wet head farce:  Going out of the house with a wet head (even in summer) will cause serious illness.  TIP: Give yourself extra time to dry. Italian hair dryers are are not up to the task and using yours from home with an adaptor WILL blow the fuse.

4. Playing Chicken: Crossing the street isn’t as much of a death wish as Saigon, however in Italy it’s optional for cars to stop.TIP: stick one toe out to test the water. The further South you go, the riskier it gets. In Naples, you’re sure to lose a leg.

Cross At Your Own Risk

Co-Post: Sarah and Perrin

Courtney and Lynne are ACLE pros and Italy veterans as far as we are concerned.  Luckily for us they have been showing us the ropes in camp and around town in San Remo.

Today their leadership pertained most significantly to their knowledge of prime food spots. The experienced duo led us on a gelato tasting expedition across three vendors, patiently instructing us on how to say “I would like a sample taste please” in Italian (“Vorrei un campione di gusto per favore”).  Lollipop was the winner.

First samples of Gelato.

Tasting the creamy, nutmegy, nutella-y goodness for the first time, we could not stop drooling long enough to pick a winning flavor. Good thing we have six more weeks to give each option a second chance…

Here are a few of our other first impressions from our time in Italy (see photos below).

The Hokey Pokey Dance

Teaching English to non speakers is much harder than expected but we are having a blast returning to our youthful days at Summer Camp.  Here Perrin and I demonstrate teaching “The Hokey Pokey”.  Lynn informed us the proper name in Scotland is “The Hokey Cokey”.  We’ll see which name prevails with the children after the summer.

Espresso: Drink early and often. Two cups at a time if necessary.

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