So over winter break, at the restaurant I work at, I met a couple that lives in Florence, Romina and Matteo. It was really cute actually when we met now that I think of it...I'm a greeter so that means I walk people to their table and make them feel welcome at Duke's and as I was walking her down, she said she's from Florence and I said I was going to be leaving for Bologna in two weeks to study abroad! Well, she screamed out of excitement and made the table next to her jump a little! She gave me her contact information and I honestly didn't think anything of it, and I remember getting their contact information and we were all laughing because we all knew I wasn't going to call complete strangers, until my mom decided I should...just because it'd be nice to know at least SOMEONE on another continent I know no one on. Mom knows best!
My friends and I went on a train to Firenze for an art class. It's such a nice thought that Italy is right at your fingertips when you're at the train station.
So yada yada yada, we learn art and see the duomo and Gates of Paradise and blah blah blah Donatello this, Donatello that...skip to my favorite part:
I contacted Romina. Turns out she's a second grade teacher. She asks me to come to her school Friday morning to meet her and help teach English. I honestly think this was all fate because our hostel was a couple blocks from the Ponte Vecchio and so was her school..La Scuola Nadia Nencioni, slash il mia preferita cosa da fare in Italia.
Carolina and I walked that morning not knowing what to expect, and I'm learning that I love that most about life. Never knowing what to expect sets you up for some serious adventure...some serious lessons, but it's all good for ya in the end. Being me, I'm never too worried about getting lost or not having a map in a city or not knowing what I'm going to do in some random Italian middle school with a lady I've only met once that lives a thousand miles away. Well I'm beyond glad I decided to actually follow through with meeting this random lady.
As we walked to school at 8am, excited children and loving parents filled the streets...it was a different side to Florence that no one else gets to see as a tourist. This is the real Florence, the one only those that live there discover. It's hard in Italy to find authenticity because of the tourism industry...I feel even the born and raised Florentine's may find a problem finding their culture at times because they have to speak English every once in a while. Well, it's always my goal to blend in with the Italians. Let's get one thing straight...Gioconda never wants to be a tourist. Gioconda wants to be an ITALIAN. Caro and I asked one of the parents where the school was and just our luck, she was walking her children to Nencioni and she said we could just follow. We joked around with her little ones and laughed heartily. Our stroll was so carefree..it was as if this was planned...this was exactly how things were supposed to be at that moment. Don't you love when moments like that happen? When you don't plan anything, yet everything seems to be in place just the way you could have dreamed it? God works in funny ways.
Caro and I entered the middle school and immediately this lady helped us find Romina. We waited and I could hardly hold in my excitement. If you already don't know, I find children the most fascinating little things. I love love LOVE them...I have such a special place in my heart for kids. I feel like I can communicate with them so well..not because I'm intellectually challenged but because I'm very child-like...silly, don't make sense at times, but don't care, like kids! Romina waltzed down the stairs and when we saw each other, it was like seeing my mom. Maybe this is why God had me keep in contact with her...God knew I needed this moment. We gave each other a huge squeeze and she thought it was cute at how I tried hard to speak only in Italian for her since her English isn't that great, and I thought it was cute she was trying super hard to speak in English for me, since my Italian is practically non-existent. She led Caro and I up some stairs and we heard children from everywhere. She had us walk into this one classroom though and introduced us to all her second graders, and then and there, hearing the kids say "hi" in unison to welcome us, I knew I had done the right thing. Score! Love when that happens! It's just so nice to be somewhere you feel like you belong when you're so far away from home.
And so it began...teaching the "my name is" and "I like/I don't like" and "head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes." Oh and colors and numbers of course! There's this little one called Vincenzo...his accent was so thick, but he was the one that had the most fun with it. Kids like that make me want to work as a teacher. When someone tries so hard, you never want to give up on them. You are inspired. These children may think that when I go see them, I am the one giving them something, but in fact, I get something more out of it than they could ever imagine. I get inspiration. I get peace of mind. I get happiness...but most of all, I get a FREE ITALIAN LESSON. Just kidding, for realsies now, I get just what I want out of life...teaching people something. They'll always remember the phrase "My name is Vincenzo/Francesco/Carla/Camilia/Lorenzo/etc." because of me...I did something guys, and even though it's a little something, I'll be remembered. You know how some people remember others because of a split second memory? Theirs of mine is either a phrase or a hug maybe or maybe even a silly face I did to them to make them laugh or it's a funny joke...but somehow, it's there. I love making memories. Every week I'll get to go back and I always can't wait for my Florence day. It makes me want to drop the doctor dream and just go become a teacher a lot...who knows? One day at a time. That's kind of a huge decision, ya know?! Haha.
Well I was on a trip with a bunch of other kids though so of course we had to go back to go see the museums and churches of Florence. The weather was so perfect that day...I'll never forget it. Sarah and I were together for most of that day. We went to the top of the Duomo and saw the world it seemed. I wanted to go to the Uffizi but quickly decided we need to stay outside. The conversation literally went like this, "I feel bad I don't want to go inside this museum where some of the world's best works of art are, but it's so nice outside." "So want to just stay outside?" "Yup!" So worth it. This brings us to Piazzale di Michelangelo, where you could again see a view of the entire city of Florence. Sarah and I went off on our own though and discovered this park with views to die for! We watched the sunset sitting on the park steps and the colors, the mood..everything was just right. We laughed so hard. A couple of ladies wanted me to take a picture of them and that's where the famous "formaggio" joke started. "Formaggio" in Italian is cheese and I just said, "Okay ladies, uno, due, tre..FORMAGGIO!!!" Italians dig that one. That night Sarah and I were with the group we traveled with and spontaneously decided we need a shot so we literally said, "be right back!!" and didn't return. We actually thought we'd be be back. How funny is that? Nope! Bar time! The first bar I met a cute architect. He was yummy but Sarah didn't like his friend, so we had to toot it and boot it. No problem though because outside the bar we made new friends. We gallivanted to this bar where I did karoake for the first time. Not too shabby to do your first karoake song in Florence! And you're going to laugh when I tell you what it was...you could guess. It's by Katy Perry. Give up? "California Girls" with these random as hell girls!! It WOULD be, right?! Isn't it funny how life works?!
Life is ALL about rolling with the punches. Life is NEVER going to go as planned...if you have a plan, you're somewhat stupid and frankly, unrealistic. You need to take things one day at a time...I'd say plan, dream, but have back-ups. Yes, plural...multiple dreams. You can do it all, reach for the stars, but just follow the good in your life. I followed this wonderful lady and she brought me to inspiration. Different good things bring you to different opportunities, which you must take and just trust that something out there is guiding you somehow. Let love fuel your next step. Follow that good wherever it takes you...because, somehow, that's where you need to be. It may not make sense at first...but it will...someday.
As we walked to school at 8am, excited children and loving parents filled the streets...it was a different side to Florence that no one else gets to see as a tourist. This is the real Florence, the one only those that live there discover. It's hard in Italy to find authenticity because of the tourism industry...I feel even the born and raised Florentine's may find a problem finding their culture at times because they have to speak English every once in a while. Well, it's always my goal to blend in with the Italians. Let's get one thing straight...Gioconda never wants to be a tourist. Gioconda wants to be an ITALIAN. Caro and I asked one of the parents where the school was and just our luck, she was walking her children to Nencioni and she said we could just follow. We joked around with her little ones and laughed heartily. Our stroll was so carefree..it was as if this was planned...this was exactly how things were supposed to be at that moment. Don't you love when moments like that happen? When you don't plan anything, yet everything seems to be in place just the way you could have dreamed it? God works in funny ways.
Caro and I entered the middle school and immediately this lady helped us find Romina. We waited and I could hardly hold in my excitement. If you already don't know, I find children the most fascinating little things. I love love LOVE them...I have such a special place in my heart for kids. I feel like I can communicate with them so well..not because I'm intellectually challenged but because I'm very child-like...silly, don't make sense at times, but don't care, like kids! Romina waltzed down the stairs and when we saw each other, it was like seeing my mom. Maybe this is why God had me keep in contact with her...God knew I needed this moment. We gave each other a huge squeeze and she thought it was cute at how I tried hard to speak only in Italian for her since her English isn't that great, and I thought it was cute she was trying super hard to speak in English for me, since my Italian is practically non-existent. She led Caro and I up some stairs and we heard children from everywhere. She had us walk into this one classroom though and introduced us to all her second graders, and then and there, hearing the kids say "hi" in unison to welcome us, I knew I had done the right thing. Score! Love when that happens! It's just so nice to be somewhere you feel like you belong when you're so far away from home.
And so it began...teaching the "my name is" and "I like/I don't like" and "head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes." Oh and colors and numbers of course! There's this little one called Vincenzo...his accent was so thick, but he was the one that had the most fun with it. Kids like that make me want to work as a teacher. When someone tries so hard, you never want to give up on them. You are inspired. These children may think that when I go see them, I am the one giving them something, but in fact, I get something more out of it than they could ever imagine. I get inspiration. I get peace of mind. I get happiness...but most of all, I get a FREE ITALIAN LESSON. Just kidding, for realsies now, I get just what I want out of life...teaching people something. They'll always remember the phrase "My name is Vincenzo/Francesco/Carla/Camilia/Lorenzo/etc." because of me...I did something guys, and even though it's a little something, I'll be remembered. You know how some people remember others because of a split second memory? Theirs of mine is either a phrase or a hug maybe or maybe even a silly face I did to them to make them laugh or it's a funny joke...but somehow, it's there. I love making memories. Every week I'll get to go back and I always can't wait for my Florence day. It makes me want to drop the doctor dream and just go become a teacher a lot...who knows? One day at a time. That's kind of a huge decision, ya know?! Haha.
Well I was on a trip with a bunch of other kids though so of course we had to go back to go see the museums and churches of Florence. The weather was so perfect that day...I'll never forget it. Sarah and I were together for most of that day. We went to the top of the Duomo and saw the world it seemed. I wanted to go to the Uffizi but quickly decided we need to stay outside. The conversation literally went like this, "I feel bad I don't want to go inside this museum where some of the world's best works of art are, but it's so nice outside." "So want to just stay outside?" "Yup!" So worth it. This brings us to Piazzale di Michelangelo, where you could again see a view of the entire city of Florence. Sarah and I went off on our own though and discovered this park with views to die for! We watched the sunset sitting on the park steps and the colors, the mood..everything was just right. We laughed so hard. A couple of ladies wanted me to take a picture of them and that's where the famous "formaggio" joke started. "Formaggio" in Italian is cheese and I just said, "Okay ladies, uno, due, tre..FORMAGGIO!!!" Italians dig that one. That night Sarah and I were with the group we traveled with and spontaneously decided we need a shot so we literally said, "be right back!!" and didn't return. We actually thought we'd be be back. How funny is that? Nope! Bar time! The first bar I met a cute architect. He was yummy but Sarah didn't like his friend, so we had to toot it and boot it. No problem though because outside the bar we made new friends. We gallivanted to this bar where I did karoake for the first time. Not too shabby to do your first karoake song in Florence! And you're going to laugh when I tell you what it was...you could guess. It's by Katy Perry. Give up? "California Girls" with these random as hell girls!! It WOULD be, right?! Isn't it funny how life works?!
Life is ALL about rolling with the punches. Life is NEVER going to go as planned...if you have a plan, you're somewhat stupid and frankly, unrealistic. You need to take things one day at a time...I'd say plan, dream, but have back-ups. Yes, plural...multiple dreams. You can do it all, reach for the stars, but just follow the good in your life. I followed this wonderful lady and she brought me to inspiration. Different good things bring you to different opportunities, which you must take and just trust that something out there is guiding you somehow. Let love fuel your next step. Follow that good wherever it takes you...because, somehow, that's where you need to be. It may not make sense at first...but it will...someday.
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