Rome

I guess I have a thing for airports. Last month I set a new record for myself - 3 countries, 3 days. How many airports? 6! March 25th I went back to Sitka with one of my freshmen English classes and their teacher. It was fabulous to be home again, see the fam, friends, be in Alaska and on the ocean, eat salmon (real smoked salmon!) and all that jazz. Of course in addition I got to show my Frenchies my home! They saw plenty of whales and threw plenty of snowballs. Fabulous time in the Last Frontier, we could say...

On the 8th we left with our 26 students and started our 22-hr voyage home. Thankfully my in-flight movie screen was working this time. We arrived back in France mid-afternoon and I went home with another family (the Jarlauds deserted me and went to the Maldives!) However, I left the next morning for Rome!!! The flights went perfectly - until arriving in Rome, and here I've got to admit that Italians are not particularly gifted in the organization department. I should also add that I am not (as most of you know) gifted in the direction department, but by now I've walked around enough airports to know that signs pretty much can get you anywhere - and that is where I made my fatal mistake - following the signs and not the crowds. All I wanted to do was grab my bag and then meet Flaminia (Italian exchange student who lived in Sitka last year)!!! I ended up finding the baggage claim for one airline only, not my Lufthansa flight. Trying to exit this particular baggage claim, I walked through some doors.

And set off an alarm. The security guard came up to me with this exasperated look on his face and when he realized I didn't speak Italian he said "What do you want?" I explained I was looking for my bag. He told me to go upstairs and outside...so I went. And I found Flami! But not my bag...actually I ended up going OUT of security and having to pass through again to finally get to that bloody baggage claim. An hour later, we were in the car driving into Rome (with my bag, thank goodness).

The next 9 days were amazing...

Fabulous part # 1: The sights. Flami is in what would be like our "senior" year - except for her it's the 13th year of school, so the Italians finish high school when they're 19. She went to school during the day (although luckily they get out at 2:00 so we could hang out in the afternoon) and her mom was nice enough to take me around and show me Rome! I saw the Vatican, the museums, the Trevi Fountain, the Colloseum, St.Peter's, the Sistine Chapel, the Spanish steps, the Mouth of Truth (think that's the name in English) and the Castel St Angelo. It was pretty awesome walking on stones that the ancient Romans had laid down...

Fabulous part #2: The food. I think a miracle happened in Italy. How do you say no to homemade fettucini where the noodles are all rolled and cut individually???? It is incredible that I didn't gain 15 kilos (all right that is extreme I know, but still, miracles are happening...) Pasta. Pizza. Gelati. Red sauce. White sauce. Sausages. Artichokes. Meatballs. Big salads. 2nd helpings. 3rd helpings...anyway you get the idea. Ah, it took me back to my Italian roots. And Mom, props to you, your maccaroni is still tip-top!!!! (Send me that recipe!!!)

Fabulous part # 3: Friends. Flami's family was amazing. Her mom was sooo nice. She took me everywhere with her, showed me the little nooks and crannies of Rome. Her dad was the same - always excited to show me their world! They were amazing hosts and I felt so loved! Her friends welcomed this random stranger who didn't know any Italian and we had a BLAST speaking English/Italian and teaching the crazy Alaskan girl Italian! It was sooooo good to see Flami again after she left Sitka! I can't wait to go back and see her gorgeous face again!

My internet connection won't let me upload any photos, but I'll put them up soon!!!

Rome I miss you!!!!