Well, well, well - look what we have here: a laptop with internet acces in one of the corner rooms of Avalon.
Avalon is one community within the Elfi. The other 12 communities are in the 'Elfi Valley' approximately 45 minutes from here in a beautiful section of nearly untouched, forested mountains. Here there is an amazing terraced garden on the mountain side with vegetables, olive trees, and grape vines that overlook the small city of Pistoia.
I have been in Avalon for just over two weeks and have become close with some other travelers here. There are a few more permanent residents here with children and designated rooms, but most of the folks around the dinner table are passing through in a couple of days, weeks, or months. Most of them are nomads.
What a life; what a challenging, exciting, lonely, enticing life of a nomad. I am beginning to think that a return on July 17th just might be too soon. One of my new friends asked me to travel by land to India in August with him. I laughed, but he just looked at me. I know it sounds crazy, and I haven't exactly had time to mull it over in my mind long enough, but oh gosh - what an adventure.
Wowwowweewow! So much is changing within this head of mine. I feel very powerful and in-control and ready for (mostly) anything. I left Avalon last Tuesday and I spent two nights alone in a run-down house of my friend, Juan (who had left for germany). I think for the first time in my life I was really, truly by. my. self. His house is in the Elfi Valley, but he plans on turning it into a meeting place for homeopathic-related retreats for foreigners (which is more than slightly controversial within the Elfi community). Anyhow, I left his house feeling empowered and ready to take a hike into the unknown Elfi Valley to find one of the 12 communities, Granburrone.
I left early in the morning and hiked up, up, up the mountain and then down a bit and then thought I had made a wrong turn (which i had) and continued on a path that I hoped would lead me to Granburrone. I walked on the path for a while and, just as the path split and I was ready to reassess my prior decision, I heard a child's voice and then more voices. I saw the barely visible roofs of Granburrone. I sat down with them as they smoked their morning chillum and then started 'pulling the bad grass.'
I stayed there for one night and then left in a caravan headed for the Festa di Socializzazione. The Elfi organize this event every year and set up camp in the small park in the middle of Pistoia for the weekend. They make delicious pizza (nearly round-the-clock), present numerous 'spectaculos' (dances, puppet shows, music), and every night is filled with music, drum circles, and fire shows (!!!). I even learned how to spin a fire stick. Wowwowweewow.
Okokok. I must go. I hope that this provides at least a little bit of insight into what I've been experiencing. I am living a beautiful, beautiful life; a life that is possible anywhere; a life that I am sincerely drawn to. These people are happy, they work because they want to, and they are raising wonderfully adept children. Wow. They're doing it, they're really doing it.
I suppose that I am doing it too. I am really, seriously doing it.
Love, love, love.
Baci è abbraci
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Friday, May 11, 2007
Levanto. Revisited.
I am back in Levanto (on the sea and down the mountain from Sandro's casa in Bardellone).
I hope to be brief as this internet point is very expensive.
I finally met some friends my own age in my last couple of days in Genova. We played music and drank beer. I am surprised by how much I miss the company of young people.
I find myself losing patience with Sandro. There are certain things that he does that irk me. I have yet to decide whether I am seeing what is to be seen or making things up in my head. It is probably both. As the novelty of living, working, eating, and learning together wears off, language barriers and general misunderstandings can create uncomfortable situations.
I can envision returning here for a short time after Paris, but I think I have had enough of this place for now. A part of me wants to stay to figure out what it is that is making me want to leave and then resolve it, but I think this to be quasi impossible. I know any problem I have is within me and without me and my responsibility. I am doing fine, but I find myself often irritable and unwelcoming. I don't like this in me. I want to leave.
On Monday, Sandro and I are going to Tuscany to stay with a self sustaining community in the mountains. I think I will remain there until I depart for Paris. I am not positive about this, but presently I feel it is right. There are young people there who are living off the land. I think I will like it and I think it will be good for me.
The people in the mountains call themselves the Elfi. They have named the areas of their community after places in The Lord of the Rings. I am sure I will know more about it in the coming days.
Wish me luck. This time in my travels is kind of difficult: just over three weeks away from home and two weeks without english-speaking companionship. I think there will be both english speakers and, certainly, italian speakers within the Elfi. I will be able to communicate while continuing my studies. I think this is right for me.
Baci é abbraci.
I hope to be brief as this internet point is very expensive.
I finally met some friends my own age in my last couple of days in Genova. We played music and drank beer. I am surprised by how much I miss the company of young people.
I find myself losing patience with Sandro. There are certain things that he does that irk me. I have yet to decide whether I am seeing what is to be seen or making things up in my head. It is probably both. As the novelty of living, working, eating, and learning together wears off, language barriers and general misunderstandings can create uncomfortable situations.
I can envision returning here for a short time after Paris, but I think I have had enough of this place for now. A part of me wants to stay to figure out what it is that is making me want to leave and then resolve it, but I think this to be quasi impossible. I know any problem I have is within me and without me and my responsibility. I am doing fine, but I find myself often irritable and unwelcoming. I don't like this in me. I want to leave.
On Monday, Sandro and I are going to Tuscany to stay with a self sustaining community in the mountains. I think I will remain there until I depart for Paris. I am not positive about this, but presently I feel it is right. There are young people there who are living off the land. I think I will like it and I think it will be good for me.
The people in the mountains call themselves the Elfi. They have named the areas of their community after places in The Lord of the Rings. I am sure I will know more about it in the coming days.
Wish me luck. This time in my travels is kind of difficult: just over three weeks away from home and two weeks without english-speaking companionship. I think there will be both english speakers and, certainly, italian speakers within the Elfi. I will be able to communicate while continuing my studies. I think this is right for me.
Baci é abbraci.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
A Life in Genova
This is going to be my last day and night in Lucia's apartment. Sandro returns from Bardellone today and we will probably head back that way tomorrow or the next day. I am looking forward to returning to the countryside, but have not dismissed an offer I received to stay in Genova indefinitely. A woman named Aisha who owns a cafe here asked me to babysit her children. She said that I could live with her and act as nanny. I met her kids and I observed the two of them (an older brother and younger sister) dancing with each other (her on his feet), laughing a lot, and swordfighting with chopsticks. I also had the opportunity to meet and talk with the man in Aisha's life. He is english by birth, but owns a house in the south of France, a flat in London, and considers owning the cafe Aisha manages as a "hobby." When Aisha was making the offer, all I could think about was fresh-squeezed orange juice on a terrace in the south of France.
Is that so wrong?
I think the position would last longer than I intend to be in Italy. I will keep it in mind and consider contacting Aisha if I return next summer (a possibility...).
The past few days have been filled with walking the streets of Genova, grocery shopping at the biologic (organic) grocery store, buying espressos, playing guitar in the streets, and making yoga. I have also been reading the italian-english dictionary like it's a Dan Brown mystery novel. I am getting better at italian though it is still difficult and tiring to communicate; like yesterday when I was trying to politely tell a young genovese boy that I did not want to go have a drink with him. Silly, silly italian men.
I cut my hair. Not all of it, but at least 5 inches. I don't know if it's my new attitude or the new 'do, but I feel like there are fewer probing, mannish eyes looking my way. Maybe once I stopped looking at them, they dissappeared.
The day before yesterday, I played on a commericial, pedestrian street in the historic district of Genova called San Lorenzo. I played for almost an hour and a half and walked away with 11€. I bought the night's focaccia and espresso for Lucia with my earnings as she stuck around for the duration of my 'performance'. Yesterday, I decided to play at the port of Genova. I played for about 45 minutes in the blazing afternoon sun and didn't make squat (except for two loyal fans). I then moved to the shade where I could overhear the old genovese women talking about me like I couldn't understand any italian. The port was not my favorite place to play. Some people seemed to like the music (they turned around to watch me and stayed quiet while I played), but they didn't openly express it to me. People don't usually come up to me when I'm playing on the streets if they're not going to give me money. I don't give a shit if they give me money, but some sort of acknowledgment of my existence would be nice.
Alas, I know the problems I've found with playing in the streets rest within my own head and if I want to play then I have to do it for me and, come what may, enjoy it. So I left the Port and went to San Lorenzo again where people are walking around and more likely to give me a pleasing smile or some other sort of sign that I really am existing with them, there in that moment. I played for about a half an hour and ended the "work" day on a good note (so to speak). One man stood about 10 feet away from me rifling through his wallet for a minute or so then walked up to my case and tossed in all the change he could find; he looked into my eyes for a moment and said, "Grazie."
I packed up my things at about 17:45 and headed to the Cafe Dolce (where Aisha works) and had a beer and a slice of lasagna. I chatted with my two Algerian friends and Aisha for a while before returning to Lucia's. The two of us crazy cats had an early night and went to bed at around 10pm. Lucia and I talked about going to the opera tonight and I sure do hope that we do. I have never seen an opera and I think I am ready.
Ciao. Baci é abbraci
Is that so wrong?
I think the position would last longer than I intend to be in Italy. I will keep it in mind and consider contacting Aisha if I return next summer (a possibility...).
The past few days have been filled with walking the streets of Genova, grocery shopping at the biologic (organic) grocery store, buying espressos, playing guitar in the streets, and making yoga. I have also been reading the italian-english dictionary like it's a Dan Brown mystery novel. I am getting better at italian though it is still difficult and tiring to communicate; like yesterday when I was trying to politely tell a young genovese boy that I did not want to go have a drink with him. Silly, silly italian men.
I cut my hair. Not all of it, but at least 5 inches. I don't know if it's my new attitude or the new 'do, but I feel like there are fewer probing, mannish eyes looking my way. Maybe once I stopped looking at them, they dissappeared.
The day before yesterday, I played on a commericial, pedestrian street in the historic district of Genova called San Lorenzo. I played for almost an hour and a half and walked away with 11€. I bought the night's focaccia and espresso for Lucia with my earnings as she stuck around for the duration of my 'performance'. Yesterday, I decided to play at the port of Genova. I played for about 45 minutes in the blazing afternoon sun and didn't make squat (except for two loyal fans). I then moved to the shade where I could overhear the old genovese women talking about me like I couldn't understand any italian. The port was not my favorite place to play. Some people seemed to like the music (they turned around to watch me and stayed quiet while I played), but they didn't openly express it to me. People don't usually come up to me when I'm playing on the streets if they're not going to give me money. I don't give a shit if they give me money, but some sort of acknowledgment of my existence would be nice.
Alas, I know the problems I've found with playing in the streets rest within my own head and if I want to play then I have to do it for me and, come what may, enjoy it. So I left the Port and went to San Lorenzo again where people are walking around and more likely to give me a pleasing smile or some other sort of sign that I really am existing with them, there in that moment. I played for about a half an hour and ended the "work" day on a good note (so to speak). One man stood about 10 feet away from me rifling through his wallet for a minute or so then walked up to my case and tossed in all the change he could find; he looked into my eyes for a moment and said, "Grazie."
I packed up my things at about 17:45 and headed to the Cafe Dolce (where Aisha works) and had a beer and a slice of lasagna. I chatted with my two Algerian friends and Aisha for a while before returning to Lucia's. The two of us crazy cats had an early night and went to bed at around 10pm. Lucia and I talked about going to the opera tonight and I sure do hope that we do. I have never seen an opera and I think I am ready.
Ciao. Baci é abbraci
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Dudes at a Bar (and some chicas too)
I went to a caffe last night with Lucia and some of her friends. I brought my guitar and sang a few tunes (probably too loudly, but i think they liked it anyways).
In this bar there were two dudes from Algeria, one dude from England, and a couple of chicas from Spain. I'd be hard-pressed to find this combination in the States.
Actually, now that I think about it, my little college town in blacksburg is pretty diverse if you look in the right places. Because many grad students are from abroad, on any given night there can be at least a few countries represented in The Cellar. The difference here is that, when they ask me to visit them, it might be a possibility in the coming months. Europe: 27 countries with at LEAST 27 different cultures. Awesome.
I hung out with the two algerian dudes last night (amur, amar) and spoke in slow english. We talked about the deserts of Algeria, different dialects, and connections and disconnections between languages (as they speak algerian, french, and understandable english). It was a good time.
Well, another day is here. It is rainy again, and i am thankful for a reason to stay inside and study conjugations. I will conquer you, italian, if it's the last thing i do! bwahahahahaaaaa, bwahahahahaaaa (evil-sounding laughter).
Baci é abbraci
In this bar there were two dudes from Algeria, one dude from England, and a couple of chicas from Spain. I'd be hard-pressed to find this combination in the States.
Actually, now that I think about it, my little college town in blacksburg is pretty diverse if you look in the right places. Because many grad students are from abroad, on any given night there can be at least a few countries represented in The Cellar. The difference here is that, when they ask me to visit them, it might be a possibility in the coming months. Europe: 27 countries with at LEAST 27 different cultures. Awesome.
I hung out with the two algerian dudes last night (amur, amar) and spoke in slow english. We talked about the deserts of Algeria, different dialects, and connections and disconnections between languages (as they speak algerian, french, and understandable english). It was a good time.
Well, another day is here. It is rainy again, and i am thankful for a reason to stay inside and study conjugations. I will conquer you, italian, if it's the last thing i do! bwahahahahaaaaa, bwahahahahaaaa (evil-sounding laughter).
Baci é abbraci
Friday, May 4, 2007
Sure, I'll stay with you in your beautiful genovesi apartment, Lucia.
Sandro has gone back to Bardellone with his friend Concetta while I check out Genova more thoroughly. Lucia invited me to stay with her in her apartment until Sandro returns on Tuesday. This has made me happy for a number of reasons. Let me count the ways:
1) I think Sandro was planning on going back to Bardellone very early in the morning today. I was not interested in getting up at 4am to drive back.
2) I haven't yet had a chance to try my hand at street-music. It is rainy here now, but it is supposed to be nice tomorrow, sunday, monday, tuesday so I will have my chance.
3) I started drawing the duomo (cathedral) of Genova and I still need a couple of hours to finish it. Maybe I will and maybe I won't.
4) Genova is a remarkable city. It has all the history and magic of other big cities in Italy, and yet far fewer tourists. It is a little secret that should be kept.
5) I really like Lucia (loo-CHEE-ah). She is 63 years old and quite a little firecracker. When we were walking back up the mountain from Levanto the other day, we passed by many private farms with lemons, olives, and roses that were accessible from the road. Lucia would hunch over a little bit, raise her eyebrows, and put her finger to her lips in the 'shush' position then say, "piano, piano...voi un limone?" "quiet, quiet...do you want a lemon?" She picked a lemon and then quickly stuffed it in her bag. Lucia is awesome.
6)Tonight I will provide the entertainment for a small get together among friends here at Lucia's apartment. I think this will be fun.
7) Lucia's apartment is really beautiful. It is old, old, old (like nearly all the buildings in this city and country). The door to her apartment building has midieval spikes on it that look like they could stop a fire-breathing dragon. Maybe this was the intention. I hear that fire-breathing dragons really existed here when people believed in them.
Anyhow - I am in Genova and will be here for a week or so. Unlike Firenze, the center of this city is pedestrian-only. Both Sandro and Lucia live in this section of the city so it is not nearly as loud or polluted as Firenze. Genova is not trapped between mountains like Firenze either, so the air (and pollution) moves around and doesn't stagnate to become smog. I like Genova.
OK, I think I shall watch the rain or try to talk to Lucia or write a song in italian for the party tonight. So many choices, so little time. Oh..wait - no, no - I have plenty of time. Sweet.
Baci é abbraci
1) I think Sandro was planning on going back to Bardellone very early in the morning today. I was not interested in getting up at 4am to drive back.
2) I haven't yet had a chance to try my hand at street-music. It is rainy here now, but it is supposed to be nice tomorrow, sunday, monday, tuesday so I will have my chance.
3) I started drawing the duomo (cathedral) of Genova and I still need a couple of hours to finish it. Maybe I will and maybe I won't.
4) Genova is a remarkable city. It has all the history and magic of other big cities in Italy, and yet far fewer tourists. It is a little secret that should be kept.
5) I really like Lucia (loo-CHEE-ah). She is 63 years old and quite a little firecracker. When we were walking back up the mountain from Levanto the other day, we passed by many private farms with lemons, olives, and roses that were accessible from the road. Lucia would hunch over a little bit, raise her eyebrows, and put her finger to her lips in the 'shush' position then say, "piano, piano...voi un limone?" "quiet, quiet...do you want a lemon?" She picked a lemon and then quickly stuffed it in her bag. Lucia is awesome.
6)Tonight I will provide the entertainment for a small get together among friends here at Lucia's apartment. I think this will be fun.
7) Lucia's apartment is really beautiful. It is old, old, old (like nearly all the buildings in this city and country). The door to her apartment building has midieval spikes on it that look like they could stop a fire-breathing dragon. Maybe this was the intention. I hear that fire-breathing dragons really existed here when people believed in them.
Anyhow - I am in Genova and will be here for a week or so. Unlike Firenze, the center of this city is pedestrian-only. Both Sandro and Lucia live in this section of the city so it is not nearly as loud or polluted as Firenze. Genova is not trapped between mountains like Firenze either, so the air (and pollution) moves around and doesn't stagnate to become smog. I like Genova.
OK, I think I shall watch the rain or try to talk to Lucia or write a song in italian for the party tonight. So many choices, so little time. Oh..wait - no, no - I have plenty of time. Sweet.
Baci é abbraci
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Genova
Sandro spends his summers in the woods of Bardellone and his winters in the city of Genova. Lucia, Sandro, and I made the 3-hour journey by car from Levanto to Genova yesterday because both Lucia and Sandro have apartments here. I suspect that this trip might only take 1-2 hours if there isn't any traffic. We were in stop-and-go traffic for a little over an hour. During the second half our sporadic progress through the Ligurian mountains, I thought of another man in my life that I could be driving with. I was glad that he (and I) did not have to experience the traffic jam together. It probably would have been unpleasant: especially when we were stuck in the f*cking miles and miles of tunnels through the mountains behind a petroleum-spewing truck. Yum.
Genova is an ancient city by the sea. It is complete with ancient Roman acqueducts, a beautiful cathedral, and a great view of the city from it's major port. Last night, Sandro, Stefano (Sandro's old friend, my new friend), and I walked around Genova and, after a wild and wacky dance party, walked along the port. I had fun and continued to to try to make sense to my new friends in italian. Even though my grammar is usually wrong and my vocabulary is still small, I think it is easier for them to understand more complex thoughts of mine in italian. Sometimes I find myself trying to explain things in english (after mostly failing in italian) because I think it will make more sense to them. This is not logical.
The sky has been threatening rain all day and I spent the morning in Sandro's apartment. Because it hasn't started to rain yet, I am beginning to believe that it won't rain today. This could be good for Maggie. Maybe I will go back to Sandro's apartment, grab my guitar, and make some cash-money-bills on the streets of Genova. Both Sandro and Lucia think this is a good idea. Sandro had another american WWOOFer stay with him a couple of years ago who successfully made some money playing guitar in one of the many plazas here. Awww yeah.
I think we will return to Bardellone tomorrow to feed Sheila. She has been all alone in Bardellone since we left. Although she is independent, she is still young I am sure she has missed us. Poor Sheila.
Sheila is a cat.
Well, I must be off to learn and sing and speak italian. I know that I've said something with the correct accent when a stranger does not answer me in english. Maybe I'll go order a coffee and see what kind of response I get. "Vorrei un caffe, per favore? Grazie."
Abbraci é baci
Genova is an ancient city by the sea. It is complete with ancient Roman acqueducts, a beautiful cathedral, and a great view of the city from it's major port. Last night, Sandro, Stefano (Sandro's old friend, my new friend), and I walked around Genova and, after a wild and wacky dance party, walked along the port. I had fun and continued to to try to make sense to my new friends in italian. Even though my grammar is usually wrong and my vocabulary is still small, I think it is easier for them to understand more complex thoughts of mine in italian. Sometimes I find myself trying to explain things in english (after mostly failing in italian) because I think it will make more sense to them. This is not logical.
The sky has been threatening rain all day and I spent the morning in Sandro's apartment. Because it hasn't started to rain yet, I am beginning to believe that it won't rain today. This could be good for Maggie. Maybe I will go back to Sandro's apartment, grab my guitar, and make some cash-money-bills on the streets of Genova. Both Sandro and Lucia think this is a good idea. Sandro had another american WWOOFer stay with him a couple of years ago who successfully made some money playing guitar in one of the many plazas here. Awww yeah.
I think we will return to Bardellone tomorrow to feed Sheila. She has been all alone in Bardellone since we left. Although she is independent, she is still young I am sure she has missed us. Poor Sheila.
Sheila is a cat.
Well, I must be off to learn and sing and speak italian. I know that I've said something with the correct accent when a stranger does not answer me in english. Maybe I'll go order a coffee and see what kind of response I get. "Vorrei un caffe, per favore? Grazie."
Abbraci é baci
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Primo di Maggio
Sandro, Lucia, Louisa, Vincenzo, and I woke up this morning at 8am and were out of the house by 9. We walked for two and a half hours down the mountain from Bardellone where Sandro's house sits on the top of a mountain. Now I am in Levanto and will soon meet the others by the sea. It is primo di maggio and there is a festival to celebrate. No work and all play today. Exactly what we are celebrating is unclear to me. Apparently it is unclear to everyone else here too; no one can explain it to me. Sandro hypothesized that it marks the beginning of summer: certainly a time for celebration.
I have now spent 4 nights in the beautiful, isolated Bardellone. On the night I arrived, I was sitting in the kitchen and looking out of the window to the east when Sandro came in and told me I should go watch the sunset. He said slowly and in careful english, "The sun has good energy. And there is no sign of humans to the west." Of course, he was right. I watched the wonderous crimson sun sink behind the mountains and knew that I was where I should be.
Sandro speaks enough english to communicate with me adaquately, but not enough for me to truly express myself in english. I have been spending hours and hours and hours studying italian in the past days. Sandro is a good teacher and has been patiently teaching me how to conjugate verbs. In the past 4 days, I have gone from understanding 10-20% of what they say, to 25%-60% (depending on the topic of discussion. Lucia is reading about yoga and meditation and, because Sandro is a yoga master, she asks him a lot of questions about Buddhism).
I have been thinking in italian (piano, piano, piano = slowly, slowly, slowly). I have been constantly trying to form simple sentences in my head and, because this takes me so long, I had to explain the meaning of the phrase 'non sequitor' yesterday. The explanation took at least five minutes of their attention, but they finally understood. It takes patience from both me and my listener to communicate. Luckily I am with people that, for the most part, will give me the time I need.
Much of my time here has been spent studying italian (conjugating verbs, building vocabulary), but I have also been 'making yoga' (Sandro's english), working in the garden (planting potatoes, basil, tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini), and playing a lot of music. Sandro also has a guitar and is eager for me to learn italian songs. We usually play for an hour or two after dinner. The nights have frequently ended with me turning down Sandro's offering of the guitar with "no, no, no. io sono molto stanca, sandro. vorrei dormire!" (no, no, no. i am very tired, sandro. I want to sleep!"
A Typical Day: I usually wake up around 8am, go downstairs and have an espresso with Lucia (Sandro is already working in the garden) and eat a piece of sweet bread, or a biscuit, or a piece of toast with marmalade. I will go to the garden and work for a couple of hours, or study italian, or meditate with Sandro and Lucia. We eat lunch at 1pm which consists usually of vegetable soup or pasta with salad, bread, and some zucchini in garlic or carfalla (i think that's what it's called...). We eat and then we rest. The early afternoon is spent napping or talking or playing music or, for me, studying italian. Then, usually around 4pm, we'll do whatever it is we are to do in the afternoon: maybe make yoga, or walk to Levanto, or meditate, or study, study, study. We eat dinner at around 8pm which is similar fare to lunch. We'll have soup or pasta with salad, bread, and other vegetables from the garden. Sometimes, when there are most guests (like Louisa and Vince), we will put some wine on the table. After dinner, we have fruit and tea and then sing the night away. I am usually ready for bed around 10pm or 11pm, but have successfully made it past midnight once or twice.
I am learning so much here that I can't really imagine leaving. I want to stay with Sandro until I have a better grasp on the italian language. This might mean that I stay here until I go to Paris on the 31st, or it might mean that I am here only until the 20th. I am not sure how long it will take me to become comfortable with the language. Because I am just beginning, I can see rapid improvement in my comprehension. I suspect that however that, as I continue learning, the rate of my progress (or at least observable improvement) will slow.
Not only do I want to stay here because Sandro is a good teacher and the lifestyle is both relaxing and inspiring, but the climate is perfect and waking up in the mountains is inexplicably wonderful. I might stay here for a while. I suppose it is possible that I could stay here for the duration of my time in Italy. I will probably change locations after I return from Paris. Only time (and my mind) will tell.
As always, I hope that all is well in the united states of america and I wish that everyone I love could feel this beauty. Goodness, gracious it is miraculously beautiful here by the sea. I dont't think I will be able to upload my pictures until I get back to the states. Io sono aspettavo; I will wait (...I think. Any italian-speakers out there?)
Baci e abbraci (kisses and hugs)
I have now spent 4 nights in the beautiful, isolated Bardellone. On the night I arrived, I was sitting in the kitchen and looking out of the window to the east when Sandro came in and told me I should go watch the sunset. He said slowly and in careful english, "The sun has good energy. And there is no sign of humans to the west." Of course, he was right. I watched the wonderous crimson sun sink behind the mountains and knew that I was where I should be.
Sandro speaks enough english to communicate with me adaquately, but not enough for me to truly express myself in english. I have been spending hours and hours and hours studying italian in the past days. Sandro is a good teacher and has been patiently teaching me how to conjugate verbs. In the past 4 days, I have gone from understanding 10-20% of what they say, to 25%-60% (depending on the topic of discussion. Lucia is reading about yoga and meditation and, because Sandro is a yoga master, she asks him a lot of questions about Buddhism).
I have been thinking in italian (piano, piano, piano = slowly, slowly, slowly). I have been constantly trying to form simple sentences in my head and, because this takes me so long, I had to explain the meaning of the phrase 'non sequitor' yesterday. The explanation took at least five minutes of their attention, but they finally understood. It takes patience from both me and my listener to communicate. Luckily I am with people that, for the most part, will give me the time I need.
Much of my time here has been spent studying italian (conjugating verbs, building vocabulary), but I have also been 'making yoga' (Sandro's english), working in the garden (planting potatoes, basil, tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini), and playing a lot of music. Sandro also has a guitar and is eager for me to learn italian songs. We usually play for an hour or two after dinner. The nights have frequently ended with me turning down Sandro's offering of the guitar with "no, no, no. io sono molto stanca, sandro. vorrei dormire!" (no, no, no. i am very tired, sandro. I want to sleep!"
A Typical Day: I usually wake up around 8am, go downstairs and have an espresso with Lucia (Sandro is already working in the garden) and eat a piece of sweet bread, or a biscuit, or a piece of toast with marmalade. I will go to the garden and work for a couple of hours, or study italian, or meditate with Sandro and Lucia. We eat lunch at 1pm which consists usually of vegetable soup or pasta with salad, bread, and some zucchini in garlic or carfalla (i think that's what it's called...). We eat and then we rest. The early afternoon is spent napping or talking or playing music or, for me, studying italian. Then, usually around 4pm, we'll do whatever it is we are to do in the afternoon: maybe make yoga, or walk to Levanto, or meditate, or study, study, study. We eat dinner at around 8pm which is similar fare to lunch. We'll have soup or pasta with salad, bread, and other vegetables from the garden. Sometimes, when there are most guests (like Louisa and Vince), we will put some wine on the table. After dinner, we have fruit and tea and then sing the night away. I am usually ready for bed around 10pm or 11pm, but have successfully made it past midnight once or twice.
I am learning so much here that I can't really imagine leaving. I want to stay with Sandro until I have a better grasp on the italian language. This might mean that I stay here until I go to Paris on the 31st, or it might mean that I am here only until the 20th. I am not sure how long it will take me to become comfortable with the language. Because I am just beginning, I can see rapid improvement in my comprehension. I suspect that however that, as I continue learning, the rate of my progress (or at least observable improvement) will slow.
Not only do I want to stay here because Sandro is a good teacher and the lifestyle is both relaxing and inspiring, but the climate is perfect and waking up in the mountains is inexplicably wonderful. I might stay here for a while. I suppose it is possible that I could stay here for the duration of my time in Italy. I will probably change locations after I return from Paris. Only time (and my mind) will tell.
As always, I hope that all is well in the united states of america and I wish that everyone I love could feel this beauty. Goodness, gracious it is miraculously beautiful here by the sea. I dont't think I will be able to upload my pictures until I get back to the states. Io sono aspettavo; I will wait (...I think. Any italian-speakers out there?)
Baci e abbraci (kisses and hugs)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)