A wonderful first day in Rome

Living La Dolce Vita 24 hours

My first day in Rome was magical (and productive). Andrea met me at the airport and took me to my new home. It is located between the areas of Marconi and Monteverde (on Via G. Caselli, for you google mapsters). My room is enormous, at least 15' x 10' with a large, private balcony.

Shortly after signing my lease, we received a call from the director of Kid's World (the school I will be teaching at). They had more kids sign up for the language camp than expected and desperately need another teacher. Can I do it? ...Two weeks in the mountains with teenagers from Sardinia and Sicily. All expenses covered, 600euro, tax free. Needless to say, I leave Rome tomorrow for the camp in Casamaina di Lucoli, a tiny town in the Abruzzo region near L'Aquila. Rent covered...financial concern gone...well, for now.

Wanting to get out for a walk, but escape the hot weather, we went to the shopping mall. An air-conditioned mecca of Italian digs and footwear. And we did just that, lap around the mall. Oh, and stop in the grocery for a few necessary items for the house - diet coke, pasta and gelato. I'm only there for one more day!

After all this excitement, we did what all Romans do at 8pm...put on a helmet, zip through the streets of Rome on two wheels, and go to dinner. A wonderful first day!

Funny and interesting things I learned today...

There exists a more organized person in the world than me. I know, hard to believe! Not only did Andrea set me up with a job and an apartment. He arrived prepared with a box of things I may need in the apartment. That's my kind of guy!!

And in language...

I learned quite a few new Italian words today. But I'm slightly jet-lagged and foggy at the moment. What comes to mind is saldo (sale) and soldo (money). I guess that's what happens when you spend an hour lapping a shopping mall!!


Stay tuned...tales from summer camp to come soon...