Hello and Welcome from Rome at the beginning of April.
Last night the Pope died. "The Pope" is "IL Papa" in Italian. The past few days this has been the big news here in Rome - justifiably. Interestingly, most Romans generally seem to take the availability and freedom of their faith for granted I guess, like America. I mean they are living in the home of Catholicism itself, but most days churches are practically empty, a few old people and of course the nuns. Not this week, and definitely not today. Churches have been packed and with 100,000 people right now standing for mass (and over here mass can last three hours or more) at the Vatican this Sunday morning honoring the Pope. IL Papa is the right name for this man here in Rome. Even though I'm not Catholic, I hope you all join with me and pray for the those mourning, and as they choose the new Pope.
Now, what this all means for Joel and I is that work is about to stink for several weeks. You're looking at multiple VIP visits at the same time and that sort of thing for the funeral and the following coronation. Behind what looks like the Pres just getting on a plane and arriving in Rome, is us, and everyone else in the embassy, working for a billion hours preparing. A simple Meeting takes hours and hours of meticulous planning. It stinks. This stuff is my least favorite part of the job. It becomes downright painful.
March was a great month - though Joel and I have seen more of plane and airlines than we wish to see again for a very long time. I went to Vienna, Austria for training for my job, and it was COLD!!! Everywhere you went had Easter decorations displayed, and outside there were two feet of snow on the ground. It was so weird. I really liked Vienna, and hopefully Joel and I will go back when it's warmer.
Then it was leaving the next day to fly back to the States! It was great being home, even if I did gain 10 pounds that one week. It was worth all the nutty plane rides to get to take a break and come home. Oh, that and the Starbucks. I have been dreaming about frappucinos. And Target. And Old Navy, and Walmart, and Ann Taylor, and the Birkenstock shoe store. I introduced Joel to southern delicacies such as Jambalaya and fried pickles. He loved them.
Once back, Joel and I were thrust right back into work. The day I arrived, so did the Regional Education Director for Europe, so I and my partner served as his "hosts." I got to visit three of our schools here in Rome, and then there was an Educational Town Hall meeting that we hosted at the Embassy for the parents, and many individual parent appointments with him that we arranged. It was a busy week.
Easter was quiet for us. Europe went to daylight savings time a week before you all in the States, and we overslept and missed church. Yep. Missed church on Easter Sunday. Never done that before. But we made a nice dinner and sat outside on our balcony in sun and enjoyed the nice weather.
And it's finally turned spring here in Rome! We got off the plane to lovely weather and Joel and I have started to buy some flowers for our balcony. We got one pot that sort of looks like Azaleas, and then yesterday I bought a really beautiful yellow rose bush. It's about to bloom already, so I should have some great pictures to share in the next few weeks.
In the middle of all that was Joel's birthday! I have to say, Joel has had a great birthday extravaganza. Joel had a surprise birthday cake in Miami and in Fairhope, and then on his actual birth-day, we went out to dinner to a Mexican place here in Rome. Last night, we had a birthday extravaganza at our house. I made entirely too much food, we had about 15-20 people over and Joel got another birthday cake. But not just any cake. Our friend Marla is a pastry chef and I got her to make the mother of all birthday cakes. You see, Joel's favorite candy in the whole world are these things called Snowcaps (you can find them mostly at movie theaters in the States). Marla made Joel a cake decorated with Snowcaps. You should have seen the look of pure joy on his face, it was hilarious. And other than the Snowcaps, it tasted like sugar-coma heaven. I also brought out our new fry-daddy (Thanks Nancy) and made hush puppies and fried pickles for the party. HUGE HIT. Southerners, you are going to take the world over!
There's not much else to say about March, because I was gone for most of it. My language classes stink, basically because I haven't been in a month, and probably won't be able to go this month because of all the VIP visits in the next few weeks. But I did get a grant I applied for to go to an intensive language course for two weeks in Florence! Which is going to be so cool, but I've got to get permission to take off of work first, before I know when I can go.
I almost forgot to tell you all the best news in the world. Joel and I have a housekeeper. She comes twice a week. I can't believe what difference it has made. Not having to stress about cleaning or getting laundry or ironing done. She's amazing. She gets more done in three and half hours than would take me all day. Our house actually sparkles now, it's just sad. But I'm converted. I don't think I could ever go back now.
So for April, I think work is going to take over my life. Joel will be going to a training session in Germany for several days, and then a friend of ours from DC will be coming to visit in Rome, hopefully between VIP visits. Joel and I are very excited about doing some real sightseeing stuff here in Rome. Other than that, I will be working on all the newcomer and orientation stuff for the summer, which has to be completed by the end of the month. And our fundraising Auction will be happening in May.
As always, we miss you guys and hope you are all doing well.
Julie and Joel
No comments:
Post a Comment