Sorry this is so late, but it's been a crazy few weeks. I'm not even sure I remember all that we did in November!
So the big news is I got a job! I am the Community Liaison Office Coordinator for the Embassy. Which is kind of a morale officer for the community. I help new people feel adjusted, I interact with the schools, and I organize and run community events. Such as the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony and Bazaar. I was the volunteer chairperson before, now I get paid to do the same work! And it is alot of work. At least this particular event. It's next week so I'm pulling out my hair a bit right now. (don't worry, I have lots of hair). I spent most of November dealing with government bureaucracy, doing the mountains (literally of paperwork, of background check garbage, you name it - I filled out a form about it. This was my first official week of work finally. But I am very very excited about the position.
I also have my scrapbooking open house in November, which went very well. And Joel and I had a football party for the Alabama/Auburn game. Now you have to realize, the game didn't start til close to 10pm our time, so we were lucky that anyone stayed til halftime. I didn't even make it til the end of the game. This time zone thing really puts a damper on sports fans. There is only so much getting up at 2am to watch a game that you can do. One right after another, all night long. I hope I never see another sweet potato pie again.
Thanksgiving was great, and we had a great time. We had our friend Debbie over, and we adopted one of the Marines from the Embassy to join us. Beware: don't play Monopoly with a Marine! He pulverized us! Joel and I weren't beaten, we were humiliated in Monopoly. And then Sgt Cooper bragged about it at the embassy because he thought it was funny. Okay, it was. But only if it wasn't you.
Then we ended the month with a quick weekend trip to Sienna, a really cool medieval town in the middle of Tuscany. The weather was rainy, but it was alot of fun. They spoke alot of English there. I can't wait to go back.
And because so many thought my story about our language class was fun: now we're on to verbs. We have to conjugate 10 verbs by next Tuesday. And our teacher is very nice, but very very strict. If you don't study hard enough, she lectures you in a very thick Italian accent, and it's kindof scary.
And since most of you drive: did you know that the lines on the road are optional? That going less than 85 miles per hour on the autostrada is hazardous to your health? That stop lights and signs only mean something if there is a traffic cop standing right there? Yeah, me neither. Welcome to Italy!
So, Merry Christmas and Buon Natale and all that! Be careful, be safe and healthy and have a wonderful holiday season!
Love,
Julie and Joel
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