Let's Talk Lunch.

No, seriously. Let's talk lunch. I have worked in US public schools for the past twelve years and never once eaten a single school lunch. Have you looked at what your kids are eating? And, not just on Thanksgiving when there is slightly more effort made to make it look like it didn't all come from a can. So, today I was awestruck when once again the school lunch served at ASM was beyond amazing. We've been eating in the school cafeteria since the day we arrived in Italy, and, at least at ASM, it's just what you do. The food is real stuff, not just slopped out of a can and into a chafing dish. There is pasta every day. (This is Italy- did you expect anything less?) There's also salad options, meat options, vegetarian options, fruit options...I could go on. It really has been something impressive. But, today was different. Today they rolled out a buffet lunch for the staff. It started with Prosecco and other assorted wines. In the school building. With the administration. Where am I again? Oh, that's right...Italia...the land of wine. And on to the food. Caprese salad, sauteed eggplant, zucchini, peppers, cantaloupe, thinly sliced tenderloin, prosciutto, stuffed squash blossoms, stuffed shells, seafood linguini (the seafood being giant prawns and lobster like things) and so many other things I've probably forgotten a few. Are you drooling yet? Then, of course, you must have room for dessert, yes? Homemade in the cafeteria by the little Italian ladies? Tiramisu, chocolate tortes, cherry tortes, and fruit-- but who eats fruit when you have those other options? Anyhow, now that I've had an apple for dinner (mangio una mela verde) I will let you salivate...Kate took a picture of her plate. When she uploads it, I'll add it here. Until then, imagine me doing that little Italian gesture where you put your fingers together by your mouth and move them away and say something like, "Delicioso!"

Ciao Italia!

So, I've arrived in Italy. It has not quite been a full week yet, but I think we've been busy enough for an entire year. The flight to Milan was rather uneventful. I had to rush to board after my Savannah connection's time was cut so close. Once on the flight, I got to meet Kate, another new ASM teacher. We were both sandwiched between multiple Italian men, and, no, they were not the ones you'd want to fall in love with, so all of you can stop that thought already. Kate and I arrived at one of the two Milanese airports, Malpensa, and made our way through the immigration section, which only involved waiting in line and getting a stamp in my passport. They had no forms, no questions, nothing, which was nice. Next time, I'll fill my suitcase with whatever American products I am desperately missing. So we collected our luggage, lots of it at that, and made it to where the other ASM teachers were waiting for us. We filed out to a large Kelly Tours size tour bus and loaded up our belongings. I'm pretty sure Kate and I won the prize for the most stuff.

That same day we were shown to our apartments and found that they were brand new construction. Needless to say, I am thrilled. There are only six apartments in the building, and four of the apartments are occupied by ASM teachers. The other two are filled by the family that owns the building. They also operate a cafe/bar/restaurant on the first level of the building that just reopened this week. I have been waking up to the smell of freshly baked brioche the last two days.

The top floor of my building has three apartments, filled by Kate, Simon, and me. Kate will be teaching 1st grade and was last teaching in D.C. Simon is from Brisbane, Australia, but has been living in London the last year and was recently married to Tegan, who is moving here to be with Simon mid-September. Simon will be teaching Math in the Upper School. We are jokingly called "Melrose Place" or "Three's Company" and as soon as we have Internet we'll have to have a group screening of some old episodes! But, we got along "straightaway" as Simon says so it is all working out well.

Since moving in we have been to the mall, gotten basic Italian cell phones, gone to Ikea, and done some "business" type things here at the school. Our apartments are not air conditioned and it is hot here like it is in Savannah, so I've been sweating a lot! I bought two fans at the "mall" and we happened upon our landlord that day who was nice enough to loan us a screwdriver or two and even help us put them together. At Ikea, I bought a small desk, two bookcases, a coffee table, and a chair. I managed the chair by myself and Simon was able to put the coffee table together with this most uncooperative tiny screwdriver. I've yet to tackle the other pieces-- we've just been too busy!

Sunday evening, after our Ikea trip, we had dinner at a restaurant called Lo Chalet with the school administrators and the new and some veteran teachers. I ordered Pizza Gitana...ham, onions, cheese...it was excellent. And, of course, plenty of wine was served with dinner, both red and white, and I drank some of both. I will find a love for red wine while here. The red we had was cold and frizzante, as they say, meaning it had some carbonation/bubbles to it. It was pretty good. The night ended with small glasses of limoncello, poured by the upper school principal, of course! And, who paid the bill you might ask? The director of the school, of course! Nice! I do love this perk of working in Italy!

Yesterday we took our first trip into the actual city of Milan. It was beautiful, but HOT! And, I can not underscore the HOT enough! We went and saw the Duomo and wandered around to the Navigli, a canal, and had aperitivo at a restaurant called Maya. When you purchase one drink you can eat from the appetizer buffet, and there is tons of food, and it is delicious. And, it's even better when the school pays for your first drink. Yes, really. We took a cab ride home and the school paid for that too.

So today we made our first visit to the Prefettura of Milano, where you go to get your Permisso di Soggiorno, or your Permission to Stay in Italy. I hear it is the first of many visits. A lawyer meets you there and does all the talking and you sign your life away. I probably committed to give them my first child on one of those pages. Now we are waiting for lunch at the school. It is part of our benefit package and you can eat in the cafeteria as much or as little as you want. They serve pasta in a couple varieties every day, and I'm wondering when the day will come when I've had enough pasta and I'm craving...Mexican!!

Ciao! I'll add some pictures that you haven't seen tomorrow, hopefully!