It started in Pellezzano-(Close to Salerno, in Southern Italy): a town on a hill, with a convent, post office, and general store. We had 4-15 year old students. While Nadia (from London) tried to teach the bambini colors in English (when they did not know the difference between orange and pink in Italian) I worked with the way cool adolescents, translating Red Hot Chili Peppers “scar tissue” (not to mention every pop song) and discussing politics, history, family and aspirations. They were a wild, sweet, and charming crew; the most hugs and kisses were received here. The Nuns (oh sweet Antonella) fed us warm cauldrons of creamy pasta. The bells rang every fifteen minutes and prayer hymns were graciously bellowed through piercing speaker phones at 8 in the morning. Every night the garden danced with fireflies
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