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Published: December 19th 2009
Saturday evening found me walking the bustling pedestrian only streets with Pietro and Chiara (my last host brother and his girlfriend) and Giulia (my current host sister and closest friend here). The Center looks flat out gorgeous at night this time of year, over every street there are thousands of twinkling little lights. Holly shapes over some, stars over others, all coming together to create a magic feeling. Pictures are coming soon, I promise. So, as we strolled the streets, peeking in store windows and generally enjoying the evening, we came across a small square where there were three or four large fires roaring, each with a large metal dish being swung back and forth over it. CHESTNUTS!! These were the most delicious chestnuts ever, and eating them in the twinkling light of these Italian streets was something I am not likely to ever forget.
Last Saturday was also what they call "Santa Lucia". It is a sort of holiday here in Bergamo. Saint Lucia is very similar to out Santa Claus, she comes in secret and leaves gifts and candy for good children. Often if a family does Santa Lucia, they don't also do gifts on Christmas, so it's a big deal. Sunday morning I eventually rolled out of bed to mosey downstairs, and their on the table were four piles of assorted candies, one for each "good child". The two little couches had been divided into four sections, one labeled for Pietro, one for Tommaso, one for Lorenzo, and one, to my surprise, for me! My area contained a puzzle of the Mona Lisa (1000 pieces, hope you're ready Patti!), a shirt with a symbol containing the four marine regions (or something like that, its like a crest with the symbols of Venice, Pisa, Amalfi, and Genova), and a beautiful white scarf and silver hoop ear-rings with dangling things from the family's trip to Bali last summer. It was the sweetest thing ever, and since as a child you don't give gifts I decided to bake a pumpkin pie for "Santa Lucia".
The day before yesterday I rolled out of bed with the enthusiasm of a dog being dragged to the vet. I was slipping on thick socks for protection before traversing the cold tiles to the bathroom when Giulia gave me the news I have been waiting for, "Julia! C'รจ la neve!". I leaped to the window (which gives a fantastic view of the city) to see a white dusted world. There was probably only about an inch of snow, but it was enough to transform the city. It was my first time seeing the first snow.
This past Tuesday I moved from my first family to m second. it was a bittersweet event in the best possible way, I went from one family I love and was happy with to another I feel the same way about. Luckily my old family isn't far away and I can still visit, not to mention Saturday nights I spend with Giulia AND Pietro and Chiara. The differences in lifestyle and atmosphere are classic for going from a house of boys to a house of girls; There is considerably less general noise and considerably more trouble with bathroom time in the morning, there is less brawling and chasing and more clothes stealing, and the particularly loud eating noises or blissfully absent. I share a room with Giulia, which is a new experience for me, but one that I am taking to quite nicely. I find it inspires me to be far neater, a habit I hope follows me home.
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patti Tauscher
non-member comment
long tme, no read, SORRIER!
Hi Sweetie, Finally got to your blog. You know, Christmas and all. Donna came for eve and day of xmas and we put together a 750 piece puzzle! I guess I was practicing. The picture was of a box of chocolates so we were particularly inspired to finish it. We ate like pigs for a couple of days and now are preparing for a New Year's Eve stroll through the City this week. I had to work the day after xmas. It was a real bummer. In the morning, I was the only one working in the whole building! But on New Year's Day I am driving up to the farm to spend four days. A couple of folks may come to visit and we are going to plant another five fig trees. I'm reading two biographies of Madame de Stael that Chuck gave me. What are you reading these days? Have you gone to the movies in Italy yet? Please send photos of your new host home when you can. Well, that's about it for now. Off to work. Love you bunches, Patti