have found employment! or a slice of it, at least. 1.5 hours a week of intensive english tutoring for two adorable pre-teens. just beer money, maybe, but it's a start. a nice lady named orietta found my flyer for english lessons and called me up, had me over for tea and a little meet and greet with the fam. they have a fat kitty named Bianca Neve (snow white). the first lesson is on tuesday, and if it goes well i'll have myself a regular gig! also, came to my university today and saw that all the slips that i had put up for english lessons here had been taken. checked my email and found 3 emails so far from students, so maybe some of those will work out as well. with my italian lessons starting next week i'll actually have somewhat of a schedule, huzzah!
my mood has wandered back to the realm of jubilance, which is a relief. had a long chat with mama the other night, in which i detailed my fears and anxieties, and layed out all the possible disasters that might occur if i dont, like, run off to sevilla and take a spanish lover and learn to dance the flamenco right this minute (you'd be surprised how fatalistic my thoughts have become regarding this issue these days). mama was cool as a cucumber, as usual, and advised me to remain calm, focus on the peace and possibilities in this tranquil life of mine, and find activities that suit me while my quest for employment is under way. example: have found a cute bakery in town, and will go ask if i can learn to make bread. or, good old gabriele is teaching another enology course at the university. perhaps i can come and sit in, and learn some stuff. yes.
has gone from indian summer to frigid in a matter of days. just sunday FL and i were sitting outside at porchis, me in a cotton sundress, shielding my eyes from the blazing hot sun, and now suddenly i'm sleeping, not in a cutsey pink slip, but in flannel pajama pants and a thick wool sweater with a diamond-pattern print, wondering what kind of person doesnt own a pair of socks (who am i??). the upside to the brisk weather is the clear air; the mountains looks stunning, positively imposing, and there's snow on the tops. i forget how very surrounded we are by the dolomites, how close those mamouth rocks are to us, all pointy and shiny and severe, and these days on all sides is a gorgeous wall of white and stone. the sunsets have been spectacular, and the leaves are all still green these days, so the effect is breathtaking. cannot wait for the leaves to change.
---cut to: 2 hours later---
ah, simone. or swoooooon, as it was. went to my professor's office to pick up my certificate of completion for his viticolture course (side note: marion was concerned because it seems that i conveyed in my blog that i had failed my courses. i did not fail my courses, infact i did very well, all As and Bs. the blog about failing was written in a moment of panic, which i have alot of, though naturally, as i am a genius, i managed to pull things off). wandered in to see ol simone, whose office is right next door. still so ding-danged cute. miss those long hours slaving over grape skins for no other reason than a raging crush. would do it again in a heartbeat, probobly. anyway, professor peterlunger asked what in the world i was up to these days, and when i told him i wasnt quite sure, but that i was still interested in studying wine, he gave me the schedule for his classes. he comes to cormons 2 days a week for viticulture part 2, and said he would love for me to attend if i wish. think i will. UGA wouldnt take the credit now or anything, but education is education, and i could sure use some more of that. also, there's like students and stuff. social edification as well as viticutural. anyway, tutto a posto, moving right along.
am currently searching for a good recipe for chestnuts, something like a chestnut ravioli, ooh, or maybe chestnut-encrusted grouper or something...hmm...FL and i went to the mountain sunday afternoon and harvested chestnuts. you pay a bundle for them in the stores, but we filled up the saddle bags of his motorcycle in no time. was so beautiful, the forest, all shady and cool, hidden vineyards in the valleys. that night we roasted them (over an open fire!) and sat huddled under a blanket, watching the stars and eating our chestnuts with a glass of ribolla gialla. was just perfect.