I taught English all by myself today. Last night my partner told me that she had a quiz to study for. So, I made up a lesson plan with a daily routine narrative, and a couple of worksheets for the kids. When I got to the school today, my cooperating teacher (the English teacher) told me that she was working with a few select students on project and I would be all on my own, if that was OK. I smiled warily and nodded. The kids were great for me. we went thro...

Carnivale: DairyFest on steroids and sans cheese... There are no personal boundries at Carnivale. In order to survive you need to have an arsenal of confetti, silly string, or in some cases, shaving cream. No one comes out clean. Everyone comes out with a smile on their faces. Carnivale in Viareggio takes place every Sunday for four weeks leading up to the beginning of Lent. The celebration contains politically satirical themes and people come from all ar...

Two weeks ago I bought an umbrella, a three-euro umbrella, a pink and tan argyle umbrella. I am truly ecstatic about it.The rain promptly stopped.Today, it began again! Which was exciting for the purposes of my umbrella. However, the rain also thwarted the plans my friends and I had to travel to Cinque Terra, a beautiful coastal city set on steep, jagged inclines. The place is perfect for hiking, shopping, and taking in the view, which is much better when sun...

So, I went to the Swiss Alps and I didn't go skiing... Blasphamy? Maybe not. I exploited the features of the Alps that I could with the time and money that I had. To tell you the truth, the mountains reach their full potential before you even set a foot on them; to see them is all one needs to be enthralled and fulfilled. Add to that the largest pot of authentic Swiss cheese fondue I've ever seen, and who wouldn't believe that I was in ecstacy. We ate our fon...

A higher level of etiquette exists at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale, where clapping occurs only when necessary, lasts for as long as deserved, and doesn't include standing ovations unless the ovation is truly earned. It is a place where silence is not only valued, but demanded, and where EVERYONE has the courtesy to abide by the rules.Only in this environment do the arts receive the respect and appreciation they deserve, and only in this setting do they flourish...