Weird friends

When you travel throughout the world, you meet all kinds of people. Take my new friends, here. I mean, I don't know why anyone would want to crawl inside a fireplace to see if they can fit. Really, it's beyond me. I must tell you that Jeanine started it. It was ALL her idea and ALL her thought. She coerced David to do the same.
Now, if you were a little kid on Christmas Eve, would you be freaked out if you saw this in your fireplace?

Italy Pictures: File #3

Ahhhh! Firenze! (A.K.A. Florence) My favorite bigger city in Italy. My second favorite city in the world. (Rome and Atlanta are tied.) To the left is a picture of the San Lorenzo market. (These are Melissa's pics -- the final in my Italy volumes.)

Lauren and me (pre-haircut) in front of the Palazzo Vecchio bell tower. The building to the right and left is the Uffizi. It is one of the most famous art museums in the world.
This is Siena's duomo, or cathedral. It is my dad's and my favorite. It is beautifully striped with black and white marble. On the inside, lining the walls near the ceiling, are marble busts of almost every pope.
The cuppola inside Siena's duomo. This pic doesn't do it justice. You just have to be there. It is huge and curved with a skylight at the top. Royal blue with 3D gold stars.
Siena's Piazza del Campo. You can see the belltower to the cathedral jutting out above the skyline to the top right. Though chilly and drizzly this day, it doesn't hinder the locals and tourists from socializing. In the summer it becomes a great hang-out spot, complete with a fountain for cooling off while sunbathing. The famous Palio horserace happens around this piazza two times every year. The neighborhood horses and riders parade through their section of town proudly displaying their neighborhood's colors. The horse and rider go into their local cathedral and are blessed by the priest. If the horse leaves droppings on the cathedral floor, it is said to be good luck. (Ha!)
The belltower on the palace in the Piazza del Camp. I've never climbed it before, but Ricky (A.K.A. Rick Steves -- my #1 Go-To man when traveling) says it's a great place to view Tuscany.
Roma eterna! The eternal city of Rome. This is THE oldest and most well-preserved building from antiquity: The Pantheon. Unfortunately, it was closed because it was New Year's Day, but I did get to walk up to the massive doors (you can see them between the third and fourth columns from the left) and peek through the crack. Amazing! It's so weird to think that this building, stuck in the heart of Rome (you can tell because of the "newer" apartments on the right of the picture) has been around since New Testament times!
The Roman Forum. Though mostly ruins now, it was once the center of ancient Rome. I had to close my eyes to imagine what it was like in all its splendor with people walking and talking and doing business.

Though I did not get a picture at the Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi), I made sure to throw not one, not two, but SIX coins over my shoulder. Maybe that will REALLY guarantee my return! ;)

Ciao con amore!

Round of Meds #4

Here it is folks! My most recent medications. I did get my lab results back, and I have lots of squiggly little bacteria living in me. Fun fun! I am taking two antibiotics plus some pain relievers. Once this situation is under control, the urologist says we can work on blasting Mick the Rolling Kidney Stone away!

Merry Christmas!

Wow! Christmas came to N. Africa! I received FOUR packages within the past week. It has been so much fun! I thought I'd show you some of my goodies... I got this great package from my Owen family. I loved the Reese's and Butterfingers along with the pictures! Thank you so much! What a great idea! I also loved the "family DVDs" and "Lesson Plans." Too funny! Can't wait to see you in New Smyrna!
Above is a package from both my mom and Jennie and Jennifer. Some Christmas presents from mom included the long-sleeved UGA shirts and some camis. (Also some other things which I better not include in a picture.) I also appreciated the UGA/Auburn game highlights. Jennie and Jennifer sent another package along with mom at the same time...but I got it early December. What a mail system! I love you all and miss you!
Steph sent me some goodies along with a wonderful surprise! A framed picture of Hudson (who is five months today -- have I really been here that long?). I couldn't believe the picture made it here unharmed! The unfortunate tea box wasn't as lucky. Thanks, Steph!
My "Wednesday Night Girls" sent me a package with some wonderfully-scented dryer sheets (ironically, the same kind that Jennifer sent me and I got on the same day). I love them! I also got some Sweet Tarts that my students LOVED and an envelope of pictures that I've put in my bedroom. You girls are awesome! Miss you!

Thank you so much to all of you for your generosity!

Italy Picture File #2

Straight from the files of Lauren: more Italy pics! Wow, have I ever mentioned how much I love this country? My heart beats for it, the people, and their language! Just the simple act of hearing it spoken can bring tears to my eyes.

Below, a closer shot of the Ponte Vecchio. This is the bridge that comes alive at night. Usually there are local singers playing their guitars and selling their CDs. It was bitterly cold, but totally worth it! Local tradition: Sweethearts clasp a lock on metal rods lining the Arno River and throw the key into the river to signify their everlasting love. We thought the combination locks were interesting. Does this mean the sweethearts get to change their mind?

Joni and me on Christmas Day. We were invited to share a meal with the church family. It was so delicilous! I sat next to Antonio! Hehehe
The Ponte Vecchio in the background. Do you see the line of small windows at the top of the bridge? This is actually an escape route. It connects the Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) with the Pitti Palace. In case of invasion the prince would use it to run to the Pitti Palace which was much more fortified.
This is an Italian phrase which says, "I love Georgia!" I promise I was not the graffiti artist!
The facade of the precious convent where we stayed. I highly recommend it to any future travelers to Italy. (Note: most of the nuns only speak Italian and some French!)
Finally a pic of Lisa B.! I don't know how she managed to elude the camera every time, but here she is (though she isn't looking at the lens). Melissa, Lauren and Lisa B. on the vaporetto in Venice.
Beginning our trip down the Grand Canal. It looks sunny here, but by the time we reached Piazza di San Marco where the Basilica is, it had gotten completely foggy!
One of the stops I just HAD to make: Piazza Michelangelo. It has a fantastic view of the city. These are all the N. Africa girls. Lisa T., me, Lauren and Melissa.

Here's one you don't hear much...

So, Mick the Rolling Kidney Stone is at it again. I spent last night until 7:30 at the doctor's office. I needed a translator since he doesn't speak English. Good times. Turns out that I like him a lot so far. He's ordered some lab work done. He wants me to go tomorrow for the tests. The only problem is that it might be the Muslim New Year. That would mean the lab is closed.

No, I didn't make a mistake. I did say "might be."

When my friend called to see if they'd be open tomorrow, the receptionist's response was, "You'll have to check the moon."*

Now, that's something you don't hear everyday in the good ol' U.S.

*The Muslim calendar is lunar. Days/months/holidays aren't fixed until the new moon is spotted.

Say what?!

A sentence spoken by one of my students today:

A ssaht ont va etre late!

Yep...if you couldn't understand it, you're not the only one! Without intending to, he spoke a sentence in three languages. Arabic (A ssaht), French (ont va etre) and English (late).

Loosely translated: Oh man, we're gonna be late!

Who says a trilingual education won't mess you up?

Passing the Time...

Since Pamela flew out today, and I'm a little bummed, I thought I would pass the time by finally updating you on my Italy journey. Since I didn't actually take any pictures (because I was a doofus and left my camera here), I thought I'd take three days and update you using the different files from my friends. Today's file: Lisa T. To the left is the Arno river. We crossed it every day to reach the convent where we were staying. No, that isn't the convent, but it is a pretty church near where we were.

Below are all of the girls, minus Lisa B. from Hungary. This is in St. James Episcopal Church in Florence. We attended services there three times. They actually had services in English! The minister and his wife invited all of us to return for Christmas lunch. It was really nice to sit with a bunch of international believers and share a common meal -- especially a meal of ham, green beans, potatoes, and panettone -- Christmas bread.

(Picture is not posting)

This is a picture of the panettone -- Christmas bread. Can you see how huge it is? Alas, I didn't try any of it since I was afraid it might have figs.

Taking a rest from shopping in the San Lorenzo market. Lisa T., me and Melissa. I'm sporting two of my purchases: my new black hat and my Italia jacket.

Me and Lisa T. with the Arno at our back, living it up Italian style! (This was pre-haircut.)

Last trip to Italy, with my mom, Pamela, and Aunt Linda, I got a picture of me sitting on the river bank with the Arno and Ponte Vecchio in the background. I was wearing my Georgia sweatshirt. This time a view from the other side, with my Italia jacket!

The Florence Duomo. The facade is one of my favorite!

Looking through the old city walls to Pisa. Yes, the Leaning Tower is still leaning!

Sightseeing

Pamela is visiting, and today we were tourists in a very famous city in my country. (I had never been there before either!) It has been in many famous movies. My friend Lauren was our wonderful tour guide. (Thanks, Lauren!) This pic was taken from a terrace restaurant looking out over the famous square. We did see snake charmers and monkeys doing tricks in the square.

The oldest mosque in the country

Ruins from a 16th century palace -- said to be the most beautiful in the world at that time Inside the medina
From the terrace of the palace looking out over the city
Hard to make out, but behind the stork's nest are the highest mountain ranges in this country

Friends Reference

I recently learned that my brother-in-law dropped a knife on his foot while he was preparing Christmas dinner. It instantly reminded me of particular Thanksgiving episode of Friends where in a flashback Monica tries to make a pass at Chandler, and instead, drops a knife and chops off his little toe. Allie, are you sure you didn't drop it on Chris's foot?

Simple Things

Simple things in life make me happy.

#1: A home-cooked meal

This meal was made in honor of my dear friends, Edgar and Louise. They have gone back to the States to have a baby, and I am now living in their old apartment. It feels a little weird without you two here! My roommate and I made this dinner tonight in honor of them: Louise's famous quiche, green beans, and some bread (I added the bruschetta topping).

#2: A juicer

Bought this today at our version of Wal-Mart, and it is worth every penny I paid for it. It saved me a lot of time and squeezed a lot more juice out of the lemons I was using to make lemonade. Don't you love how cute it is? It's hard to pass up cute stuff! (Right, Mandy?)

A Year in Review

Yes, I know I'm being a copy-cat. But since I forgot to take my camera (!) to Italy, and I have to wait on the graciousness of others for pictures, this is "all I got." So deal with it.

January: Traveled to North Africa and decided to move there.
February: Strategically picked my Superbowl team and realized that I have a little black in me.
March: Turned 28, developed great intentions, held a squirrel, challenged my students, and caught an 8th grader playing school.
April: Attempted to cut the grass, realized how deprived my students are, wrote a letter to my students, was foiled by a missing cannoli, took some amazing family Easter pics, dealt with a desperate cat, and took a self portrait.
May: Realized my worst nightmares, had a surprise party, and said goodbye.
June: Bloggers united, spent time with best friends, had a strange day, and said goodbye again.
July: Met some kindred spirits, became a soccer fan, found a new "Top Five" movie, and got my cannoli.
August: Moved to Africa, had a typical family conversation, and my best friend went into labor and had a little boy.
September: Began teaching in Africa, Orlando came to stay, missed my parents, visited the Consulate, and went on a working retreat.
October: Was almost killed by a fruit.
November: Played dress up -- twice, visited Spain, and conquered a fear.
December: Sang a famous Christmas song, watched Bollywood dancing, and had recess duty.

God is so amazing...He continues to bless me even when I don't deserve it.

"Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen." (Jude 24 - 25)