The final week.

My year here is almost finished, i fly back to the UK on Friday 2 July. I'm sad to leave but as i'm lucky enough to be able to come back in September, I know this is not goodbye.
This has been the hardest thing i have ever done but by far the most rewarding. In a lot of ways much of it has been luck- being the right place at the right time- like seeing the job advertised on the internet and taking over the appartment from another teacher.

I have met a massively diverse range of people- from the retired school teacher who loves langugaes and already speaks French, Spanish and Russian, to the engineers who build tractor engines to a metalhead who works for a fashion house! Thats one of the best parts of my job and the reason its always so varied.
I've learned so much this year,( not just how to drive like an Italian!) about people, about myself and thats why i dont want it to end.

Yesterday Sil and I went to St Pietro di Bismantova, which is a giant randomly shaped rock- Sil said it reminded her of Ayres rock except that this one is in the foothils of the Apenini, not desert! It was beautiful, there is a little refuge/church built into the base of the rock. We walked up a it a way and saw some of the most stunning scenery, rolling hills disappearng into the distance behind a blue veil, with patches of cornfields shining in the late afternoon sun.
We chose there because Sil had heard of this place and the night before we went for a meal with a group of my students whose course had come to an end. They took us to a little restaurant in Casina, up in the hills and we ate like Italians- course after course of pasta, meat, gnocco fritto and of course caffe and limcello to finish.
Sil and Nick have both taught me a lot about myself and the things I'd like to change, also the things I'd like to keep. We are all very different I think but somehow it works- maybe we balance each other a little. I have a feeling if i said that to Sil though i think maybe I'd get 'shut up dickhead' :-)
Its had to think of highlights of the year there have been so many, the medivael festival in Quattro Castella, Wandering around a deserted Venice with Daryl (although I dont remember being that cold for a long time!) Sitting in the piazza with Steve gazing at the fountain. Having dinner with Mum and Amy in Condor and bumping into Nick and Sil outside, Mum and Amy coming to stay. Wandering around and around Reggio with Christen, ice cream in hand. Sitting in Pizza Prampolini with friends and drinking spritz and talking the night away. Oh and of course, Singstar.
Reggio, ci vediamo a presto.