Back in Italy

After a week of adjusting from jet-lag, I can say that we are all back into the swing of things in Napoli. It was a tough adjustment the first few days getting used to everything Italian again, but I am regaining my confidence with the language, and getting back into routine. Evan has also fallen back into his routine which is a huge help, so things are good. Buono!

For the past 2 days I've walked up to the park, bringing along a huge picnic blanket, toys and lunch for Evan and I. It is TOO hot and humid to go for my normal speed walk while pushing Evan, so instead, we are just relaxing at the park, which we both really enjoy. Being at the park allows Evan to watch all the kids playing on the playground, while giving both of us a change of scenery from the apartment.

Yesterday, I saw a few women and kids sitting near me, they said 'ciao', I said 'ciao' back, and that was the extent of it. Today, I walked back up to the park at the same time, and the same girls were there. One of them, Mary, came over, introduced herself, sat down with us, and chatted for about 10 minutes--all in Italian mind you. She then invited Evan and I to join her and her friends, which we did. I am so excited about meeting them. There are 5 girls (Mary, Veronica, Maria, a Russian girl who moved here 4 years ago..i forget her name, and another girl whose name I forget) and about 8 kids (Lorenzo, Luigi, Eduardo, Tomaso, I forget the others), and they all go to the park for the same time every day--from about 11am-4pm. They let the kids run around while they sit and visit. They told me to come and join them each day and in no time, I'll be a master of Italian. I love the sound of that!! I held my own in conversation today, and I can't wait to sit with them tomorrow to practice my Italian more...never mind the benefit of adult conversation!!

I've been practicing vocabulary via homemade flashcards, but nothing beats conversation. I've made friends with Vincent and Bruno--the security guards at the park, so we talk a bit each day as I'm coming and going, plus the produce man, Francesco, at the Super-O is helping me with the names of fruits and vegetables. Hopefully, by the time I am home at Xmas, I'll have more language skills to show for my time here. Hard to believe that by December we will have already lived in Italy for one year!!!