Sorry, we haven't posted in a while. Mostly because we've had so much going on the last few days. I'll try to recap ... in REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER!
THIS MORNING: My first day at ESE went well this morning. The walk took about 40 minutes, and the class is full of bright, young studenti. Most of whom have lots of actual, real-world business and even management experience. And none of whom are from Stati Uniti. There are women from Zambia, Honduras and Mexico, a guy from Belgium and a married couple from Russia. What a culture club! The class, E-Business and E-Commerce, is taught by a nice Italian guy who looks just like Justin Verlander.
SUNDAY: A nice, relaxing day after a crazy busy Saturday. Also, I vomited — food poisoning?
SATURDAY: I woke up on a military base's high school's classroom's floor in Naples. (Thanks for the apostrophes, DFW). Then I assistant-coached the tennis team to 2 victories! Unfortunately, we also tallied 8 losses. Those Naples players are tough! The kids all played great, and the best match of the day was our No. 1 boys doubles. They won the first set with a tiebreaker (10-8!), but dropped the second set 6-0. They got down a break in the third, but stormed back to force another tiebreaker! But the Naples squad was too tough. What a match! I kept running out there on the changeovers, and saying "Guys! No pressure! Take it easy!" And they'd say, "Coach, we're not nervous. YOU take it easy." Ha. Those kids. Our matches went a little long, so we had to hustle back to the school, shower, pack, eat and clamber back on the bus for the trip home. Phew. After returning to Rome, I met up with the Vallergas on their wonderful terrazza per un'aperitivo. Finally, we hiked over to the Irish pub that broadcasts college football, where we cheered on the Beavers to another upset victory! (In truth, 4 of the original 6 got tired and headed home after halftime.)
FRIDAY: John and I took a lovely morning jog around the Forum and Circo Massimo to my school (I needed to check in before Monday's classes.) John left to meet up with Chris V. and friend Brandon, flying in from Oregon. I bused over to Caitlin's school with sleeping bag in tow. Shortly after 1 p.m., the tennis, volleyball and cross country athletes and coaches departed on a 60-seat school van, bound for Naples. I tried to sleep, but the kids' singing (Britney's still around?) kept me from catching any Z's. We arrived at the military base around 4, did a couple hours' light practice (our hosts were very gracious), then headed over to the food court for some FAST FOOD! Oh boy! Then we went bowling — my hands perfectly greased up from cheeseburger goodness, I bowled a 214! The kids, naturally, were impressed.
THURSDAY: After tennis practice was nearly rained out, Caitlin and I headed home to meet the parents, who had just flown over from Ireland that morning. Our meeting spot? Dar Poeta, the pizzeria across from our apartment building. The Vallergas, naturally, were impressed.
LAST WEEK: Just the usual: Tennis, teaching, ultimate, reading, trying to set up bank accounts, cooking, sleeping, gelato, Dar Poeta, creating a frisbee golf course, night strolls.
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So here we are, all caught up. I'm rocking the tennis court. Colleen and Caitlin are rocking the classroom. Chris V. and Brandon are rocking our pull-out couch. It's a big, crazy world we're living in.
