Giovedi

1-29-2009

I am fighting off this cold. Last night I came home late and went straight to bed. I woke up this morning early and helped the babies get to school. Then I went back to bed and slept until 1 p.m. I feel bad sleeping so late, but I am off the clock, so .... I feel a lot better now that I slept a good amount. However, it's another beautiful, sunny day in Rome and I've slept the day away. 

Last night, I met up with Caitlin and her friends Romina and Allison. We went to Campo di Fiori and had some vino. At first, I felt like I was getting a geography lesson. I mean it got a little ridiculous. Then we began talking about our lives as au pairs. This was so interesting because I am curious to hear about everyone's individual situation. 

Romina has been here since last June and will stay for just one year. I really like Romina. She's beautiful and a lot of fun to be around. She has her own little suite, with a kitchen and and private entrance. She lives above Caitlin and I in Rome. She is from Argentina. She's as skinny as a rail and says she is on a strict diet. So much so, that she didn't want to have a piece of gum when Caitlin offered it to her. This was after I witnessed her eat a chocolate crepe and drink a Corona. Hehehe.

Allison is from Australia and is going to "uni" in Sidney. She has also been here since last June, but is leaving shortly after going on vacation with her Italian family. It was good to talk to her because she cares for a child similar to Anna in disposition. She gave me faith that things will get easier with her. They all seemed to say that it's a struggle until after the first couple of months. This makes sense because the children still see you as a stranger and just aren't going to trust you at first. Allison's Italian children spoke no English at first. Neither do my kids. She says that after her time with them, they began to speak a lot of English. Hope I can accomplish this with Anna and Ludovica. I am not so confident. 

All of our Italian families are pretty wealthy. Allison, Romina and Caitlin's kids all go to the same school, Rome International. Recently, all the Italian families have become unimpressed with this school and are relocating their children. Caitlin said that a woman who is friends with her Italian mother is a descendant of the Borghese family and started all the commotion. She is moving her child to another school and it seems that all the other mothers are following her lead. This is what I gathered anyway. How cool is that? Caitlin has met a Borghese family member!!! Wow! It's like seeing a unicorn. Hahaha. 

Romina and I will fly together to Paris. We are sharing a taxi tomorrow morning and she'll be at my place around 4:15 a.m. I am soooo happy to have a travel buddy because I have no idea what I am doing. Romina is a seasoned traveler. It doesn't seem like there is a place she hasn't been. She knows exactly what she is doing. Caitlin has decided to stay in Paris until Monday evening with me. I am thrilled about this. Now I will have a buddy the entire trip. I feel so lucky to have met Caitlin. It's wonderful that she has included me and I just think she's a gift.