some cortina pics

2-25-2009

It’s Wednesday in Cortina. I only have two more days here, thank god. I can’t wait to return to Rome. I am overworked and underpayed. I have never worked so hard for such little money in my entire life. I guess I have to take into account a lot of other things that account for pay besides the cash Camilla gives me. She finally paid me today. She never pays me on time and I hate asking her to pay me. This is really annoying. I’m going to suggest she pay me once a month instead of once a week.

Today was a typical day here. I start working early in the morning. I help get the babies ready for ski school and dress Peter. I spend the morning with him. Today we played at his cousin’s house again. He ate lunch there. He’s my little buddy. It’s funny how sometimes I love him so much and other times I don’t ever want to look at him ever again. Usually he’s easy, but by 5 p.m. I am tired of him. I am trying to find things to be grateful for. I am grateful that I was able to travel to Cortina, no matter the circumstance. I am grateful that I am with good people. I am grateful that I learn more Italian everyday.

This afternoon Anna and Ludovica had guests. Their friends Lapo and Lorenzo came to play. Camilla returned home very late today and she didn’t tell me they had a play date. I was annoyed by this. My workload doubled unexpectedly. I have to have faith that things will return to normal in Rome. I always worry for nothing, but I am worried she will expect me to do more in Rome after this ungodly workload in Cortina. Lapo and Lorenzo speak English very well. Their mother is Australian. They were telling me all about their time in Australia and how they see Koala bears and Kangaroos there. Lorenzo is very cute. He has a little fat baby face. He is only four. He switches from speaking English to speaking Italian mid-sentence. I wish I had a video recorder to play back his speech patterns. So cute!

Tomorrow is Anna’s birthday. She will be 6. I say that she is 6 already, but in reality she turns 6 tomorrow. I wanted to get Anna something for her birthday, but I don’t know if that will happen. I think that I am bonding with the kids more and more, but every time I think that things are going well with them, something happens that makes me feel like an outsider again. The language barrier is really hard. It makes it a lot harder to play and joke, but tonight little Lorenzo said that I speak a lot of Italian. Also, one Philippino at the cousin’s house said I speak Italian very well for only being in Italy for a month. Sometimes I surprise myself and string 3 or 4 sentences together. However, I don’t speak well at all and usually it is difficult to communicate with the children.

I start Italian school Monday. I am really happy about taking Italian in Italy. How fantastic is that? I am happy to be able to ask questions about the language and to have some written material to study. Also, it is nice to have a schedule, so that I have to be out of the house in the morning. Sometimes I am lazy and sleep too late or spend too much time on the computer. I should cherish this time in Italy and find something to do in Rome everyday. Also, another au pair named Sarah contacted me. She is living in Rome, so now I might have another companion.