First day in Cortina

2-15-2009

It’s my first day working in Cortina for Camilla. Not exactly my cup of tea. We woke early to get ready to ski. I helped everyone eat and dress. It is Sunday. The girls will ski with Camilla today and start ski school tomorrow. We left the house around 10 a.m. and headed to the mountains. Mamma mia!

Did I ever write that I HATE SNOW??? It is the worst thing on earth. We arrived at the mountain and Camila showed me to a child’s area outside a restaurant very near a ski lift. There are lots of toys for children. I am to stay here and play with Pietro while everyone skis. OK. Well … Pietro hates the snow too. He cried all morning and all afternoon. The only time he stops crying is when I feed him lunch. My head aches and I am tired of trying to make him happy. Camilla and the girls return around 3 p.m. and I am ready to call it a day. It’s obvious to Camilla how miserable Pietro is, but she wants him to learn to like the snow. OK. It’s a lot for him. He can barely walk as it is and with all the snow gear he falls every few steps. He is so frustrated and I feel so bad for him. He is normally so happy, so he must really be miserable.

We return home and Camilla gives me some time to myself. I take a long bath and make myself a nice hot cup of tea. Elena stays home all day. I am envious of her. This trip might just kill me. It is almost unbearable already, and I hope the time will go by fast. I am also starting to see Camilla in a new light. The wealthy Italians have all these status symbols. They all have to have a house in the country and they must go skiing in the winter. The babies have to be excellent little skiers and everyone had hired help. I think the Americans are more relaxed than the Italians when it comes to social class.

It is difficult for me to be treated like Camilla’s maid. I have my own home and afford all the same luxuries as her. I remind myself she is a means to an end. I am here to travel and to learn Italian. I am always kind and respectful of her. She sees me as a little girl who has nothing. It’s not as easy as one might think. It reminds me to be careful of how you treat even the smallest member of society. For the most part, Camilla is very nice to me. I hate to complain about her, but I have to vent sometimes.

It’s also Valentine’s Day and I am away from Nick. I miss him very much today. I don’t have the Internet here so communication is much more difficult. He calls me everyday, but we can’t talk for long. This is the hardest part about being in Cortina. In Rome we have Internet and so I am always in contact with him. Now I feel totally disconnected and alone. I miss wearing my wedding rings. I feel naked and lonely.