Classic and Baroque ...

3-13-2009

Ludovica is Classic and Anna is Baroque. Ludovica has slightly curly hair and sometimes the curls frame her face so perfectly she looks like a miniature Roman statue. Ludovica is reserved and ultra feminine. She’s very lady like and has a gentle spirit. She’s going to grow up and wear black slacks and collared shirts, long silk dresses and sweaters. Anna is a wild child and has already discovered her sexuality. She constantly accessorizes her outfits and desperately wants to stand out. She’s going to grow up and wear stilettos and pink leopard print pants. No doubt.

I bonded with Anna, finally. I don’t know exactly how or when this happened. She was such a struggle at first. We became friends somewhere between dress up and twister. These children constantly amaze me. They see things so differently than adults and I wonder when I stopped thinking like a child. Last night at dinner Ludovica spouted, “This is very hot.” I was amazed. The English is sinking in. Camilla and I applauded her and Anna began to recite every English word she knew. We also cheered her on. Camilla was so happy. At dinner Ludovica asked her mother how long I would be staying with them. Camilla sort of dodged this question. Ludovica then asked if all the au pairs could please be American. I felt so happy. I had a surge of patriotism and felt like I had represented my country well. I am the first au pair. They know that it is a temporary situation, but it’s going to be difficult when I go. This is probably why Camilla asked me to stay as long as possible. When I put the girls to bed last night Anna looked at me and said, “Ti amo, Tess.” I smiled big and kissed her cheek.

I really like my job here. As long as I don’t have to go to Cortina. Haha. I like to play with the kids and Peter is so adorable. I am starting to realize how much I want a family of my own. I am really maternal with Peter. I like bath time because I love the feeling of the water against his baby soft skin. I love when he hugs me or shows affection. It is adorable. And when he wants to cuddle it feels so good. I can’t describe the sensation; he nestles in your crevasses. 

The family is going to Bibbiano tonight, so I will have the weekend to myself again. I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I still haven’t made it to Pompeii, but I’m kind of waiting for a travel buddy. I am lying on my blanket in Borghese, listening to The Moldy Peaches writing this post.

Sometimes I never want to leave Rome and other times I am so homesick I could pack my bags and leave immediately. I constantly dream of buying an apartment in Rome and finding work here. I have talked to Federico about distributing olive oil and wine in the US. I think he thinks I could never pull this off, but he humors me. I wonder if I could convince Nick’s dad to help me do this. I’m not sure how wine would mix with ice cream, but … I want to have an excuse to travel to Italy. Also, Giovanni owns a winery and travels to the US often to meet with restaurant and hotel owners who buy his wine. Federico does not ship to the US now. Everyone I have met who has a winery has money, so it must be lucrative.