I left right in the middle of two snow storms sweeping across Europe. The morning I left, there were some people at the airport that their flights had been delayed/canceled. They said when they asked the the airport information desk when planes would start flying again, they said planes could not take off until the snow melted...luckily, it had been three days since it snowed so it was melted the morning I left. The only delay I experienced was a short one in Chicago, and it was only an hour late. I got to spend lots of time with family and friends and traveled a little bit too. Debbie had mentioned the Italian cooking school in Searcy while we were here in Scandicci so I said I would help out and it was a great success! For those of who don't know what the cooking school is, it is a fundraiser that Debbie and the Hospitality Committee started doing a few years ago as a fundraiser for the Bible School. [Insert shameless plug here.] So far, it's been every January that Debbie has been home since she's been in Italy. They sell scarves, ties, jewelry and other Italian things. There is a face book page called 'Avanti Italia Cooking School' that updates you about items that they are selling and when the cooking school should be and you should all join if you are interested. There is also a group that is just Avanti Italia called 'Avanti Italia 2' that you should all join that has pictures, events and updated information about the program that you should all definitely check out.[End shameless plug.]
My friend Ashley came with me to the cooking school and we stayed with some of my friends in Searcy, Joey and Amanda. It was really busy and a lot of hard work but so much fun, and it was great to see friends and some of my Avanti family in a different setting.
Here are a few pictures from the cooking school:
The Choppers
Chopped stuff
I think they were chopping too at this point.
Ermenita working hard.
Emily working hard...just kidding Emily!
(She really did work hard.)
The Store
Sale di Rosa (Rosa's Salt)
It kind of looks like little bags of drugs but don't be alarmed,
just herbs from Rosa's garden and salt.
Howard and Doris Bybee
Look at Debbie go!
We had to eat sometime...and it was so good!
Ashley meet Mona, Mona, Ashley.
I think they had a little too much fun washing the dishes.
My trip home went by really quickly, but it is nice to be back in some kind of routine again. So now, what's going on here in Florence. Half of the HUF students are staying with us so we got to move around some. Jessica and Eric are staying in a nearby apartment for a few more weeks because they leave for Taranto soon and Laura and Ryan are staying in Kyle's extra bedroom in his apartment on the second floor. Peter moved to one of the matrimonial rooms and all of the single ladies got to stay put. So that leaves the two refrigerator rooms, the Rome room, and two matrimonial rooms. Needless to say we have a little over 15 students staying with us and in the middle of the semester, the other half of the students will switch with the ones here now and then they get to stay here. It't been great having them here.
We've also decided to have an activity night every Friday.
First Friday: Movie Night
Second Friday: Cooking School
Third Friday: Game Night
Fourth Friday: Book Club
I am in charge of Game Night! I am so excited because I love games and now, at least once a month, I get to play them with lots of people. The good thing about our activity schedule is this way, we get to build a better relationship with our students and it's another way to spend time with them outside of our lessons. Win win.
Our English lessons have also started again and we are currently contacting more potential students so we can all have a full lesson load. I'm playing in the band and taking music theory lessons which is great. Apparently, music theory is different over here than it is in the US but it's been good still.
Overall, we're off to a great start of the semester and there's a lot happening in February, like the Women's Retreat, Danielle's baby shower and the couples moving. Love all of you!
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