Good morning. It's Saturday morning, 8:45. I'm still in bed. Jonathan just brought me coffee. What a life. We are both a bit tired these days. Jonathan is having a little trouble with his leg. It may be a very tight muscle. It hurts him when he walks. You can't get anywhere without walking so we may just hang low today. There are a million places we want to see but you just can't do it all.

The last two weeks I probably learned more about teaching than ever before. The reason being I had a really bad teacher. I've been very blessed with a great class and great teachers. These last two weeks we had our first male teachers. We have two teachers. One teaches grammar and the other conversation. The grammar teacher was a bit dull but we did a ton of grammar. The conversation teacher was hopeless. He had no lesson plan and very few of us actually talked. One woman from Brazil was practially fluent in Italian so she ended up being the only one talking. I finally talked to the school about it. I think the director had heard the complaint before. Lucky for me I am taking private lessons with a dear Italian woman Marta who works near Piazza Santa Croce. Her store is closed from 1-3:30 so we have a lesson during that time. We have two good teachers for the next two weeks.

I do more speaking in Italian with her than I do all day at school. We have an hour lesson but then we end up speaking English for another hour. She has very few costumers in her store so even if it's opening time it's easy to continue talking. She gives me a great insight into the minds of Italians. NOT an easy country to live in! I know America isn't perfect but there sure is a lot to be grateful for. THIS COUTNRY IS SO CORRUPT! And the sad thing is the Italians have just given up trying to fight it. The government just doesn't seem to really care as long as they are rich. The school system here is horrible. Not enough schools and not enough teachers. The hospitals are a mess. Social services a disaster. The list goes on. I think the Vatican alone has enough money to improve all those systems! Marta said the only time Italians will protest is if a soccer match is cancelled. I think she siad Napoli shut down for three days becuase they had to cancel a game. It's the only thing Italians are pround of (according to Marta). They worship soccer and the players.
Salaries in Italy are lowest in Western Europe and the cost of living is high since they got the Euro. Fewer and fewer Italians can go out to eat or even have a coffee. In a city like Florence the prices are so high you seldom see Italians in the restaurants or cafes in the historic area. It has become a city for Tourists. Because it's so hard getting good paying jobs most children stay at home until they get married. 75% of men between 18-35 are still at home. Mom does everything. Marta, who is 35 and divorced never dates anyone who lives at home or likes soccer. I don't blame her! The trains are on stike all the time!! I've experienced it twice already and I don't even take the train that often. The good thing is they always tell you when the strike will start and end and they will provide more busses. They guarantee that everyone can get home. Is this really a strike? This kind of striking could last for years and it has!!
I'm sorry if I sound so negative this morning. I'm not complaining but just telling you the truth about what is going on in this beautiful yet complex country. Jonathan just came into the bedroom and wants to go to the Baptistary. This is where Dante was baptised in 1270 something.
All for now. Take care. I miss you all.