Treviso

Here are some new pictures: http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd191/ryetoasty/

Most of them are from my trip to Treviso on Tuesday, which was nice. I only ended up staying there for abot 3 hours because it was a very confusing city. There were so many small side streets everywhere that I did a lot of walking back and forth and I was getting tired. But it was a good time and I got some good pictures.

Its raining out today and going to rain all weekend I think, which is no fun especially because I think we were going to have a BBQ at Manuela's parents house on Sunday. So hopefully it will not rain.

Music Update

So we went to Music Class again on Monday and Chicco hated it just as much as last time. To tell you the truth, I don't really blame him. I don't know what it is about it that he doesn't like but like I said before it is a little weird, but the other kids don't seem to have a problem. Except when they tell all the kids to go free, and they are in socks on a wood floor so everytime at least one or two of them fall and start crying. If I was a kid I think that would be enough to scare me.

I will try to write a post later about my trip to Treviso on Tuesday and some pictures...

Neglect

So I have been neglecting my blog a little, only because there hasn't been much interesting to write about this week. During the week all my days are pretty much the same. However, this week I think I am going to start traveling. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings I go to a class at the gym so I think Tuesdays and Thursdays I will start to explore the area. I have been exploring Montebelluna a little but I could do that more too. The good thing about this town is that it seems to be really close to a lot of other towns by train or bus, and I can walk to the station. So, from now on I will try to go to a new town every week at least.

Here is a picture of a really cool moon I saw one night from my balcony. The picture isn't the greatest quality because it was obviously really far away and my camera sucks at taking pictures in the dark:

This weekend was very relaxed. Friday night, Andrea asked me to go with him to Venice. He had to drive his parents and their friends because they had a dinner to go to and didn't want to have to drive, so they paid him to do it. He asked me to go so he didn't have to be alone the whole time while waiting for them to finish. It was a good time. It was a small adventure. The van was too small so we were all squished which was kinda funny, being smashed in a van with a bunch of Italians (especially on the way back because they were a bunch of drunk Italians). After we dropped them off, Andrea and I went to Jesolo, which is a beach town. It was quiet because there are not many people there in the winter. But we had a really good time. We went to dinner and then walked down to the beach, which was nice because I have missed the beach! Then we went to an American bar called Gasoline. I guess it is a chain in Italy. It's a really cool bar with American decorations inside, and barrels of peanuts for everyone to eat and throw on the floor. It was just a very cool atmosphere, because it was an Italian bar trying to be American so they had every little detail. Here are some pictures:

This is the front of the bar:

This is the only half decent picture I could take inside because it was too dark for my camera (I really need to ask someone what the deal is with it, because I should be able to take pictures at night). I will try to take more pictures next time I go. This is a giant Texas longhorn above the bar (taken just for Brett):


Then Saturday, I didn't really do anything except go to the post office and got a package from my mom! (Finally! She sent it to me in Calabria for my train ride up to Turin, but I'm just glad it didn't get lost). I slept in the afternoon and then called a whole bunch of people from America which was really fun. I enjoyed catching up with everyone. And everyone is so happy to hear from you when you live in Italy, it's kinda fun! Then I babysat at night.

Sunday, I went to a party in Treviso (which I think will be my first travel adventure town this week). The party is called Ombralungo, which translates into long glass of wine, and it is held once a year in Treviso. It is basically an all day drinking party where there are a million drunk people running around. The bars have specials and some have tables outside where they sell glasses of wine, and there is music and food. I think it starts in the morning but we were only there at the very end for an hour or two. But I am glad I got to see it. Then Andrea and I got some dinner at a pub and then we saw Ratatouille (I don't know how to spell it). It was a cute movie and for the most part pretty easy to understand because it was simple language and there were a few scenes with no words at all.

Oh, last week I took Chicco to a music class for babies for the first time. It is every Monday. He hated it. The whole time he couldn't get close enough to me (which was kinda cute actually). He kept saying "braccho (sp?)" which means in your arms, basically hold me. It was a very odd class. I guess just totally different than I was expecting. I was thinking it would be like a gymboree class in America, but it was not. We were in a dance studio and the instructor was this man who told us all not to talk to the kids. We were supposed to let them go free. Then he sang the whole time as we repeated him (it sounded like a chant). Only at the very end did they bring out two intruments and pass them around to the kids, which Chicco liked, but even that was weird. Then at the very end he started to cry. So we are going to try again today and hopefully it will get better and he will like it more this time.


So, I think this blog will be more of a weekly thing now unless something happens to write about, because otherwise there is nothing too exciting.

PS. As of about 10 minutes ago, I finally have hot water and heat in my apartment!! I am so excited because now I don't have to go next door to shower and I don't have to freeze everytime I wash the dishes!! It only took about a month! Ahh, gotta love Italy!

Weekend

I had a very good weekend. Manuela and Luca went to Stockholm for the weekend so I only had Federico for about 2 hours every day. I spent a lot of time with Andrea and his friends which was a lot of fun.

Friday we went to watch some of his friends who are in a band play at a bar and that was nice. Saturday we went to a party in Pedorobba, another town. It is called Festa della Castagna (Party of the Chestnuts) because they are coming into season now. It is just in a big tent and you can drink and eat chestnuts and there is a band (although they werent very good). But it was fun though. We just sat at a table and drank the whole time. And Sunday we went to Bassano to walk around and we had some drinks and pizza. So it was a nice weekend.

This is Andrea as a guest singer with the band:

This is the big church in Montebelluna that I pass everyday on the way to pick up Chicco from his grandma's house. It is very pretty but the main reason I took a picture of it now is because the day before I saw a funeral here. I felt a little weird taking a picture but I wish I did. So instead I took a picture of just the church. I wanted to take a picture that day because when I walked by they were starting the funeral procession. In America, that usually means all the cars follow the hearse to the cemetery. Well here they had someone walking in front of the hearse carrying a cross and then instead of cars, all the people were walking behind the hearse. I dont know if that is an Italian thing or not but it was very interesting to see.

More Chicco

So we go to the park everyday and, because he is 2, we pretty much do the same things everytime. And he always remembers. So we usually walk there together and he stops to hide under this sign:

I know you can't see his whole face but how freakin cute is his smile.

Then he stops to take a look at the flowers (which I actually noticed for the first time today):

Then we get to the playground and he goes up the stairs and down the slide (over and over again) but the whole time he counts in English now (1,2,5 but it's a start), and when we get to the slide, I count to three while holding him still and he looks at me like this:


He's pretty cute!! I'm so proud when he speaks English, it's so cool! I guess this year is my small glimpse into the world of a teacher.

Boun Giornata (Have a good day)!

Pictures

Here is another picture of Federico taken at the park yesterday...

Finding Myself

So, everytime I would complain to Brett and ask him what I'm doing here (it happened a lot when I was going through my "bad" times), he would always say, "You're there to find yourself"

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately and he is right. That is one of the reasons I am here and I think I will, as I have already discovered a lot.

But, if nothing else I finally have time on my side. I finally have the time to do all the things that I want to do everyday. I pretty much have no one to answer to and, although its the reason I'm here, almost no responsibilities. I only have Federico a few hours everyday.

All my life I have always looked forward to the time that I could wake up, take walks, watch movies, read books, etc, and not feel guilty about relaxing because I have other things to do. So it is really a great thing to finally be able to do that. I am surely enjoying it and I think it will also make me feel that much better about starting my life when I get home because I will have truly had a year off from life. So, basically, I am happy! :)

This is the park where I take my morning (or afternoon on days that I go to the gym) walks:

Address

Here is my new address:

Ryan Nestler
c\o Manuela Zanin
Via Regina Cornaro 9
31044 Montebelluna

Send me mail!!

Brett

I just came across this picture again and thought I would share it. It's Brett and I on our last night together. We went to The Chart House in Weehawken and had a great night. I miss him and can't wait to see him!

Cinema

So I went out for the first time last night with a new friend. Manuela's brother is 24 and he took me out to the movies. It was very interesting. We saw Evan Almighty, entirely in Italian so it was very hard for me, actually a lot harder than I thought it would be because they talk so fast. But I got the jist of it and it was an interesting experience. They have an intermission in the middle of all their movies, so funny, but kinda nice if you have to go to the bathroom.

It was very nice to finally go out with someone and he was really nice. We had a good conversation and I think we are going out tonight as well to see some of his friends play in a band. So that should be fun too.

On another note, I am in a very good mood because almost everything is finally working here now. I have a new cell phone, and this one is so much better. I understand how to use it and I can send and recieve text messages!! My new number is 3465909150 but to call or text from America you need to dial 01139 and then the number.

I'm also excited because I got my webcam to work, so now when I talk to people on Skype they can see me, very exciting.

And, I am able to watch Grey's Anatomy, which is the best news of all because ABC.com won't let people watch their online shows outside of America. But thanks to Meagan I found another website where I can watch them, even the new ones, so exciting because I am already hooked again after one episode!

I think that's all for now!

Ciao!

Flowers

and flowers complete the place....

I think this was the first time I have actually bought flowers. I am very proud of myself and they look beautiful. It's weird that this is the first time I will be actually living on my own and it is in Italy...who knew?

View and apartment again

Here's a few more pictures, the view from my apartment and my apartment now that it's all clean and decorated...it looks much better than the other pictures.

http://s226.photobucket.com/albums/dd191/ryetoasty/

Entertaining....

So I found this really entertaining. Yes that is a shopping cart in the middle of my kitchen! I had too many bags and since the grocery store is right downstairs I just figured I would bring the whole thing upstairs. Haha. So of course I had to take a picture. :)

...maybe I'm just easily entertained nowadays....

Federico and Skype

Here is Federico on Saturday morning, driving the car.. He is so cute. He really makes me laugh, and he is pretty much used to me by now I think. I am only getting happier and happier that I am here. I went grocery shopping today (I have a little story and picture that I will post maybe tomorrow) and bought food for my apartment so now I am all set except for my TV (its coming) and the gas and hot water. But it feels good to be independent and almost completely settled.

On another note, I have just successfully used Skype for the first time over here so I encourage everyone to download it (skype.com) because it is a way to talk through your computer for free. You just need a microphone (some computers already have them). I even have a webcam that I am currently working on installing so I can have video conversations too!! :)...this is all very exciting to me..so everyone go download skype so I can talk to you!