How sweet!

I'm fairly sure that the Irish one won't agree with me on this, but teaching kids is great. Yes, they expect you to wipe their snotty noses and yes, they can create levels of noise that make me wish I'd brought my earplugs to the lesson. But every now and then, they do things that really make me smile. Like actually getting all the answers right on their worksheet. Or telling me that my shoes are nice. Or giving me sweet gifts like this one:

I can guarantee that in a few days, I will be renouncing everything I just said because some little terror has vexed me with their shocking behaviour, but for now, I shall bask in my contentment...

homesick? us?

A lot of people, especially students, often ask us how on earth we can live in a place so far from home. Don't you miss it?! They cry, gesticulating wildly. Our answer is, more often than not, 'only occasionally'. Don't think us hard hearted, but the lure of Italy and la dolce vita really is that strong. Why this little town?! They say. I feel like pointing out the fact that lemons grow on trees, the sun is almost always shining, and don't even get me STARTED on the food. Nobody seems to grasp the fact that for us, living in a small, southern Italian town, 30 minutes from the sea and full of tasty pizza is pretty damn good. If I had a euro for every time someone asked us why we were here, I would have, well, a large amount of euros. Enough for a nice new bag at least. 

this isn't a reason why we want to live here...

nor's this....

and this definitely isn't a reason... !

The truth is, is that we are very different from the Italians. (Well, duh..) And living away from home for us Brits is not such a big deal. On the whole, we like to travel, we go to university in far-away cities, and we move out of our family home at a fairly young age. But do these things happen in southern Italy? Hmm. not so much. Family is so important, and for young people, moving more than an hour away from their home town to go to university can cause many tears. And that's just from dad. Young southern Italians also live at home for most of their 20s, some even into their 30s. I hear you gasping in surprise, but believe it or not, it's actually very, very normal here. WE are incredibly abnormal in that we DON'T live at home with our parents. That we live in another country altogether is almost incomprehensible for some people. So once again, we must begin the long spiel about how we are FINE, yes we DO miss our friends and family but we LOVE the experience of living in a lovely place like this. The only thing we don't like is when people always ask us why we are here!!

Clearly, it's just another cultural difference that we have to be patient with. Eventually, (after about 10 years probably) people will get used to us. And, gradually, we are getting used to them. My desire to laugh hysterically when a 29 year old man tells me that he lives at home with his mother has subsided. More or less. 

But, we are also human, and of course, now and then, we feel a pang for our home countries. In case you are curious, here are a few things that we do to make ourselves feel just a little bit better:

• Call our mums. And chat for about an hour about very normal things. And complain about stuff. (Well, that's what I do to my mum anyway, poor thing)
• Have a fry up. Sausages and beans can be brought from Lidl. Pancetta can substitute bacon rashers. Eggs and toast: easy.
• Watch British sitcoms like Fawlty Towers and Blackadder. Ahhhh real humour! (miaow...)
• I ask my mum (nicely...) to send parcels full of chocolate biscuits and cadbury's and English Marie Claire magazines.
• We use facebook. Too much.

Pasta alla crudaiola..in other words..YUM.

The other day I decided that I wanted to prepare a quick and easy lunch for myself and the girls. I wanted to try something new and, yes, I was feeling rather lazy. The days are getting warmer now, so something cold sounded good. I chose this particular pasta because it really did sound so simple. It turned out pretty well, so I thought I would share the recipe. To make pasta alla crudaiola (and no, don't ask me to pronounce that correctly!) you will need the following:

First of all, chop the tomatoes and mozzarella into small pieces. It's up to you how much you use, but I used this much and it was sufficient for 3 people:

Put the tomatoes and mozzarella into a bowl, along with a nice glug of oil, a little salt, some basil (fresh is better but I used dried and it tasted just fine) and some oregano. Mix together with a big spoonful of fresh pesto. You don't need too much pesto otherwise the taste will overpower the tomatoes and mozzarella.

Add the pasta to some salted, boiling water and when cooked, drain and leave to cool. This is a cold or tepid dish, you don't want the pasta to be boiling hot. 

Then add the pasta to your tomato and pesto mixture, and mix well. And you're done!

I served mine with some fresh rocket. This pasta is perfect when the weather is a bit warmer but you still want something substantial. Buon appetito!!

Who needs technology to stay in touch?

So today, I got a nice letter from my friend in Australia. I absolutely love sending and receiving letters. In a world where everyone uses so much technology (including yours truly!), it's really refreshing to see that people, every now and then, still use this traditional way of keeping in touch. I take great pleasure in sitting down and putting pen to paper, instead of tapping away on the keyboard all the time. It's relaxing and makes you remember how people actually used to communicate in the past, before emails, facebook and of course, blogs!

In the summer, when I'm not working, I intend to write a lot more letters, and surprise some of my family and friends. Because let's face it, receiving an unexpected, handwritten letter is one of life's little pleasures...

Don't you just love the postcard and envelope? How unusual!

p.s- my favourite shop in Lecce (Cartoleria Pantheon) sells beautiful writing sets... 

Errm...inappropriate much?

SPOTTED!This very inappropriate advert for an indoor heating system:

OK, I get the message. The heating is so good that one can comfortably mooch around without any clothes on and, if one wishes, can also engage in naughty things with one's other half. But in the middle of a park?! Where the elderly have their evening walk?! And the young kids frolic?! (When I say frolic, I mean 'cause a great deal of mischief'. But frolic sounds better.) Well, I never! ;)

Made In Italy...(e anche in italiano!)

A little while ago, me and the girls went all....well, girly, and decided to go to the opening of a new perfume/make up/expensive shiny things store that our friend works at. We got a glass of champagne, ate some free sweets, and marvelled at the BEAUTIFUL bags that were on offer. The Irish one got all flustered (slight bag addiction. And when I say slight, I mean HUGE) and couldn't stop touching the leather goodies that were placed so beautifully on the shelves. She almost bought one, but then went all sensible (it does happen sometimes, honestly) and decided against it.  Just when I thought she was coming down with something, she redeemed herself and bought some beautiful jewellery instead.

The shop itself looked like a boutique you would find in any big, 'fashionable' city. Right here in our little town, all sparkly and new. And what's more, our friend pointed out that pretty much everything in the store is Made in Italy. Those words are spoken around here like they are magic. They stand for absolute quality. Nothing fake, just pure Italian gorgeousness. I decided to support the Made in Italy brand. However, not by investing in a bright, beautiful bag (although I wanted one..SO much). Instead, I had to obey the limits of my budget, and therefore invested in some Pupa nail polish. My colours of the summer are going to be orange and yellow. Bright? Yes. Bold? Yes. Did I also mention they are Bright? Anyway, I had never bought Pupa before, but had heard good things about it, so I thought why not. And I can tell you now, it most definitely stands for quality. Why? Well, because I put it to the ultimate test. I put on two coats, and in my hurry to go and teach my lesson, forgot a clear top coat. Never mind, life goes on. I then spent two whole Cif filled hours cleaning my flat. Brushing and scrubbing and mopping. Only to notice, when I had finished, my nail polish was still in tact. 100%. Not a chip in sight. If that's not a sign of quality I don't know what is!

Have a look at the store's facebook page HERE :)

Poco tempo fa, io e la ragazze siamo diventate proprio 'femminili' e abbiamo deciso di andare ad una nuova profumeria dove lavora una nostra amica. Abbiamo preso un calice di champagne, mangiato le caramelle gratis e ammirato le borse bellissime che c'erano. La ragazza irlandese era eccitata (lei ha una grande dipendenza per le borse) e non poteva smettere di toccare le cose belle della pelletteria che erano state sistemate in modo meraviglioso in vetrina. Ha quasi comprato una, ma e' diventata ragionevole (succede ogni tanto!) e ha decisio di non prenderla. Ho pensato che era malata, ma invece, ha acquistato qualche bijioux bellissimo. 

Il negozio sembrava una boutique che si puo' trovare in ogni grande citta' alla moda. Qui, nella nostra piccola citta', ha aperto questo nuovo negozio scintillante. Inoltre, la nostra amica ha detto che quasi tutte le cose nel negozio sono 'Made in Italy'. Queste parole sono da queste parti in valore aggiunto e suonano come magiche. Significano qualita' assoluta. Niente fake, solo pura magnificenza italiana. Ho deciso che volevo supportare questo marchio 'Made in Italy'. Pero', non investendo in una borsa bella (ma volevo una...cosi' tanto..)perche' dovevo obbedire ai limiti del mio budget, e quindi ho comprato solo uno smalto della Pupa. I miei colori dell'estate saranno arancione e giallo. Luminoso? Si. Grassetto? Si. Ho accennato che sono luminosi?? Comunque, non avevo mai comprato prima qualcosa della Pupa, ma avevo sentito parlarne tanto, e quindi ho pensato: perche no? E posso dirvi ora, che significa la qualita'! Perche? Beh, perche' l'ho messo alla prova. Ho messo due strati di smalto, e, perche'dovevo sbrigarmi per insegnare, ho dimenticato uno strato superiore. Dopo, ho poi passato due ore di pulizia nel mio appartamento: spazzolare e lavare. Quando ho finito, ho notato che il mio smalto era ancora intatto al 100%. Se questo non e' un segno di qualita', non so cos'e'!

Bag lady...(part one)

Now, I wouldn't say that my bag obsession is quite as severe as the Irish one's, but I'm starting to appreciate the reason behind her bag lust. There are just so many that are just SO beautiful. Yes, you may be wearing some scruffy old jeans and a pair of battered old pumps, but as long as you have that gorgeous handbag, you can be forgiven for all the other fashion sins you may have committed. In these parts it is essential to have a fantastic handbag. Italian women tend to lean towards something designer (aka ridiculously expensive) when choosing their bag, and, even though I have seen some stunning bags in this price range, I prefer to find those hidden gems that don't cost the earth. I am a fan of Primark bags (see previous post 'Primani?' for the cute coral one), but seeing as Primark has yet to make an appearance in Italy, I shall continue my quest to find other not-so-expensive alternatives. Behold, my current favourite: 

From http://en.oviesse.com/

At only €20, you can't go wrong. And I have had several comments from Italians about how nice it is. Who needs designer?? (Actually, the Irish one does...I can guarantee that she's lusting after a certain sexy, red Guess bag at this exact moment...)

Where's the hand gel?!

As anyone who works with children will know, you are far more exposed to germs, due to the wiping of snot on your hands and the coughing directly into your mouth (yes, it happened, and yes, it was gross). We spend every Friday morning teaching pre-school children who most definitely don't have control over their noses and mouths. This however, as disgusting as it can be, is not their fault. They are young. Youngsters are snotty. But teenagers? Adults? Should they have as many colds and stomach bugs as kids? I thought not. But apparently I was wrong. 

During the winter, teaching can be a severe health hazard. We have all succumbed to something unpleasant. I hadn't had a fever for years, but then BAM! I was struck down with something horrid. Thermometer under arm, 4 blankets one minute and a pair of shorts the next. I just don't GET fevers! I blame the weather. Everyone else does. The winters here can be fairly mild. We had some 18 degree days at the start of December, and the bugs can have an absolute field day in these conditions. Of course, being an English teacher and not a scientist, I have no scientific evidence to support this, but that's 'what people say' around here. And everyone believes that. Italians don't seem to tolerate winters very well, and even though I claimed I was 'used to' slightly colder weather, I definitely wasn't used to everyone else not being used to it. And so they brought the colds and the bugs, sneezed in our faces, and wiped snot on our hands. And as for the kids.... 

So how does one protect oneself from such bio hazards that come with the teaching profession? One student kindly donated this get up:

But if you don't wish to use such extreme measures, maybe try the following:

• Hand gel. Lots of it. Industrial strength.
• Vitamin tablets and lots of fruit and veg.
• Do some exercise. At the end of the summer/autumn I was running 3 times a week and I felt much healthier in general. Then it got cold and I got too lazy.
• Claim you have an allergy to  young children and therefore can't work within 10 metres of them. 
• Remember, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. (But unfortunately makes you feel pretty rotten in the meantime..)

Good luck!!

Shorts, or no shorts? That is the question...

UK summers are often rather disappointing. Everyone hopes that the good weather will arrive, the shorts can be fished out from the back of the wardrobe and the suncream can be put into our handbags (only to be forgotten and/or ignored all together). But often, such weather fails to present itself. Nevertheless, Brits are determined to make the most of what's on offer, and at the mere sight of a bit of sunshine, they head to the beach for an ice cream and some sunburn. And I say good for them!

Yep, that's about right. (from www.se8signs.co.uk)

I on the other hand, am not at all content with the uncertainty of summer in the UK. Or the uncertainty of the weather in general. I love the sunshine. This is half the reason why I packed my bags and headed for southern Europe, knowing full well that there were to be far fewer drizzly days and lots more sun. And I was not at all disappointed by what I got. Sure, we had cold weather, we had rain, we often have a lot of wind (oo-er), but by the first week of March, we started getting some warm days. Some 'let's take off the jacket and maybe get an ice-cream' days. And now, at the beginning of May, it's a very pleasant 25 degrees. Aka, a British summer. If the whole of the British summer were like this, I don't think people would complain. Italians, however, cannot seem to get their heads around the fact that this is acceptable as a summer. I sat in my classroom the day before yesterday, with a slight shine to my face (yes, that's my way of saying I was sweating just a little). And what was I wearing? A shirt and light trousers. And that's it. Because I'm BRITISH. And 25 degrees is really rather warm.

We have noticed that here, in this region, people appear to have a specific timetable in terms of acceptable clothing. Let me explain. They dress for the season, not for the actual weather. If it's 22 degrees in March, they still have a jacket and scarf. Because it's March of course! And the fact that it's 22 degrees doesn't matter. When May arrives, almost as soon as the first day of the month comes around, heavy jackets are substituted for lighter ones, and you may even see some cropped trousers. If you're lucky. Do you know what I want to wear when it's 25 degrees? SHORTS. And a VEST. And some SANDALS. But I can guarantee, if you step outside in said attire, you will get looks. People will peek out from behind their summer jackets and marvel at the amount of leg or shoulder on show. How different it would be in the UK. It would be a sea of hot pants, boob tubes and sandals with socks. 

Does this kind of weather make you want to wear a jacket? No, me neither...

However, I think I may be beginning to comprehend the reason for this 'seasonal dressing' madness. If I pull out the shorts and flip flops in May, what on EARTH am I going to do come July? Walk around in the buff? I think not. The Italians are in fact on to something. They know full well that if they get the shorts out this early then July will be impossible. So they hold back. Let their bodies adjust to the heat. Yes, they may be sweating a bit in their jumper and boots but at least when the REAL summer comes along, they can get the actual summer clothes out. And these clothes will be suitable for the 40 degrees that July brings. I on the other hand, having already revealed my toes and upper arms to the world, will be melting. Literally. Into a big sweaty puddle on the floor. So, I have decided to make like an Italian, and keep the jeans until June. That way, although sweaty and hot, my legs will really feel the difference and appreciate it more when, come June, they are revealed, in all their glorious paleness. (Denim shorts are technically jeans, right..?)

Spotted...at the train station

In my opinion, seeing a banana skin on the floor is rather amusing. What if someone ACTUALLY slips on it and falls hilariously on their bottom? It really is quite funny (if slightly painful for the person doing the slipping).

But THIS?

Yes, it's an actual banana skin on the train track. Unfortunately (or, fortunately?) the Welsh one removed it before we could see the result of this one. I'm guessing there wouldn't be a 'ha ha he's fallen on his bottom' moment though. 

Not only did we see the (strategically placed?) banana skin, but we also saw this:

Now, correct me if I'm wrong but this guy actually looks like he's having a wail of a time...