Sono una sega!

So where did I leave off?

I did find a fan, bought it Monday for only 20€. It works great but doesnt help to keep the misquitos off me at night. Today I bought a meshy material to put over me at night like a wedding vail. So Monday night I lost track of time when hanging out with some friends at La Vena di Vino and ended up sleeping downstairs on a table that night since the Seminary closes at midnight. Thankfully Lucio had no problem giving me the keys to the place.

The next morning, I had to be up and at the bus terminal by 8 to catch the bus to Florence and meet up with a friend of mine (Silvia, she works at La Vena di Vino). Her and I and her friend went shopping and I finally bought some jeans, a pair for work (20€) and a designer pair for only 50€ which is about $42. I also bought new sandles seeing as the ones I had bought here 2 years ago were on their last kilometer. I arrived back in Volterra with enough time to take a nap before Daniele's bachelor party. Well, again, I lost track of time and was locked out of the Seminary. This time, since I was alone after banging on the door of the Seminary, I slept on the floor of that private bathroom that I use. So needless to say, after 2 nights of not sleeping in a bed, Im looking forward to sleeping tonight in it. I actually need a good nights sleep since Im working from about 10:30 am to 4 or 5 am (yes, 19 hours). Ill be working with Annie (she used to live in Washington DC before moving and marrying here) setting up the tables and decorating for a wedding. Later, during the reception, Ill be working with Fausto (the one with the catering business who lets me use the bathroom at his place).

Not to make this blog much longer, but this week has been alot better thus far than the previous. My employer told me Ill be working for 800€ (under the table) per month. Its not great but he'll help me get the visa and thats worth alot to me. So I start Monday pending on the finishing of the kitchen (which I dont think will be done in time but Marco, my boss seams to think).

Also, Sunday, I meet with Lucio's cousin who teaches English. She's going to be my tutor to help me grasp the language. "So I got that goin for me" (Bill Murray in Caddy Shack I).

Finally, the best news yet. Just 2 hours ago, I found my new apartment. Its small with the tiniest kitchen but has a large bedroom with lots of storage. The apartment is in a quiet area and overlooks a garden of some sorts. It doesnt have a washing machine to I may have to learn how to do it by hand or see if I can use Danieles when he moves in to his house after his wedding (not far from my apartment). I didnt take any pics of the apartment but I will when I get the key next Monday (my first day of work at my job) luckily I have Tuesdays off so Ill get to move everything in that day. Hopefully Ill have internet at my place by the end of next week when I have all my utilities turned on. The apartment is 400€ with a 6 month lease. I told the real estate agent I'd pay all 6 months rent this weekend if she can get them to go lower on the monthly rate. Thus, if its 350€, Ill save 300€.

Anyways, I need to get going, go have dinner, then iron my dress clothes for tomorrow night. Anyone wishing to call, can call me between Friday and Sunday this weekend.

Ciao tutti

Giorno ??

So I know its been a while since my last confesion... I mean post, but its been a hell of a week. Tuesday through Thursday, I was waking up early to do masonary work. The guy, Danzini, said he'd pay me €80 a day for being his assistant. It was fun for the most part but he didnt pay me the €240 (80 x 3 days) but rather only €150. It took him a day or two to finally pay me, (Thursday night) and after I felt I got stiffed, I didnt offer my help on Friday. But I did learn the secret of the arch. Kind of cool how they build an arch with bricks.

This past week has been a rollercoaster with alot of downs. I still don't know where Ill be living come next week since my two friends are getting another room mate come Monday. This coming week I have a bachelor party to attend and Ill be working some too. I must say, not having one job doing the same thing day in and day out is quite fun. I haven't been bored in the least bit.

This blog must come to an end though because I need to go buy a fan since it's miserably hot here and I have to get ready to go to a party with a friend of mine. Don't forget to write.

Giorno XIIV

Over the past few days I've thought about a ton of things I could say on here but when I put my fingers to the keyboard, I can't think of anything. Here, to your left, you'll see pics of my new temporary apartment that I hope to be staying at for the rest of the month. The first couple of photos are from the window of this apartment. You'll see double arches and within them is a fountain [fonti] that I hear at night which puts me to sleep. All of the pics were taken from my cell phone so they aren't top-notch but I don't carry around a camera since I lost my title as a tourist long long ago.

The last 3 days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, I left Volterra each day. Friday night, I went with my friend to pick up here friend at the train station in the coastal town of Cecina. We arrived an hour early for whatever reason so we had a great dinner. Ate alot and for cheap too. We got back to Volterra after midnight and thus I had to stay at their apartment since the Seminary was closed. Saturday, I worked (I think I mentioned it before). Well the place was a farm house about 45 mins from here. Quite a drive. Great panoramic views. The American family we catered for loved the meal and wants another dinner this Friday so hopefully he'll bring me along for another 60 euros. Sunday, my friend from Milian (one of the girls I'm staying with now), her family was in Volterra to visit her. Her family invited me to go to lunch with them. Luckily they took me cause the girl, Josaphine, had no idea how to get to this tiny villa 20 mins from here. Luckily I had just been to this little villa 8 days prior dropping off catering supplies with my friend Fausto. It was the biggest lunch I ever ate (7 courses I think).

So that was my weekend. I need to get going since I need to get a couple things for dinner and need to be in bed early tonight since I'm laying bricks tomorrow at 8 in the morning. For 3 hours, he's giving me 50 euro, enough to buy new jeans since my only pair now has a huge knee-hole. Take it easy everyone!

Primo 10 giorni

So I've meaning to start a blog for everyone to catch up on me and so I don't necessarly have to send basically the same email to everyone. So here we go! [Ecco!]


Today is officially my tenth day here in Volterra. To catch ya up on the past 2 weeks, its been qute the rollercoaster ride. Leaving was a very bitter-sweet morsel. Yes I finally left the next, but it was a hell of flight before I landed here. I can finally say I am getting used to long flights. Things to remember is you will deboard the plane with a wrinkled shirt, it'll probably smell in certain corners, and all you want is to stretch out, perferably on a bed [un letto]. But I made it here in just over 12 hours of leaving Detroit Metro. Although it's not like me to admit this, this is the first time I took a transatlantic flight and was balling on the gangway; its never easy to leave the ones you love, but when its for an indefinate period of time, it makes it that much harder.


So right now, I have a curfew which I haven't had since over 10 years ago (if ever). My bed is in a seminary (a place normaly used to house nuns). They do have nice bathrooms but my friend, who owns a banquet hall and kitchen, is letting me use this private bathroom and storeage area. So everyother morning, I walk about 1 kilometer (third of a mile apx.) to shower [doccia] and change my clothes. As gross as it may sound, I shower everyother day and change clothes then too to extend how long I have to go untill I find a place to wash my clothes. When here in Febuary, it costed me €45 (about $55) to get 3 weeks of clothes washed. Thus, I hope by the time I'm down to my last pair of boxers, I'll be in an apartment with a washing machine or a big sink.



Speaking of apartment, I thought I was going to take my friend's apartment. This was about 5 days ago and since then, I meet with my friend at the bank and there's problems. The owner of the apartment wants me to sign a one year contract and have direct deposit to pay his sore ass. Well the bank won't back me since I don't have a job to back the one year contract. I could however, give them one year's worth of rent money but I think my money could be useful elsewhere right now. So the search continues.



Next week, I meet with, perhaps, my new employer. It'll be at a cafe. He's building a new kitchen right now and the kitchen won't be ready till July 3rd. He doesn't know I lack the work visa right now so hopfully everything will work out. If this doesn't work out, not sure what I'll do because I have worked a few times since I've been here, but all those times have been for food and not money [soldi].



Anyways, hope everyone is doing good back in the states. Tomorrow is the Italy - USA [Italia - Stati Uniti] Fifa soccer game and the town is pumped. I can't wait to see it! Also, I'll try to upload some of the pics from my phone soon.



Bye everyone! [Ciao tutti!]



Vincenzo