Che cazzo dice?

So this is going to throw things off, its Friday, not Saturday and I'm writing a blog. I'm sure I'll be busy tomorrow since I work in the morning and then, in the evening, I'll work till 3am since tomorrow is the first of two "Biance Nolte" or "White Nights". This is a night when alot of businesses stay open late or all night and there will be entertainment in various places along with art and theater exhibits. Thank God I don't work on Sunday.

This week I've just been working and putting together a menu for a New Orleans night at my work. My boss is trying to book a band that plays New Orleans jazz and blues (however he is only offering the band food and drinks and no money so they haven't accepted the puny offer).

Otherwise things have been going well. However, it's been extremely hot here and working in a restaurant doesn't help the matter. Hopefully the new kitchen will be finished soon at work seeing as how its downstairs and its so much cooler there. That and I will have the kitchen mostly to myself and not have to put up with the stupidity of an 18 year old girl wanting to do everything in the kitchen now when she really should be washing dishes and preparing drinks and coffee.

After I leave here, I need to go around town and try to find things for that basket I want to put together for Daniele and his new wife for when they return from Egypt next week. Also, my friend ordered 4 books for me from Amazon (United Kingdom) with practice exercises in Italian. Hopefully they'll help me along because it seems I'm at a stand-still right now and not learning as much as I need to. I hope to meet with my tutor soon but she just got back from Scottland and I've been so busy with not much free time.

Anyways, hope everyone is well in the States! Take care and watch for a new blog early next week!

Ciao tutti!

Che cazzo fai?

So this is starting to become a regular Saturday tradition, during my 4 hour break from work, I write my blog. Sorry I don't write more often, however, this week I've been busy around my house between working.

Sunday, I was able to get Fausto to take me to Ikea in Florence where I spent 430 Euro! I bought alot including bed sheets, hangers, a juicer, a medicine cabinet, towel rack, a coffee table and the most expensive item being a rug (99 Euro). So this week, I've been using my bosses drill to hang photos and putting together the stuff I bought at Ikea. Then yesterday, I spent my 4 hours cleaning. And the after work, when I came home, I was reminded of my mom: "it's nice to come home to a spotless house". Its finally starting to feel a little homey since adding my personal touch to the place. Not to mention, I finally got hot water and was able to take a shower here at my place. Its amazing how something like that you take for granted. Being that its hotter than hell here, I know take a shower at least once a day and barely even need the hot water that I've been wanting so bad.

So with that said, let me think of other things to talk about. I'm starting to find out that Saturdays are my day to shine at work seeing as I'm the only one that can speak English and there seems to be alot of tourists from all over the world here on Saturdays. And with my experience in butt kissing, I actually get me and my fellow workers tips, which mind you, is unusual here in Italia. I also think Marco, my boss, is noticing my work ethics and how I treat his place as if it were my own (thank you family for teaching me that). I hate to ask him for 3 days off in August so I can go to Rome with Kristi, but it shouldn't be a problem since I'm doing extra stuff for him, like helping design a new menu, putting together a menu of New Orlean's food for a New Orleans Jazz night and helping to install the new marble countertops on Monday during my usually 4 hour break.

Other news... Daniele and his new bride, Francesca, left for their honeymoon in Egypt yesterday and will be back August 5th. Thus, I have till then to whip up a gift basket, which I want sitting on the doorstep of their new house when they arrive back. Any suggestions? Mind you I dont have a car so my options here are a bit limited unless I can get someone to take me to Pontederra, where there are many shops and a big store that reminds me of Sears.

Other than that, not much else is new here. I need to talk to my friend Fausto about getting internet at my house, however, he is quite busy preparing for a week long party outside his banquet facility. So maybe another week or so before I'll have what I need more than hot water now.

Anyways, I need to get going, thinking about taking a ice shower before I go back to work later. Hope all is well. I look forward to the comments you post!

Ciao tutti!
Vincenzo

Diah!!

Again its been another week since my last blog. I've even busier than before seeing as I now work morning and night: I go in at 11am and leave around 4pm, then return at 7:30 and leave around 9:30. Luckily I get to eat for free as well.

So just now, I saw all my friends in the piazza departing to the church for Daniele's wedding. I snapped a few pictures and the photographer snapped a few of me talking with Daniele. Hopefully Ill be able to get a copy.

Tomorrow, seeing as I don't work, I'm going to the beach with some friends unless I can talk my other friend into taking me to Ikea in Florence. And hopefully this Tuesday, Ill have the gas turned on at my apartment. But seeing as I eat both lunch and dinner at work, I really only need the gas for hot water so I can take a shower at my place. So now, I continue to take showers at my friends banquet center across town.

The next thing I need is internet and I've been looking around for prices. Looks like after I get a phone line, itll be 24€ a month.

Hope all is well back in the States. Kristi was telling me that there's been a shake up with the Red Wings. As much as I hate to see Yeserman go, I think the team was due for a change.

Well, I need to go take a shower before I go back to work. Not to mention there are too many people talking around me here at the Web and Wine.

Ciao tutti!

Un mese dopo

So its been one hell of a week since my last blog. And let me tell you I've been busy. I started my job Monday. For those of you who don't know, I work in a cafe near the center of Volterra. I will be working in the kitchen as soon as their new kitchen is done but for now I just do it all. The place gets pretty busy for lunch because most of the state cops [Il Carabineri] go there for lunch. I didn't know any of the Carabineri before Monday so I was kind of scared to show my face knowing that I'm working in a not so legal manner. But they are all cool with me and there seems to be no problem. So now I know all the local police (Daniele and friends) and the state police stationed here.

Marco, my boss, had alot of the police in his restaurant Wednesday night to celebrate his new brick pizza oven. So Wednesday night, I was eating pizza and drinking beer with my boss, the chief of the Carabineri and the most well known architect in town (Dero). So I am definantly getting to know the right people.

Unfortunately, I've been so busy, I haven't had much of a chance to put away things in my apartment. I really need to go out and buy some things (towels, a drill, rugs, etc...) but my only day off during the week right now is Sunday. So tomorrow, if I feel up to it, I might head to Florence to buy some of these things.

Anyways, hope all is well back in the States. Ciao tutti!

Ho trovato un appartamento

So Wednesday I said I found an apartment. Well, 400€ was a bit much for me and I knew my friend wanted that apartment too. Yesterday I ran into my good friend Daniele and he told me my employer had an apartment for let. I looked at it and its a bit bigger than the other apartment although some things are in a bit worse condition (stair rail is a rope (not all that uncommon here) the bathroom is small and the shower isn't closed off from the rest of the bathroom, etc...). However, unlike the other apartment, the kitchen is much bigger with all new appliances and a washing machine, it has a living room and is 2 stories. Also, unlike the other, I have my own private entrance off the street. So anyone wanting to send me anything can send it to:
Vincenzo Concessi
Via San Filippo, 27
56048 Volterra (PI)
Italia

All and all it has been a great week. Thursday I worked 19 hours and got back into Volterra at 5:30 in the morning. I didn't want to wait another 2.5 hours for the Seminary to hope since I was exhausted so, like Tuesday, I slept on the floor of my bathroom near Fausto's banquet hall. I knew I had to sleep since I would be working a few hours starting at noon at La Vena di Vino [www.lavenadivino.com]. They were expecting 40 people from the US and thus asked me to help set up and get them to buy bottles of wine. (By the way, if you go to the website, in the photo, thats Bruno on the left and Lucio on the Right)

So anyways, its been a long week and tonight I told a few friends to meet me at La Vena di Vino. I'm buying a bottle of Asti to celebrate the week. And if I may, I was thinking of my first time I went to La Vena di vino (we call it La Vena for short). It was the first Saturday after arriving here in Volterra two years ago (June 5th). The night before, June 4th, I was drinking at the Web and Wine more-or-less alone since I didn't much care for the other students that were from Detroit with me. Well later that night (June 4th) Daniele and his police partner Roberto came in and bought me a grappa (a liquior made from the grapes used to make wine). I thought it was a shot and threw it back quickly. They told me I was crazy and that you're supposed to sip it and taste it. So they bought me another. Well needless to say I got pretty drunk and ended up dropping a glass on the glass floor of the Web and Wine that night. Early the next morning, as I went to go pick up my laundry, Daniele and Roberto, still in uniform, were drinking caffe (espresso) outside a bar near where I was heading. The kinda chuckled and said "Forte Vincenzo" [strong Vincenzo]. I didn't recognize them seeing as I didn't remember much from the night before. So later that evening, Saturday June 5th, Daniele walked in the Web and Wine and suggested I go with him and Roberto to this little bar. And then I arrived at La Vena di Vino with them, it was overwhelming; everyone introduced them self and I sat damned-near the corner and drank a glass of Chianti and tried picorino (the local chese). I think this night became important for me because I was finally able to desert the American students I was with and got to meet many locals. If it wasn't for that night, I probably would of went home for my sister's wedding 2 weeks later and not come back to Volterra. Thankfully, I have since been accepted as a Volterran. I think this is why I treasure La Vena so much.

Anyways... that's my story. Oh, and by the way, yesterday I had my first lesson with my Italian tutor. It went well and I think this will work well since its one-on-one. We meet again on Tuesday.

Everyone have a fun fourth of July! I don't work on the 4th but do get to watch the Fifa semi-final match between Italy and Germany. If Italy wins, this place will be crazy! I must go and buy sheets for my bed now.

Ciao tutti!