from "On Being a Woman"

"Why is it, when I am in Rome,
I'd give an eye to be at home,
But when on native earth I be,
My soul is sick for Italy?"
Dorothy Parker (again)

My answer to that is I'd rather be in Florence... Actually, England is more my cup o' tea. I'm feeling a bit nostalgic today because it is the end of the last week of summer and I have to officially go back to work on Monday. I don't particularly like summer (it is freaking hot...106...going to burst into flame...), I'm more of an autumn girl, but summer does mean travel for me. This summer I spent almost a month abroad in Italy, Austria, and Germany. The Italy portion of the journey was a tour. I took 4 students who were 18 years + (I sometimes take select students abroad on tours), my lovely, vibrant Aunt Gagi, my talented cousin, Matt, and 2 other fantastic chaperones, Jeanne and hubby Rich. This was by far the easiest trip I've done as a group leader since all the students were older and they were mostly independent. Usually I have at least one student meltdown (homesick in Paris, and sleeping in my room even though the Eiffel Tower is glowing outside the window just for Rich and me...; puking up lunch on the hallowed steps of Notre Dame; illegally ordering beers in that one bold second of rebellion and then running away when Europe actually serves them; pissing in the bushes when there isn't even a paytoilet toilet to be found (wait, that was Rich in Germany. oh, and me at Hadrian's Wall...never mind)), but then again, I usually take junior high kids. No More! Anyway, Italy was brilliant, especially Florence. Words failed me there. I can't begin to describe to you all of the emotion and beauty... I'll leave it to the poets.
After the tour, Jeanne took the kids home and Gagi, Matt, Rich and I headed to the Isle of Capri where we spent some much need time resting and sun bathing. It was on to Salzburg, after that ,where the hills were still alive, and then over to Munich where we met our dear friends Jamie and Christine who were there for the World Cup festivities. Yes, we did partake... you only live once, right? So, it's back to the routine; Senior Lit, Literary Magazine, and International Baccalaureate English are the classes I'll teach this year. I'll keep you posted...