Just Jumping Right In

So there’s no rest for the wicked as day 2 in Genova (it’s know as Genoa internationally but Genova locally/country wise, or so I believe that's how it goes) as we were up and at the school by 9am.  Luckily, I live very close to Ellie and Alex – a couple teaching at the school from Denver.  They are also blogging their adventures and can be read/followed at: http://2teachersabroad.weebly.com/ They are two of THE NICEST people I’ve ever met.  I’m very very lucky to be living so close to them and to have made friends with them.  Quite a few times today they stopped by my place to pick me up.  I’m really liking this system ;)

So we did a tour of the school to start our day and I got to see my classroom. Yay!!  The excitement is just starting to build more and more. 

Next, a couple of last year’s teachers took us on the bus downtown.  This was an amazing experience!  We learned how to buy bus tickets – biglietti and which route to take.  Next, they showed us how to buy train tickets (which we’ll be doing tomorrow).  Then we took an excursion downtown.  We went down a street that had many lovely shops which I know I’ll be utilizing in the near future – Foot Locker, H & M, etc.  as well as other shops where we can buy cheap home and stationary items.  This walk led us to the Pizza de Ferrari - A beautiful fountain downtown that is amidst many historical buildings.  It’s amazing to see all the architecture here and realize that much of it’s been here for longer than Canada has been a country (Christopher Columbus was from Genova by the way – that should tell you something about it’s long line of history). 

Next we headed to a water front area for lunch.  

Can you see Mickey? ;)

Unfortunately, the restaurant was packed and there were too many of us for a table (14 of us were on this excursion as there’s 12 new teachers this year).  So we got to experience authentic Italian food ordering at a place in an alley.  Not just any alley – this one had many shops but definitely wasn’t the sort of shopping area you’d see in North America.  This is also where we learned that lines don’t matter.  Just push to the front and order.  Now, not all people pushed ahead of us but it definitely wasn’t single file line ordering.  I have to say, the outdoor food vendor we were at made me a little skeptical but I had the BEST cured prosciutto ham Panini ever in my life.  The meat was SO good!  I was quite shocked but will definitely be returning there. 

After our delicious meal (eaten standing up as we waited for everyone to order – it’s definitely not fast food here) we got back to the Piazza de Ferrari and then this is where the most important part took place: SIM CARD BUYING!!  It’s amazing how attached to our phones we get and then when separated from friends and family, how reliant we were on that means of daily/minutely communication with them.  I am now a proud customer of WIND (although it’s still not working for text and data – hoping that finally kicks in tomorrow or I’m going to have some problems).  Really hoping that this now opens up my world as an Italian cell phone customer. Lol

Then we headed back to do some more shopping at a couple of places – one for electronics (namely fans as the humidity here is pretty high so many of us have been melting) and the other for bedding and bath materials (I finally got some pillows and towels – quite the highlight I tell you).

Back to the school via bus we went to a school barbeque.  One thing I’ve been deeply appreciative of is the school’s effort to welcome us and help us adjust to Genoa.  It’s been great!  The staff is super helpful and friendly and is making this transition from home much easier.   So you know what a staff school barbeque consists of: hotdogs, hamburgers and …… beer and wine!  One of the best barbeques I’ve been too in a long time. Lol

Next, I got to experience my first grocery store buying experience.  I’m so lucky that the grocery store is just a 5 min walk from the school (10 min from my home).  I’m not in a central area of Genova but I’m definitely in a good location for all the things I need.  Apparently even our school bank (the one I’ll get an account to) is just on top of the grocery store.  So yes, it does not have things I’m used to (dish detergent brands, hand soap is in a bag for refills, produce is pre-packaged – like bananas) but it also wasn’t too hard to navigate.  Kinda gave me a boost of confidence.  Now mind you, I didn’t do this venture alone for the first time.  Alex and Ellie went too, and they’d been there the day before, so it made it way easier on me.  Then, I got to do self-checkout. The BEST part – they have the self-checkouts with an option in English! BONUS!!  The rest was a breeze! 

My pre-packaged bananas.  I couldn't figure out

the glove and code system so just went with these.

My first Italian grocery receipt

Some of my groceries for my first Italian home cooked meal.

EVERYTHING was bought at the grocery store ;)

So I returned to my home, started setting things up only to find…… a gecko on the wall of my kitchen!! I nearly died!!  I’d left some windows open but they have bars (I’m on the ground floor and that seems to be a norm) and a screen but somehow the little bugger had gotten in.  Grrrr!!  Scared the shit out of me when I saw him dart out from behind the fridge, then go back.  So, freaked, I figure I have to do something about this.  So I grabbed a cloth, prepared to catch him.  I moved the fridge but…..he’s gone! I can’t find him anywhere right now!  I’m super hoping he ran back out the way he came upon seeing I was home but I don’t know.  Uuuuuuuuugggghhhhh!  A lizard in my home?  Not that’s not something I’d usually say.  Welcome to Italy!!  Thankfully a cup of tea with my neighbours and a glass of wine while blogging has put me in a mood of acceptance.  Now as I wait for my laundry – of which no clue what I did to wash it as it’s been on for an hour and not close to done but can’t read the Italian settings so gambled with it, I just think: What will tomorrow bring!