You know, in America...

I will admit, I very much dislike the idea of doing comparisons and contrasts between countries, especially in such a way to say that "America is great!!!11", or anything really to that effect (for those who do not understand, please go watch:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16K6m3Ua2nw ).  So, it has been with tongue in cheek that I made a comment last night of "You know, in America we eat zucchini in cookies."

To explain, let me reiterate that there are three children in this family:  one girl age 10, and two boys, ages 5 and 3.  Dinner is the only meal that the family eats altogether, and this is often later in the evening.  The mother of the family is the one who cooks, because the father doesn't get home 'til around 7.  The mother is doing her best to cook meals that are both full of flavor and healthy, but at the very sight of vegetables, the children start throwing tantrums that they don't want to eat vegetables; they just want pasta.  Now, if I were the parent I would just sent the children to bed without supper, because I'm mean like that, and I honestly believe in the saying "You get what you get and you don't have a fit".  This happened last night.  Mom had made a soup with rice and vegetables, and the middle child saw a piece of zucchini floating in his dish when everyone sat down to eat.  Cue temper tantrum of not wanting zucchini and rice, he just wanted to eat pasta.  After about five minutes of this, I got his attention and told him my comment.  Both the parents looked at me and said "Really?", to which I explained that yes, I did actually eat zucchini in cookies.  My father had a recipe for "green worm cookies" that he made when I was a child, and because of that I have always liked zucchini.  They expressed interest in seeing this recipe, so after dinner last night I emailed my parents to ask for that recipe and possibly a couple more that I could also incorporate carrots into, since the eldest doesn't seem to like carrots.  My parents came through and sent me the recipes, which I got this morning.  Now I get to have the fun game of converting imperial units into metric units, then I will make the cookies for the childrens' snack next week (who said chemistry taught me nothing?  My plan is to use that cross canceling thing of doom we learned in 121.  Yay practical applications?).

I started Italian lessons yesterday (Tuesday) at the YWCA, of all places.  It seems like it will work out nicely for me, though.  When I was looking at classes online in Torino, the prices ran in the few hundred euros per class (which I do not have the money to pay.  Now, granted, I'm slightly confused.  When I told the mother that this class was only 15 euros instead of the few hundred, she said that it wouldn't matter because the classes they had wanted to send me to were free anyway because Italian schools are free.  I think that's true for Italian students, but for people of other countries I'm not so sure...).  I am still going to use the wonderful tool that is Google to augment my studies, because I would like to be able to communicate effectively with the people here instead of feeling like a fool.

I also managed to luck out.  During my first week here I met another au pair, and on Tuesday we went to this Italian class together, where we met up with 4 other girls who also work as au pairs (I'm more or less the odd one out.  They went through a specific agency, so they were given contact information of other au pairs...), and after our class we all went out for lunch.  They all seem really nice, and it's nice to know that there is a group of us who can get together and share experiences (though the other 4 live in Torino proper, not Rivalta). ^^

So, 20 euros a week.  It's a tight budget, but I think  I can make it work.  I found that 5 tickets for the transit cost 6.50 euros, so I have enough to last me for tomorrow and next week..  I probably won't explore Torino too much right now, but once I find out how much memory cards are and get one, I might make a couple trips into the city to do some exploring.  I want to be able to take the photos with me when I get back... ^^;;

Now, entertaining story time.  The guy I met in Gare de Lyon (the one who witnessed the crime) and I met for coffee on Saturday.  During this time, he explained that he was "falling for me" and wanted to start dating me.  I'm going to lay this out right now:  I decided back in August that I want to spend the next year or so single so I can figure out what it is I want before I add another person's wants, needs, and neuroses into the mix (my own problems are more than enough for me right now, thanks).  After he told me this, I tried my best to explain that I was not looking for a relationship at this time, and while I was flattered by his feelings, I did not believe that I would be able to return them, and I did not want to lead him on.  I might as well have been talking to a brick wall.  He said I should not be so hasty in my decision making process, and that I should take some time to think of my feelings for him.  He would give me two days to make my decision.  I told him that two days would not be enough time, I would need somewhere closer to two weeks to think things over, which seemed outrageous to him.  We parted ways a little while after that, and then he started sending me text messages saying verbosely that he cared.  I tried to explain--again--that while I was flattered, I did not think it would happen, to which I got the response of "Baby, don't be so hasty".  (Please excuse me while I go into a rant.  I will italicize for those who do not want to read it). Pet names in an established relationship are one thing.  Me calling someone "sugar" or "hun" is another.  I'm not trying to lay claim to them, and I hope that I have not offended anyone by calling them a nickname at one time or another.  But calling me "sweetie" and "baby" after me explaining that I don't want a relationship and I don't want to lead another person on makes me want to record a mosquito's buzz and put it on a playback device ON REPEAT, then hide strategic speakers throughout the person's room that has the noise jumping from one speaker to another at random intervals, but only whenever this person goes to bed.  I am not a piece of meat, and attempting to "woo" me with pet names will not win any brownie points.  In fact, you'll lose so many brownie points that you may never get back up into the positive realm again.  I have a nickname you can use if you don't want to use my full name, and something like "hun" from a friend doesn't bother me.  But unless I'm in an exclusive romantic relationship with you, don't call me pet names.... >.< .  I ended up ignoring his calls for the next couple of days because I did not want to say something incredibly mean.  After the 4th missed call he sent a text asking why I was ignoring him.  I made the honest reply that he was calling at inconvenient times for me, and that I will not drop everything to answer the phone.  I haven't heard from him since. I'm kind of hoping it stays that way.

Today is the first time I get to pick the children up by myself.  I promised the eldest we would go to the "big park" today if she ate half of her soup, and since she ate all of it, we're going to the big park.  I went and looked around the park this morning and saw that there was a metal bar about 6 feet off the ground.  It can hold my weight, so I have added another fitness goal:  by the time I leave Italy, I want to be able to do 3 pull-ups on that thing.

The mail system in Italy is rather entertaining.  I was told that if I accepted a package while the parents were at work, I would have to tell the post-person "Io vivo qui" (I live here), otherwise they would not leave a package with me.  So far today I have only had to use that once out of the two times there has been a package delivery.  The second time the postman just had me sign and thanked me.... I was wearing my 2009 choir tour shirt that has "OSU Womens Choir" quite prominently on the front, and I am far paler than most Italians... Oh well, I got the package... Great, now I want to play TF2...

Anyway, I'm going to end this here.  I miss you all back in the States, even though I'm having a great time out here.  Can we have a dance party when I get home, though?  Please?