Emiliano and Ernesto say hello to all of my American friends and family. After a long time of trying to understand what they were yelling at me I gave up and downloaded a translator app. They also told me to tell you all to learn Italian because English is moltto brutto. Ernesto and Emiliano are the sons of my host family. Emiliano is four and Ernesto is eight. Had it not been for the blue tights whiteies they were wearing when I met them I would have mistaken them for two girls. Their hair is longer and more luscious than mine has ever been and probably will ever be. They spend their time running around the agriturismo in the buff, yelling (often at me) in Italian, and playing with whatever inanimate object they can find. Yesterday Emiliano stabbed me with a branch tied to a fork wrapped in tin foil. Giuliana told me he made a sword and was requesting the American fight him in the name of Italia. Obviously I picked up my fork and fought to defend the honor of the homestead. Sadly I cannot report of victory because I was wounded in battle when Emiliano's sword broke and a leaf flew in my eye leaving me temporarily blinded.  I made a noble attempt though and was rewarded with the best pasta carbonara in the  world.

Today was my second day of working in the garden. I picked tomatoes yesterday and today I had the honor of pulling weeds. The mound of weeds I pulled was as tall as I am I kid you not. Next week is when I will hopefully be working in the vines but in the meantime I do whatever Paolo needs of me in the garden. We listen to salsa music and mostly keep to ourselves. Despite the language barrier I've gotten to know a bit about him. You can tell by looking at him that he was a badass back in his day. Tattoos cover his arms and double piercings adorn his ears. He's the type of guy you would picture circling the coliseum on his motorcycle rather than pulling weeds in the garden.  When he gave me a ride back to the agriturismo I noticed the car seat in the back of his mini van. His whole life changed when his bambino Nina was born. Mystery gone.

Slowly I'm learning more about each person that works and lives here. They are sincere and simple in the best kind of way. I am learning a lot from them and in turn a lot about myself. I have a lot of free time where I read or write in my journal generously provided by the spectacular Candace Moo. If tht itself is the only thing I get out of this trip then it's all well worth it.

Freddo e caldo
Janelle

The Good People of Canada

Seeing as how I have time and nothing to do for a solid two hours why not post on le blog? Ive been gone from the homestead for what, 5 or 6 hours already and I have pure unadulterated freedom coarsing through my veins. I'm pregnant with invincibility and am oozing determination from every pore on my body. Jokes jokes I just feel really composed and happy. Usually I would use a word other than "happy" but right now I can't think of one more apposite. Happiness is thoroughly underrated and when it happens shouldn't be dissected or explained, just experienced. I must admit I am quite smitten with Toronto. Although I have not stepped outside her aiport I like what I see so far. Any country whose airport has free wifi is definitely a country worth visiting. The people who work here seem fairly normal and look like floridians minus the tans and sex appeal.Maybe there's more to Canada than just being the overlooked growth clinging to the awesome America for a seat at the cool kids table at the UN. anyway,thanks Canada for hosting me for a bit but I'm ready to peace out to Rome the eternal city. “When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.”

The Before

    Let's get one thing straight right here right now. I am firmly against blogging, tweeting,texting and any other electronic medium that has slowly but surely been killing human rhetoric. The computer is where literature goes to die and that my friends is the gospel truth. Please indulge my hypocrisy long enough for me to explain. Right now, I could care less about the literary value of my words. This blog is solely to let the people I care about most know I am alive. On this blog I will briefly recount my adventures and exploits; the tantalizing stories, juicy details and vivid images, well, I'm saving that for my novel ;)

    Tomorrow I embark on my four month long quest. What it is I'm looking for I can't put in words because in reality I have no idea what I'm looking for. I'm going with an open mind and soul and letting the chips fall where they may.

    My first stop is Colle delle Querce. It's a restaurant/spa/vineyard/b&b I think. Honestly I'm not really sure what I'm getting into with my first host family but again- open mind. They have a vineyard and that's really all I need. If you want to know more about it here's the website http://www.colledellequerce.it

    So I guess that's it for my first post. 'twas oddly cathartic. Still loathe this concept of blogging though. Family, friends, and friends to be, enjoy my page and send me nothing but good vibes. I love you all and will keep you in my thoughts. 

“The best teacher is experience and not through someone's distorted point of view”