Portofino e Santa Margherita - Ancora

Here are a few more shots from Portfino and a couple from Santa Margherita, just south of Portofino.

Bus back to Santa Margherita

Santa Margherita

Portofino

We're playing catch up with writing about the small trips we've taken over the past seven weeks, but we also are wanting to write more about our ministry here and the students in our ESL classes. We're going to ask a few of them soon if we can interview them for this blog so you can get to know them a little (they're really awesome).

But without further ado... Portofino...

Parco Botanica Villa Rocca (Joanna)

Beautiful day..

Parco Botanico Villa Rocca

Here are several photos from our little visit to Parco Botanico Villa Rocca (Botanical Gardens) here in Chiavari. It only costs 1 euro to get in, so we walked around and had a picnic lunch. Set on a beautiful hill, with plants from North America (how exotic), a view of the sea, waterfalls, and steps. Joanna will follow up with some of her flower shots.

ESL: Bowling and Pizza

A few weeks ago, we went bowling in Sestri with a few of our ESL students. Here are several pics from Jo's camera:

L-R: Jacob, Hannah, Rachel, Aziz

Jeannette and Alessandro (and Hannah)

That's the way she bowls...

Abby, Jeannette, Lee, Elijah, Jacob, and Aziz

Joanna and Hannah

Jacob

And this past Tuesday, after our Base and Intermedio classes, some of the students stayed for pizza at O Sole Mio Ristorante (where our classes are held.)

L-R: Mario, Elijah, Rachel, Jacob, Hannah, Aziz, Christian

Ordering

Joanna and Mario

Waiting for pizza

Luce

The whole group

Rachel, Hannah, and Abby

L-R: Rachel, Hannah, Abby, Alessandro, Aziz

Jacob

We plan to go bowling again on Tuesday with a few English students. We've also begun to meet with some of the students for coffee, where we just talk about life, and help them with their English while they they help us with our Italian.
Tomorrow we're heading to Milan for the day, and on Sunday, we're having a couple families over for lunch. :)
I'll end with an Italian phrase that, although not the best for ending a blog post, we use all the time when saying bye: Ci vediamo! (Chee ved-YAH-mo) It basically means, "We'll see you (later)!"

Ci scusate, amici! (Sorry, friends!)

Ciao tutti!

We are pathetically behind on posting! Our next posts are about ESL, upcoming outreach opportunities, and local and extralocal spots such as Parco Botanico Villa Rocca (the botanical gardens here), Santa Margherita and Portofino, Canelli (in the Piedmont region) where Lee Walti preached on a Sunday, Pisa, Viareggio where we went for Carnevale, and Moneglia.
While you wait for the aforementioned posts, here is a video of the family pet for your viewing pleasure :)

Lily, Abby's Italian gerbil:

Living in Italy - the 411

• Three words: No sales tax.
• Italians will observe and point out your lack of socks or any other wardrobe taboo: dress accordingly.
  
• Pay for your coffee after you drink it.
• Don't try to buy anything between 1-3 pm - nothing's open.
• Chocolate chocolate chocolate
  
• #1 gesture to learn: the no no finger wag (using no wrist motion)
• Wear a parka until the Spring equinox
• Plan your showers.
• The hello-goodbye baci (kisses): left cheek, right cheek
  
• motorino motorino motorino
  

To: Dad

Thank you for helping us with all the details of this trip and for helping us keep track of our taxes and scholarships and everything else while we are away. And thank you for your love and prayers. You're the best.

We miss you!

Love,
Joanna

a few of mine.

(from Monaco)

love,

joanna