Thanks Giving

Yesterday was one of America's biggest holiday's, Thanksgiving. For me as a Swedish person it doesn't say much but it is always interesting with a new tradition in the house, and it feels very important to teach Olivia, too.

We both like to make sure Olivia learns our traditions. Lucky girl, she gets two countries worth of traditions!

Todd had bought a big Turkey....two stuffed Turkeys in the house, one in the oven and one wobbling around (yes I mean myself). Todd was in the kitchen the whole day, and Fabio (one of Todd's colleagues) came over to celebrate with us. At least he eats meat...vegetarian as I am, I went through the mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, and yes, I had "fake" turkey on my plate.

But it was a very nice evening, plenty of good food and great company, I love traditions.

When I picked Olivia up at her school the Italian lady said, "Ah today is American Christmas" Only slightly off-track!

That's Amore!

Hair Cut

I cannnot help it, I am a proud mother, and when you are proud of something or someone you want to share that with the whole world....even if the whole world is not particularly interested.

Olivia got her first haircut today and by a great Italian hair designer, Fabio, with two assistants. Not bad for being just two-years old, and of course with a mother taking pictures being in the way. I know that one day she will think I am very "goofy" , and she won't bring me with her so I better take the opportunity now.

Already a Groupie

Yesterday evening we went to the NATO Allied Spouses Club hosted International Bazaar, tasting their International Food Court. --Sweden was not hosting anything, well actually I didn't see any Scandinavian country, even if I know they exist here--

It was really fun tasting wine and food..I chose French Crepes with Nutella. Todd of course enjoyed both Hungarian Gulash and later some German Bratwurst. Olivia liked the Bratwurst, too, just not the mustard.

Went around looking at different kind of exhibits and booths, a lot of good wine came home with us. Stocking up 'till Max is born so I can enjoy my collection in celebration!

An amateur "rockband" played classic rock and Olivia enjoyed it so much. She danced and she even went and invited a man (oboy) up to rock and roll with her. Later she wanted to climb up on the stage!

We already got a little rocker!

Amore.

Trip to Pozzouli

My Italian friend took me and Olivia to her home in Pozzouli yesterday, and we sat on their terrace drinking coffee. Not to mention enjoying their view.

Pozzouli is a very old city, with the third largest Colosseum from the time of the ancient Romans.

Olivia had a great time playing with her best friend Chiara.

Celebration

With tears out of joy I can here by tell you...WE GOT INTERNET in the house! What a great feeling, even if the power gets off plenty of times during the day.

It is incredible how used to Internet we people have become, and that many people couldn't believe what I was telling them. You have that problem in Italy? Well you should see the garbage "mountains" that would scare you.

But I love the people here, they are wonderful.

So I will see you in the mornings, great to be back.

Amore!

Home Sweet Home

I was suppose to go to Bucharest but my doctore said No. Don't worry...Max is doing fine, It is me like an "old horse" but nothing serious so you dont have to send me flowers and get well cards :-)

Yesterday evening the Internet guys came, since my Italian friend had called them and been very angry and said some well choosen words. Couple of hours later they were in my office. BUT no internet yet, but a least we are on the right way....hmmm.
Next, is to get television into our living room....funny, I can live without TV but not Internet.

I have some interesting research about East block women strategi to hook up with a man. Next time I will tell you a little about that even if it doesnt go under "Animals and Children"

Amore!

Life as a Mother

My little flower has started daycare, half-time but it is killing my heart!

And this is just the beginning of letting her go, little by little for her development--and mine--

Every morning we get ready for "school" , having a joy together walking to "school"
I drop her off to the Italian teachers, then, I cry behind the garbage cans. Silly mom!

Half time is enough, I dont want to miss to much of her during the days. She is my flower.

P.S. Still no Internet!! This is crazy!

Frustrating and Wonderful

Ok it is frustrating not having Internet in the house--still--, and we are many who "suffer" together. Complains whom of us who needs the computer most. I do miss my mornings, writing to YOU on my blog, my time, my brain time....

We had a party for Olivia on her birthday and 30 people with different Nationalities came. It was wonderful. But I forgot that I was pregnant, and having a three floor house to clean and a Swedish smorgosboard to make...I was totally half dead for three days. But it was worth every new wrinkle in my face.

Went to and Italian veterinarian with one of our dogs yesterday. So interesting to see how they work with the animals here, homeopathic was also included. Our little fury kid had a bladder infection but today jumps and are happy herself again.

Going to Sweden one week in September to hold a lecture. In October, one week to Bucharest and hopefully Bosnian too. So much to do and so many wonderful people and animals to interview, I cannot wait.

Baby News

Just got out of the doctors office....yes it is a Maximillian and he is doing great.
It is so fantastic how close to him I already feel, and seeing him picking his nose is just so...what can you say? It's AMORE!
So I am walking around with a "silly" smile on my lips right now.

Blond and Pregnant

is not a good combination.....that is so true. Driving all the way down (30minutes) to the Food Court so I can post pictures and some news to you on my blog. Even got a baby sitter so I can sit by myself and think. So what happened?
I forgot the computer!!

We moved in to our new house and it is so wonderful to have your own place. Getting in to rutins.

So my days....unpacking and trying to learn Italian.

You will soon hear from me...if I so have to color my hair.

Moving into the New House

Wednesday was the first night in our new house in Southern Italy and it is huge and beautiful. The moving company guys were fantastic and did a quick job with a smile on their faces the whole day. When we chose the house the first time, six bedrooms and five bathrooms seemed a lot, but with all the cartons and furniture, we filled up the rooms very quickly. Now we wonder where to put the guests?

Picking up two of our dogs from the kennel was a true joy--the other two had stayed with us at the hotel the whole time.

It wasn't just us who had missed them, Ranger the big black Labrador had dug huge holes in the lady's yard trying to escape. Both ran out to the car fast as two canon balls.

Right now am I sitting at a food court using WiFi since we don't have any Internet connection in our house. And, I don't know when we will get it installed, so please be patient if I don't get to answer your e mails as quick as I would like to, our updating this blog.

Living in Italy

We are busy getting settled in to our new house. But we are frequently visitors at IKEA, it's our tourist place!

Still staying in "our" hotel until late in the week, when our belongings get delivered. Here, the electricity is going on and off in the evenings, the elevator stops, TV shuts off and you are working on the computer. It is very enjoyable when this happens every 15 minutes. Well, I got to know yesterday from an American lady that told me this happens a lot during the summer because "the Americans" are using so much air condition. Oops!

Speaking about air conditioning....I noticed that it is a big difference between loving and disliking that thing. Many wives are saying the same, "I hate that darn noisy sound and that it is ice cold when I get up to check on the children."

And the men, " I had such a great sleep. My head was cold and nice when I woke up."

I have to agree with the women, I like to have the doors and windows open and feel the nice breeze sweeping in, and in the morning hear the birds singing.

Our Internet is sometimes on and sometimes you cannot get any connection. Very frustrating for someone who is spoiled by always having a great connection. We heard that it can take up to one month before we get a phone line hooked up in to our new house...and only then can they even tell us if we can get internet (ADSL)! Ah, one must simply accept this is the way in Italia, there is no fighting it. And August is the big vacation time for the Itailans, most off the things will stand still.

It is a very different living here but I am sure we will love it.

Have a great summer!

Olivia's New Friend

Olivia has found a new great friend, Kiara. Her mother Paola is also a fun person to hang out with.

Senses

Seen; Seven turtles cramped in a dirty aquarium, size 60 cm x 30 cm, panicking every time someone came up towards them!
We went to a park yesterday walking around and looking at some small animals and nature. Suddenly we saw these poor turtles in slime-green water panicking, a gray parrot in a smaller cage. I took Olivia under my arm and walked out quickly, this is not how I am going to teach her how to respect animals. When she is older and I can explain, I will teach her what is wrong, now she is learning from life how we humans are treating "her" days.

Felt; Maximillian kicking! Wow already in fourth month I can feel him. Already "talking" like an Italian, with his hands and feet.

Told; "Littel wine is good for you even if you are pregnant. We Italians are born with wine in our veins!"

Heard; The Italians mosquito's! You can hear them coming and escape--the American mosquito's was always "operating" in silence.

Touched; All the love the Italians are giving Olivia. When we enter a place we always hear "Belissimo!" As a parent, with family spread out in the world, this touches my heart.

A New Place

This restaurant had a playground attached to the place. Not a very good idea with a two-year-old...the dinner went cold as we supervised her.

A playground is a lovely idea with older children who don't need 100% attention all the time.

Olivia discovered that she could go on the slide and it was so much fun. The first twenty times where fun for us too, to see our girl being "brave" but after 96 times it became; cold food and zzzzzzz.

Welcome to parenthood!

Amore Pizza

The other night we went to another restaurant. Olivia got so much attention--again-- and they even made a pizza in a shape of a heart for her.

As a mother I was of course so touched by their effort and time to make my daughter happy. That's Amore!

Dog Meat!

New languages are fun to learn, and to practice them outside with the locals is a fabulous challenge.
We the family went out last night to an Italian restaurant where no one speaks English. The “restaurant” people are so wonderful, they already feel like a family to us. They spoil Olivia, she is running around, watching the chef cook, and just being loved.
My husband previously had seen a customer eat a pizza with French fries on it—how unique yet so American!—he wanted that and I tried to explain for the waitress with the few Italian words I knew. “Pizza con fritta” (French fries) of course she went off with words that I didn’t understand. My husband whispered that he had seen meat on the pizza too. So I looked at the lady again and I say, “Cane!”
Her eyes become huge and suddenly we realized that I had said, “DOG!”

In Italian, “Cane” is dog and Carne is meat!

Thank God we all could laugh at it!

IKEA

We found IKEA and had to visit and buy a Swedish Moose for Olivia--I got all Marabou Chocolate I could carry with me out of the store.

As we left, outside the doors two small homeless dogs were standing waiting for some nice people to feed them. I still get amazed how well behaved they are, so modest and polite. I guess they were only one year old and their teets where filled with milk. My heart sank when I saw these lovely animals waiting for food, images flashed in front off my eyes; I was coming out from a theater show in London, England and homeless men were kneeling in front of us with their hands reaching out, begging (wishing) for money.

I had bought WASA bread (Swedish hard bread) and I put some peaces on the ground for the two dogs. They smelled it suspiciously, but it wasn't want they wanted, I have noticed dry food makes the dogs more thirsty and it is hard for them to find water here.

My husband said to me, "Why don't you go in and buy some meatballs?" (I wasn't sure if he was serious or being his normal sarcastic self).

I ran in to the food section to find a bag of Swedish meatballs but they were deep frozen. I grabbed a package of Swedish cheese and trotted out to the two dogs again. People where looking at me with a kind of curiosity and joy on their face..another tourist feeding the dogs with expensive cheese.

The two dogs waited until I had put the pieces on the ground and with a modest attitude they ate with a good appetite. My little Angels.

Pasta Love

It is not just me who loves the food! The pasta is heavenly, Olivia thinks.

Ciao Italia

Family, Friends and Fans,

We are now in Italy, and the trip went very well. The dogs were awesome and Tjojs, my queen, was a super trooper. When Tjojs and I moved over from Sweden to USA I promised her it would be her last move. You can imagine me asking her three years later, "Eh Tjojs, how about meeting some new Italian friends?"

But she made it, and she is an eleven-year-old fury lady.

Olivia, 23 months old, is already so loved by the friendly Italians in our hotel, in restaurants and stores. They lift her up and cover her face with kisses while saying, "belissemo" They are so "children friendly" and going out to eat at a resturant is easy; the chef or waitress or owner are carrying her around entertaining her.

After four days here, Olivia can already say, "Ciao", "Grazie" and "Pizza". I guess she will be the one in the family translating to us "oldies"

The garbage has been a problem here for a long time. No cans, so you throw it in the ditch. It looks terrible of course--not smelly though--and one positive thing about this is there is food for all the homeless dogs that are roaming around.

Traffic, there appears to be no law and what traffic lights there are, are either ignored or broken--first man out in the intersection is the brave one. If you bump another car you don't stop, no use the police will maybe show up a couple of hours later. But, they have a cool attitude, it is calm and even friendly. You can see which driver that is International, he is red in his face and his lips are constanly moving.....the Italian he doesn't put down too much of energy in getting upset.

The food is awesome and the service is great. I am in heaven regarding the coffee. Italy, with passion and taste, I love this country already. Amore!