4th of July (American Independence Day)

Trip Start Mar 27, 2008

Trip End Ongoing

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Flag of Italy Rome, Italy
Thursday, July 31, 2008

So from the middle of June I started to be very busy. I was teaching for 2 schools and working a full schedule of classes. For this type of work, the best jobs are to teach on location to international companies or companies with international ties. this is what I am doing. Unfortunately, the jobs are spread out all over so there is a lot of travel time involved.
Toward the end of June, I was starting to get homesick. The weather spiked to a very hot, humid, insect and bat filled hell. I was not sleeping and working hard with no real close friends to sort of unwind with. It was a hard time and I began drinking as soon as the work day was over. There was a sort of spiraling depression as i had to let go of what I thought my experience would be and allow for it to be what it was.

Claudio and I were seeing each other regularly which I enjoyed but also felt a little stifled by

At Castlegandolfo

. it was his friends we saw and his city I was in and i felt like I wasn't able to make a life of my own but I wanted him as my friend and companion too. Frustrating to say the least. I think we sort of came to an understanding each other...I hope.

Also at the end of June was the Gay pride parade. This was a good boost for my sagging morale. Just to be in the crowd with that kind of energy was exciting plus, being from San Francisco, this was a reminder of my former life and it made me feel at home. I went with 2 of Claudio's friends and they were very nice to speak slowly and in english for me. i was slightly hurt that Claudio didn't come. I thought he would know it would be important to me, but, it wasn't really a big deal. I was to meet him after for something I can't remember now.

So then came the 4th of July...I decided to plan a picnic for the American's I knew in Rome. We made it for 9:00 pm as everyone was working. It was decided to each bring a food and we would meet in Borghese gardens and pretend we were watching fireworks...after a bottle of wine and some beer...we were. It was a lot of fun to plan and also to see the girls again. 4 of the classmates got an apartment together and were sort of a family, I'm the grandpa.

After that picnic, I really got depressed. It was just too hot, I was working too much and not seeing life as new or interesting anymore but just as ...life.

BUT, true to form, Claudio had some surprizes in store. There is a neighborhood called Trestevere...It is an ancient "fairytale like" neighborhood, full of pizza shops, ice cream and odd little nick nacks

Castlegandolfo view

. The architecture ancient, exciting and it is alive with the hustle and bustle of gawkers. the atmosphere is quaint and old. Charming, I could break a leg on the stone streets while looking up at the buildings. Anyway, claudio thought it would revive my enthusiasm if we went out for an evening and just had a beer, a dinner and passagiata (hanging out). It worked. I was delighted and found that evening exploration would get me through the summer.

A couple of other surprizes were, Castlegandolfo, and a very nice mexican potluck I threw for some of Claudio's friends.

Castlegandolfo is an ancient area in the mountains above Rome. This particular village is where the Pope spends some time in the hot summer. It is a romantic setting high on a steep hill with quaint shops and restaurants...and of course...gelato and coffee!