An apology to my followers...

I suck at blogging. That's the bottom line. My life is too crazy busy with work, church, friends and family stuff going on that I don't make time to blog. I'm sorry my friends. I have failed you. I want to change, really I do but...

the true north strong and free...

Olympic fever is in full swing here in Canada! I am so proud to be Canadian and it is hard to believe that four years ago to the day I was sitting in my room in Italy feeling that same pride!

Being at the Olympics in 2006 was one of the highlights of my year in Italy and probably of my life thus far. There is something so amazing about getting all geared up and cheering on your fellow countrymen/women as they play/skate/ski etc. their hearts out to show the world what Canada is made of. I cried, I'll admit it, but I challenge anyone to stand in that arena/stadium or on that hill and not be overwhelmed with emotion when our flag is raised and our national anthem is sung.

I didn't really appreciate the amazing blessing that it is to be a Canadian and living in this great country until I lived somewhere else for a while. Don't get me wrong, Italy is great but it is just not Canada.

So cheer on my friends! Wear your maple leaf, red and white proudly and appreciate all that it means to live in "...the true north strong and free..."
JS

February 19, 2006 3:45:33 PM
Week 19-Adventures of Olympic proportion!
Good afternoon friends and greetings from the home of the 2006
Olympic Winter Games. I have to say that I am glad that I came to
Italy to help my family and to experience life in a different way
but all of those things aside my two days at the Olympics was worth
the trip!

But let me start at the beginning…Monday we spent the day in Venice.
Adele, the best tour guide you could ask for, drove us to Venice to
show us the city her way. We started off on a water taxi that took
us into the piazza where their Duomo is. After Adele and GC
fed/were attacked by pigeons we ventured into the Duomo to soak up
all of the beauty. All of the artwork in the Venice Duomo is done
in mosaic form, it was absolutely beautiful. There was another
amazing piece of art in the Duomo that was made entirely of gold and
precious stones. The Duomo also boasts a balcony that overlooks the
piazza and out into the ocean. We also ate a delicious fishy lunch,
rode a gondola, and wandered the streets of my now favourite city in
Italy other than Modena of course!

…Tuesday and Wednesday it was Torino for the Olympics. The spirit
of the city was great. We did so much I don’t know where to start.
We saw all of the mountain venues, skiers practicing ski jump,
downhill skiing, and of course the Canada vs. Italy hockey game
where we won 7-2. The game was amazing, not bad for my first “real”
hockey game. Italy totally put up a great fight but they just
couldn’t bring it home!

Here’s a story to tell the grandkids. On Tuesday morning Sol and I
were guarding our bags while GC and Pete were trying to buy tickets.
I was looking around when I said to Sol “Hey isn’t that Wayne
Gretzgy’s Dad?” “Yeah I think so”, he said. And then I said “Hey
isn’t that Wayne Gretzgy?” “Yes it is”, he said. We were standing
50 feet away from “The Great One”. I took some paparazzi type
photos from a distance as he and his family went into a restaurant
for lunch. But wait there is more about half an hour later Wayne
came out of the restaurant with his two little children and went
next door to buy gelato. This time I was all by myself guarding the
bags but I decided that I must seize the day. So I walked right up
to Wayne and introduced myself. I am sure that I was a total nerd
but I was so nervous. He was super nice but not as dynamic as I
thought he would be. Fun times eh!

GC and I parted ways with Sol and Pete on Wednesday night in Torino.
It was a super fun week hanging out with them that it was kinda
hard for me to say goodbye. But I am sure that our paths will cross
again sometime. I am so glad that they came to visit mostly because
they were fun to be with but also because it gave us a great excuse
to travel like crazy for one week.

Life around here is back to normal now. Nonna is doing great. She
really missed us while we were gone which is good because I think it
helped her realize how much she likes having us around.
Dad is away on at a tradeshow in Germany until the end of next week.
Well that is all for me this week. If you want more details about
my travels or some photos let me know, I would be happy to
elaborate!
Hugs,
Julia

A new year...

I guess that a lot hasn't change in three years, I spent new years eve 2006 in Italy pretty much the same way that I did new years eve 2010 in Toronto, with great friends, good food and board games...good times!

Reading this week's email made me laugh and cry...

I remember not looking forward to Christmas in Italy, I was worried about not being at "home" in Canada. I was without MY friends, MY church to go to on Christmas eve and the rest of MY family. I guess now I realize how special that Christmas really was. It was up to me to make Christmas great, I had the power to make it what I wanted it to be. I bought the tree (not an easy task in a country that doesn't sell evergreen trees on every corner), I picked out the ornaments, I bought and wrapped all of the gifts and I made the turkey dinner (again not easy in a country that doesn't "do" turkey dinners, let's just say there was no cranberry sauce). It was an amazing growing experience, no longer was it someone else's idea of Christmas, it was mine.

It would also end up being the last Christmas that I would spend with the Nonna. I laughed when I read the email and remembered how excited she was when Dad opened the scrapbook I made for him, she was like a 5 year old helping him rip open the wrapping paper. She truly was more excited about his gift than she was about her's. It is sad for me to realize that this year was the first Christmas without her around, there were no Christmas day phone calls wishing her a merry Christmas, even if you weren't sure that she knew which kid you were or if she could hear what you were saying! She was the beautiful, strong, stubborn matriarch of our family and I miss her every day.

JS

Week 13-Ringing in the New Year
January 3, 2006
Happy New Year all, I hope that this email finds you all enjoying day number 3 of 2006! Here's to a great year of prosperity, joy, love and fun times.
We had a quiet Christmas here at home. Dad and I did a whirl wind tour to visit relatives and give them gifts on Christmas Eve. Nonna didn't join us because she didn't feel like she could go out. We opened gifts Christmas morning before I went to church and then we had a typical Italian Christmas meal of tortellini in broth. I gave Dad a scrapbook of all of his old photos. He totally loved it. He has shown it to every visitor we've had since he got it. We were going to have lunch with family on Christmas day but didn't end up going. All in all it was good but took some getting used to as it was a very different one than any I have ever had. It is all part of the experience.
We had my friends from church here for lunch on Boxing Day. I made a complete turkey dinner. The turkey didn't look pretty but it sure tasted good. I have to say it went really well especially for my first turkey dinner. The family I invited really enjoyed our time together and getting to know Nonna and Dad. Dad was my assistant all day, it was so fun. He did all of the jobs that I usually do when we have company like setting the table.
The week in between Christmas and New Years yielded little excitement. I spent one day in Carpi hanging out with friends. We played the board game that I got some of you hooked on before I left called "The Settlers of Catan". I got the Italian version for Christmas. Other than that the week was pretty normal.
I spent the weekend in the mountains to ring in the New Year. It was so beautiful, like nothing I have ever seen. The company was also great. It was fun to get to know new people. The weather in the mountains is very similar to T.O. It was cold but dry so if totally felt like home!
We spent some time at the ski hill and chalet. I didn't ski because I don't really like to but I did enjoy sitting in the sun and people watching, one of my favourite past times. New Years Eve was excellent. We had a five course meal before we rang in the New Year with champagne and dancing. I even stayed up until 2:30am, can you believe it?
We also played my new board game in the mountains. Now everyone that played it there is also hooked!
Nonna is doing much better these days. Yesterday when I returned from the mountains she was walking around without her walker. She is a little unsteady on her feet still so I encouraged her to use a can so she won't fall. That is all we need.
She went to the hospital today for a check up and everything went well. Her foot is healing well it looks like we are on the road to recovery.
Well that is all from me for now. I must go prepare for my English lesson today. Lots of love, Julia

Getting Started...

From October 2005 to October 2006 I lived in Italy. Every week I would send an email to my friends back in Canada telling them about what was happening in Modena with my life. I thought it would be interesting to write a blog for the next year and include those emails to see where I was at then compared to now. Here's hoping that you think it is interesting too!

We are going to have to play a bit of catch-up here, so for the next few days I'll post lots of the emails to get us up to date!

Enjoy!

Week 0-Before I go

September 16, 2005

With much excitement and some sadness I am leaving Canada and moving to Italy for the next year or so. My Dad is there living with my Nonna (Grandma) who had surgery earlier this month, I am going to go there and help him care for her. While I am there I am going to try to teach English and just enjoy the "homeland". I am sad to say that I am quitting my job at UAC and my last day will be September 30th. My flight leaves on October 2nd at 9:30pm. I have great peace about the decision and look forward to the adventure that lies ahead. Your prayers and thoughts will be much appreciated as I get all the details together in the next two weeks. As far as I know right now this will be the email address that you we can keep in touch with, if there are any changes I will let you know.Much love and many blessings or should I say ciao, Julia