'Twas La Vigilia di Natale...

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

Alternate title: The Nutcracker, An Earthquake, and Other Adventures

I've been having fun showing my parents around Bologna, so I wanted to write a quick update on the past few days, before Christmas. The apartment we're renting for two weeks is very cute and cozy - it's so nice to be able to come back to an apartment instead of a hotel, and cook our own meals. It already feels like home! Here's our little Christmas display with our poinsettia, advent calendar, and presents waiting for tomorrow morning:


On Monday afternoon, we went to the elementary school where I volunteered with a second-grade class, helping them with English. It was my last time seeing them, so we had a small farewell party. The kids are so cute and enthusiastic, and I'll really miss them! I was very happy to be able to introduce them, as well as the teacher, to my parents. Most of us are pictured below, but there are a few kids missing; there were 20 in total.


That same night, we went to a Christmas concert in a church in Bologna. It was a concert of traditional Christmas music performed by a choir and orchestra, in Italian, Latin, and one or two songs in English and German. The music was beautiful, and so was the church.


Yesterday we traveled to Mantua to visit my friend Martina, her twin sister Beatrice, and their grandmother. Nicole and I went to spend the night there about a month ago, and their hospitality was so wonderful that I was delighted to be able to introduce them all to my parents. It was a bit of an adventure to get there - there was an earthquake (yes, an earthquake) in the region, while we were on the train. So instead of a journey that should have taken less than 2 hours, it took us 4 hours. But we made it! We were worried for a little bit, because we had tickets for a production of The Nutcracker by the Moscow Ballet for the three of us and Martina. But we made it just in time, and got to eat her grandmother's wonderful Italian food before and after the production...and this afternoon. The ballet was absolutely beautiful, especially the costumes, and I was so happy to be able to see The Nutcracker for Christmas, even in Italy! The theater was also beautiful - I read that most old theaters and opera houses are modeled after La Scala in Milan, so you can imagine the elegance and charm. Later that night, we actually felt another tremor from the earthquake. It felt a bit like the subway running below the ground...of course that would be my point of reference!

Christmas Tree in front of the theater

Today we visited the Palazzo Te in Mantua, the old summer palace of Mantua's ruling family, built in 1525. There was a beautiful exhibit of cameos, which I loved. After that we went back to their apartment for lunch, and then took a short tour of Mantua before catching a train back to Bologna. It was a wonderful excursion and I was so happy to be able to show my parents Italian hospitality. My father doesn't speak any Italian, and Martina and Beatrice's grandmother doesn't speak any English, but they were both very eager in their efforts to communicate! As for me, I got to take advantage of some of my last conversations in Italian, which I will certainly miss.

Beatrice, La Nonna (the grandmother), Mom, me, Martina

As for tonight, there's nothing left to do now but watch a Christmas movie, have some cookies and milk, and wait for Babbo Natale! (Santa Claus) And, lucky for us, he'll come six hours earlier here...