Good morning USA!  It is 8:00 pm here and I found out the I have the most time difference of anyone in my group.  YEAH!  Today was the first day of school/work for me.  I worked with kids that were 2nd or 3rd grade I think.  Almost everyone in my group was about or over 9.  It is a smaller group this week, I think because we didn't have any middle school aged kids.  A good group overall and they were a lot of fun.  We teach them English with lots of repetition and games, lots of games.  I have never heard "Repeata"  for Simon says so many times in my life.  After all the "learning" was nearly over for the day the tutors got all the kids to go into the gym and we played dodge ball.  That's right dodge ball is still played in Italy, unlike those candy ass American kids, Italians still believe in good ol'fashion butt whoopins'!  Don't fret though the balls were so soft that you could barely even throw them straight.  That doesn't mean I didn't have a couple kids in fear of me.  The odds were stacked against us, about 20 kids, 7 tutors, but we managed to steal the 2nd game and came close on the third.  Frankly I was glad to be done, because a school gym with little air circulation when it is over 90 degrees makes for a very sweaty Jeffy.  On the upside a 20 min dodgeball game is about equal to 90 minutes of cardio back at home.

We have lunch everyday at this little family ristorante and it is amazing.  They just choose what we are going to have and we have yet to repeat anything.  From what I hear we probably won't have the same meal twice for the whole month.  We get two different plates at every meal and they don't have small servings in Italy.  They also constantly ask to make sure you don't want more.  It is like living in a country full of Grandmas and we are all the grandkids.  I'm just waiting to get slipped a 5 Euro bill to go get candy.

Despite the fact that it is super warm everyday, the beach is 3 blocks away and there is another beach 20 minutes on bike down the road.  The water is probably about 75 to 80 degrees so on any day it feels great.  The town is small but has lots of things to keep me busy.  Plus did I say it is sunny everyday and the beach is 3 blocks from my apartment.  Thought that was worth repeating.

There was a giant celebration the 2nd day we were here and the whole town partied until about 4:00 am.  Shops were open, there was a Michael Jackson cover band, they still love him in Europe, rides, drinks, food.  Super fun!  We are also going to go on one or two excursions a week, where for a few Euro they take us to wine and cheese tastings, explore huge caves, biggest in Europe I hear, and other nice fun places.  The weekends are ours to do as we wish and some of the other tutors and I are discussing plans.  Buses are very cheap and trains are not much worse.

Think that is about all for now.  I am attaching some different pictures of food I've eaten and other things I have seen so far.  I have to say this is a pretty amazing way to spend a summer.  Hope all is well with you and I even hear Portland is getting sun, finally.  Have a good day and talk to you soon.  Ciao

On the ride from the airport to Porto Sant'Elipidio about 3.5 hours east of Rome

The Adriatic Sea

Our first night in town dinner at the Ristorante.  There were 5 more pizzas each different.  One had french fries and sausage.  Crazy Italians!

These tables were set up at the center of town for Bianco Notte.  You could sit and get food or eat food you bought elsewhere.

This is the beach right by my house and yes that is an oil platform off the coast.

Some fellow tutors riding a loopy ride that makes you lose your pasta.  I didn't want to waste the food.

Half of the meal we ate the other day.  Primo piato.  How everyone here doesn't weigh 400 lbs is a mystery to all of us.