05/27/2009



Sorry, guys, I didn't lie this morning when I said it was my last blog; it's just that I realized I needed to journal some more during our trip to Firenze today.

First up, The Uffizi Museum. It was filled (naturally)) with masterpieces from Il Familia Medici (the Medici family). In fact, the museum itself began as an office building (the Italian word for "office" is "uffici" - these were the offices of Il Familia Medici; and they had crosswalks to tbeir palazzo, so they wouldn't have to mingle with the commoners in the streets!

Next, we took a bus ride (imagine standing, holding for dear life, on a bus going fast and taking sharp turns... kind of like riding the Knight Bus from the 3rd Harry Potter movie!) to a Mental Helth Day Treatment Facility - Fili e Colores. It was very much like facilities in which I have worked; both nursing homes and when I did an internship in a hospital (long-term residential) for the criminally insane (now, it would be given a different name; residential facility for maladaptive psychopathologies, perhaps?)

Then, we walked to a residential facility, where Roberto was our host... he explained they have 12 beds; 7 women and 5 men. Some stay forever, some come and go as they have need. This particular facility only serves a particular neighborhood, a particular small community. Most of the group went upstairs to see the rooms; I and a couple of others sat downstairs (sore,tired feet & knees said "NO WAY!" when I looked at the long, steep staircase!

ULP! Another busride back to the train station, where I bought another suitcase... then a relaxing train ride back home, and sitting to blog.

One thing I reflected on as we walked through Firenze today, was how, in the short time we have been together, we have become close, like a family. Our profs are like favorite aunts and uncles (tia e tio), those wonderful people who may be older than you, may be your age, but have a position of authority because of their position in the family. Here, the authority is based on experience; our profs have worked years in our field, and are willing to share their experience and knowledge with us (those of us who are midlife career changers appreciate that about them...). Our fellow students are like brothers and sisters...without the sibling rivalry. We are all in this together, pulling together, making our family, our profession strong. Our hosts, Dr. Krieg and his lovely wife, Antoinette, are like grandparents... not because of age, (they aren't much older than I) but because of how they treat us. Dr. Krieg keeps us together on our journeys into towns, acting as our interpreter, guide, and, well, like a grandfather (at least the way my grandfathers acted when I was growing up!) Antoinette makes sure we have good food on the table, the house is comfortable, and we are free to concentrate on our studies (again, like my grandmothers acted when I was growing up). Although I am ready to go home, I will miss this place, the chance to sit and commune (sometimes, sitting quitly in the sala, some knitting, some computering, but all of us, quiet yet together. Hmmm, whom did I leave out? Mom & dad? Parents have a different attitude toward their children than grandparents, aunts and uncles; and here, we are at our grandparent's home, like a big family reunion.

So, will I blog tomorrow? I don't know... We will go back to Firenze to see the judge (juveniles in the Italian court system), then we'll have time to shop, shop SHOP! 5 hours to indulge my XX shopping gene! But then, back home to pack... so don't know if I'll have time to blog; am sure I'll have an experience!

Ciao for now, Lynn