Take One Last Look At Our Amazing Week In Monopoli

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Enjoy and Join Global Volunteers In Italy Soon!

Il Giorno Ultimo - We Leaving With Memories

OUR ITALY

Our Italy is a sunrise and sunset on the Adriatic Sea

Our Italy is a stroll in the 'Centro Historico - a brief prayer in the 'chiesa'

Our Italy is exploring vineyards, olive farms, bars and gelateria

Our Italy is the smell, so different from that of our homes

But most of all....

Our Italy is the 'people', mostly, the smiling faces of the children

Their eagerness to learn

Their charming hand gestures and facial expressions

And, especially their heartfelt 'grazie' at the end of our sweet time together

 Arriverderci Monopoli

Our Farewell Celebration For 8 - One Team Member Left Early - Missed You

   

Can Life Be A Picnic in Italy? YES!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Things seem to have smoothed out at the end of 2 weeks, as volunteers are using teaching aids from home.

Ed and Carolyn  settled into an amiable relationship with their teacher and they have a good feeling of contribution.

Betty continues to help with the curriculum, being asked to read aloud and continuing to help with meaning and pronunciation.     

Students now stop between classes for little conversations – a big step forward for them.

The situation with too few Italian English teachers continues at Classico and Linguistico.   All  should be well next week, when the teachers return from their field trips to England with the students.  Discussions on “Robinson Crusoe” and “The Dead” have continued in a fruitful manner. The structure at these schools seems to allow freedom to experiment and for greater interaction with students.

The unseasonable hot weather, with no shade and no air conditioning at the schools, made keeping students attention more difficult.  However, it proved to be great weather for a picnic at Hotel Clio pool for the volunteers. 

Food was abundant – selected meats were provided by Carolyn & Ed; Jean brought the cheese, while Jan provided chips and Kathy the olives and tomatoes.  All was finished off by a medley of fruit supplied by Lynn and cookies from Sarah and Betty, who also brought the rolls. 

Eat your heart out Subway – we make better sandwiches!

Thought for the Day….     

 "There's quality in numbers"     Shared by Ed 

Enough Dessert For Everyone

Talking School Business During Lunch?

A Mid Week Reflection

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

As I stepped off the train in the Monopoli  station after having spent a weekend  away,  I felt a comforting sensation that I'd arrived back home.  HOME !! What a welcoming feeling after only living in Monopoli for so short a time. For me it was evidence at how our experience with Global Volunteers has integrated us so intimately into the community.

If the first week passed as a film in slow motion, this second week seems to be a one played in fast forward. We've all became acutely aware that our time was passing all too rapidly. Our schedules seemed to become filled with activities such as attending local concerts, accompanying students to a conference in Bari, playing a pick up game of soccer with the local high school girls and hosting a gathering with some of the adults who we have been tutoring.  And as usual, Rita our teacher at the liceo continued to find opportunities for us to absorb more of Puglian life.

And there are the students! How heartwarming to see them greet us on the streets and smile at us when as we enter each of their classrooms. 

As I start thinking about my departure from Monopoli, I look at each student differently and can't help but wonder what life will hold for each one of them. I can hope only good things! 

Written by Kathy 


Our Thought For The Day 

 "Be the change you want to see in the world" Mahatma Ghandi

Shared by Jan

Volunteers With Italian Teacher

 Piazza Vittorio Emanuele - Center of Monopoli

Another Glorious Day

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

It is possible that each of us has come to love Italy and particularly the Monopolitani.

All too short, our visit is into the 10^th day. I am privileged to have the opportunity to interact with local primary and high school children, and adult, all of whom are keen to improve their English, learn more about other countries and provide insights into their daily lives.

Today I was delighted to accept a warmly extended invitation to visit the summer house of one of my tutorial students. She is a local business woman, keen to improve her spoken English and teach me about Puglia.

Our routes alternate between teacher and student – a satisfying combination. It created balance between visitor and host.

Written by Jan

Rita, Our Italian Teacher Host With Students

  

Thought for the Day….

                                     “If not now, when?”

                                          Shared by Jean

 

An Afternoon Tutoring Session With Daughter and Mother

A Moment To Relax