March in Puglia as a Volunteer

Another Global Volunteer Adventure - Phyllis arrives in Monopoli, Italy I will be sharing my daily experiences with you. We stay at the Hotel Clio, which is right on the Adriatic and although it is not new and so modern, it is clean, comfortable and spacious. I have a balcony with a sea view and mini bar and lots of pillows! The Clio has Wi-Fi, which works most of the time. The volunteers arr...ived on Saturday and we had our first dinner together. In Italy, food and eating is of utmost importance, so from time to time I will share some of our culinary experiences. This is a small team – there are three of us – and although we are small in number, I can sense we will be large in spirit. All three of us are of Italian descent and I am an Italian citizen, so who better to be here than we three!

So to get back to the food – our first dinner consisted of antipasti bar, orechiette (a small ear shaped pasta, indigenous to Puglia) with tomato sauce and our second course was grilled shrimp. For dessert a variety of fruit and pastries were offered. I am trying to keep with the fruit, especially since they peel the tangerines for you! After much needed sleep, on Sunday, we had breakfast, which is typically a cold buffet like in the US, except the pastries are Italian and taste very good. There are a variety of cereals, yogurt, fruit and I cannot forget to mention all the delicious coffees. The Sunday program is devoted to orientation, so I spent most of the day sharing Global Volunteer information – mission, goals, program context, and project explanations. Two of the Italian teachers came to welcome us and delighted us by taking us for a ride in the Italian country side. We visited an ancient masseria (old farm), which has been converted to a B and B, with a restaurant we cannot afford to dine in – very expensive, beautiful and ever so old. You can Google it if you want – Masseria Spina Monopoli Italy - what a place!

We then prepare for Monday, our first day at school. For the volunteers, I think they might be a little apprehensive, but they are both attorneys and I am certain they will do well. Attorneys are known for their ability to stand, talk and listen and this is what they will be doing. The students are most fortunate to have their experiences and expertise. Now, I look forward to a new day. Ciao

- Phyllis