TEAM 180 IN ITALY

TEAM 180 ARRIVE IN MONOPOLI 
An  Enthusiastic Team with 8 Volunteers 

Our team comprised of four college students and the remaining four are - well, suffice it to say, on the other end of the spectrum.   

We arrive tired and weary.  Two volunteers are grandparents with their grandchildren. The trip - one of working and volunteering - is a gift to their grandchildren, who are all either in college or beginning this fall. One of them celebrated his 18th birthday Saturday night and you will see a picture of his celebration cake (torta).  

Wow –  Italians really know how to light a candle! 

Today is Sunday and we spend most of the day in Orientation.  It is a day of quite a bit of talking and listening - probably somewhat anxious listening, with all the sunshine and beaches waiting.   But, this a necessary component of our work assignment here. We set the tone for our two weeks and decide in unison why we are here and what we hope to accomplish.  After dinner, Rita, our local Italian teacher host takes the volunteers on an evening tour of the old part of town – il centro storico. 

Now about the food, octopus was one of the lunch choices and for dinner it is simple baked chicken with salad and potatoes.  This tasted good after rich and heavy lunch.   Here we are, knives and forks in hand, ready for our roast chicken supper.

Ready For Dinner At Local Restaurant

Octopus For Lunch

"Throughout the Italian countryside, cities, and roads there is a phrase that I saw consistently spray-painted upon the walls and roads 'Ti amo vito/a.' This translates essentially as 'I love life.' 

As we have decided to experience Italian culture, as a whole, I think it is good practice to take in this idea of loving life and begin to move toward that as we experience the culture around us."          

              Shared by 'our youngest volunteer'

RETURN SOON FOR DAILY HAPPENINGS