Thursday, May 26, 2011

Some sad news

This hasn't exactly been an easy month for me, this week no exception. I just found out my godfather, Jerry is near the end of his life. I regret that I will miss his funeral which is expected to take place shortly after his passing in about 2-4 weeks. He always treated me well and I regret not having spoken to him in a while. I don't know why I hadn't seen him before I came here to Napoli as he was part of our family and someone whom I was very comfortable with and considered him like an old uncle. Whoever says "I have no regrets in life", I don't believe it. To have no regrets means that you knew exactly what to say, feel, think, react etc etc in every moment of your life. Simply not possible.

What is perhaps most remarkable is that it has been Jerry's decision to be taken off dialysis and to be put on hospice. This is a very brave decision and I pray that he is ready to meet Christ and that He will welcome him with open arms and to alleviate Jerry from his suffering.

R.I.P. Gerald Knoblauch 1935-2011

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

America 2011

So, I am going back home for my annual visit at the end of July and I am looking forward to it. I need a break from Napoli once in a while. I'll be back for 5 weeks then once again here at the beginning of September. Although I am having some money problems here and am not making as much as last year due to a change in schools and the fact that one of my 2 schools doesnt pay on time, I have not changed my mind about living here. I have no desire to return to America.

I may however decide to leave Napoli next year, not because I am sick of this city, quite the contrary, but simply because I need to make more money and there is probably more opportunity elsewhere in the boot. What I think needs to be explored is the social factor when deciding to live somewhere. Me at this point, I am getting attached to Napoli, the dialect, the people, my friends, my hang out places, my local shops, the overall feel of it and so I think it would be difficult to live somewhere else in Italy....let alone back to cold America. Nonetheless I think I could be happier in other regions of Italy if it came down to me leaving here. I didn't come here to get rich, but I am 31 and I wouldn't mind something semi-steady at this point in my life.....as do most people my age who are probably wishing the same thing. I'd be happy with steady hours in my current job or perhaps if it is at all possibile here, Id take a job as an English teacher in the public school systems. From what I hear, it is so steady that it would take a miracle to fire you.....like the post office. We'll see.

There is also a unique risk here in Napoli......Vesuvio. You never know when it could explode again. There is also another volcano which is the biggest in Europe called Marsili. Located all underwater and north of Sicilia, it has never exploded, but scientists believe that if it did, it could cause a Tsunami which could crush Southern Italy. Not that I am worried about it, nor would this be a factor to make me decide to leave Napoli, it has however a small factor to consider. For now I'd prefer to concentrate on the present and not think about it.