Pisa and Preschool!

Well, this past week has been rather exciting!  Fall is in full swing here, and the crisp cool weather is wonderful, though a little bit inhibiting.  When having to walk places with Ava in her stroller, the brisk temperature is lovely for about 5 minutes, and then our fingers and noses begin to freeze.  So, we've been trying to have fun indoors when possible, and keeping bundled when we go out.  I think Saturday was the last day of "sweater warmth" (when it's just warm enough to wear a sweater and feel lovely without being too chilly).  We went to our usual family lunch and afterwards the Aunties insisted I go walk in the center of the city while they played with Ava.  So I went shopping and Ava had a blast with her friends.  Sunday was sunny but with lots and lots of strong winds.  We went to an antique fair in the Fortezza park where there were many overly-priced old items.  I found a cute fedora for only 5€ but besides that, there wasn't too much that caught my eye.  While looking around, we got very hungry and Ava began whining for some food.  We found a near-by food stand and we ate a hotdog that was prepared in the most interesting way....with nothing on it, but mayonnaise!  I figured ordering a hot dog was a safe bet for Ava, and then here it came with a nice crispy bun, and tons of mayo!  Surprisingly, it was super tasty.  Ava loved it and made a mess.  The rest of the afternoon we spent at home, trying to keep warm from any drafts blowing in the house. 

Monday was a busy, wonderful day.  In the morning we went to the near-by preschool (called an Asilo, here) to see if Ava could enter for the remaining 2 months we will be here.  We had planned on taking her to an english-speaking school on Saturdays for 4 hours, but it turned out to be too much trouble, too far away, and too much money.  So, in a 15 minute walk, Ava can go to a school run by Italian Nuns with lots of Italian children who speak Italian!  They had no problem with her staying only 2 months, and she is able to go to school every Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm!  We met the teachers, one of whom speaks English, and saw that all the kids looked happy and were having fun.  So, we decided to let her try the school on Tuesday morning and see how she liked it! 

Later on Monday afternoon we finally ventured to Pisa!  We planned this trip several weeks ago, but had to delay it several times for various reasons.  But Monday we drove about an hour to the city.  We parked outside of the center and took the bus to the main piazza where that famous tower is leaning.  Ava was mostly excited to run around in the grass with her cousin, Martina!  We went into the cemetary and the church and saw many beautiful pieces of art.  Ava attempted to push the tower back up.  She kept on saying "But mom!  We have to make it better!  The tower is going to fall on all the people!"  Then, exhausted by this attempt, we certainly needed some gelato and hot chocolate.  We left as the sun was setting over the piazza and arrived home chilly, hungry, and ready for bed since Ava was going to start school in the morning!

We woke up at 8am...very early for us since our normal wake-up times are between 9 and 10am in this house.  But when I went to wake up Ava, and I told her "Today you can go to school!" she jumped right up and got dressed!  She insisted on wearing her black pants with pink hearts, and her pink shirt with hearts because she thought the Nuns would like to see all the "happy hearts"!  Haha!  It was strange to realize this was Ava's first day of "school".  I hadn't planned on trying to place her in a school here, but she honestly kept on insisting that she wanted to go, and to play with other kids, and to see her teachers.  Funny enough, the minute we arrived at school she said "No, mom, I don't want to go to school now!"  But once we arranged the paperwork, and we met her teachers and other children, she felt a little better.  I was certain she would cry when I left her.  She was acting clingy and uncertain.  But she did not shed a tear.  After some encouragement from the teachers, she slowly walked over to the table where other kids were playing after I gave her a hug and kiss, and I slipped out quickly.

It was strange to be going out and about without her with me.  No little feet bopping my chair as we drove in the car.  We went to a huge grocery store and strolled the aisles without Ava in the cart.  I went to an amazing little wine store and leisurely waited for other customers to finish without a little person bopping around by my ankles.  It was such a strange feeling to not have my sidekick with me!  But soon enough, it was noon, and we went to pick her up.  I was so curious to see what she thought, and if she liked going to school.  It was evident when I told her it was time to go home: she started crying because she didn't want to go!  She wanted to stay with the other kids and eat lunch!  I promised we could come back again in the morning.

She told me all about her day, and I kept on telling her how proud I was that she was such a brave little girl.  Imagine going to a strange place, without your parents, with adults and children who all speak a foreign language!  All at 3 years old!  But she loved it, and was certain she wanted to return.  So this morning I woke up early again, got her ready for school, we walked the 15 minutes in the cold weather, and she went into her classroom again without any tears!  I really hope she will continue to like this arrangement...it gives us both some time apart to enjoy ourselves, and learn some new things.  There is nothing like a new adventure to experience, both in Pisa and in Preschool!