view of the alps from the plane leaving Milan

black licorice and interesting statues!

prociutto I managed to smuggle back! ha ha. I think Sal and his dad were impressed but they don't pronouce the 'o' in the word. Learned something new:)

Best cannoli I ever had....yum

Cappuccino's with new friend Rafel in Milan station Centrale:)

While I was in Milan I met another teacher from Siberia and we talked about the importance of enjoying life. Ever since I began teaching in Abu Dhabi I have felt some strange guilt about enjoying life. I can't understand completely why I feel this way? I hesitate to post much on Facebook because I feel guilty about what others may think. Will they think I'm selfish for leaving my life in NJ behind? Do they think I'm going through some life crisis? Do they cringe when I write about the fun I am having. Well now it hit me....I don't freaking care what others think!!! For a long time I felt unhappy and now I feel like I'm finally learning how to enjoy life again. There is a phrase that my new friend taught me that they say in Spanish but at the risk of butchering the beautiful Spanish language I won't type it here. All I know is that we need to focus less on working ourselves to death and dwelling over petty crap and more on laughing, loving, eating, and enjoying life. It sounds so simple but yet it isn't because we so easily let ourselves get bogged down by the pressures of the world that we put on ourselves!
I was going to devote this blog entry to the feast at the boys school but it doesn't seem so important at this moment. On my way back to the USA for the holidays I received some shocking news from my parents about a close family friend who sadly and suddenly passed away. Of course I can't go into the details of the events but I can mention some of the positives. This person and myself had an interesting relationship. I thank this special person for the following: teaching me to ride a bike for the first time, teaching me how to find my first four leaf clover, giving me advice when I didn't know I needed it, welcoming me with open arms into their home when I first started teaching, helping me find an land my first teaching job, and listening to my crazy adventures during my first few months of teaching. I will always remember you and never forget the impact you had on my life. May you rest in peace and may your life be celebrated and remembered. Life is so short and fleeting, I will try to live it as best I can enjoying every moment, trying to help others as you so generously did on this strange place called earth. I will try my best to not feel guilty for the purpose God has given me.