Day 5- Como se dice...

Lido Resegone

"I have realized that this experience has revived me. The people, the silence, the water, the mountains have revived me."

Today we visited the beach spitting out italian words with the english equivalent and I have learned so much. I kept staring and staring at the cliffs. They are so huge, but seem so tranquil. We visited the beach from 10-1:30. Reapplhying sunscreen- la crema- and trying to understand each other. It is so rewarding tryi9ng to figure out what the kids are saying and what they want to talk to me about. I have realized that this experience has revived me. The people, the silence, the water, the mountains have revived me. 

I was playing in the sand with two siblings, Mario and Georgia, when I realized that I didn’t care about the sand. I have always been the type of person to care about the sand in places it should and shouldn’t be and today I didn’t care about the sand. I hate being dirty and I did not hate the sand at all today. The kids teach me how to be at peace, or maybe they distract me, this place teaches me that too. 

I was sitting with Carmella, one of the girls in arielle and she was teaching me words in italian. She noticed that I said “hot, hot, hot, hot” referring to the sand scorching my feet. When she got up and then came back she did the same thing and I started laughing and repeating her acknowledging that she noticed me and I noticed her. She is so delightful and willing, much like all of the kids, educators, and nuns in Cooperativa Sociale Essera. After this moment she then began teaching me words in italian like… sun, sand, hot, and umbrella. 

After a bit of this she was playing with a stick in the sand and started writing letters. I noticed the letters and started saying them in italian and she then spelled out a word. I say, “Alex,” she nods and says, “My crush.” There is something about being in Sorrento, Naples, Italy, and interning at a foster care home and then growing a connection with people who speak a different language than you that rebuilds something within. I fear that this is the best thing that has ever happened to me. She then opens up about more about her other crushes and we use google translate some, but mostly in broken english/italian. Needless to say, my openness leads to their openness and it is so worth it.

Something I have learned in the past five days is that google translate is helpful and offers understanding, but it is also such a divide. Using google translate does not help me grow closer to these kids. Letting them teach me italian or learning from them offers an extremely unique connection. The same is true when I interact with the educators. They are so extremely gentle and willing and appreciate my willingness to try to speak italian. I am grateful for this experience and I love how this family of people have welcomed me in. 

When we got home from the beach, I helped the little ones shower and they went to nap. While they were napping, I went to primavera with the educators and sat talking to some of the older kids. One girl spoke pretty good and fluent english and we all talked through her and for the first time I felt like I was able to joke with them. This is a breakthrough that I have not been able to appreciate until now and has honestly transformed my experience there. This is a level of trust that I didn’t realize is important and will not take for granted. 

Less google translate, more connection. It was a good day today!