staying put for now

So, as I've said before here, I've run into some issues surrounding the whole Italy plan. As in, I was supposed to be there months ago, and yet here I am at home, in Montana, patiently twiddling my thumbs.

Well, I'm doing more than that. I've been knitting like a madwoman. I've started dating someone new and he has made my life much more fun and exciting than it was for the first few months that I was home. I've been working with my dad, and it's actually one of the better jobs I've had. I've been volunteering with the local Obama for America office, making phone calls, knocking on doors, getting yelled at quite a lot but still enjoying myself because I know that I'm doing something that will make a difference. I don't know the details yet, but last night I told some friends that I'd be in some rugby tournament...thing with them (more details when I have a clue?)

So I've been doing more than twiddling my thumbs, but I am still getting kind of restless. I miss Italy. I love my parents but it's not always easy for us to live in the same house. I'm a little bit sad that most of my friends are scattered all over the place and that I haven't seen many of them for months now.
Unfortunately, I'm going to have to either just get over it or just learn to accept being restless, because I don't think this is going to happen soon, if at all. The financial situation is still tight, and unless some things improve drastically, I'll probably be staying here. Find things to do so that I don't feel like I'm wasting time, and then return to school in the spring and put teaching English in Italy aside until there's a better time to do it. I'll keep this blog up in case things change, and there will be occasional updates, but for now, I'm staying put.

things are looking up up up

I've decided that Prague --> Italy is basically the best way to go. Greece is a close second and until I'm officially enrolled, still a possibility. But it's going to be one of those two.

But on the GOOD NEWS FRONT:

A: A friend of my mom's, who is a flight attendant, has been working to find us deals on plane tickets. Meaning affordable airfare. Meaning mega-thumbs-up-happy dance from me.

B: My godfather is going to help us out a bit with the whole thing. I'm writing up what is basically a grant application to give to him, as he wants to know any and everything about the whole plan/what I'm going to get out of it/how it's relevant to my education/life. But this means that this may actually happen soon. Something I had kind of given up on.

* happy dance *

gaaaaaaaaah

I called Bridge TEFL (I switched from Via Lingua to Bridge TEFL) today to inquire about their Florence start dates (not listed on the website). I was told that the Florence program is on hiatus for a while, and there aren't any in-the-near future start dates. * grumble grumble*

I, however, chose not to settle for that, because dammit, I'm getting to Italy, one way or another.

A friend had suggested I check out BUNAC. Well, they don't have an Italy program. But they have a work abroad (short term) in England (I would also happily go to Ireland for a bit) program, during which I could take Bridge TEFL's online course (using my thinking cap, hahaha) and then scoot over to Italy, already certified, and, as Bridge TEFL offers job placement, with a job waiting for me. ha ha HA.

And then I researched BUNAC a bit. And there is a lot of information out there from the been there done that crowd... and 90% of it was from people who have had BAD experiences with BUNAC. So, I thought "Maybe..not?" It was a little intimidating. (If anyone has more BUNAC info/experience please let me know)

Plan B: Stay here, in the US, and take the online TEFL course. Again, part 2 of this plan = scoot over to Italy, already certified, with a job waiting for me, and do a happy dance.

Meaning I'd have to stay here for a bit longer still.

Not a really attractive plan.

Plan C: Go to a Bridge TEFL training program at another location (Prague looks like fun. I've been to Prague before, on a short group trip, and really loved it there. I can see myself living there for four weeks. I would also happily go to their London program. Hell, there's even a program in Greece, and I've always wanted to go there...), and when the course is over and job placement time rolls around, ask them to place me in/around Florence, please and thank you.


So, we shall see. With the online program there is the disadvantage of no hands-on training. No physical teaching experience. But it's cheaper. And I can do it from home. And then head to Italy and start teaching right away.

But Prague/London/Greece....any of those three places would be a very nice four-week mini-vacation while I earn my certificate. And those options DO include hands-on experience in the classroom. But they are more expensive. But I would extend my time in Europe, rather than stay here. No extended time in Italy, but in Europe.

BUNAC is still in the back of my mind. If I hear more things about it and better things about it I might still consider it. But we'll just have to see how it all plays out.

Thoughts/opinions/comments/advice VERY welcome.

$5000 to get me to Italy? Yes please. (also: So Much World.com's travel guide to Italy)

First things first: So Much World Travel Guides sent me an email and asked if I would link to their Italy travel guide on my blog. It looks like a great guide, so I'm happy to. I added it in my links section on the right side of this page, check.it.out.

Also: I'm starting a new religion around fastweb.com. Well, not really, because apparently starting up a new religion is kind of a process, and that might be a little over the top, but I'm still in love with Fastweb right now. My scholarship search results came up with a grant that's about $5000 for six+ months of working abroad, and it's a grant especially for those like myself who have arranged our own work abroad programs (there is another grant from the providers of this one designed for *their* work abroad program as well). There's nothing saying I'm going to get it, but I'm definitely applying. *happy dance *

* grumble *

So... things concerning Italy right now = bad. bad bad. bad.

As in - 20 minutes ago, I was heading to Florence in a month. As of 19 minutes ago, I'm heading to Florence in... April.

There's not much more to say about it - other than... things have been going badly lately (cars breaking down, furnaces giving up and croaking, and now our washing machine has issues too) and the money just isn't there. So I'm going to get a job, and head out in (hopefully) April-ish.

I would be panicking right now... but I'm just in shock - it was kind of a bomb dropped out of nowhere.

Countdown status - one month, 8 days.

So, I suck at getting things done on time.  No, really, I do.  I mean, it's not like I've missed important deadlines or anything.  Stuff with Via Lingua is happening slowly but surely, I will eventually have a plane ticket (gr, hiss that I don't have one yet), etc. etc.  But oh my stars.  I have to get a jump on the visa process.  Like yesterday.  I don't want to have issues because I sent in my stuff too late.  Urrrrgh.  So I don't know why I'm wasting time writing about it rather than doing it - a bit counterproductive, I think. 

Meanwhile - I would kill to be in Florence this very second.  A: I am sick.  B: Montana is a cold and miserable place right now, especially as our furnace kicked the bucket yesterday and heat in our house is something entirely reliant on strategically placed space heaters.  We have to keep those space heaters cranked up pretty high, otherwise the pipes will freeze and burst and we will simply have to move.   So, I'm sitting in the basement (where the computer is) and it's EXTREMELY warm down here.  Which is not so welcome as I'm sick and feeling ucky.  C:  I just miss Italy way too much.  I miss the food, I miss the people, I miss the bee-yoo-tee-ful-ness of it all... Really just can't wait to go back. 

 

countdown status: 2 months, 6 days.

There's not much going on right now in terms of next year's plans.  I have to work on visa stuff, finalize enrollment in the program, get a ticket there, etc...But this blog won't really get going until February.  A few details:

When I'm going - The program starts on February 18th, 2008.

Where I'm going - Florence, Italy. 

Program I'm going with - Via Lingua CTEFL (Via Lingua Website)

After the four-week program is finished, they will assist me in finding a job teaching English in a school in/near the city.  I plan to do that until somewhere around July/August, and then switch to an art internship (also in Florence).  I plan to do a little traveling on weekends/in my free time to go to parts of Italy that I haven't seen yet/have seen but would like to go back to because I didn't have the best experience there *coughVenicecough*, even wander into other countries if possible. 

But for the next week, my concern is finals.  Getting through finals with my sanity intact.  THEN we can start to really worry about Italy...