​Weathering the Storm with the WP#187

I have spoken about many things over the past few weeks in terms of progress. In most cases, it is still like watching grass grow and in one case, it has been like seeing it cut. In one case, however, progress has been made. I just hope that it does not get short circuited. Rosa and I need good news and as much as we can get as I returned from my latest trek outside of Rome, one in the Veneto which I shared last week and then my time in Rimini and Riccione for TTG which is another tradeshow conference where I ran into some old friends and colleagues, and one who owns a company here in Rome where Rosa also freelances as a guide. ​

I returned from my latest time out of Rome on the 11th of October, and since our lease had been up at that time at the apartment in the same building, as our condo, we have been staying at a nice 3 * property, called the Pergola, very close to momma’s and about a 1 mile (2 km) from the condo and very accessible to what we both need. Staying at momma’s, even though that is my legal address here, was not an option, although, we have had had dinner there every night since I have been back. The people here are very nice, and the breakfast is acceptable. Rosa booked this versus a Hampton by Hilton which is a little further away, and momma’s is very much walking distance. I know momma loves having us for dinner each night, since she is alone otherwise. It is nice, for sure, but I and I am sure Rosa, will be very happy to move into the condo, finally at the end of the week, since it will be functional. ​

What I mean by functional is that the bathroom has the toilet and sink, very important, and the shower head does work. The workers thought would be a good idea to put up a temporary shower curtain, as the sliding glass doors and the permanent water heater (there is a temporary one), is not in yet. Problem is that if one takes a shower, most of the water, does not go down the drain, which a rather little on, but over the side onto the floor of the bathroom. Good thing there are new tiles and grout there, but I will be very happy when the complete shower is in there, as well as the washing machine/dryer combination, one application by the way, not two stacked appliances and made by Hoover, so I believe it can be trusted. We have been told that our new water heater and the sliding glass doors will be in place this week, as well. ​

We also have out brand-new bed in the living room, which is ready to sleep on, but not being used yet, as the workers are still, well, working and the bedroom and the electrical outlets, while functional, yes, we have electricity, but the outlets are not capped (no covers on them yet), so they are not exactly the safest thing in the world. The main accomplishment, for this week, yet, not completely done, but supposedly by today is the kitchen, cabinetry, and the appliances. Yes, I said the kitchen, but that said, it is a one man show. Yes, one man, who brought everything up and has been now, for two days, been installing everything himself. The gas is to be turned on today, if it has not been already, and the rest of the appliances need to be installed, as well as the sink when the plumber comes today, but having one person do everything versus a team and how small the kitchen is, should take a day, but when all is said and done, we will have a functioning, fingers crossed kitchen by the end of this week and that Is when we move in.

If there is good news outright, and I do not want to jinx it, I signed a contract on Monday to teach at Wall Street English, as their Human Resources department accepted all my documentation, to date, and I started my training, sorry onboarding yesterday and continue this week and next week. I say, sorry about the word training, as I have been told that word is no longer in vogue, or better said, politically incorrect. I am, in effect and independent contractor with the school, not a straight up employee, and after signing what seemed like another mound of paperwork, I am onboarded and can’t be trained. For me, it is semantics, but bureaucracy, is bureaucracy, and if they can pay me, and now, with a contract in hand, I can go to a bank that said, if I can produce a contract or a written offer, and the other documentation, including the Fiscal Code (Italy’s version of the Social Security Number), then I can open an Italian Bank account, one step closer. I will hopefully do that this Friday. 
I said, that this past week was several steps forward, and many steps backwards, but the major backwards step, is that somehow, even though we were told we had filled out the correct paperwork for residency, somehow, we hadn’t so that process has been delayed, but that said, we have a consolation, no free by the way, but at substantial cost, to get things back on track with an immigration lawyer on Friday, via WhatsApp video.  I don’t want to think that the 3 months I have been here have been a waste of time in terms of the process. I know it has not been a waste of time being with Rosa. She is why I am here, but something went out of whack with the paperwork and the process and the idea of having to start from scratch and costing lots of money and lots of time, for something that was supposed to be easier, being married to a native, seems to be falling apart, but Friday, we will get proper legal advice for a price and hopefully have not lost lots of time. I am already not able to leave Italy, for fear I won’t be allowed back in, if some officials were to check my passport, even though where I would go is within the Schengen. ​

On the travel front, I still have clients here in Italy, but they are off to Tuscany and Lombardy over the week or so and two couples fly to the Veneto today from the states for a 2-week adventure where we will cross paths sometime at the end of the month here in Rome. Rosa and I were to go to Poland at the end of the month, but another by some miracle, the lawyer, can get my status changed, or I can get some documentation to allow me to travel, we will stay put here in Rome. She is guiding these two couples, and perhaps more than once depending on where we are at that point, here in Rome or maybe in Poland for the conference, we were to attend together. ​

I want to shout out another Happy Birthday (did on Facebook), to my admin and long-time confidant, Matt, who is also my webmaster, but most importantly, someone I can call my friend. He makes me look good on my blogs and my website and keeps things up to date for me. I have now known him for 20 years. You ask why? Well, I will tell you. As most of you know, I am an educator by training. That is what I have my degree in, both bachelor's and master’s. When I lived in Minnesota and just getting started in the travel industry, actually, when I had become an independent contractor of the agency enroute to starting my new company, yes, the one now in its 18th year, I needed a safety net of income, and one of my colleagues, at the time, suggested it might be good to work for a school district and their before and after school program called Adventures Plus, which would not conflict with the agency, or the business, and allowed me to balance my time, as I was getting started. So, I did and that was 20 years ago, when I met this 1st grader, age 6, at Oxbow Creek Elementary School in Champlin, Minnesota, now age 26. ​

I saw him grow up, became friends of the family and during the pandemic, he offered to help my business by re-building my website and being there, as he was also launching his rather diverse career. I saw the trials and tribulations he went through and he figured it out and is moving forward in his life on a very different, but successful path in the music industry, and but also more multi-faceted and he has expanded into different realms, making the connections, both business and personal that I know will help him succeed and as with his family, I am extremely proud of what he has accomplished and will go a long ways whichever direction he takes in life. I am very lucky to have him in my corner on many different levels over the craziness of the past two decades and hope I can say that I have be there to help him, when possible. Happy 26th birthday Matt and many more to come!!! Most importantly, thank you for your friendship and support over these past few years. So much appreciation for what you have brought into my life personally and in business. 

Until next week, I hope you have enjoyed my offerings and appreciate that you have read my blog posts and look forward to sharing any new and exciting ideas and experiences one can have that the WP can arrange for you, as I attended another international travel trade show and conference. As always, thank you so much for your support of Rosa’s and my crazy little world here in Rome. We truly appreciate your support. Stay safe, healthy, and most importantly happy, and as always, your shared comments and thoughts are most welcome!!!