Weathering the Storm with the WP#190

It has been an interesting week to say the least, but even more interesting is that I am writing this now. Normally, I would have written the post and sent it off for publishing hours ago, but I totally forgot that it was Wednesday, until I turned on the computer and there was my reminder, write number 190, yes, number 190. What is number 190 about, well, really, I do not know. It was, shall we say, a normal week in the De Lillo – Bachrach household here in Rome. Yes, there were some eventful things, but really, nothing extraordinary. ​

I have to say that it has been about a week now since the workers were here, working on things in the condo and still more to be done. We are waiting for the leader of the band, who also is a plumber to finally get us a water heater for the bathroom, so we have an efficient source of hot water for more than a minute or two at time, especially taking a shower and when both of us have to go out now, no comment, we use more water, so that is expected, as well as the heat source, the radiators, which start to be used, at least a little, starting in November. Apparently, in this condo unit, heat is not a requirement until November, so for the winter months shall we say, but without them connected, it is only warm blankets. It does not get terribly cold here, but there is a chill in the air, especially at night, so we expect that piece to be done. Also, while necessary, the air conditioning units in the living room and bedroom, so that we can finally be done with the “big” stuff. Of course, other little things are still to be done, but almost two weeks here and we are functioning well. ​

On other fronts, such as the bureaucracy, we submitted new requests to speed up the process at the suggestion of the immigration lawyer, and if we need to retain him later, we will. We will continue to go through the steps, but now, coming up on almost 4 months here, and no closer to getting residency, even though it was supposed to be easier, we are going to start pushing the bureaucrats harder, since we have found out that they do not know the laws and would rather take coffee breaks, extended lunches, afterwork (I mean after all these non-work moments), to have an aperitivo, since they worked so hard all week. There was another strike on Monday here, since the transportation workers want to work less, yet make more money and there is supposed to be another one here on the 8th of November. I guess disrupting the other people is just what the doctor ordered, but nothing does get done here. Sti Cazzi. ​

This last week and into this week, the last of my Italian visitors were here, three couples leaving from Milan, and flight cancellations, changes and lost or should I say delayed luggage, which finally arrived home, about a week after the clients. Hey, it was only dirty laundry at that point. Rosa did guide the last two couples the other day at the Colosseum and then the next morning at the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Her colleague, Fabrizio guided them at the Vatican yesterday, I believe. I hope all went well. Remember, Rosa and I were to go to Poland this week but had to cancel due to Italian bureaucracy and the stupidity of the Schengen rules. I can stay in Italy but can’t travel now outside of Italy until all the paperwork is in place. We are trying to move the process forward and in fact just today, wrote the letter, quite eloquently that my livelihood is being adversely affected by not being able to attend several professional functions around Europe right now, because all the paperwork is in process. If this does not work, we will enlist the lawyer again. In any case, the last two couples are enjoying their last full day here in Italy and then homebound tomorrow. ​

I still have travelers this year, a couple that just arrived in Greece yesterday and a family going to the Czech Republic in a couple of weeks, and two sisters off to Australia and New Zealand in a few weeks’ time, as well, so business is still going on. Only I can’t go beyond the Italian borders unless I go stateside and that is not happening anytime soon. Home and my life are here in Italy and becoming more involved. I was to have my first English student last week, and went to the school, prepared to engage and the student cancelled. The excuse, it was raining. Yes, rain affects travel here, as the metro can get shut down, but I made it. In any case., I had geared up for this and well, the anticipation dissipated. I had my schedule for this week, yesterday, with 4 classes, and two cancelled, but wait, two were not cancelled, so I actually taught yesterday for the first time in several years, maybe many years now that I think about it. Was I nervous, yes, truth be known, yes, I was, as this is a different system, but now that I have a couple of classes under my belt, I feel good. ​

Did I make some mistakes and was the pacing a bit off, yes, it was, but I felt really good after this and excited to return tomorrow for two more classes, unless they cancel. Admittedly with the anxiety, I know what to expect and that is most important thing and the site manager, who observed from a distance, said I did well and said, the balance will come. That made me feel good and I truly am ready to continue. It is a very good environment, but with everything, coming home on the bus, which was packed at 7:30 pm last, night, I was exhausted. I guess, I am truly a part for fabric of this place now. I live here, I work here, I socialize here. Rome is home and it will continue to become more the fabric of my life. It was a bit weird coming home from work last night, but I was coming home. 
The last thing I wanted to mention, one more time and I had done a post on Sunday I believe, was that on that day, was the one-year anniversary of Kenn’s funeral. It has been a bit surreal on that front, and there are times when I want to pick up the phone and there will be no one there, unless Nora, his wife, still has that phone line, but I miss him a great deal, more now, when there are questions, I still have, and I am at home in a quiet moment and nothing else on my mind. I remember that day and having my time with him before the casket was closed and saying my piece there and then at the funeral itself. I appreciate all the comments from everyone that day and after when I posted this a few days back. Yes, it was the right thing to do, to go to San Franciso to be there, as I know I would have regretted it for the rest of my life, if I had not gone, but I did go and I have the memories to fall back on best of all. 
As always, we appreciate your support of our crazy little world here in Rome where things seem to be stabilizing in some ways and others, well the status quo, which may or may not be a good thing. Your comments, thoughts, questions and anything relevant to travel, business and life in general are always appreciated.