#87: L’Ape Maia and the Giant Poo

Ciao Nonni,

I hope you are well this week!

Pleased to say that we have officially survived the comics festival here. The five day celebration is chaotic and overwhelming, but at the same time it is really something unique to experience. The crowds, while huge, are very friendly. It is basically a gathering of all the nerds of Europe, where everyone dresses up in the most elaborate costumes of their favourite fantasy characters. The people watching is unmatched.

Now that the kids are a bit older they could both really appreciate spotting all the different superheroes and cartoon figures.

One of my constant gripes about Italy is how hard it is to find out information about any event, ever. Websites are generally horrible, and you usually have to call someone to get any details. Posters will go up around town for events, and they will literally have no date, location, time or price on them. Just a phone number which says chiamami per i dettagli.

I like to think I am very relaxed about the many cultural differences we face here as foreigners, but honestly this one drives me loopy.

The comics festival was no different. I know that there are many events scheduled for children, but do you think it's easy to find the details on the official website? Absolutely not.

This year I was determined. I would find out about the kids' activities, and we would go. 

I spent at least an hour studying the various schedules, and delving into the depths of multiple event websites. It was serious research! Luckily, my efforts were rewarded. I designed my own itinerary for the kids, and we had an absolute blast attending all sorts of concerts, workshops and activities. Most of which were very relaxed with few other children involved. I suspect many more people would have attended with their families if the schedule was easier to read. 

One highlight was a musical we went to called L'Ape Maia (Maya the Bee). It was a very cute little story about a schoolgirl called Gaia who eats some magic honey and gets shrunk down to the size of an insect. She then meets a bee called Maia and her friends, and together they show her their world. Eventually Gaia returns to her normal size, and is then committed to protecting the insects' environment from the developers of a shopping centre. Or at least, I'm pretty sure that was the story. 

As we left, Raffy turned to me and asked (with a real tone of superiority) "did you even understand any of that?". I had to bite my tongue when my first reaction was to angrily respond with "stop talking to me like I'm an idiot!". I took a breath and said something only marginally less tetchy in response. But it did prompt a big discussion about why it is important to be kind when people are learning something, especially if it's something that comes more easily to you. Clearly she touched a nerve…!

On a lighter note, it was quite an interactive performance. At one point a huge brown beach ball (about the size of a human adult) bounced across the heads of the audience of screaming children, representing a giant piece of poo. Leo is still talking about it with great excitement. 

We have just over one week to go until David returns. And our plans this weekend include a trip out to our friends' farm in the country to help with their olive harvest. We are all very excited! It was such a blast last year. I'm not sure how much actual help we will be, but it is so nice to be included regardless. 

I often joke about how, by moving to the other side of the world, we voluntarily removed ourselves from the "village" that might help us out if we ever needed support. But the community we have here now is truly incredible. I notice it especially in these weeks when I'm alone with the kids. We haven't had a single day when I haven't had someone reach out, or a place to go to spend a meal or an afternoon. It's really amazing, the kindness of people who have only known us for such a short time. It makes me appreciate everything we now have in both homes! 

It is Jim's anniversary today, and you have both been in my thoughts a lot. He always spoke so gratefully about the people who showed him kindness and generosity in his life, and he dedicated himself to repaying that kindness by passing it on to others. I hope wherever I am and whatever I do, I can always remember this feeling and how I want to give it to others as well. 

Lots and lots of love,

Kate