Trastevere

We’re pleased to report that we’ve found an even more applicable Italian phrase for good luck: “in culo alla balena” which roughly translates to “in the butt of the whale,” as it related to the biblical story of Jonah who was swallowed by a big fish and preferable to climb into a whale’s tush than try to home school our own kids. Usually, one pupil is obliging and the other more resistant; the kids shape shift like Maui between those two roles. From what we’ve heard from our teacher friends, recovering from summer slump and getting into a routine takes time in most classrooms. It doesn’t help that we haven’t established a routine and are still getting over jet lag, but we’re hopeful that it will get easier over the coming weeks.

While we’re still figuring out the homeschooling part, the worldschooling part of the trip has been pretty amazing. We had a Heroes of Olympus/Roman Mythology tour of the Capitoline Museum that Lewis loved (and Andrew too for the first 30 minutes or so). The tour guide was surprised by how much mythology Lewis knew and how eagerly and humbly Lewis probed what he didn’t. We learned about the “hand of doom,” how someone’s relative size showed their importance, how powerful people were often depicted naked (fun times), and like a Roman horse, Andrew must be fed, watered and run if we expect him to listen to a tour for a few hours!

If you’re anything like Andrew, you’ll be pleased to know that the kids did in fact watch Gladiator and were extra excited to visit the Colosseum. They enjoyed walking around and seeing where Maximus-like gladiators battled.

We head to Sorrento tomorrow to visit Pompeii & Herculaneum, climb Mt. Vesuvius, and do an amazing hike along the Amalfi coast that our friends recommended.

FWIW, the proper response to “in culo alla balena” is “speriamo che non caghi” which essentially means: “I hope it doesn’t poop!” Italian is a phenomenal language!Read more