Zach and I are back in the US! We arrived in Houston about three hours ago - I can barely keep my eyes open, so off to get some sleep.
The trip was an unqualified success - I'm more pleased than I can say. I'll offer a summary post of the experience after I get a little sleep :)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Arrived at hotel near Heathrow!
Zach and I have arrived at the Ramada near Heathrow after being stuck in London traffic for 45 minutes!!!
Our flight home leaves at 11:40am tomorrow, so we will catch a shuttle bus to Heathrow Terminal 4 and plan to arrive at 9:30am for international checkin.
Already miss the beautiful Italian sun!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Our flight home leaves at 11:40am tomorrow, so we will catch a shuttle bus to Heathrow Terminal 4 and plan to arrive at 9:30am for international checkin.
Already miss the beautiful Italian sun!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Monday, June 20, 2011
Last day of the trip
Tomorrow, Zach and I fly to London so we can catch our morning flight home on Wednesday. I fly back to Seattle on Thursday and have the weekend to get my body clock turned around before work starts back on Monday.
This is the first three-week vacation I've ever taken. Ever. In my life. And I'm nearly 50. The first TWO week vacation I ever took was three years ago when I last toured Europe. Sad, huh? It takes a 10 hour flight to make me give up the obsessive need to check emails on my phone (mine doesn't work here) and actually enjoy time off. At home, although I often take 3 and 4-day weekends, I never stop checking email, and so never really stop being at work. One emailed crisis is enough to ruin any hope of downtime, and for some reason, there is ALWAYS a crisis.
This is, unfortunately, the norm for Americans.
Europeans think we are crazy. They get 5 weeks and upwards each year, and (unlike us) they actually take it. We get 2-3 weeks and most of us end up losing it because we never use it.
Perhaps we really are crazy.
What is it about American culture that makes us so willing to sacrifice our health, time with our families, and all the other benefits of this, well, benefit? I read somewhere that many of us won't take vacation (without checking email) because we are worried the office will discover they can do without us. For myself, I can honestly say the only reason I've been able to stand being offline from work these past three weeks is because I have two job interviews lined up when I return. I guess I suffer from that worry as well. That's really sad. Is our culture that cutthroat?
When did working 55-hour weeks and never taking time off become not only the norm, but acceptable? I mean, let's face it - the vast majority of us are not working at jobs where being absent would cause world economic collapse or the death of millions. Like most of us, I'm buried in the bowels of a corporate behemoth, a cog in a large machine, and one that can be replaced or worked around if it's not there. That's the sad truth. Most of us aren't really that necessary, but I guess we prefer to believe that we are - so we behave as though every crisis was of apocalyptic proportions, because it makes us important as the saviour.
So here's my resolution:
1. When something "bad" happens at work, I will retain my sense of proportion and not respond as though armageddon was upon us.
2. I will become to voice of reason for my co-workers, encouraging them to find balance in their responses to "crises"
3. When I am at work, I will work hard, When I take time off, I will TAKE TIME OFF.
Ultimately, unless you ARE one of those few whose personal presence at work, all the time, really does impact millions or the fate of the universe (and if you are, I pity you), then there's no reason to behave as if you were. All of us are important - but for most of us that importance isn't at work. It's our family, our kids, our community work, or elsewhere.
Find your "elsewhere" and let work just be work.
This is the first three-week vacation I've ever taken. Ever. In my life. And I'm nearly 50. The first TWO week vacation I ever took was three years ago when I last toured Europe. Sad, huh? It takes a 10 hour flight to make me give up the obsessive need to check emails on my phone (mine doesn't work here) and actually enjoy time off. At home, although I often take 3 and 4-day weekends, I never stop checking email, and so never really stop being at work. One emailed crisis is enough to ruin any hope of downtime, and for some reason, there is ALWAYS a crisis.
This is, unfortunately, the norm for Americans.
Europeans think we are crazy. They get 5 weeks and upwards each year, and (unlike us) they actually take it. We get 2-3 weeks and most of us end up losing it because we never use it.
Perhaps we really are crazy.
What is it about American culture that makes us so willing to sacrifice our health, time with our families, and all the other benefits of this, well, benefit? I read somewhere that many of us won't take vacation (without checking email) because we are worried the office will discover they can do without us. For myself, I can honestly say the only reason I've been able to stand being offline from work these past three weeks is because I have two job interviews lined up when I return. I guess I suffer from that worry as well. That's really sad. Is our culture that cutthroat?
When did working 55-hour weeks and never taking time off become not only the norm, but acceptable? I mean, let's face it - the vast majority of us are not working at jobs where being absent would cause world economic collapse or the death of millions. Like most of us, I'm buried in the bowels of a corporate behemoth, a cog in a large machine, and one that can be replaced or worked around if it's not there. That's the sad truth. Most of us aren't really that necessary, but I guess we prefer to believe that we are - so we behave as though every crisis was of apocalyptic proportions, because it makes us important as the saviour.
So here's my resolution:
1. When something "bad" happens at work, I will retain my sense of proportion and not respond as though armageddon was upon us.
2. I will become to voice of reason for my co-workers, encouraging them to find balance in their responses to "crises"
3. When I am at work, I will work hard, When I take time off, I will TAKE TIME OFF.
Ultimately, unless you ARE one of those few whose personal presence at work, all the time, really does impact millions or the fate of the universe (and if you are, I pity you), then there's no reason to behave as if you were. All of us are important - but for most of us that importance isn't at work. It's our family, our kids, our community work, or elsewhere.
Find your "elsewhere" and let work just be work.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Bummer!
Guess what - All of the museums in Italy are CLOSED on Monday!!!! WAAAAAA! So there's no point in me being here - I've already seen all of the cathedrals (WOW) and all that was left were the Pitti Palace up on the hillside across the Arno!
Oh well. I will decide in the new few minutes whether to go ahead and go back to Viareggio this evening or wait until the morning. If I left now, I'd be back in Viareggio around 8 which is time enough for dinner and a nice walk.
The question is, do I want to pack up and go now, or just do it in the morning.
Have I said "WAAAAA" yet? :)
Oh well. I will decide in the new few minutes whether to go ahead and go back to Viareggio this evening or wait until the morning. If I left now, I'd be back in Viareggio around 8 which is time enough for dinner and a nice walk.
The question is, do I want to pack up and go now, or just do it in the morning.
Have I said "WAAAAA" yet? :)
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Poerty and hard decisions
My apologies for that diversion. Viareggio does this to me. :)
I'm leaving in the morning to spend two days of solitary time in Florence. Leaving my nephew to discover Italy and Viareggio on his own. Well, not completely on his own.... a college student from Vermont, whom we met in Dublin and is on a long summer tour of Europe himself, has joined us here. Nice guy. They will do their discovering together. Florence is only 90 minutes away by train, and they run nearly every half hour all day and into the evening, so I'm gone, but not far. But far enough.
I will admit that leaving Zach here is one of the harder things I will do on this trip. It's also vital. Over the past two weeks, I've given him the space to make his own decisions, take responsibility for his choices, and manage the consequences as an adult. That - after all - was part of the point of this exercise. And that, I can tell you, has given me me a couple of nail-biter moments. The stories are his to tell. He has shown himself to be a thoughtful, intelligent young man with the heart of a mercenary. He is a charmer who wields it like a weapon. He is also polite, considerate, and thoughtful. He's a son to be proud of and a promising young man.
For all he's definitely 18, he's also definitely ready for this.
Leaving him to discover a new place is the final "exam", if you will. He can do this. I have no doubts. Worries, yes. Doubts, no. However, I can tell that I will probably worry too much over the next two days. It's my nature. Sometimes I'm so maternal I could nurse.
However - it's important that Zach know that he is trusted, and is seen to be trustWORTHY. I doubt his parents could do this without coming unglued - which is why it falls to me. Goodie. However, when you know you are trusted, you accept the responsibility for that trust. You can't do this by half measures. All in, or all out.
We have a deal, Zach and I. He promises to not make me a) pick him up at a police station or b) pick him up at a hospital - and I promise to get out of his way. Equitable.
I will enjoy Florence. When Timm and I were there three years ago, 4 days wasn't nearly enough and I look forward to finally crossing the Ponte Vecchio and seeing what's on the other side of the Arno River.
And resisting the temptation to text Zach every five minutes.
He will be fine, and he will return from this trip not a child, but a young adult.
And I will need a Vallium.
I'm leaving in the morning to spend two days of solitary time in Florence. Leaving my nephew to discover Italy and Viareggio on his own. Well, not completely on his own.... a college student from Vermont, whom we met in Dublin and is on a long summer tour of Europe himself, has joined us here. Nice guy. They will do their discovering together. Florence is only 90 minutes away by train, and they run nearly every half hour all day and into the evening, so I'm gone, but not far. But far enough.
I will admit that leaving Zach here is one of the harder things I will do on this trip. It's also vital. Over the past two weeks, I've given him the space to make his own decisions, take responsibility for his choices, and manage the consequences as an adult. That - after all - was part of the point of this exercise. And that, I can tell you, has given me me a couple of nail-biter moments. The stories are his to tell. He has shown himself to be a thoughtful, intelligent young man with the heart of a mercenary. He is a charmer who wields it like a weapon. He is also polite, considerate, and thoughtful. He's a son to be proud of and a promising young man.
For all he's definitely 18, he's also definitely ready for this.
Leaving him to discover a new place is the final "exam", if you will. He can do this. I have no doubts. Worries, yes. Doubts, no. However, I can tell that I will probably worry too much over the next two days. It's my nature. Sometimes I'm so maternal I could nurse.
However - it's important that Zach know that he is trusted, and is seen to be trustWORTHY. I doubt his parents could do this without coming unglued - which is why it falls to me. Goodie. However, when you know you are trusted, you accept the responsibility for that trust. You can't do this by half measures. All in, or all out.
We have a deal, Zach and I. He promises to not make me a) pick him up at a police station or b) pick him up at a hospital - and I promise to get out of his way. Equitable.
I will enjoy Florence. When Timm and I were there three years ago, 4 days wasn't nearly enough and I look forward to finally crossing the Ponte Vecchio and seeing what's on the other side of the Arno River.
And resisting the temptation to text Zach every five minutes.
He will be fine, and he will return from this trip not a child, but a young adult.
And I will need a Vallium.
Viareggio (and possibly all of Italy)
The maestro slows the tempo
and the players respond in kind.
A long day in the Italian sun,
pizzicato children racing between discoveries
counterpoint of parents racing after them,
replaced by the long coda of late afternoon.
The tempo slows further, as the players pause
disappear
prepare for the next movement.
Intermission.
The baton signals the start of Passegiatta
Languid, late dinners, lingering over a cappuccino and conversation
The waiter enforcing the tempo - never rushing,
inviting the players to relish every beat, every measure.
Haste forgotten, or at least put aside.
Pairs of elderly women walk
arm in arm, shawls pulled tight
exchanging endless confidences.
Young couples, effortlessly hand in hand
walking no where, so slowly the music moves around them
Groups of young men
stylish, smiling, confident
plotting their next soccer goal.
Elderly men, scowling on a bench
measuring, critiquing, fondly remembering.
The palm trees sway a stately pavane
as the evening fades
and the maestro pauses
to breathe.
and the players respond in kind.
A long day in the Italian sun,
pizzicato children racing between discoveries
counterpoint of parents racing after them,
replaced by the long coda of late afternoon.
The tempo slows further, as the players pause
disappear
prepare for the next movement.
Intermission.
The baton signals the start of Passegiatta
Languid, late dinners, lingering over a cappuccino and conversation
The waiter enforcing the tempo - never rushing,
inviting the players to relish every beat, every measure.
Haste forgotten, or at least put aside.
Pairs of elderly women walk
arm in arm, shawls pulled tight
exchanging endless confidences.
Young couples, effortlessly hand in hand
walking no where, so slowly the music moves around them
Groups of young men
stylish, smiling, confident
plotting their next soccer goal.
Elderly men, scowling on a bench
measuring, critiquing, fondly remembering.
The palm trees sway a stately pavane
as the evening fades
and the maestro pauses
to breathe.
Final Travel Arrangements!
Ok - here's the endgame for this little sojourn.
Zach is in Viareggio until Tuesday morning
I will likely stay here tonight and take an early train to Florence tomorrow (Sunday)
Tuesday:
I will take an early morning train from Florence to Viareggio, collect Zach and pay the hotel bill. We will then take a late morning train to Pisa for a 3pm flight to London Stansted Airport. Upon arrival, we will take the train to London Heathrow and a quick cab ride to the Heathrow Ramada. We will spend the night there recuperating and getting ready for the flight home.
Wednesday:
Rested and ready, we will take a quick cab ride to the airport for our 11:40am flight HOME!!!!
Zach is in Viareggio until Tuesday morning
I will likely stay here tonight and take an early train to Florence tomorrow (Sunday)
Tuesday:
I will take an early morning train from Florence to Viareggio, collect Zach and pay the hotel bill. We will then take a late morning train to Pisa for a 3pm flight to London Stansted Airport. Upon arrival, we will take the train to London Heathrow and a quick cab ride to the Heathrow Ramada. We will spend the night there recuperating and getting ready for the flight home.
Wednesday:
Rested and ready, we will take a quick cab ride to the airport for our 11:40am flight HOME!!!!
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