Lessons of Florence

It is, of course, that “living in” aspect that concerns me so much.  When I say “me” I mean FITC.  I mean - well, let’s be honest - my child, my life work, the privilege I get to experience as it unfolds — in all its enormous difficulty — before me.  Today I spent an hour in the final class of one of our English Spettacolare! courses which Carolina had been teaching.  In the final class there is a casual presentation to parents (and grandparents and brothers and sisters) of the work the children had been doing.  Carolina had a class of 8 little girls who were six to eight years old.  Only one spoke any English and this course is created to use theatre to ‘activate’ English.  I sat in the back and watched these little girls act in tiny little scenes in English understanding what they were saying and doing and being so confident and expressive and it was ….. a simple joy.  The parents were ecstatic.  You see in Italy English is - obviously - of growing importance, but the way it is taught no one actually speaks it in school.  It’s all in books and grammer.  And often times the teachers themselves don’t know what they are teaching.  (there’s the example of pointing to a leg and getting the whole class to repeat “egg”  “egg” - among other gems).  This course seemed an obvious assistance to the situation…. to bring FITC into the daily life of this community and work with issues that are important.  It’s these small things which have only taken 3 years to initiate that bring me a sense of gratitude this holiday season.  These “small” things have taken so long to create and do.  A simple room with a talented teacher, a syllabus that’s necessary and needed and 8 little students with happy parents…. here in Florence these things are not easily done.

But I believe in my heart that when they are done - and done well - they are honored and appreciated.  I was proud of Carolina today who hadn’t taught theatre or children a year ago.  The girls held to her neck with great love and the parents have deep gratitude to have seen their children so happy and loving English and theatre in this way.

They gave her a rosebush and asked to continue in the New Year.

They all gave me a small moment in my life where I saw something unfold which I envisioned two years ago.

For that sono molto grata.
Ciao ragazzi,
Bari