Interview with Gabriel age 11 and Matthew age 9

Q. List some Italian things that you like:
Gabe: "The kids in my class are so good in art.
I have found 2 true friends here.
Our dog Delta
Toscana
Italian food, especially the torta salata made by my grandparents/nonni."
Matt: "Dad, our house, cani, torte, Puglia, fiori, scuola, Nutella, gelato, and pizza"
Q. Name your favorite gelato flavors:
Gabe: "Limone e Cioccolato"
Matt: "Cioccolato e Straciatella"
Q. What do you think is the most important thing you have learned here?
Gabe: "You can’t trust everybody." and "If you want anyone to listen to you in class you have to speak up above the other kids."
Matt: "To READ in Italian! And to speak it."
Q. What is the best part of school here?
Gabe: "Intervallo-break"
Matt: " My teachers!"
Q. What is the worst part of school here?
Gabe: "The class noise level is way to high to concentrate on work easily, but the worst is the lunch."
Matt: "Lunch!"
Q. What do you miss most about life in the US?
Gabe: "How everybody wants to be friends. And hot fudge sundaes!"
Matt: "I miss Spicey, Grandma and Grandpa’s dog."
Q. What is the best part of life here?
Gabe: "Spending time together as a family."
Matt: "Mamma."

Delta in the giardino

The Dora Riparia, an Italian river is born in the French Alps, it flows through the Valle di Susa and enters Torino at the Parco della Pellerina. The northern windows of our apartment look over our yard and then this park, and in the mornings I can sip my coffee while enjoying the view. I love the greenery, and then in the far distance the Alps. The mountains appear a misty blue topped with pink snow in the soft morning light. I know I am in a big bustling city, but these views are lovely.  I am a country girl at heart, and feel most comfortable in wide open surroundings. We have a very big backyard (giardino) by Torinese standards. It slopes away and down from the house toward the park. There are Aspens and Pines, as well as Fig and Cherry trees. The western border of the giardino is a high old brick wall covered in vines that helps maintain privacy. There are some interesting bushes (I don’t know the names), and miscellaneous flowers, including a few rosebushes. There is a grapevine of indeterminate variety and a lot of volunteer grass. I have never seen the grass watered, everything seems to stay green by the precipitation.
The Parco della Pellerina is one of the biggest parks of the city. During summer months it hosts live music festivals. Usually there is live music until 1 am.... or later. The eastern side of the park often has something interesting for those seeking entertainment, such as a circus, a wine or food fair, or a carnival. The rest of the park is well manicured. There are green fields with wildflowers, large trees bordering the river, a pond, and nice biking and walking trails. There are soccer fields, tennis fields and even a public swimming pool.
The boys enjoy playing in the giardino and the parco, but I think our puppy Delta loves it the most!