Coming to the end

So, I am, more or less, in my last week of teaching in Italy. It is very weird. Last night none of my 5:30 class turned up, so I had no chance to say goodbye to them. However, my 6:15 class did turn up and, being a horrible teacher, I made them work like dogs (like dogs, I tell you!) which, I think, came as a bit of a surprise. Maybe they were expecting fun and games, a farewell gift of sweets and a certificate of achievement. No such luck. I don't do fun and games with children (adults are a different matter), I don't believe in buying sweets for children and the woman who 'organises' the courses hasn't actually spoken to me for about six weeks (no loss there) so nothing doing on the certificates. Upside is that I haven't had to do reports. Like parents all over the world, Italians like pieces of paper to say how well their darlings have done - well, I guess that's not my problem now.

I have one final kids' class today. And I have to say this is my favourite kids' class. They work well as a group, they like and help each other, and they're always willing to try new things. This is the group I sacrificed my 'no singing in public' rule for.

To be honest, I won't miss teaching the kids. I think it's something that should be done by those who genuinely enjoy it. It is challenging and exhausting but it can be very rewarding. I have also come to the conclusion that the teacher should be able to speak the students' language even if they don't use it in class. The coursebook I've been using recommends discussions and instructions in the students' language and some of the activities are impossible for me to do because I don't speak Italian - you try explaining how to play 'Go Fish' to a six year old who doesn't speak English, getting them to understand Hangman was difficult enough and they play that at school.

In contrast, I will miss my adult students. It always amazes me just how much work people are willing to put in to master a new skill especially as I just don't seem to be able to make that effort. My beginners have gone from 'My name is...' to 'At work I have a colleague I don't like. I can say "I don't get on with her"?' - ok the word order is a little shaky at the end but I can't do the same in Italian, and I've been living here!

Changing the subject completely, the weather here has been gorgeous. It is hot and sunny during the day and warm at night. However, and inevitably, there are downsides to this. The first is the humidity. This part of Italy is a major rice growing area which means the surrounding fields are paddy fields. That means lots of standing water, hence humidity. Which brings me to the second problem. With standing water you get mosquitoes. Generally I don't have a problem with mosquitoes. They bite me, my body reacts appropriately and within an hour all that's left is a red spot but I like to sleep with my windows open (to get whatever cool breezes there are) so I have to have the plug-in repellents otherwise their buzzing would just irritate me all night.

The other thing that irritates me, and this is the third downside, is the inability of Italian men to wear deodorant. They may think the combined smells of sweat, last night's garlicky meal and their aftershave make a winning combination but they are wrong. I spend a fair amount of time holding my hand in front of my nose because I always smell nice (at least to me).

On a final point, I currently look like I've gone five rounds with Frank Bruno (an under-rated British boxer for those of you not British). The right side of my face is slightly swollen and my right eye is completely bloodshot. The reason for this? Hayfever. I think an evil imp has lodged in my right sinus and is tormenting me. This is the cycle of events (and tough luck if I've already told you this) my right eye starts itching and watering. My right nostril starts itching. A sneeze builds up and cannot be averted. I sneeze, not just once but three times. I have to blow my nose to reduce the irritation. My nose starts bleeding - not heavily, just within the mucus membranes. The blood dries. As it dries, it starts irritating my sinus causing my eye to start watering, etc. etc. etc. Feel sorry for me, pleeeease.