If we were going to live abroad in Italy, I wanted my kids to learn Italian.  The International School is definitely doing that.  They teach for most of the day in English, but 2 hours a day in Italian.  Slowly, but surely my kids are going to be speaking the language!

Side benefits that I hadn’t planned on is the immersion into the Italian culture for myself.  When we went to Japan, it took me a while to meet Japanese women and I never really was invited into their homes.  My babies were little and not in school.    Now, my kids are wonderful ice breakers for me. 😛 We have run into other kids from the school and their moms at the gelateria and I have introduced myself and kids with broken Italian.

Yesterday, Aidan and his entire class were invited to a classmate’s 6th birthday party.  Not sure what was going to occur, we purchased a  present and headed to the party.  The couple hosting the party was American, but most of the attendees were Italian, with some French and Spanish and Russian.  Mike, not speaking any Italian, hit it off with the French dad.  I practiced what Italian I know with the Italian moms and came to find out one will be our close neighbor (if we get the house we want) and another invited me over to her house so I can practice my Italian and she can practice her English.    After only 2 weeks in the country, I am feeling welcomed and being a part of the local culture.

Aidan, of course, is not yet speaking any Italian, but played the international language of nerf gun wars and tug-of-war.  Little boys need not be able to communicate with words to have fun!

After snacks, Italian appetizers (including fried risotto and fried macaroni), we feasted on tri-tip with chimichurri sauce and rice.  Of course, wine and beer was also part of the festivities as well as music, dancing for the kids and for some of the adults too.  A mix of pop music, 80’s and Italian ensued.  We entered to Dancing Queen and apparently need to learn the moves to an Italian version of a Macarena-like song that is played at all the parties. :p

We left the party feeling very welcomed into the lives of the family-oriented locals as well as International folks working with NATO nearby.  And we also left with 2 more birthday invitations for the next 2 weekends in our pockets. 🙂