Top Ten things I Have Learned about the Carabinieri
This past week I have been surrounded by gorgeous Italian Men. You may say, "why yes Katie, you ARE in Italy". You are correct but do you know where I am EXACTLY in the center of Florence?
I am teaching English to the Carabinieri. This week has been a GREAT learning experience of how the Carbinieri work. These boys whom I am teaching are training to become Marescialli. Which is basically above the normal Carabinieri that walk along the streets in Florence. They will be shipped all over Italy and some abroad to work in stations for the Carbinieri(like Embassies and Consulates). They are very smart and all are mostly from the south of Italy. Where people are more open and fun to be around as opposed to the Florentine demeanor of being closed-minded and not interested in anything that isn't Italian. I was a bit nervous to meet my boys but the first day was very, VERY fun and entertaining. I never thought teaching could be so fun. Could it be that I am surrounded by gorgeous, intelligent men? Perhaps... 
Top Ten things I have learned from my boys...
- Carabinieri think the Polizia are worthless people.
- They think Americans and British speak way too fast. And when asked to "speak more slowly", they don't.
- The process to become a marescialli lasts for one year. (after one year they are selected to be a marescialli)
- Foreigners must ALWAYS carry my passport with them. It's the law. (I am now carrying mine with me
- Carabinieri want to fight in Afghanistan just as much as Americans do.
- Carabinieri are very polite and offer to pay for your coffee and panino.
- Teaching carabinieri are like teaching 10 year old boys, they all talk out of turn.
- When they make me angry, they buy me a piece of chocolate. Then the other students call that student a "brown-noser". A new vocab word.
- My boys think Americans are more friendly than the British. (Perhaps they are sucking up to me.)
- The rumors are false, Carabinieri are incredibly smart. Just because they are from the south doesn't make them not intelligent, it makes them more fun and sweet.
I was so SO grateful when I heard that many of the other students from the other classes wanted to attend my class because they heard how fun it was. I only took on 2 more students to make my total of 20 Carabinieri that I see every day. 20 pairs of eyes watching, learning from me and enjoying the my class. It makes me happy to hear each day that they have learned something important. That is what being a teacher is all about. Hearing the enthusiasm when a student answers correctly, reading a sentence that a student wrote on his own and most of all reading a paragraph that one brilliant student wrote. I am above all excited to see them start to speak more and more.
Each student has a grand story and day by day, I learn more and more of how Italians are in general and how the military works.
As much as I enjoy teaching, this experience will probably top all the rest. It could be because I have attractive Italian men in uniform that stand at attention at the beginning and end of each class, make me smile because as one said,"we like to make you laugh and see you smile", or maybe because there is so much testerone in the room I am high on the energy that they are giving me. I laugh most of the day, which piggybacks on the point I made in the last post. I want to attract positivity!! It is happening.
Next....more news from the most positive sun-filled room in Florence, piu' presto!
Can't wait to see my boys tomorrow!!!
a presto amici!!
WOW! Exciting news...this sounds like it's perfect for you! I'm smiling right now for you
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Sounds fun!
Yeah, the passport... annoying but I suppose necessary. Can't wait to get my residency and carta d'identita' so I don't have to carry my clunky passport!
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Hey-- are you teaching them in that BEAUTIFUL monastery by Santa Maria Novella? Have you seen the frescoes in the loggia. . . amazing and all for the carabinieri.
Ps. I am your Nile Rome counterpart
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Hey Katie, wow what an experience....is that the carabinieri by the train station in Florence? Carabinieri are very cute aren't they? Maybe I'm a little partial, afterall my son in law is one. I can't even imagine how much fun that would be.....I know Sarina was upset about this weekend, but she is looking forward to next weekend....she said 'for sure!'
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What a terrible job! (How do I get me one of those?!
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I was looking for a pic of those handsome, intelligent men, Katie! :-0
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