Hi! It's Us Again!

I apologize for taking so long to write a blog post. But I must admit, the adventurous Italian couple we were previously in our blog, have taken on a new life……. (but we still are adventurous)!


My adventures begin at 5:30 am, when I leave for school to begin my preparations for my lessons. The highlight of my morning is at 8:20 am when my Busy Bees “buzz” into our classroom to start their day. I am filled with joy when I hear my Second Graders’ stories of playing on the playground, losing a tooth, and finding a frog outside our room. I never know what my day may bring, but I do know, that every morning we start our day, proclaiming that we will “Bee the very best we can Bee.”

Brock’s adventures start early too; with his morning workout and devotions and greeting his players as they enter the school. When the bell rings, he never knows how long it will take for the first rule violator to arrive in his room. But the passion of his profession beings after school, where he meets his Receivers on the field for football practice. He enjoys hearing the stories of girlfriends and love interests, problems of homework and teachers, and complaints of complicated and difficult plays/ schemes they need to master before their big game.

We are so happy in our new roles; both of us teachers, coaches, and teammates. We rush home at the end of our busy day, eager to share our stories of our kids. The kids, that after just one week, mean so much to us. It’s fall again and we’re ‘Back to School’ and back to the ‘grind’ of football season. It’s a busy life, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

My First Race

WooHoo! I did it! And boy was it fun! To some, running for a long distance, for a long period of time, seems tedious and unappealing. To others, they enjoy the challenge; both mental and physical, that comes along with running. I am in between the two.

While in Italy, I really began to enjoy running. When Brock went to the gym to train for football, I would park my sneakers on a tread mill and just run. When I first began, I would run a lap, walk a lap. That became easy, so I would begin running 2 laps, then 3, until I realized I didn’t need to walk at all. My time on the tread mill at first was boring. “Holy cow!” I would think. “Brock has been lifting for almost an hour and I am still on this thing.” But then, when I would look at my distance, then my time, I began to get motivated to decrease my time, and it slowly became an internal challenge.

Once Brock realized my interest, he started to run with me. We would run at the park and to different places around the city of Milan. We would run at the gym and he would push me to kick it up a notch to improve my time. I liked running because I did not have to compete with anyone; only myself. I also liked the benefits of running; the cardio, my conditioning, and my legs and butt looked like I did a squat work out, and you really don’t need any equipment…just your running shoes (and an iPod if you get bored!).

When we moved back to the States, I really wanted to keep up with my leisure running. But with Brock, he always takes fitness to the next level, even with me. So I entered us (yes Brock too) in the Firecracker 5k race that is held every year in Naples, Florida. He wanted me to experience “training” for a race, to push myself to build up my endurance, and to improve my time. A 5k (about 3.2 miles) is a short distance for me, compared to what I was running in Italy.

As we pulled up to the race site this morning, the energy was apparent even from the car. Everyone was ready to just…run. The concept sounds silly when you say it, but when you’re there you want to just take off! I did well for my first race. I am not a fast runner but once I get going, I can go forever. My goal was to run the entire race without stopping. And I did. And as I approached the finish line sprinting, I got an overwhelming feeling of pride as I saw Brock and the other runners who had finished before, standing and cheering me on.

This 5k, in the big scheme of things, was just a little goal. Something I wanted to try, something I had never done before, and it was something I wanted to prove to myself I could do.


P.S A new goal I have is to improve on my speed walking for when I enter my “elder years” so I can speed walk faster than the young runners! It really impressed me. It also motivated me to kick up a few notches to pass the speed walkers! No way, no how was the older pep stepper going to pass me!

The Birthday Boy

This past Friday, we celebrated Brock’s 23rd birthday! Now, birthdays, with me, become a week long event. So, we celebrated Brock’s birthday week! Each day he received a little something and the presents became “greater” as it got closer to his birthday. Day 1, Snickers Ice cream bar (Brock’s favorite), Day 2, Funfetti Cookies (also Brock’s favorite), Day 3 a date at the beach, Day 4 I cooked Brock’s favorite dinner and my sister and I made him homemade Boston Crème Pie and we “pampered” him while watching girl movies (okay, that could have been for our selfish pleasure but he had fun), and Day 5 (HIS ACTUAL BIRTHDAY) he was picked up in a black Mustang Convertible by our dear friends and we went to a great Italian Restaurant for dinner.

Thank you Lord for creating my wonderful husband 23 years ago, and for putting him in my life. He is a wonderful man and a wonderful husband. Happy Birthday Brocky, I love you and thank you for spending the day with me. I know it was your birthday, but I got the best gift of all, you!

“…I have every hope that our plans and dreams will come true. But I know that whatever our future may bring, I will be happy because I am with you.” – his birthday card from me.

"There is no place like home."

Growing up, my favorite movie was The Wizard of Oz. I would watch it over and over again, on repeat, singing and dancing, and following the “yellow brick road” with Dorothy and Toto. I loved that movie! I can relate to the adventures of Dorothy; a young lady, who left home, and went on an adventure. She made friends, made her way through strange beautiful places she had never been before, and found herself desperately longing to be home with the people she loves in her familiar place on the family farm that is “somewhere over the rainbow.” We both have a love for our dogs; although I didn’t get to bring Koda along for my adventure and we both can appreciate a great, spectacular red shiny heels! I often find myself in the company Dorothy did; the Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow. Actually, Brock reminds me of the Cowardly Lion. Big and tough, very sensitive, and caring but he isn’t cowardly at all. Brock is like the Lion, always ready to protect and fight off the monkeys! Oh, and when the Lion gets all dolled up with his curls in that red bow, that definitely reminds me of Brock!

This past weekend, sharing Father’s Day with my family (minus my sister, Christina, who we missed so much), made me appreciate the feeling of being home. There truly is no place like home. It is such a special time being a newlywed; enjoying the feeling of home that our families provide for us, but also being able to make a home for ourselves. I look forward to finding our first house, making it warm and cozy, and starting our very own “Smith” traditions there. So when I am feeling sad and far away, in an unfamiliar place, or consumed in a classroom project for my 2nd graders, or missing Brock when he is off coaching during football season… I can put on those great, spectacular red shiny slippers, and click my heels 3 times and say: “There is no place like home.”

Home is Where the Heart is...

My last blog entry was my thank you to our new friends in Italy and our end to a life changing event; “the big adventure”. Last night speaking to my Uncle Bobby, he shared his thoughts on the blog and I said “it’s done….I sent our love to those who became our new friends.” He said, “No that’s not the end, you need to end your love story. That’s how I read your adventures.” So to my Uncle Bobby, I dedicate this blog to you. I will share what I learned during this amazing time in our lives.

When I named our blog, “Home is Where the Heart is” it had a different meaning than it does now.I guess, to those of you reading this blog that are slightly older / wiser than I am, you will shake your head and smile.

I was thinking, “Ok, Brock and I will do this and put the beginning of our life on hold.” How silly, our life started when we meet in Virginia and it all has been and will continue to be an adventure.

Home is where ever we are, together, at any given time. Our life is full, with so much love from family and friends. Whether we are in Virginia, Italy, or Florida, we are Home.

Uncle Bobby, for our love story and our life adventure, I end this blog with a


to be continued……….



Verona

Venice for our 1 Year Anniversary

Venice

Switzerland

Sushi in Italy

Siena

San Gimignano, Tuscany

Rome

Positano

Pompeii

Pizza in Italy

Pisa

Park Simpione

Castello Sforzesco

Inside the Castle

Lugano, Switzerland

Lake Como

La Spezia

Gondola in Venice

Milano Football

Florence

Monterosso

Cinque Terre

Blue Grotto

Capri

Bergamo

A Fond Goodbye to Italy

To our dear Italian friends who made our experience in Italy feel like home, thank you so much for so many things

Thank you for:
Helping us learn how to communicate in Italian… more or less.

Showing us the Milan nightlife and introducing us to all your friends, and families.

Taking us to an all you can eat sushi restaurant, even if we ordered too much and the owner MADE US EAT IT ALL until we all were sick and smelled of fish.

The fabulous food and exposing us to so many amazing Italian dishes.

Introducing us to the culture of Italian dining and how to eat very slow, oh so very slow 5 hour dinners with so many courses, we enjoyed every minute of it especially all of your wonderful company during those oh so long dinners.

The advice on travelling and how to survive in Milan and escape the pigeons at the Duomo.

Most of all, thank you for your friendship, your love, encouragement, and your open arms to Brock and me.

As we are home, we are excited to be back, but we miss our new Italian friends. Thank you for giving us one of the best experiences of our lives and making Milan, Italy, feel like a home for the time we lived there. We are so blessed to have met all of you. We will always remember the fun times we had with you and look forward to seeing you again!

Since we’ve been home: We have eaten Taco Bell, Subway, and had American cookies and ice cream. Brock even searched and “sniffed” out a Kebab place here in Florida. We have laid out at the pool and enjoyed a day out in the sun on the jet skis. We have loved on our puppy Koda who we have missed so much and in true Smith fashion, we have began planning when we are going to see you all again.

Milano Rhinos vs the Reggio Emilia Hogs

The last game of the season, the Rhinos went out with a... roar? I'm not really sure what noise Rhinos make, so let's just say they went out...charging their opponents. Yeah, that sounds big, manly, tough, and football-y.

The Rhinos were projected to lose this game, but they weren't going to take that for an outcome. 41- 39 was the final score and the Rhinos deserved the win. The entire game both teams literally went score for score, until an unfortunate fumble before the half, by the Rhinos. The second half was the same as the first and because of the fumble in the first half, Reggio Emilia was able to lead by one touchdown. The Rhinos quickly drove down the field and scored to tie the game. Reggio's next drive resulted in a touch down but they failed to kick the extra point due to a bad snap. Fourth quarter was much of the same, until Reggio fumbled which allowed us to score the Rhinos final winning touchdown.

The boys were sad it was their last game but they enjoyed the win to cap off their season. The bus ride back, from what I hear, was livelier than the previous ride back from last week's loss.

I on the other hand enjoyed a nice Aperitivo with some lovely ladies because I REFUSED to go on the bus after my last experience. And it was a good judgment call as well as a good life choice; considering the boys won.



Coach Kreamer's wife Sandy, Cassie, and I. These ladies were my date while the boys were winning their game.

Cinque Terre with Christina & Jake

After Brock’s football game in Bolzano, we woke up bright and early for our trip to Cinque Terre. Brock and I had been before with my parents when they visited, but we were beyond excited to return to the five small coastal villages that make up the region known as “5 Lands.” We spent our nights in La Spezia, where Brock did it again, and found us a wonderful hotel for the four of us. On our first day we laid out and enjoyed the beaches of La Spezia. Our second day was our hike through the five towns. After a small detour, caused by SOMEONE leading the group on the wrong train (that was going 4 hours in the wrong direction), we finally made it to the first town for our hike. The detour only took an hour off our planned hike because Brock got the conductor to let us off… so my mistake; I mean the person’s mistake, didn’t turn out to be such a disaster… just more of an adventure. Each town; Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso, had something different, new, and unique to offer. And as we entered each new town, we enjoyed something to eat or drink, enjoyed the scenery, took some pictures, and made our way to the next town.

Words truly cannot express the breathtaking views and the one of a kind charming layout each town had. We were always surprised to see what awaited us around the corners and cliffs of our hike and we were all so blessed that we were able to spend time in this tropical, European location filled with the most beautiful sights of sailboats, Castles, charming villas, and rolling green hills that over looked the water. Our last day was a relaxing day on the water, eating with the locals, and catching some rays. This trip was much needed after a hard semester ending with finals (for Jake and Christina), a tough football match (for Brock), and well…for me, it was just needed; especially for my tan!


Fresh new eyes made us appreciate our surroundings in a fresh, rejuvenating way. The entire trip with Jake and Christina made Brock and I thankful for this opportunity to live abroad, but it made us even more thankful that we had the chance to share it with our family member and our friend. Living here, day in and day out for 4 months, has made us comfortable and familiar with the Italian way of life, and having them experiencing these culture shocks, made us remember how unique our situation is and how far we have come during our time here.

Milano Rhinos vs Bolzano Giants

Sorry it took so long for the game blog to be posted. Normally it is posted the Sunday after the game, but once we arrived home after 3:00am and woke up the next morning at 6:00am to leave for our trip to Cinque Terre, I figured the game readers would understand my delay.

We rode on the bus to Bolzano with the team; a 4 hour ride. The game started at 8pm so we knew we were in for a long day. On the way there, it was enjoyable for us girls (my sister, the coach's wife and daughter, and of course, me). We laughed at the boys chanting: "Auto Grill, Auto Grill" the place they wanted to stop for food. We napped and before we knew it we were there. The scenery was beyond amazing. Bolzano is at the top of Italy and it is close to Switzerland and Austria, so our view during the game was of the snow capped Swizz Alps. Brock said it was definitely the best view during a game he has ever played.

We were ahead all game but in the last quarter, with only a few minutes left, the Giants pulled ahead with a two point conversion; making the score 22- 21. It was a great match and we were sad to lose by only one point, especially for the game that qualified us for play offs. The boys were heartbroken, disappointed, and even cried. But like the true Italian way, the bus ride back was a party. You would have never of known the boys had lost their game.

The bus ride back was a different story. We left Bolzano after 10pm and we had a 4 hour drive back to Milan. This is when I say: "The girls should not have been on the bus!" The boys were boys; macho and manly. As you recall in a previous blog, Brock’s “baptism” with the team, Jake received the same warming, brotherly welcoming that Brock did. And forever and always Jake will remember his love taps from the team and he is now one of them. It’s funny to look back and laugh now, but all through the night, as we tried to sleep on the bus and ignore the rowdy boys, we were getting more and more annoyed/ upset; especially because we knew we had only a few hours before we had to wake up and catch the morning train to Cinque Terre.





The views of the scenery behind the stadium. Bolzano is close to Switzerland and Austria. We had a view of the snow caped Swiss Alps.







Brocky warming up.



Some photos from the game.

Gondola! Gondola!

Our first trip with our guests was to the romantic, waterside city of Venice. Brock and I had been before for our anniversary and we were so excited to return in warmer weather and bring Jake and Christina. The charm of the city was exactly how we remembered it; water ways filled with boats and gondolas, streets with quaint shops filled with Murano glass sculptures and beautiful, historical buildings with intricate architecture towering in the town.

We spent our two days in Venice walking the island. Our conversations started with Jake and Christina repeating… “We are in Venice!” “We just ate gelato in Venice.” “We just… “fill in the blank… “in Venice!” They kept saying, “This doesn’t seem real. I feel like we are in a movie.”

One thing that we had to do while we were visiting was go on a gondola ride. We scoped out the gondola captains and tried to “assess” which one would be the best captain to make our experience a great one. A jolly, Italian man won us over and led us to a gondola where he assisted us on, and left us with a hard, non-smiling, grumpy man who didn’t seem to want to take us on our ride. We boarded the gondola and were strategically placed in our seats based on our size…okay based on Brock’s size. We were slightly disappointed we were unable to sit together because Brock had specific instructions to sit in his seat, close to the front, on a special chair, and NOT move! Even with these instructions, the gondola still leaned to the right. Although our gondola man didn’t sing and wasn’t jolly; we had a great time singing our version of Italian songs and taking pictures of our gondola ride through Venice.

We enjoyed a delicious full course dinner at a really nice restaurant and of course some gelato for dessert. We were exhausted after a day full of walking and touring and we couldn’t wait to get to our hotel and rest up for our last day in Venice. We sat by the water and watched the boats go by and we took a water taxi to the other side of the island where the train station was. We took our last few pictures and said Arrivederci to Venice. These memories made there would be special memories that only us 4 would have together.


Around Milan.

Exploring in Venice.




Our romantic gondola ride together.