Our first week in Naples

After living out of suitcases and being on the road for a month visiting family and friends, we arrived at the Naples Airport in Capodichino on Wednesday, August 20th, where our sponsor met us and took us to the Navy Lodge at the Navy Support Site in Gricignano di Aversa (a Naples suburb), where Mike will be working at the Dental Clinic and we hope to live the next 3 years.  We kept busy the first three days: registered the kids for school (on base), attended a couple of welcome picnics, and were treated to our first real Italian dinner in town. We adjusted to the time change just in time for the first day of school on Monday, August 25th. Here are Nora and Caroline in front of our hotel on their walk to school the first day, and Caroline's sign of approval when I picked her up at the end of the day.

The girls are both big fans of the school lunches - "Mom, they serve pasta every day!" - and like their teachers and new friends. Mike and I are impressed by the variety of special classes the school offers. In addition to the usual offerings of music, art and PE, the school also offers Spanish instruction for K-3, Host Nation instruction to all (Italian culture and language), and Music & Movement.

While the kids were in school, Mike attended Orientation, while Thomas and I held down the fort and popped in and out of those orientation sessions that were important for me to attend as well.  On Friday, we took a USO sponsored bus tour of downtown Naples, where we got a wonderful overview of the city layout and history and got our first taste of the city (quite literally - Naples is full of smells, both good and bad!). We had fun walking around downtown with our old Norfolk neighbors, the Hellers, and experiencing the folly of trying to eat like Italians (authentic food al fresco) on an American timetable (had to catch our bus within 90 minutes). We ended up running for the bus with our entrees in to go boxes, but the antipasti/appetizers we got to enjoy together at the table made the whole venture worthwhile. I always thought New York had the best pizza, but there is nothing like pizza from THE birthplace of pizza! Here's a view of our family in front of the Bay of Naples, a view of the Piazza Trieste e Trento from our table, and a view of us trying to wait patiently for our main courses.

We spent Saturday relaxing at the pool on base with some new friends (the girls love the pool -- it has a very fun waterslide) and caught up on food shopping/organizing.  On Sunday, we attended Mass at the chapel on base, and then ventured back into Naples on our own using public transportation. We met up with the Hellers downtown at Castel Nuovo ("I never thought I'd ever say 'Meet you at the castle at 1!'," Julie Heller commented), stopped for some refreshing gelato at the Galleria Umberto I, and then made our way to the funicular that would take us up to the Vomero neighborhood, which overlooks Naples and features the historic Castel Sant'Elmo.  Here is the view that we got to enjoy:

The kids got a kick out of riding up and down the side of the mountain in the funicular (although we were a little disappointed that part of the ride was in a tunnel and not outside). We learned on our bus tour Friday night that Naples has 4 or 5 funiculars going up and down the hills surrounding the city. The first one was built in the 1880s and went up the side of Mt. Vesuvius, but was destroyed when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 1944.  That funicular was the basis for the famous song "Funiculi, Funicula" (which was written to commemorate the opening of the funicular and to encourage more people to ride it). I was vaguely aware of that song before, but didn't know much about it. But ever since I looked it up and started listening to it, I can't get it out of my head! Have a listen: Pavarotti sings "Funiculi, Funicula"

Here's the translation (thanks, Wikipedia):
Yesterday evening, O Nannina^[a], I climbed up,
Do you know where?
To where an ungrateful heart can no longer vex me!
Where a fire is burning, but if you flee
It lets you be.
It doesn't chase you, doesn't melt you, with just one glance!
Let's go, let's go, let's go to the top,
Let's go, let's go, let's go to the top,
Funiculì, funiculà, funiculì, funiculà!
Let's go to the top, Funiculì, funiculà!

Let's go from here below up to the mountain, O Nannina, a step away!
You can see France, Procida, and Spain,
And I see you!
You rise, pulled by a cable, quick as a wink
into the sky.
We'll rise up like a whirlwind all of a sudden knows how to do!
Let's go, let's go, let's go to the top,
Let's go, let's go, let's go to the top,
Funiculì, funiculà, funiculì, funiculà!
Let's go to the top, Funiculì, funiculà!

My head is spinning, O Nannina, It's gone up there already!
It went there, spun 'round, and then returned:
It's always here!
My head is spinning, spinning,
Encircling you!
This heart of mine is always singing
the same refrain:
"Marry me, O Nannina"!
Let's go, let's go, let's go to the top,
Let's go, let's go, let's go to the top,
Funiculì, funiculà, funiculì, funiculà!
Let's go to the top, Funiculì, funiculà![

Happy Birthday Thomas!

My, how fast these 2 years have flown! We had such a nice time celebrating Thomas' 2nd birthday with the Conroys and Uncle Matty last night ("O Matty," as Thomas says it).  Samantha Conroy had given us their old Elmo cake mold, and Thomas was thrilled with the results ("Oh, Elmo's World!" he exclaimed...he never just says "Elmo"...it's always the phrase "Elmo's World!").  Thomas, aka Womas, aka TJ, aka the Teej, is growing by leaps and bounds. He has a new big boy haircut, and has developed a strong throw (maybe he'll have better luck at baseball than his mom and dad?). He's also very verbal and quite the chatterbox.  When he enters a room and encounters someone, he shouts out "Hey, (insert name here)! How are you?!" (or if it's a group of people "Hey everybody! How are you?!").  Last week, I caught some video of Thomas reciting his ABCs for Nora and Caroline at the breakfast table, which I thought you'd enjoy (don't you love how all my kids are shirtless at breakfast?!).

Nora's First Communion

 Nora had a beautiful day for her First Communion this past Saturday.  The weather couldn't have been more beautiful, nor could Nora have looked more beautiful herself.  She was so poised as she read the last prayers in the Prayers of the Faithful, and managed to walk up and down the steps of the altar on high heel sandals without a hitch! We had a wonderful time celebrating with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Matty, Omi and Pop Pop and were so grateful to have them here. Thank you family and friends for your cards, gifts, thoughts and prayers this weekend!

 Nora and Caroline with Ms. Dee Dee, their favorite Sunday school teacher (Nora had her for Kindergarten and 1st grade, and Caroline has her this year). Below, our first of many big family meals around the dining room table over the course of the weekend. 

Thomas entertained everyone by showing off his ABCs after dinner on Friday night.

Uncle Matt's bday, Dad's visit and Easter weekend

 We've had an eventful week or two here...kicked things off with a birthday celebration for Uncle Matty. Best part was that Thomas could say "Happy bird day Unkah Ma-ee!"

 Pop Pop was here for Matt's birthday celebration and had fun hanging out with the kids all weekend. Here he his being a cool-dude with little man TJ while cheering on Caroline at soccer practice.

This past Easter weekend, we had the good fortune to spend time with Mary Lee, George and Joe.  While Mary Lee worked at the Lupus Walk for her company on Saturday morning, George, Joe and our family spent time at the National Zoo.  Here are our little monkeys enjoying a nearby tree as we had a picnic lunch on the zoo grounds...

Sunday morning, we attended the 9:30 Mass together and managed to get through the whole Mass without having to leave because of Thomas' antics (though it was a close call).  I tempted fate, though, when I insisted that we try to get a family picture in front of the altar at the end of Mass.

At least we got a beautiful shot of the girls...

After church, we picked up the Murrays at the train station and came home to have an Easter egg hunt in the backyard and a leisurely mid-afternoon Easter dinner. Caroline and Joe spent the whole afternoon on the trampoline and playing superheroes saving a baby doll in the backyard...

Thomas kept running outside because he wanted to be in on the action too (which meant that Mike spent the afternoon chasing him to keep him out of trouble)!

We were so happy that Nora, Caroline, Thomas and Joe got to spend so much time together this weekend, and grateful for having time to catch up with Mary Lee and George.

International Night @ St. Francis

Last night, we participated in our church's 1st International Night by preparing a table about our Irish heritage, which included a display featuring a map of Ireland and information about St. Patrick, and samples of homemade Irish soda bread (the Mary Van Dien recipe you gave me, Mom) and Colcannon (prepared by our co-volunteer Marianne Bullen). The girls were also the first featured performers at the end of the night (introduced as "The Rudmann sisters"), showing off what they've learned of the jig (as a duo) and the reel (Nora solo). They were followed by an accordion player of Polish background, and a Bolivian dance troupe.  It was a wonderful night - over 20 countries were represented, showing just how diverse our church is  (i.e. Iran, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, The Philippines, Trinidad & Tobago, Spain, Germany, Poland, Italy, Belarus, Ethiopia). The night concluded with us reciting the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, with each participant reading a line in his/her native language.  I was so impressed to learn that the night was the brain child of a high school senior, Sarah Seyed-Ali, who hopes to major in international affairs in college.  She did such a good job organizing it, I assumed she was in her mid-20s.  A future Katherine Paula in the making?

Fashionistas

Don't have a ton of photos to post as of late, but hope to take more.  The girls have been trying out some new fashions for the camera, which are a riot.  We had fun celebrating the Year of the Horse at our local mall Chinese New Year celebration...and Thomas loves bath time with his big sis. Enjoy!

Celebrating Christmas

Nora, Aunt Katie and Caroline doing the Hokey Pokey @ Blob's Polka Park

Listening to the Alphorns

Zwei Verruckte Deutsche Schwestern

The end of a very fun afternoon (N & C holding the gifts they received from Santa!)

Quick photo op before saying goodbye

Leaving treats for Santa and the reindeer on Christmas Eve

Dad reads 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to the girls (Dad Rudmann's gift way back when)

A sick Thomas trying to enjoy Christmas morning