Friday night...

Tonight we went to dinner at Headmaster Michael Ulku-Steiner's house. It was up in Montagnola, which is the town at the top of the hill right past where the main campus is located. He is the Headmaster of the upper school and was the one who interviewed and hired me in Boston in February. He also knows my good friend Betsy from NC because he used to teach at her high school. He has his whole family here with him and he and his wife used to work at TASIS prior to coming back this year. His wife Beril is the counselor and will work with my students if needed. He had the entire upper and lower school staff over and the food was catered by TASIS. From their house, they have a spectacular view of Lake Lugano from the opposite side that we are used to seeing from campus. Basically, the other side of the mountain view. This morning, I went running on a path right near their house. Running is definitely a bit more challenging here with all the hills, but the scenery is never boring! The views continue to amaze me. We also saw a dead little bat on the run. I've been seeing these bats every night walking home, but I've been told they are only fruit bats and not to be concerned with them swooping down on my head...As we walked to their house this evening, I took a lot of pictures on the way up that will be following this post. You can either walk up the hill on the very windy road or walk up a pathway that meanders through quaint neighborhoods. Both are very picturesque! Along they way there are red benches where you can sit and enjoy the view. After dinner tonight we went and hung out at a couple's apartment. Their names are Erica and Mike and they've been here a year. Erica also attended TASIS as a student in high school. Tomorrow we have another reading training, but should have half the day to get our classrooms finished up. Then we planning on heading down to Lugano to go to Blues to Bop, a big music festival downtown. Should be another adventure!