One thing I forgot to mention was that my sister and I planned our next vacation together. We booked a seven night river cruise on the Rhône River in France. We have not done a river cruise. I have done ocean cruises and a barge trip on the French canals but never a river trip. Should be fun!
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So, I had my second cataract removed last week. Glad to get that last one done. I dealt with blurry vision but it has subsided. I now have perfect vision. First time since I was in my 20s. I always feel like I’m forgetting something without my glasses!

I’ve been doing my Saturday shifts at Books for Dogs. Always fun because you meet so many people. I’m starting to recognize our regulars as well. On my walk there I passed the on-going construction between our round church, named Collegiata, and the Centro Storico. Big changes in our traffic patterns. One thing I would like to see are more benches in that area. I don’t get why they have so few. The old men who populate so many Italian villages love to sit on them, the more central the better. It’s a sight I always love to see. Here are some of the (still) work zones and new public spaces, intersections, streets and roundabouts.

I was replying to someone on a Facebook group I follow today. They want to move to Italy with two young children. The husband is an Italian citizen which allows him to come and bring his family. That’s something you don’t often see, young families coming here mainly because the immigration process doesn’t seem have a path to legally live here for young people. There are a couple Visas but they are very difficult to get.

Anyway, this family has chosen a town in nearby Lazio. A nice city of about 60,000 which has all you’d need and is only an hour from Rome by train. They want to put their kids into an International School in this town. I disagree with this so I wrote to him. This is what I said:

I recommend that you enroll your children into Italian public school in your town for a number of good reasons. They are young, they will absorb the language instantly. They are like a sponge now. What a gift to give to them, to be bi-lingual. They will make friends right in your neighborhood. They will join clubs and sports. They will have lifelong friends. Italians don’t move around like Americans do. They go to kindergarten, primary, middle and high school together; they come of age, marry and have families alongside all their friends; finally they grow old together. Maybe your children won’t decide to remain, but if they ever come back in later life they will be embraced like the family they are.

A second, even more important benefit, I think, is that you and your wife will also become entwined in your communities. You’ll be accepted faster. You’ll join the Italians in their errands, celebrations, and local events.

if you put the kids into an international school they won’t have all these benefits. You won’t become known and a part of the community of Italians. You’ll be set apart from real Italian life. Aloof. Why move to Italy and live in a bubble?

This all brings me back to the benches. In Umbertide. Those kids who grow old together here will need a place to gather. A bench.🥰 In the Centro.

The weather has still been very pretty but this week, on Friday, we say goodbye to autumn. Cold and rain is setting in. 🌧️ 🥶