Sicily & Napoli

We just returned from a 6 day trip to southern Italy. Wow! It is beautiful! Terry, the girls & I flew down to Catania on the island of Sicily, along with Robbie & Mona, Debbie Woodruff and "the ladies" who are visiting Debbie (Ann McLarty, Rachel Simpson, and Connie Muncy). We stayed 2 nights in the town of Taormino. The students & Kyle (poor Kyle) came by overnight train and joined us the second day. The Engel family spent the day at the beach, having fun swimming and hanging out. The students arrived in the afternoon from a museum visit and hit the water like real Americans. See my facebook pictures for the beach. We also got some really good seafood. Terry had mussels and clams both nights.

In Taormino, we saw the ancient Greco-Roman theater that is beautifully preserved on a cliff high above the sea. Then we drove across the island to Agrigento to the Valley of the Temples. We saw 4 Greek temples in various stages of preservation, then spent the night in Agrigento. The next day, we went to Palermo and saw the sights. We actually got to sit in on an Italian wedding at the cathedral. Tourists were allowed in as long as we were quiet. Proud to say the Americans were quiet & well-behaved, but the Germans & Spainards got a little out of control. We also visited the Cappucin monk crypt...look it up on Wikipedia for details and photos. The girls got creeped out after a few minutes (and so did Mommy), and we had to take them out.
After a day in Palermo, where Robbie spent the first years of his life, we took an overnight ferry to Naples. Now that was a treat! We had our own 4 berth cabin with a private bath, and the girls loved it!

We actually stayed in Sorrento, and had a free day on Sunday. Kyle, "the ladies," and our family rented 2 zodiac-style boats and spent the day on the water. We drove down the Amalfi coast, finding little coves and islands for swimming and picnics. The day was beautiful and we had a great time. I am thankful for Kyle - he planned it all and I know we wouldn't have been brave enough to do it without him. The students went to Capri for the most part. Everyone was burned, some to a crisp despite repeated applications of SPF 70 block!

On Monday morning, we spent the day in Pompeii. I have always wanted to do that so I was really thrilled to be there. It is fascinating and also very sobering. The amount of preservation just stunned me. Beautiful frescoes and mosaics, wonderful homes, streets with gutters, sidewalks, fresh water systems....

From Pompeii, we drove back to Naples, and then took a 3 hour train ride to Florence on the EuroStar. That train moves and we stopped only once in Rome. Upon arrival to Florence, we promptly went to McDonalds and had Happy Meals and Big Macs, despite fear of the wrath of Mona.

We're back at the villa, but only for a few days. Our first free travel is coming up and the Engel family is going to Paris!

Toes in the Med

So yesterday we borrowed the "June Bug" (the aqua green Fiat Panda) and drove around the hillsides after lunch. We found a 2nd century Roman villa archeological site. The workers let us in the gate and we got to walk around it for a while. There were a few interpretive signs that had English translations. Julia Rose and Stella kept saying, "So they walked right where we are walking?" It was fascinating to think about 2000 years.

Terry brought the map of Italy, and we looked at it for a while trying to decide where we would drive. We ended up getting on the highway and driving the hour to Livorno where we found a public beach. It was cool and breezy, and we waded in the ocean for a while. We got some gelato in the little tourist area there, then headed back to Scandicci. Once we got back into the Florence metro area, somehow we ended up on a toll road, driving by the villa up on the hillside, unable to get off the highway. We just couldn't "get there from here." We finally found an exit and worked our way back to Scandicci and supper at 8 p.m.

We are having a wonderful time! The girls have started attending Mona's Italian class...I haven't yet, and Mona says I will get Alzheimer's. She's sweet that way.

Today we have an onsite Humanities class at the Duomo and then are eating out pizza together tonight. I stay perpetually stuffed, but am losing weight with all the walking. It's great!

Living on Scandicci Time

We've had lots of "firsts" the last few days. First gelato, first cappucino, first bus ride, first sunburn, first blister, first pesto, first pizza (see photo on left for the best pizza ever), first worship with the Florence church, etc. We started classes yesterday afternoon (Sunday). Kind of forgot about that for a few days, but now we are working out a little routine. The girls are enjoying staying up late. I like the cooler weather because we get to sleep with the doors open and the birds wake us up in the morning.

Today, after classes, Terry, the girls, & I drove to the Coop (Italian equivalent of Wal-Mart) to shop around for a while before chapel and lunch. It was so interesting! I loved walking through all the wonderful produce, meat and bread. We have some onsite classes in Florence this week and get to have a class in the Duomo.

ME - Zeus flashed his one tooth when I mentioned your name!

The Engels hit Scandicci...

We are in Florence, tucked away in the villa all safe & sound, with all our luggage, and most of our people. Had a few bumps along the way with students that missed connections, lost a passport, lost a bag. But all is well. We have a 2 bedroom apartment that is just off the dining room. The master bedroom has a private veranda with big doors that swing open onto it. Everything is so nice - I heard a student outside our window finding a new passageway and she said, "This is so cool. It's like living in a castle!" The villa was built in the 16th century and sits in a grove of olive trees. The olive oil used in the kitchen comes from the estate!

We've already had 2 great meals and enjoyed meeting our hosts, Robbie, Mona, & Kyle. The ladies in the kitchen are excellent cooks - Paola & Leda. Julia Rose & Stella are exhausted to say the least. They both slept a little on the way from New York to Pisa, but it wasn't a restful sleep. Last night, showers and an early bedtime helped out. This morning they are their normal selves again. Julia Rose met me at the bedside before 8 am, dressed completely, hat on, camera on her shoulder, Natchez & her journal in her hands. She was READY.

All in all, the travel was difficult physically, but so exciting and fun at the same time. Long flights are definitely different when children are involved. The weather is great - low 70's - and the windows and doors are all flung open. We can hear doves, roosters, and Vespas going around the curves honking. It is beautiful!
Ciao for now!

Micah Rine Pate
1983 - 2009

The Harding family mourns, and our hearts ache over the tragic loss of Micah Rine (‘06) Pate on Thursday, April 30, in Bartlett, Tenn. She is the daughter of Dennis (’78) and Terri Pittman (’82) Rine and the sister of Casey (’01) Rine. Micah’s roots are deep in the Harding family, and she was a joy to everyone who knew her. Dennis is the baseball coach, teacher and guidance counselor at Harding Academy. Terri taught in the family and consumer science department at Harding for many years. Her grandparents are Floyd and Patty Rine, who retired from Camp Tahkodah, and Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Pittman of Proctorville, Ohio. Her aunts and uncles are: Mel (’84) and Lori Pittman (’85) Sansom , John (’98) and Penny Rine (’82) Hitt and Tim (’02) and Becky (’94) Rine. She is also survived by a host of cousins and friends.
Micah was a graduate of Harding Academy and the College of Nursing at Harding University. She was a member of Zeta Rho social club. Always thinking of others, she recently cut her hair for Locks of Love. She was a nurse’s nurse and the best of the best. On Tuesday, she celebrated her 26th birthday.
One of her high school friends, Justin Mueller, told her once that she was so kind that he knew she had a full scholarship to heaven. We believe that is true. When Darren Mathews (’90) drove her truck back to Searcy, he turned on her CD player and wondered what was the last song she heard. It was “Blessed be the Name of the Lord.” Our hearts are heavy, and the rain has fallen since her passing like tears from heaven. Through our grief and sorrow, we rejoice in her victory in Jesus. As an avid runner and a Christian, she finished the race, kept the faith and will receive her crown of righteousness.
Memorials may be made in memory of Micah to the Harding Academy Wildcat Trust Fund, Box 12238, Searcy, AR 72149
The Rine family sends this message, “Love your children and cherish your time with them...” Please keep the Rine and Pate families in your prayers during this difficult time.
Cards may be sent to:1816 Stonecrest Searcy, AR 72143

The packing/repacking has begun

Well, it's only 48 hours until we leave. I have been throwing things in suitcases for a few weeks. Now it's time to unpack them, organize, check the lists, and repack. Julia Rose & Stella had their dance recitals this weekend - on separate days this year, due to size of the school. That made for a busy weekend up and down the roads to Little Rock. The girls only have 2 days of school left. We're getting excited!!!!!!!!!!!

It's only 18 days...

Hey to my fan base. I'm going to revive this old blog as a travel log for those of you that are interested in keeping up with our summer. I'll try to post pictures on Facebook, but thought it best to share the details of our travels here.

In case I haven't mentioned it, we are traveling to Florence, Italy, this summer to teach at one of our university's international campuses. We're taking along our girls and 42 U.S. students. No - we don't teach Italian students. Three months under the Florentine sun.

In case I haven't mentioned it, I'm really really excited. So bookmark this page and check back when you're bored. You'll be even more bored most likely. Nothing like hearing about someone else's travels or looking at pictures from a trip you didn't take. We love you and will miss you, but not enough to stay home, evidently.

Scary Movie Night

Since it was Halloween last night, I decided to watch a scary movie. I was home alone with sleeping children. So I popped in a movie about ghosts. Actually it was a Frontline documentary (those are always scary, if you haven't watched any) on ghosts. "Ghosts of Rwanda" to be exact.

After watching "Hotel Rwanda," this popped up on my Netflix "suggested films." So it's been in my queue for sometime, while we got caught up on "Lost:Season 2." First things first.

Not to make this all about me, but I'm so embarrassed. Where was I in April & May of 1994? I didn't have cable, not even a real TV - that didn't come until Terry and I got married in December of 1994, I was living in Hattiesburg, MS, and obviously had my international head in the sand. I sat there watching these horrific images, wracking my brain about what I remembered. I didn't remember anything much except the name Rwanda.

Then I thought about Darfur, Sierre Leone, and Angola. Was or is the same thing happening now, and I'm unaware of it? I drove around Searcy this morning (I like to drive to clear my head sometimes, so if you see me cruising by your homes, I'm not stalking, I'm thinking) and looked at our comfortable homes. My brain cannot even comprehend this type of massacre. 800,000 murdered in 100 days, mostly with machetes and axes. The descriptions of feeling pure evil, Satan, when meeting with extremist leaders made my hair stand on end, literally.

Happy Halloween. Some things are scarier than witches and vampires.

But not werewolves. Those REALLY scare the britches off me.