Saturday, January 28, 2017

In Pursuit of My Italian Driver's License

One might find it baffling that in the almost twelve years that we have lived in Italy, never once have I sat behind the wheel of a car to drive here. The excuses were obvious in our first term: with three little ones that meant delayed language acquisition; living in a city build on a hill with narrow streets and driving stick shift--um, no thank you; one car and one driver was sufficient for our family life and ministry at the time; it costs too much [about 1,000 euro] and honestly I was just plain scared to drive here. However, as the years have passed, our kids have grown, I have gained more confidence in the language, our need for two drivers in the household is very much needed, especially with Jonathan's health being so unstable these past few years, and since we now live in a more tranquil city I am not as scared as I once was.

In March of last year I started to attend driving school receiving special permission from the school to do a partial registration. That meant that I could attend classes 2 times a week and start to get a handle on a whole new world of vocabulary before heading off to the US for the summer. I had great intentions of studying over the summer, but instead I got a whole lot of practice driving being the sole driver for our family all summer. When we got back in September I resumed my regular attendance in class, completing my official registration in October. That is when my 6 month clock started to tick in which time I need to have obtained my license or else be forced to pay every fee twice over to start the process over!

My instructor was really good and made class interesting
The first phase of passing the theory exam is by far the toughest. No special consideration is given to non-native speakers or to those who already possess a drivers license from another country, so you just have to buck up and study hard like every other Italian. Rules of the road, signs, first aid administration, insurance intricacies, license specifications, number of points incurred against your license for various road violations, motorcycles including clothing and motor details, trailers, all parts of the car including the motor, brake system, suspension etc., and the list goes on and on and on.

List of license categories. Eight of these needed to be known in detail including cylinders and kilowatts permitted for each category of motos, motorcycles and quads. 
Who goes first?
It isn't just the information that is technical, it is the way in which the test questions are worded. They are designed to trip you up on purpose, which is all the more of a challenge for foreigners. The positive thing is that you have access to all the possible 8,000 test questions. The down side is that you have to work through 200 sample quizzes of 40 questions each to see them all. You are only allowed to miss 4 out of 40! I think I got through about 120 in the book and some on the computer.

When I started to consistently pass more than fail, I signed up to take the exam. You get three attempts to pass and even though I was not completely confident I figured I was close enough for my first try. Remember the clock is ticking?

The test is administered at the "Motorizzazione Civile" in Torino. After meeting our instructors at 9am they drove eight students from our school to the testing site. We had to wait nearly two hours for our testing slot along with about 40 other students. It was a miserable wait of anticipation. I had been up since 4:45am since I couldn't sleep so my brain was already full and swirling from studying since the wee hours of the day. Finally, we were called in and given 30 minutes to answer 40 questions. I took my time and was done in about 20 minutes. I felt fairly confident when leaving and only felt uncertain about maybe two answers. But still...you never know.

The results were printed and posted on a bulletin board. I had to wait for the mass of people to clear before I could find my name and finally see that I had passed! What a relief to pass and a bonus to accomplish on my first attempt! Hallelujah! So thankful for God getting me through this phase.

So what is next?

Now I get my driver's permit and will have to complete 6 hours of drivers training before I will be permitted to take the final driving exam. I'll post when I have license in hand!

*Driving back to Caselle, I see that my instructor is not wearing his seatbelt. He is excluded from being belted in only when he is in the passenger seat with a student driving. So basically one works their butt off to obtain their license only to earn the right to do and drive how they want. Viva Italia!



Saturday, January 21, 2017

Hard Headed

On Wednesday our youngest son gave us quite the scare. We have been reflecting and processing the whole incident nonstop the past three days. So I better get it all written down while emotions are fresh in my mind (although I don't think I will soon forget).

Twice a week our kids carpool with two other families to and from Leinì (10-15 minutes) where they attend chess club and gymnastics simultaneously. This particular day was our day to pick-up the kids. It had been a long day out and about getting things done and I had very little food in the fridge, so my dear husband suggested we just leave early and pick up some pizzas for dinner. As we were just entering Leinì we got a phone call from Luca’s chess instructor. He said, “Can you come get your son?” I said, “Yes, what happened?” He offered very little information through his shaky voice and just said, “He hurt himself.” I reassured him we were minutes away and would be there soon. When we pulled up I saw one of the moms running down the steps of the Guardia Medica* trying to flag us down. I jumped out of the car while it was still moving because surely this was not a good sign.

Top floor: chess club
Bottom Floor: Guardia Medica
*Guardia Medica: Is the place where one can go after regular office hours to see a doctor on call for non-emergent situations. We have had to use their services several times in the past to avoid going to the hospital or waiting until the next day to see a doctor.

When I got up the steps I saw Luca standing with his head wrapped in gauze and ice and blood all over his hands and neck. We locked eyes and that is when he began to cry. He was holding it all in until we saw him. I held him while I listened to the explanation of what happened. Luca was being chased by another kid and slipped while he was running, slamming the back of his head into a cement pillar in the middle of the room. He remained conscious but succeeded in putting a fracture in the pillar where he hit. 


We saw this a week after the accident...um yeah, that is more than a hairline fracture in the wall! All the more grateful for God's protection. No wonder his instructor was SO rattled.
They immediately brought him downstairs to the Guardia Medica and although the office was closed until 8pm, there was someone present to let them in and give them first aid supplies. We were told that he would need to go to the Pronto Soccorso (ER) to get it glued. They offered to call an ambulance but from past experience of being with someone when they had a heart attack and waiting 20 minutes for first responders, we knew it was best and quickest for us to drive ourselves. We made a call back to our friends in Caselle to ask them if they would retrieve the girls.

Thankfully we were very familiar with the quickest route to the hospital in Ciriè from the many trips that we made there while living in Leinì. I rode in the back with Luca and he was crying out in pain with every bump and turn in the road. It was scary to think that he might have a neck injury. He was so scared and kept asking if he was going to die. We prayed with him and told him Jesus was with him, that we would do everything and anything to make sure he got the care he needed, and that he was going to be okay. Then he became worried about his interrogations at school the next day and that he would not have time to study. So many thoughts were racing through all of our minds.

When we got to the ER he was immediately taken for registration and evaluation by a nurse. As we sat down we looked up at the receiving window and saw Luca’s teacher along with her daughter. What are the chances of the timing of that?  She was deeply concerned for Luca and immediately put his worries to rest about school telling him not to worry about his interrogation. It was an encounter for Luca to note that God cares about all the big and even little things in his life.

He got a "Coraggio" sticker (You can do it!)
As the nurse unwrapped his bandages and took a quick glance she noted that he would probably just need some glue. She rewrapped him and put a fresh bag of ice on before we proceeded to the waiting room. We waited about 30 minutes before Luca was called back to receive care. That is great for Italian ER standards! The nurse told me she would need to shave his head to get a better look at the cut. Upon completion of the task she said “la colla non basta” (glue is not enough). I went around to look and that is when my stomach flipped. I restrained my deeply disturbed reaction in front of Luca and immediately called Jonathan back into the room who was making a phone call. I left him with the honors of documenting the injury. The gash was about 6 cm long (3”) and deep.


Luca had stitches once on his foot, so he knew what was coming and reacted with silent tears streaming down his face. I promptly took the seat offered to me on the other side of the room just to ensure that I would not be the next one on the floor. 


Jonathan stood by Luca as he courageously endured the procedure and I cheered him on from a distance. It was heart breaking as parents to hear him whimpering and wincing through the numbing process. The doctors complemented him on his bravery, saying that he was much tougher than boys they have seen that are older than him. We think he received 5 stitches but the doctor forgot to count. I guess it is not necessary for their documentation. I have since tried to count but they are running stitches so not sure how to count those. In any case there are plenty enough!

My precious brave little boy
From there we had to go up to radiology to get x-rays done on his head and neck. The hospital was pretty quiet with all department receptionists gone for the day. We waited in an empty waiting room for someone to get the call and come out to retrieve Luca for testing. It wasn’t too long of a wait and then we were off to the pediatric ward so that Luca could receive the imaging results and final look over by the doctor there. Only one parent was allowed back to the waiting area, so Jonathan accompanied Luca. I waited in a separate waiting room for two hours and just about went mad with boredom and hunger. My phone had almost zero battery and I had nothing else with me to read. There were no magazines on tables, no coffee machines, no snack baskets, no nothin’. I really need to keep an emergency food kit in the car!

Wandering the halls of the hospital we stumbled on this lovely site of mold. Nice, huh?!
We are so thankful that Luca did not incur any fractures. The x-rays did show that his normally curved neck vertebrae had been jolted into a straight line. Therefore, he will need to wear a neck brace for one week. The doctor gave him a full examination to ensure he did not exhibit signs of a concussion and he passed with flying colors. What a relief! On our way out we had to stop by the ER one more time to get a neck brace. They did not have child sizes since the pediatric orthopedic office was closed for the night, but thankfully we had one at home from one of his prior and similar incidents.

Set and ready to go home!
We picked up Emma around 11:15 and when we got home we had to get some dinner for the three of us who were beyond starved by that point. Three times during the night I got up to check on Luca. He awoke the next day quite perky and showing great signs of resiliency in his recovery.

So much to be thankful for!
  • It was our night for pick-up and together we had left the house early and arrived just shortly after the accident.
  • The Guardia Medica is in the same building as the chess club.
  • Our friends were able to pick up Emma and care for her all evening since she did not feel comfortable going home without us.
  • Samuel was at home and remained calm. He said: “I now realize that I am not mature enough yet to care for this big house on my own. I am so thankful for everything you do!”
  •  Maestra Tania was there at the ER relieving Luca of his school worries. 
  •  It was a reasonably good health day for Jonathan, which was such a blessing.

Quotes from Luca:
  • “Wherever I’ll go, wherever I’ll be, emergencies will happen to me” (sung in song).
  • “It’s a miracle I’m alive!”
  • “My life is based on pain.”
  • “I am so thankful that you are here for me” to Mamma and Dada.
  • “I’m glad I have a hard head.”


We have seen an increased measure of tenderness from Luca these past few days through his prayers, affection towards us, and general joy to be alive. The Lord will certainly continue to use this traumatic experience to help him recall God’s protection, faithfulness and care over him. And even though he sometimes gets embarrassed when we share his story, we remind him how it gives us opportunity to praise God and share Jesus with our friends.

Bracing for Change


Emma finally got her braces on Monday. It was a mixed bag of feelings wanting to have her teeth and bite fixed, but at the same time wishing it didn't have to come with the pain of braces. Oh well, such is life for many junior highers. She looks adorable and is getting used them day by day despite their annoyance and frequent need to brush her teeth. The time frame for her treatment is 18 months. Don't worry Emma time with fly! Em-brace the change!




Monday, January 9, 2017

Why must going to high school be so complex?



I dare not presume that with this post I will be able to adequately explain the complexity of choosing an Italian high school because we are currently in the thick of the learning process ourselves.

"Terza Media" (3rd year of middle school) is almost said with a shudder in every parent's voice here as this is the final and crucial year in which your 13 or 14 year old must choose what he wants to do with the rest of their life. It is almost like choosing a major and university in the USA if we had to equate it with anything. Not that you can't switch a major or university at that, but the length is almost always effected by changes. Thus, the choice of where one will spend the next five years of high school is no small decision. We are in the funnelling process of narrowing down a decision for Samuel.

Step 1: Know Possible School Options

  • Professional instruction and formation (3/4 years)
  • Professional Institute (5 years)
    • Industrial-Craft Sector
    • Service Sector
  • Technical Institute (5 years)
    • Economic Sector
    • Technological Sector
  • "Liceo" high school (5 years)
    • Classical
    • Scientific
    • Human sciences
    • Artistic
    • Linguistic
    • Applied Science
    • Socio-economic
    • Music
The obvious choice for Samuel was "Liceo" as this is considered college preparatory.

Step 2: Choose Type of Liceo

For a while Samuel was leaning towards a scientific high school or even linguistic. It is helpful to be strong in many areas, but also hard when trying to narrow down your highest interest. However, as we began to talk with more people and conduct our own research we started leaning towards a Classical high school where a well rounded education, strong in many fields would better prepare him for a university setting and leave the door open to pursue a career of his choice in any of the above fields when he has some more time and maturity to make those choices.

Step 3: Research Classical Liceos

This is really where the stress starts to set in. We live outside the city limits of Torino so we have to weigh accessibility into our school selection. How many trains, trams, metros, buses, walking is realistic for a 14 year old boy to navigate on his own when he has no sense of direction? Can you hear my mamma's heart pounding yet? The nearest Classical high school is downtown Torino. The nearest Liceo of ANY kind is 20 minutes away, just to put this into perspective. Our city only has school facilities through middle school. This certainly is not uncommon and many kids have to travel a good distance to pursue their education past middle school.

15 km (9.3 miles) will take 45-60 minutes depending on traffic

Some school websites are great (usually the private ones) and you can find all the information you need in one spot. Others are completely horrible and make you want to throw out the option just because of their website. Italy is a bit behind in the world of technology so it isn't a surprise, but honestly if the state schools are reliant on recruitment methods then they really need to step up their game in web appeal. (Rant over)

We have researched all Classical high schools within a 20 km radius and our top two choices are based on location, traveling expenses, regional ranking, and "Saturday free" options (many high schools still require a 6-day school week).


Step 4: Visit Schools

Schools have a very limited number of "Open Days" in which prospective students and parents are allowed to visit and learn more about the school. You have to be very strategic in scheduling your time and visits. So far we were able to visit one school in December and another this coming weekend.

We chose to travel via public transportation so we could get a sense of what that might look like on a daily basis for Samuel. Thankfully there is a coach bus line that runs from Caselle right to the main train station of Torino, which then only requires a 2-block walk to arrive at the school. The one way trip took us 45 minutes.

"Hurry Mamma!! You have the tickets...stop taking pictures!"
The 2-hour admissions presentation at Massimo D'Azeglio was very professional, informative and left us with a good impression. It was relieving to us to actually see and hear about the school in person. This school was founded in 1831 and has a long history of tradition and distinguished alumni.


So there are no athletic fields or stand alone school facilities that immediately give one notice that this is a high school, but what can you expect for an old school located in the heart of an old city? What it lacks in grandeur is reconciled in the fact that it is close to many university facilities and historical sites and museums will make for accessible field trips.

A daytime view
School hallway
Even Samuel was beaming after a tour and separate presentation to the students.

Lest not you think our choices are complete by merely selecting a school, now he has to narrow down which scholastic track within this Classical school he wants to pursue. Traditional, Science, Cultural/Humanities, or ESABAC (dual diploma in Italian and French). All will include a heavy load of Greek and Latin.


Step 5: Register and Apply

On January 16, registration opens at which time you better have a good handle on where and what you want to do. You are allowed up to three selections of schools, listing them in order of preference. The school will receive your pre-registration and make the final selection for class openings after the final term of middle school grades and exams are complete. Exams take place the week after school is out in June where the student has to complete both written and oral examination over the entire years worth of material studied. The exam results will then determine your acceptance and placement. We should know by the beginning of July where Samuel will go in September. Lots of academic pressure in this culture, it's just too bad well educated students have very little future for work in this country. (That's another discussion for another time.)

So, that is how you choose an Italian high school...I think!