Florence and our new family member

Sunday was the day we have been waiting for.  We hired a car to drive us north to Florence to meet our next exchange student, Enrico!  While not the least expensive mode of transportation, the private car route provided two benefits:  relief for our aching feet and door to door service that left the driving to others.  The car was another comfortable Mercedes van, and our driver was a grandfatherly type who slighly melted when Cecily gave him a hug and a big "grazie".  We were amused along the way when the need for the inevitable bagno stop developed, and he told us we would need to drive beyond the next stop to the one just beyond, because "It is more hygenic--no tour busses full of Chinese people!" (He was right, and it has been interesting to see how many Chinese are filling the streets of Rome--usually dressed to the hilt and women in extravagant hats.The emergence of the Chinese middle class is definitely being felt!)  On arrival at Florence, we parked on the other side of the Arno and walked toward the Palazzo Vecchio where we had arranged to meet the Barchetti family at the statue of David.  We had arrived early, so had no particular concerns.  As we strolled, we were struck again by the Disneyesque character of Florence--with its clean streets, good pavement, well maintained infrastrucure, lack of graffiti and other aesthetic qualities pleasing to the eye of the tourist.  In that regard, it contrasts sharply with Rome, and is yet another reason why, even though it may be easier for Westerners to deal with, it doesn't reflect "real" Italy, which is a much grittier place.  As we approached the square, we stopped near the statue of Hercules for a quick look, when I heard an accented voice say, "Eh-Scott?"  (Italians generally pronounce my first name with two syllables.)  It took me a minute to realize it was Enrico and his parents!  Perhaps as anxious as we were to meet Enrico, he was equally anxious to meet us!  It was somewhat amazing that in a huge crowd, we so easily found each other!  We chatted a bit, and then wandered toward a restaurant booked by Enrico's father, Marco.  We exchanged gifts (wine from Central Oregon, vinegar from Modena, a product which can require up to 25 years of aging to manufacture!)  Enrico was incredibly nervous, almost trembling, but he quickly warmed up to us as we instantly took a liking to this polite young man.  As he relaxed, his English improved as well.  (He will be fine in America.)  His father and mother were very fun and funny.  His father, a cardio surgon,  is plain spoken, and represents a more conservative type of Italian than we have encountered in more urban centers.  (It was refreshing.)  He told us that there are 4 pigs for every person in Modena, expressed horror at the idea of anyone being a vegetarian and expressed surprise that pork is not much eaten in the U.S. in any form other than bacon and ham.  His mother is a sweetheart, who is involved in the Italian version of the chamber of commerce, a business advocacy group which is quasi public and quasi private.  She is a typical Italian Mom who confessed that when her older son wanted to go to the states, she offered him a Vespa if he would stay home. (He went anyway.)  We were interested to hear that few Italians are willing to brave the exchanges system, as they find it much more intimidating.  This stands in rather sharp contrast to the Germans we have met.  (But then, I have concluded since being here that Germans are simply Americans who speak another language.)  I asked Marco what he hoped Enrico would get out of the experience, and he cited his hopes that Marco would overcome shyness, gain confidence and learn to be more assertive--traits he admires in Americans.  We can do that.  I asked Enrico about his hopes, and he simply said that he was looking for adventure.  That we can do as well.   Our time together ended all too soon, and we barely had time to check out the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio before we had to return.  Our driver took us to a viewpoint overlooking Florence, which was one of the most picturesque panorama's I have ever seen.  We whisked back to Florence, alternately sleeping and posting to Facebook.  (Our amazing car had high speed wifi on board.  Why can't we have this in the U.S.?)   Back home, we found Bill who had begged out at the last moment, saying he still wasn't feeling 100 percent, sitting in the apartment, apparently none the worse for the experience of sitting alone all day within the confines of four walls.  Now we look forward to Enrico's arival in the U,S,, to a future reunion with his parents, and to a visit to the north of Italy, where yes, Paola, we will try the Toretellini!