Mmmm...pizza

I'm feeling much better; almost back to normal! Thanks for the prayers, there has been no secondary infection, and I only have a lingering cough...but you know how those like to stick around. Apparently, I got this flu from the daughters, Heidi and Maria, who came down with a milder case of it while vacationing in England. Alec Forman has just picked up the milder form too (why am I the only one who got it severly? lol). He explained to me, "Don't worry about passing it to me, the girl's passed it to you, and we like to share in our family." He seems to always surprise me with quick puns. He's more quiet around the 3 talkative women, but just when you least expect it, he'll let out a zinger. Today, Jan, Alec, and I were sitting in the living room each working on separate things. Jan was laughing about how she went to the bedroom to do something which she quickly forgot upon arriving there. After explaining that older people have these "forgetful moments" more often than younger, Alec turned to look at me and said, "Hey you, what's your name again?" It was perfect. Alec was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's, so it's good to hear him make jokes like this. He seems as sharp as anyone to me, but I guess it's just in the early stages. The Forman's are very loving and supportive of each other, each in their own styles; I'm grateful for the support base he'll have as the disease progresses.

Yesterday Jill and I hosted a little literary fans "movie and pizza night." Jill thought of the idea sometime earlier this week when we were sitting in the classroom, avoiding eye contact with an ominous pile of papers-to-be-graded. We watched a BBC, 4-hour film based off a Victorian novel called North and South. It was basically the A&E Pride and Prejudice with a social conscious. The movie's plot was about a romance as well as the beginnings of the unions in the textile industry in Victorian England. Good movie! Jill and I both made pizza (my signature chicken/alfredo and her own sausage/tomato). Both were delicious and the other women we invited (all new teachers around my age or a little older) all brought different sides and drinks. Here's a picture of some of us.

Tomorrow is my first day teaching full-time! I'm pretty nervous about it. For one, the seniors all just got back from Rome and will be hard to get into the school mindset. I'm trying to think of a good segue, but so far nothing is coming to mind. After church today a group of my students stopped me and asked whether I was going to start teaching them this Monday. We talked for about 5 minutes, and it was good to connect with them on a personal level like that. After one or two days into the classroom, things will start being really enjoyable and relaxing; I just need to get there! :)

In close, here's a picture I took while walking to Jill's apartment. I'm still amazed by the beauty of this place. We've had a few rainy days lately, and on my 8 a.m. walk to school I saw the most beautiful scene as the mist and fog was slipping in and out of the heavily-wooded forests that surround Kandern like a keep. Really, pictures can't even capture the experience and scenery. Sorry! ;)