Crank it Up

Sept has been a month of getting going again. The month of July was really quiet for Gi’s work and then in August everything was closed and we were away. So Sept is all about cranking it up again, contacting clients, reminding people that they should take care of their health issues. He is becoming a little disillusioned with the centre. Well, it's mainly the smoking and apathy of the owners and staff that are the problem. Suffice to say he is struggling with a few issues. The clinic itself has great potential, and they have spoken with Gi a lot about minor renovations to improve the dynamics and layout, advertising campaigns, attracting new clients, a membership program, introducing new therapies ….he has spent a lot of time counselling, advising, working and generating interest and enthusiasm but Dora (the main boss) doesn't really action anything. He doesn’t get paid for any of this, just for the massage work he does there. So, he’s getting a bit disappointed in it all. He recognises that things take time here but until they are ready to make changes they won’t. They’ve been running the clinic as a beauty clinic for the last 15 years and I am starting to get the impression that most of their clients are part of the family/friendship circle who only get charged 50% of the regular price.

In the meantime Gi has joined a local association that run the Centro Shen right in the middle of the historical centre. It’s much more of a community organisation with a focus on breaking even and providing health support and services to the wider community, lower income groups and students, immigrants etc. They embrace an ethos more in line with Gigi’s. He is giving Qi Gong classes at 7am in a park near the bay on Tues and Thurs, and one Sunday a month. Then all day Tues he is at the centre for treatments. The most exciting thing though is the Centro Shen’s support of his interest in teaching. He gave his first seminar on the Tui Na massage and Chinese Medicine last Saturday; a whole day of lecturing and a bit of practical. This has now lead to a course to be held every second Saturday for 6 months. The manager of the Centro Shen, Marcia, is a balanced woman who is environmentally focused and (I think) has become something of a mentor for Gigi. Marcia is now organising for Gi to give his seminar, but over a weekend, at other locations, outside of Naples etc. He is very keen to do as much of it as he can. He can give a weekend seminar and it covers our rent for the month. Whereas the massage treatments are much more up and down. People don’t always turn up for appointments and there are a lot of untrained massage people in Naples giving poor quality massages for about €20 which devalues the market for people like Gi who are qualified. It’s largely a matter of educating people, about different massage types, the benefits of Chinese medicine and dietics, ways to genuinely improve their health, and effectively recognising the benefits of investing their time and money in their health.

Every now and then I feel responsible for dragging Gi away from a beautifully functioning clinic in Newstead, Brisbane, where he was very busy and enjoying his work, to Naples where it’s a struggle and he is constantly being confronted with people’s ignorance, apathy and the lack of general appreciation for work that he does. He keeps saying he only wants to stay here for a year, but I have a feeling that life will present us with something at about that time that will point us in the right direction. These challenges are making him much more responsible in terms of being self employed and slowly he is recognising the value of his diversified skill base. It’s about finding your place in the market really.

And me, well after some induction, a bit of training and then talk of a teaching test I was called last week by the school to say that I would be teaching a group of govt employees Tues and Thurs afternoons from 2.15 – 4.45 for 2 ½ hour sessions for the next six months. They haven’t had time to do an in classroom assessment of me, but they don’t seem worried about it. I’m a bit miffed really. There has been about a 50% turnover of teachers at the schools (over the two campuses in Naples) with about 8 new teachers starting in Sept with me. I have met six of them, at least I can remember six of them…and that is without AFS name stickers!! The scary thing is that they all have TESOL, or TEFOL or some equivalent, qualifications and I don’t. A few of them are young, early 20’s, and without any teaching experience under their belt except for prac during their studies. I did a bit of teaching last time we lived in Naples and then a bit in Thailand, but it was very much fake-it-til-you-make-it stuff for me. However, I have realised that I am one of the oldest teachers at the school (although most of them don’t realise that either), and the Director of Studies and Manager seem more focused on the ‘younger’ ones before they let them loose in the classroom. Somehow, something has given them the impression that I’m already ‘capable’, although secretly I feel anything but capable when dealing with teaching English and grammar without using any Italian to a bunch of noisy Italians.

Most of this week has been focused on lesson plans and getting myself prepared for five hours of standing in front of 25 adults who have a reasonable level of English and want to know what sort of grammar you are trying to teach them!

I have a stack of writing to catch up on; the story of the summer saga is well under way. I am hoping that I soon find the courage to start sending off query letters for freelancing and that I can find a routine for writing, teaching and planning. I feel a million miles away from my accounting job at home, although I still get email questions.

The weather is changing. It’s raining quite regularly, which is normal for Oct but not for Sept. I am actually looking forward to the colder weather, although the missing boxes mean that I am without my favourite boots, scarves and winter skirts. I feel like I wear the same clothes all the time….I’ll just have to work on a replacement program!

For the second time this week a police helicopter has been hovering over our little quarter, sweeping back and forth as though looking for someone. I was out in the market and saw three lots of police standing around at intersections, one cop waving down cars while their partner stood to the side with a semi automatic gun at the ready. I don’t know what’s going on but have found the heavy helicopter activity rather unsettling.

Peter & the Pizza

We had a visitor last weekend. Unfortunately I've been busy working on the summer story and haven't had time to tell you that Peter Turner came to visit. I remember Peter as the little kid who lived next door to us at The Gap, in Brisbane. He's now all grown up and working in London.

There is something special about Peter, and it's something that hasn't changed over the years. It's his enthusiasm. It makes those around him feel good, and appreciated. He is always interested and engaged.

We hope to have some of his positivity, and infectious enthusiasm back in the city of Naples sometime soon.

Memorial and coup

I spent a couple of hours at school today in training and then enjoyed a girlie lunch with Dana. On the way to use the internet I was reflecting on how much I am enjoying the changes, learning at school and making new friends.

I get online and see the Channel Nine videos of the memorial service for Steve Irwin and end up in tears. His daughter Bindi, Russell Crowe and our stiff as a post PM John Howard spoke. What a tragedy.

Then I'm watching a news update about the military coup in Bangkok. The country is under martial law. Now I'm worried about my friends in Hat Yai (refer to recent blog about the bombings) and Bangkok. I also received a travel advice warning from the Australian Government advising Australians to reconsider travelling to Thailand.

This is a country I love and it's strange to imagine how this might be impacting on our family and friends living there.

I have been slightly heartened though by an article in the Bangkok Post, as follows:

Coup 'should not hurt tourism'(dpa) - The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) said Wednesday the impact of a bloodless military coup on Thailand's tourism sector had been minimal and advised visitors to continue with their plans to visit the country. Thailand attracts about 12 million tourist a year. "As you walk about the downtown areas of Bangkok there is very little to suggest the unusual, except that the traffic is lighter. Visitors here are saying that Thailand is as open and welcoming as usual," said Bob James, chairman of the Pata Thailand chapter. The tourism association said domestic and international airports, airline services and airport transfers were operating normally in Bangkok and throughout the country, despite the military coup that overthrew the government of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Tuesday night. Pata acknowledged road traffic in Bangkok was about 50 per cent of normal -- which might be a good thing. Luzi Matzig, director of Asia Travels - which specialises in European tourists to Thailand - said he had had no cancellations in the wake of the coup. "I have seen 15 coups myself in the past 30 years and this was the easiest one yet," said Matzig, a long time resident in Thailand. "A smooth-as-silk kind of coup."

What a mess. Sometimes Naples seem pretty reasonable. It also reminds me that nothing is to be taken for granted. Our peaceful lives, our good health, our ability to change things.

Trust you are caring and appreciating your loved ones.

J

What's going on?

I'm in the middle of training for teaching English. Have met some nice people, although I seem to be the most extrovert which is a real worry. Luckily my Aussie sarcasm is filling the conversation gaps...

San Gennaro festival tomorrow. Big day in the calendar for Neapolitans. I will write you a story about the blood, procession and crowds.

I have finally recovered from the summer holiday and have started writing about it. I am only onto the second day of the trip and it's already up to eight pages...definitely material for my book. I think I will put selective bits of it on the blog.

There was a bombing in the commercial centre of Hat Yai, major city in southern Thailand, on the 16 September. Hat Yai is the city where I spent a year as an AFS exchange student. Gi and I lived and worked there in 2000 as well. It's like a second home. Five people, including a Canadian teacher, were killed and more than 80 injured. Six bombs exploded on Saturday and the following day arsonists attacked local schools and vehicles.

Spare a thought for our friends and AFS families that are living through this horrific situation.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/19Sep2006_news18.php

On a brighter note my sister Kim sent me a photo of her two sons. That's them at the top of the page. Don't you just want to eat them up.

Cheers, oh, Gi is well, work is starting to pick up again.
More soon.

Beppe Grillo

Beppe Grillo is one of Italy's most famous comedians. He is infamous for his satirical commentary and dissection of Italian politics, economics, power, the environment, technology etc. He is a fascinating contrast to the closed 'free press' in Italy and manages to spread his message largely through his live shows and blog. His blog page is translated into English and can be found at www.beppegrillo.it/eng.

Yesterday he posted the following article which raises the issue of the abuse of children. In Naples it's evident that gypsy children are abused and misused as they beg on the streets, busk on the trains, pickpockets and scam people, try to wash windscreens at traffic lights. Coming from Australia it's one of those things you don't really appreciate until you've seen it yourself.

Ogre or Blind
In the city around us there’s a separate world. A world of ogres, blind people and victims. The ogres are squalid delinquents who exploit children. The blind people are us. Us when we turn away to the other side. The victims are children of five/eight/ten years old who are begging at the traffic lights.
Or they are playing the fiddle and too ashamed to ask for money, have their eyes towards the ground. Children who are beaten if they don’t collect a few hundred Euro a day. Children obliged to steal. Imported into Italy to sell themselves publicly on the streets.
Once upon a time, on seeing a child on his own, in difficulty, we would give him a hand. We would ask his name. We would take him to the town hall, to the police, to the church. We would offer him a sweet, an ice cream, a hug.
Between the blind people and the delinquents there’s a fine line. A very fine line. It’s not easy to grasp. In Milan, in front of a cemetery, the Musocco, the children from the East are low price merchandise. It’s certainly thanks to globalisation. Once upon a time they cost more and the risks were greater. Now it’s all much easier and more convenient. It’s not necessary to go abroad to have the pleasures of the flesh. In a few years we’ll be able to order them at home.
Today I want to publicise a number: 114, for child emergency. If you witness abuse of a child, don’t turn away, but telephone 114. Do it for yourself, not just for the children. You’ll feel better afterwards.
Posted by Beppe Grillo on September 12, 2006 12:13 AM in Wailing Wall Send to a friend