Over the coming weeks, I will be sharing details from our family's recent 3 week holiday in Italy. I can't wait to share our experiences with you. So let's begin...
Before we could begin our holiday in Italy, I had a teaching committment that I was eagerly looking forward to in Prato, a suburb of Florence. It was decided pretty early on, that I would fly to Florence by myself for the teaching and that Rick and my parents would join me either on Saturday night (Rick) or Monday (Mom and Dad), so that they wouldn't have to take additional holiday time from their jobs while I was working in Italy.
My class was taught on both Saturday and Sunday to allow the greatest number of ladies to attend. The two days were completely sold out, which is always a great feeling for a teacher (and her host!). I usually arrive with one extra day before I teach in order to help turn around from the 9 hour time difference and to go over the class kits and see the teaching area so that I can make sure that things will go smoothly the following day. As I was talking with my host the day before the classes, I began to understand the challenges for the scrapbooking retailer and consumer in Italy. I was told that while there are several online scrapbook stores, there are only 3 brick and mortor stores in the entire country! Governmental red tape for those launching a business, high property retal costs, and Italy's current economic climate all have contributed to this small number. As you can imagine, given the small number of shops, the ladies who took my workshop came from near and far. I appreciate that they took the time to travel, many from great distances, for the class.
Of course, teaching internationally brings with it some challenges, the main one being language! Unfortunately, I do not speak any Italian, so each of the two days I was provided a translator. A HUGE thank you to Lucia Taddei who translated on Saturday. (Shown in the photo collage on the bottom-right with me.) And to my hostess, Patty who translated on Sunday. (Patty is in the photo collage on the top-left with me.)
The girls in the class, were such a treat. They had such an exuberant, outgoing, happy attitude, and that made my job a real pleasure. I hope that they each had as much fun as I did.
A big thank you to my hostess Patty. It was a pleasure getting to know you better. Thank you for trusting your customer base to me. I had a wonderful time!
