February 2, 2013

February 2, 2013

OUR FIRST DAY IN BATTIPALGIA, ITALY

We arrived Thursday afternoon, in Rome, Italy.  The 2 assistants to President Kelly, picked us up about an hour after our plane arrived.  We had a look at the progress on the temple, and they are putting marble up on the exterior walls now.  about one quarter done .  We had dinner at President Kellys house along with the office couple the Steurers.  We talked a bit and then went to bed.  We woke up bright and early and were anxious to get on our way to Battipalgia.  No one was awake yet so we got our e'mail checked up on and read a bit.  About nine we saw the Kellys.  Presdient gave us some contact phone numbers and we ate breakfast and then got in our blue opal and off we went to our new home away from home.  We thought we had a Diesel engine but when we stopped for gas the diesel hose didn't fit.  We put in regular gas and hoped we weren't wrong.
When we finally arrived about after three hours of driving, we met up with the missionaries here, Elder Taylor from Idaho Falls and Elder Vitalie from California.  They introduced us to our landlady, Rita, who brought us up to our apartment, which is really her apartment.
My first reaction to the apartment was the smell.  Wheweee.  It was a mix of old folks home and gross something else!  Then second impression was that she hadnàt moved out any of her stuff and in fact it looked like she had moved in several apartments full of furniture and knick knacks.  Words can not describe the number of knick knacks this lady has.  She is in her mid 70s and I am pretty sure she has not thrown away any container, paper or calendar in 70 years.  She showed me every every drawer in her kitchen, which were overflowing with greasy, smelly, stuff, and she has drawers full of bay leaves, chamomille, and something else.  Bottles and bottles of greasy oily old stuff that smells and is so gross, i didn't know what to do but smile and nod my head.
There were so many things covering every square inch of horizontal tables, dressers and pedastals that we no place to set our keys, let alone anything else.
We went to bed after taking the missionaries out to pizza.  She told us she washed and ironed the sheets on our bed, but I am pretty sure that she didnt
Our bed is two skinny twin beds pushed together.  The mattresses are so hard.  They are on a wired bed base like a bunk bed.  I tossed and turned all night.  I didnt know if it was from the awful smell in the house, or if it was because i had to turn to a new spot that didnt hurt from the uncomfortable bed.
We woke up this morning to our land lady ringing our door bell.  When she came in, Paul asked her if she would please clear some of the knick knacks off the table tops so that we could have a place to put our stuff.  She did box up a bunch of stuff, including the hairdryer that I borrowed from President Kellys wife and a new flat iron I bought yesterday for $90.  I didn't realize that she did that until she and her husband were gone.
Paul went with the missionaries today to find some toilet seats, and  wastebaskets and cleaning supplies. I cleaned and organized.  By the end of my first full day in Battipaglia I feel like this apartment will be just fine and everything will work out as it is suppose to.
Tonight Paul and I went over a few towns to the Maxi Mall which is really nice. It was some sort of celebration for the children to dress up in fancy cosutmes and spread confetti everywhere in the Mall.  We went to a huge walmart like store where we bought a printer, a microwave, and a bunch of food.  We should be able to eat for the week.