The architect who designed our school should be drawn and quartered.  The school is beautiful to look at.  The original building is an old "Noble House", probably from the late 1700's with high vaulted ceilings and frescoes on the walls.  This building, with it's 2 foot thick walls,  is warm in the winter and remains blissfully cool in the summer.  It houses the administrative offices and meeting rooms.  The large "U" shaped addition was completed 4 years ago and houses the classrooms, gym, cafeteria, kitchens and library.  It's very modern and colorful in design but it makes no sense, especially with the climate in Italy.  Much of it is open-concept so impossible to heat in the winter.  The roofs in the hallways are all glass panels, sunny and bright and hotter than hell these days.  They're also tough to clean as are all of the weird architectural additions like sky-high cubicles and shelving, (for decorations?), and little space-wasting alcoves and hallways.  I don't think any real planning went into it.  Like so much in Italy, it's esthetically pleasing but it doesn't work.  I had a meeting today to discuss what to do with the library situation.  It's present location is in the lower part of a two story space that echos and carries noise.  It's impossible to have quiet time as the upstairs balcony-like part holds the technology classes.  We are trying to find a location to move the 18,000 books and their shelving.  Good luck with that.  I put in my 2 cents worth and left it at that.  I don't plan to help with the relocation.  They definitely don't pay me enough. 

Am now planning Grace's 16th birthday!  (aaaaahhhhh)  Somehow we are going to squeeze 6 girls in this place Friday night.  GP and I plan on sleeping at the grandfolks and leaving the apartment to the young'ins.  Thursday and Sunday other good-bye parties then we're on the final stretch!  I've started packing.  xxoo me