Italy has very strict employment laws to protect workers and employers alike.  As once one is employed with a "permanent" contract it is almost impossible to be fired, employers are hesitant to hire.  Consequently there are a lot of temporary contract workers out there.  To prevent the workers from being taken advantage of, by law after 3 years the company has to let you go or offer a permanent contract.  In our school, assistant teacher contracts last 3 years.  (Teachers tend to be foreign and stay only 2 or 3 years anyway). After 3 years an assistant disappears and a new face appears.  This is my 3rd year and I have an assistant status.  I went to the big guy yesterday and said I'd like to stay on.  I was hoping for one more year while Grace finishes up with some sort of consultant or tutor contract.  Instead he offered me permanence.  I don't want permanence.  I have no intention of staying there once Grace is out of school.  Of course I said, "Oh, how wonderful!"  There is so much bull flying around that school that a little more won't hurt.  Today the head master brought a guest into the library while touring the school.  He went on and on about our collection of classics, (OLD yes, Classics, no), about our students doing most of their reading on tablets as we are aiming at being a paper-free school, (we have NO e-books and teachers photocopy textbooks as new ones aren't in the budget), and our expert media personnel, (our internet is down on a weekly basis).  I just smiled and waved.  Not gonna risk my contract until it's good and signed.

Grace leaves with the Model UN group for Paris in the morning.  Four days in the City of Lights arguing Human Rights and such.  I went to the Museum of Art in Boston once in school.....

xxoo me