My darling daughter is on a bus to some remote mountain spot in France.  Her class has a week-long biology field trip to a national park where they will study flora and release rehabilitated fauna.  I don't believe there is WiFi and living conditions will be basic.  I'm not worried about Grace but I'd love to see some of her 5-star classmates washing their underwear in cold water in the sink.  Hee hee.  These are the children of people who refer to their servants by their nationalities, as though they aren't deserving of names.  They say things like "My Romanian drives the kids to school everyday."  At dinner with a group of parents one night a mother of one of Grace's classmates said she didn't know what she'd do without Her Filipino.  I said, "My uncle was Filipino",  and she looked at me like I'd just said "Shoe talk where green table!".   An utterly blank, uncomprehending expression because what I'd said made no sense. Obviously servants are possessions, not human beings.  Jesus. 

This week is practice time for me.  Childless!  Thursday I'm taking the day off work and GP and I will go see the newly opened World Expo in Milan.  Can't wait.  Though they've had five years to prepare for it I'm sure lots of venues still won't be finished.  This is the Italian way.  But we'll go back with Grace in the fall and see what we miss.  Tonight we are off to a reception at the school for the Board of directors, the staff and an international IB team evaluating the school this week.  Another occasion to eat too much.  If I must...  xxoo me