American students are the new Mexicans

One of the most surprising things we've noticed is all the American "students" we've met working at different places in Florence. I use the term "students" loosely since not all of them are studying in the classical sense. And I also use the word "American" loosely since just today, we met a young Canadian who was working at a bio cheese producing farm.



The first one we noticed was at a farmers market. The butcher's assistant was from NJ, here for two years to study Italian, pig farming and butchering. We've met quite a few others at food related sites and markets, a gelato stand a restaurant and some who work as local tour guides. Most are on student visas and are now "illegal aliens" in Italy.



There are probably as many 'creative' ways to stay in a country as there are people seeking adventure. Where once, parents and/or their offspring spent hard earned cash to escape abroad and experience the Big 3 - wine, women and song, now there seem to be endless possibilities. These kids are working on farms! I assume they still find time for the big 3. One of the kids told us they were WWOOF -ing it - Willing Workers in Organic Farming. I kid you not. Check out their website. They're a global organization and provide inexpensive ways to 'work ones way' across many different countries. Who knows, we just might be tempted to come back to Italy in November -- we'll be just in time for the olive harvest!