So, after many sleepless nights and much deliberation, I've decided to leave Italy altogether; time was running out to find another job, as were my funds. :)

As I write this I am sitting in a hotel room in Vienna, Austria, waiting to catch a flight tomorrow to Vilnius, Lithuania! I found a job at an International House school there, pretty much the same deal as in Tallinn—free apartment, permits and visas taken care of, salary about 400 USD after taxes, 25 contract hours per week, flight paid for, etc. Completely differet than anything I found in Padova. I don't know too much about Lithuania outside of what I read in Lonely Planet, but I figure it will be something like Estonia in terms of culture,climate, economy, etc.

Why am I in Austria, then? Because my connecting flight from Venice to Vienna (then to Vilnius) was late, so I missed the Vilnius connection and the airline put me up in a hotel for the night. Not a bad deal, the hotels nice, near the center, the taxi's paid for, and I even get dinner and breakfast! If only every visit to a new city could be so easy. :)

But Italy was a hard place to leave, and I've definitely had second thoughts. In fact, I probably should have given it more time. But Italy will always be there, and I am already planning to return next year. A friend is trying to get a codice fiscale for me, so I can be better prepared next time.

Which leaves me headed for Vilnius tomorrow at 1PM. I think it is already damn cold there. The weather will be a new thing for me, as I've never lived anywhere that gets regular snow. I figure if I hate it, I can always leave after Christmas when the new sessions start up. I don’t think it will be a bad experience at all, just different.