Last night felt like the end of the world! Seriously! I have never seen storms like this one after the other-wind, rain, hail, thunder and lightning that shook the top floor of our apartment building (I know first hand since that's where we live). Crazy!
Then the cherry on top of the very wet cake was to wake up to a flood in the kitchen-how do you have a flood on the top floor do you ask? Well, our cooking area has these vents, which due to the genius of Italian engineering, don't close, so when it rains the rain comes in and I feel like Winnie the Pooh in the movie where him and Piglet are floating down the river on the tree trunk...Anyway, after cleaning up the flood I got to go out in it! And here is where we come to the real point of this entry-
How is it possible for a European capital city to enter into a panic when it rains? Flooding, trees down, car accidents etc. etc. etc. People can't get to work, can't drive their cars, because the flooding causes the engines to get wet and stall. It's incredible. I'm wondering if other cities have this problem, and if they don't do their civil engineers want to come clean up our mess??? I expect something like this in San Diego or the desert where it never rains, but not in Rome.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Why I'm here.
Sometimes in our lives we need little reminders about why we have made certain choices, especially in these times when not only our world, but our personal lives may seem to be in a tail spin, or just aren't working out quite as we imagined they would.
I had one of these reminders yesterday as I was settling into bed next to my boyfriend, snuggling in may actually be more appropriate as my position is generally cuddled up to his side with my hand rested on his chest, and all of a sudden this peace came over me.
After a chaotic day, at the beginning of a chaotic week in a chaotic month it was just the thing I needed. Since I've been here he's always been like that for me. A port in the storm, a shoulder to cry on and a warm body to snuggle up to on a cold autumn night. And I remembered why, why I'm here, why I left my beautiful California home to live in the disorganization, inefficient, but hopelessly charming country we call Italy. For love of him, because anyone who can bring you complete peace and a feeling of safety when you are feeling completely lost is worth making that kind of sacrifice for.
I had one of these reminders yesterday as I was settling into bed next to my boyfriend, snuggling in may actually be more appropriate as my position is generally cuddled up to his side with my hand rested on his chest, and all of a sudden this peace came over me.
After a chaotic day, at the beginning of a chaotic week in a chaotic month it was just the thing I needed. Since I've been here he's always been like that for me. A port in the storm, a shoulder to cry on and a warm body to snuggle up to on a cold autumn night. And I remembered why, why I'm here, why I left my beautiful California home to live in the disorganization, inefficient, but hopelessly charming country we call Italy. For love of him, because anyone who can bring you complete peace and a feeling of safety when you are feeling completely lost is worth making that kind of sacrifice for.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Amatricana!
On the up-side, I'm making amatriciana today. One of my favorite things to make. If you're interested, here's the recipe:
4 tbs olive oil
1 small onion finely chopped
1 c diced bacon (pork cheek is actually better and more flavorful)
1/2 c white wine
2 cans diced tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
1 package spaghetti
romano cheese to top
Put a pot of water on a high fire. In a medium sized pan saute the diced onion with the olive oil until it's translucent. Add the bacon or pork cheek and saute until they are almost crispy. Add the wine and reduce. Add the diced tomatoes, salt (not too much since the bacon is already a bit salty) and pepper.
When the water is boiling add a small handful of coarse salt and the spaghetti. Cook until al dente or to the consistency you prefer. Drain and return to the pot. Add the sauce and mix. Sprinkle with cheese and serve hot.
Enjoy!
4 tbs olive oil
1 small onion finely chopped
1 c diced bacon (pork cheek is actually better and more flavorful)
1/2 c white wine
2 cans diced tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
1 package spaghetti
romano cheese to top
Put a pot of water on a high fire. In a medium sized pan saute the diced onion with the olive oil until it's translucent. Add the bacon or pork cheek and saute until they are almost crispy. Add the wine and reduce. Add the diced tomatoes, salt (not too much since the bacon is already a bit salty) and pepper.
When the water is boiling add a small handful of coarse salt and the spaghetti. Cook until al dente or to the consistency you prefer. Drain and return to the pot. Add the sauce and mix. Sprinkle with cheese and serve hot.
Enjoy!
What to do when you don't have a car.
One of the biggest things I miss about Cali is having my car. To us I think a car is not only a necessity, but key to our independence.
Living in Rome having a car is almost insane. The traffic, the parking, the driving. It's worse than LA at rush hour...honestly! There's a huge difference between freeway traffic and city traffic, and I'd much rather have freeway traffic!
So, my point being that I feel a bit dependent, okay a lot dependent on my boyfriend for rides to do the grocery shopping, go anywhere off the beaten path, and today IKEA! I really, really want to go to IKEA, but Matteo is working, and then when he gets home there's the soccer game (Sunday's are almost exclusively reserved to sports, one of the few similarities with the States actually), so looks like I'm stuck! Suck!
Living in Rome having a car is almost insane. The traffic, the parking, the driving. It's worse than LA at rush hour...honestly! There's a huge difference between freeway traffic and city traffic, and I'd much rather have freeway traffic!
So, my point being that I feel a bit dependent, okay a lot dependent on my boyfriend for rides to do the grocery shopping, go anywhere off the beaten path, and today IKEA! I really, really want to go to IKEA, but Matteo is working, and then when he gets home there's the soccer game (Sunday's are almost exclusively reserved to sports, one of the few similarities with the States actually), so looks like I'm stuck! Suck!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!! but a bit sad to be a Californian...
and embarrased to be living in Italy, where the respect for the leader of another nation doesn't last even 3 days.
Silvio Berlusconi, the Prime Minister of Italy, has had the great audacity (probably closer to stupidity) to insult our new president. "Good, handsome and tanned." Are you kidding me? It's as if he has no filter between his brain and his vocal chords. I think it's a very good indication of the state of a nation when it's highest elected official thinks no consequences will come from the words he uses...and in effect none do. Nothing more than profuse apologies from the opposition were heard. As for Mr. Berlusconi, some more kind words for the journalists who published his blunder, and who are apparently "imbeciles." Maybe he thinks he's still singing on a cruise ship, but harsh words and reprimand should come from more than just the opposition.
In any case, getting back to being disappointed to be a Californian...aren't we supposed to be the most forward looking state? The state of the first smoking bans, green laws and such. Apparently we aren't the state of freedom and tolerance I thought. I am of course talking about prop 8. It just seems to me that in this day and age no one has the right to determine what constitutes a family. Why put limits on marriage? We have pushed the boundaries on so many levels and about so many issues and yet marriage is a limit people don't want to push. Why? What change does it make in people's lives REALLY, except those people fighting for their rights? Are gay couples less capable of love? No. Anyone who thinks so is seriously mistaken and short sighted.
Silvio Berlusconi, the Prime Minister of Italy, has had the great audacity (probably closer to stupidity) to insult our new president. "Good, handsome and tanned." Are you kidding me? It's as if he has no filter between his brain and his vocal chords. I think it's a very good indication of the state of a nation when it's highest elected official thinks no consequences will come from the words he uses...and in effect none do. Nothing more than profuse apologies from the opposition were heard. As for Mr. Berlusconi, some more kind words for the journalists who published his blunder, and who are apparently "imbeciles." Maybe he thinks he's still singing on a cruise ship, but harsh words and reprimand should come from more than just the opposition.
In any case, getting back to being disappointed to be a Californian...aren't we supposed to be the most forward looking state? The state of the first smoking bans, green laws and such. Apparently we aren't the state of freedom and tolerance I thought. I am of course talking about prop 8. It just seems to me that in this day and age no one has the right to determine what constitutes a family. Why put limits on marriage? We have pushed the boundaries on so many levels and about so many issues and yet marriage is a limit people don't want to push. Why? What change does it make in people's lives REALLY, except those people fighting for their rights? Are gay couples less capable of love? No. Anyone who thinks so is seriously mistaken and short sighted.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
4 Years and Holding
Four years ago, as a naive 22 year old who believed herself to be a bit jaded and totally mature, I took off for Italy on what I had thought was going to be a year long experience of English teaching, sight seeing, life (and resume) enhancement...
Well, the English teaching and life enhancement turned out to be true, the sight seeing a bit less than I had planned, and the experience as a whole has lasted far longer than I originally thought it would. Three years longer to be exact. And in that time I have learned to further love and hate Italians and Italian life, learning more than I thought possible about life itself and what exactly it is that I want from it.
Going back a few steps, my love affair with Italy and all things related to the "Bel Paese" really began in 1999, though it's roots were growing years before. My great grandmother's family had immigrated to America in the 1860's just around the unification of Italy and settled in Globe, AZ, which ended up being a transplant of most of her families small mountain village in Piemonte. My grandpa grew up speaking English, Piemontese and even a little Mexican, but the strongest thing, that rests still today in our family is the family closeness that comes with being from Italian origin. It's something in your blood, that holds onto your heart and refuses to let it go. That hold squeezed a little tighter when I was sixteen and I decided I wanted to see where my family came from, what being Italian was all about and feel a little closer to the great grandmother (who they say was an absolute pistol) I never really got to know.
I decided to go abroad my senior year of high school, leaving my life, family, friends and boyfriend far behind. It was only 10 months, but it felt like I was leaving for 10 years. My family was shocked my dad was even considering allowing me to go, but I think he knew in his heart it was something I had to do in order for me to start making a life for myself, based on my own decisions and my own desires. Something he had always taught me was my right. The year I spent away from my family was filled to the brim with learning-about the language, the culture the history and the people of Italy, but not only, because I also learned so much about myself. There are surely things I wish I hadn't done, and things I wish I had, but in the end every experience is something we can learn from and if given the choice I wouldn't change a single one. In any case, the 10 months literally flew by and soon it was time to go home and face reality and the rest of my life.
I chose to study Italian Studies, though nobody told me at the time that my degree, without a Masters or PhD after it would be absolutely useless, and continued to foster my love for a country that wasn't really mine. After graduating I decided to apply to grad school, but, since nobody is really interested in studying contemporary Italian life except for contemporary Italians I didn't get into the PhD program I really wanted and so I decided to come back to Italy for 1 year. And so here we are...four years later and holding on for dear life. How did I get here, and is it forever?
Well, the English teaching and life enhancement turned out to be true, the sight seeing a bit less than I had planned, and the experience as a whole has lasted far longer than I originally thought it would. Three years longer to be exact. And in that time I have learned to further love and hate Italians and Italian life, learning more than I thought possible about life itself and what exactly it is that I want from it.
Going back a few steps, my love affair with Italy and all things related to the "Bel Paese" really began in 1999, though it's roots were growing years before. My great grandmother's family had immigrated to America in the 1860's just around the unification of Italy and settled in Globe, AZ, which ended up being a transplant of most of her families small mountain village in Piemonte. My grandpa grew up speaking English, Piemontese and even a little Mexican, but the strongest thing, that rests still today in our family is the family closeness that comes with being from Italian origin. It's something in your blood, that holds onto your heart and refuses to let it go. That hold squeezed a little tighter when I was sixteen and I decided I wanted to see where my family came from, what being Italian was all about and feel a little closer to the great grandmother (who they say was an absolute pistol) I never really got to know.
I decided to go abroad my senior year of high school, leaving my life, family, friends and boyfriend far behind. It was only 10 months, but it felt like I was leaving for 10 years. My family was shocked my dad was even considering allowing me to go, but I think he knew in his heart it was something I had to do in order for me to start making a life for myself, based on my own decisions and my own desires. Something he had always taught me was my right. The year I spent away from my family was filled to the brim with learning-about the language, the culture the history and the people of Italy, but not only, because I also learned so much about myself. There are surely things I wish I hadn't done, and things I wish I had, but in the end every experience is something we can learn from and if given the choice I wouldn't change a single one. In any case, the 10 months literally flew by and soon it was time to go home and face reality and the rest of my life.
I chose to study Italian Studies, though nobody told me at the time that my degree, without a Masters or PhD after it would be absolutely useless, and continued to foster my love for a country that wasn't really mine. After graduating I decided to apply to grad school, but, since nobody is really interested in studying contemporary Italian life except for contemporary Italians I didn't get into the PhD program I really wanted and so I decided to come back to Italy for 1 year. And so here we are...four years later and holding on for dear life. How did I get here, and is it forever?
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