A Special Birthday Blog

This blog is two birds with one stone! It is my birthday, and also the birthday of my mother. She is very special to me.

This is the first birthday in which we are not together. (Tear.) Our tradition has gone from breakfast, to lunch, to dinner, back to breakfast, and now to Skype.

So glad we share this special day. We are two unique birds for sure.

I love you MOMMY!!!! Happy Birthday, and I will see you in 22 days.

The One in español

I must admit. My heart belongs to Spain. My birthday gift to myself (yes I reward myself for aging...gracefully) was a trip to Madrid.

I cannot explain how happy I am to be in a place that is eternally sunny, has the happiest people, dances with passion, and puts fruit in their wine.

After taking Spanish in university, I still chose to move to Italy. What was I thinking. However, I do get some weekend trips in to the great country that reminds me of the American West, yet has everything I love about Europe. And a Starbucks!!!!

Yes, I did visit a bullring though I am completely against bull fighting. I ate in the Museo de Jamon, though I have been a vegetarian for 5 years. I saw flamenco twice and I still want more. I ate churros con chocolate every morning. I enjoyed walking in a crowd.

Ahhhh...Spain.

Sometimes

Sometimes Italian get on my nerves. I mean, you walk down the street, and they never move over to give you room. They just slam into you.  They whistle at you when you walk through a square, (which I used to be flattered by and now just annoys me.) They eat pasta and pizza everyday. And they think that is healthy. Yes, sometimes Italians drive me crazy.

But sometimes, Italians make me love them. They offer to buy me coffee often. I have never been bought coffee more than here, and that's saying a lot. Sure the fact that a cappuccino from the local café is $1 and the soy salted caramel Frappuccino from Starbuck is $4.50, may make a bit of a difference, but I am shocked how often I get a free coffee.

Sometimes Italians buy me lunch. Score.

Sometimes Italians give you an automatic sense of intimacy, as if you have known them for years, not just 6 months.

Sure sometimes they get frustrated when I can understand what they are saying. But sometimes they are patient with me, and encourage me to learn.

Sometimes, still I crave a Soy Vanilla Chai Latte with a double shot of Espresso in the classic cup with the green lady. But sometimes I am content with being in Italy.

On that note, tomorrow I head to Spain. Hey, I said SOMETIMES.

Where Am I?

If anyone knows me, they may realize how discontent I get. This always helps me strive for better, but often makes me unable to enjoy the present. That is my current situation.

I am scheduled to go to Spain on Friday, and as much as I love Spain, I am already thinking of my next trip...the one where I go home to the people I miss for two weeks.

I keep forgetting that my trip back to the US is a return flight. After two weeks, I come back here to Italy to live the life I made for myself.  And this slightly gives me pause. I am already past living in Italy. I am now onto what I must do for a Master's degree, what will I do after my Master's degree, will I be able to move away from home again. This time in the US, but will I.

My mind is not focused on the present, and it often makes me miserable. I dream of one day being able to play guitar, yet don't take the time to practice (my current excuse is that I do not have a guitar here in Italy.)

Why cannot I not just enjoy right now. As I went to breakfast with my roomie today, I tried to enjoy my cappuccino, and morning dessert, but really my mind is at least two years down the road, in a career that I have worked towards.

News flash to me: I am living in Italy! Instead of forgetting where I am, dreaming of being in America, or thinking past the finger hurting practice, I need to be present. Says Yogi Tea.

Jesseanna: Italian Chef (3)

Polenta

You will need:

Polenta mix (corn bread mix to Americans)

Mushrooms

Onions

Gorgonzola Cheese(optional for Vegans)

Patience

 

 

Directions:

1. Chop onions and place in frying pan with land.

2. Chop mushrooms and place in pan with onions.

3. Boil water.

4. Mix polenta mix into boil water.

5. Stir polenta for 8 minutes solid.

6. Place Polenta on a plate.

7. Mix Gorgonzola into hot mushrooms and onions.

8. When cheese has melted put mixture onto plate of polenta.

9. Eat.

 

Polenta is not a favorite meal on mine for sure. It is very heavy. It makes you feel horrible about yourself after you finish it, (especially if you weigh yourself afterwards.) But this is a very Italian meal. So it is up to you to choose.

 

Because none of the recipes I provide on here are healthy and I so desperately want to get in shape, I am also going to provide my weekly workout plan for your use.

 

1. Run for a half hour 3 days a week.

2. Yoga every morning before calming yourself with a cup of tea.

3. Gym workout of core and legs 3 days a week. (This includes three different types of crunches, inner and outer thigh resistance exercises, and leg press.

 

So you too can eat Italian and look like Barbie.



Meep Meep

I say Italian, you tell me what you think of. Ready...

Italian: (time to think here)

Let me guess, a red Vespa, the streets of Rome, Pizza. Yeah, I have completed two out of three. That's right everyone, I managed to ride a Vespa.

I usually walk home from work everyday, even when it is dark, and after being egged. I am slightly paranoid to venture these four kilometers everyday, so I openly tell my coworkers.  The other night, after leaving the front door in the dark to venture on, I was asked by my new found friend, Alex if I wanted a ride...on his Vespa. Um yes, yes I do. I grabbed the helmut from the back, and hopped on. It wasn't exactly as easy as hopping on because my pants were really tight, but you get the idea.

After making it very clear how freaked out I was we slowly travelled to my home. I say slowly with a bit of reluctance. We were pretty much standing still, which I greatly appreciate as I desperately clutched onto the coat of the man in front of me. (Hint: motorcycles very much scare me, but scooters are a load of fun.)

Because I enjoyed this experience so much, I have to say to all my Italian friends, if you would like to give me a ride home from work on your scooter when it's dark and I am paranoid, I will let you.

Seriously, could my life be anymore of an Italian dream. I just rode a Vespa through the streets of Pisa. (O.K. so the guy was my Canadian friend, and the vespa may have been off brand, but you get the picture.)

Til next time....meep meep.

A Buono or Bene Tutti Santi

I recently was able to go with my roommate to the other side of Italy to visit with her family for the holiday of Tutti Santi.

Tutti Santi is a holiday similar to Halloween except, here in Italy, people are sad, there is no candy, no playing tricks, it is completely religious, and no one dresses up. So, I suppose it really doesn't have anything in common with Halloween.

Supposed to be the holiday people travel to cemeteries to remember loved ones people lost, it has become just a national holiday where people get a day off. So for my three day weekend I headed to Ancona to spend time with my roomies family.

Let's just say it was a treat. Not having a couch at my current apartment I realize how much I miss relaxing in front of the TV. I miss my dog, and my cat being around Ari's.  And after spending much needed time in a home with a family, I began to really miss my own. Longing to be home over a holiday I don't celebrate in a country people would die to visit. Yup, that about sums it up.