~~ NaTaLE iN rOmA ~~

This year for Christmas I wasn't sure what to expect. I had mixed feelings about not being able to be at home. But as Christmas came closer and closer and I began to see the lights at night, the decorations in the storefronts and the trees glowing in windows, it put me more at ease. And I did my part by playing my Christmas playlist on my ipod anywhere I went. I began doing a little shopping/present making myself. I bought Alessandro a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Dwarfs set from the Disney Store (can't go a Christmas without a present from there), and gave him the book in English as well (Sidebar: he has a little obsession with the dwarfs, and I still can't remember the names in Italian...gongolo, pisolo, mammolo...don't ask me which is which). For Fabiana and Giulio I had Ale draw a picture and I cut out his hand prints from colored tissue, and then I printed some pictures of him and framed everything in a nice poster frame. It turned out fantastic, but of course it didn't come without any troubles. I had to get the pictures printed twice, at the last minute, and when I went to buy the frame they were all out, so I had to get a bigger one...everything always works out in the end, and the bigger frame was better, but...

There wasn't much anticipation for Christmas Eve as I would have hoped. The day arrived just as any other. Of course I was wrapping and making presents at the last minute like usual, and I was nervous about dinner because traditionally, every dish at the Christmas Eve feast is fish related. And everyone knows fish isn't my favorite food unless it's fried with lots of salt and ketchup. We were going to Guilio's Brother's house for dinner and I didn't want him or his wife to be offended if I didn't eat much. We got there around 8 and probably started eating about 8:30. We finished the meal at 11. We had, for starters, Breads topped with salmon and roe (i tried it...not too bad, edible), shrimp wrapped in pastry (very yummy), Russian salad (which was pretty delicious), caviar (dislike), sardines (dislike), a seafood salad which was cold, and salmon pieces with lemon (dislike)...all passed around one at a time. Then we had pasta with tuna (like), bread and FRENCH butter (who doesn't like bread and butter), and a seafood salad (I tried a few monitored scoops), complete with octopus, lobster, shrimp, clams, oysters and potatoes, etc. Then we had the main course which consisted of cooked salmon (dislike) and a puree type molded thing with cauliflower (extremely delicious recipe wanted). Diner went very well especially listening to Guilio's cousin Daniele and his crazy stories...and having wine and champagne as well.


After dinner we waited a bit before we had dessert. During this time Babo Natale made an appearance at the house. All the kids were so excited. There was four of them there. Alessandro, Elisabetta, Margherita, and Federico. It was a whirlwind from the start with the pounding on the door to the end of present opening. It all happened in a matter of 10 minutes. It was chaos. In that chaos 2 presents arrived for me unexpectedly. Guilio's parents bought me a nice sweater and I got some makeup from Guilio's brother's family. That was very thoughtful of them. But throughout this whole time I felt very at ease, and happy, much better than I thought I would feel.

At about 11:30 we brought out dessert. It was time to eat the monster Mont Blanc that Guilio and I created...

I will write about the creation process in a bit. Guilio was bragging from the time we got there about our creation, but I said, until everyone tried it, it was only Guilio's creation. It turned out that everyone approved, so I then took credit for making it. We also had fruit and after dinner liquor to top off the meal. All in all it was a great night!!!

When we came home that night and put Alessandro to bed we put the rest of the gifts for Christmas under the tree. We told Alessandro that before we left that we had to leave the door open so that Santa could come during the night. After that I skyped with my family, which was amazing, until about 3am, and then I went to bed. GREAT DAY~

Christmas morning, Ale was super excited to get his presents. He loved his Dwarf set and his book. And Guilio and Fabi were thankful for their picture that I made for them. It took Alessandro a few afternoons after school to actually get draw the picture, but we did it.


That afternoon we went to Guilio's parents for brunch. We had a relaxing afternoon with lots of food once again...tortellini, meat and potatoes, meatballs, fruit, bread, and the typical panettone, the cake for Christmas here in Italy. We listened to Christmas carols played by a symphony and played a typical Italian game of cards. Guilio, his mom and Alessandro played the piano together. Precious.

That night we came home, I skyped with my family and got to watch some presents get unwrapped, while the Wii was being setup in the other room. Guilio bought Fabiana Wii Fit for Christmas, but that also entailed buying a Wii to go along with it, but that was for everyone. After dinner we watched a movie, and then I came and skyped with my family some more...I tried watching movies to keep me awake so that I could talk to my mom and Grandma when they got to my sister's but I failed...I woke up at 4am and talked to them for a few minutes, but was half sleeping the whole time. I was wiped out.

Yesterday was our last Christmas festivity. We had another brunch at Guilio's Uncle's Villa 45 minutes outside of Rome. It's the same place that we had the May 1st Party. I was a little uncomfortable when I first got there but after a little food and drink I felt a little better. Again we had quite the meal...prosciutto and mozzarella, nuts, cheeses, olives, champagne to start...cannoloni for the first plate, a turkey meatloaf with chestnuts for second plate, and then panettone, chocolate, dried fruits, and coffee for dessert.

After brunch the kids ran around and some of us played a card game and then Tombola, which is like bingo. I lost a 1.75E, but I made up for that in Tombola. I won 6E. The games were pretty fun. The jackpot for Tombola (fullcard) was 20E. Pretty nice prize. I just one with having 5 on one line. We left the villa around 8 that night and stopped for Chinese on the way home. We watched Slumdog Millionaire later and then I passed out. I was pooped.

All in all, it was a great Christmas weekend. I had a good time. It was hard being away from my family and friends but being able to at least see and talk to them meant a lot to me. Listening to Christmas carols, like I'll be home for Christmas puts things in a whole new perspective...The true meaning of Christmas...Family...love...laughter...

~~ I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday ~~

~~ The FeAsT of The iMmaCulAte CoNcEpTioN & tHe ArRivO di NaTaLe ~~

Today in Rome was The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which is usually on December 8th, and is generally a Holy Day of Obligation. The faithful are required to attend Mass, where they commemorate when Mary was graced by God to lead a life completely free of sin. Everyone usually has the day off and it is also the day that most Italians set up their nativity scenes, and put up all their decorations. In our case, only a Christmas tree. It is far from my normal amount of red and green scattered throughout my house, but when in Rome...

Also today we went to a movie in Villa Borghese, "La Cinema di Topolino." This is the story of the cinema...http://www.cinemadeipiccoli.it/storia.htm. The cinema we went to is in the Guinness book of world records as the smallest working theater. We watched a movie about the history of pizza in Naples and how it came about, "Toto Sapore e la Magica Storia della Pizza." It was fun to see and then we went out for PIZZA afterwards at a very well known Napoletana Pizzaria. Buonissima!!!

The last few days have been full of delicious food. Last night we went to a pre-Christmas potluck with about 30 people. All Sardinian. We had tons of food pasta, curry chicken, paninis, souffles, lasagna, vino, and yours truly made brownies :) Sidenote: They went over quite well, but I had to make two batches because the first one didn't turn out to well. There must be something different about the butter here, or something, we finally figured out through trial and error, that when you bake you have to cut back the butter and add more flour. It's strange. Anyway...the party was fun. There was Christmas music playing and people wearing santa hats. Alessandro was having a blast eventhough he was the only kid there. We had a gift exchange...something worth 5 euros. Guilio and Fabiana both got chocolates, Alessandro a bank, which he loved, and me...Cow salt and pepper shakers....go figure. The girl from Wisconsin gets the cow present.

Although, I am not back home where every house is littered with lights, faded plastic santas, and candy canes, there is still a feeling of Christmas in the air. There are a lot more decorations here than I thought, especially on this one street we passed tonight. I will be going back there with my Ipod blasting its christmas playlist and wandering the streets with all the lights. It made me happy. Hopefully I can get some pictures of everything. But...

After the long weekend, It's back to the grind tomorrow. Same stuff, just a different day. I believe I will be coming home around the end of January...and I can't wait!

Buonanotte a tutti!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

~~ ThINgS tO Be ThANkFuL fOR ~~ GoBbLe gObBLe ~~

This year for Thanksgiving I was a little nervous. It was going to be my first major holiday away from my family, although I have an amazing one here in Rome, I wasn't sure what the day was going to entail. About a week before, we started to talk amongst our friends about what we wanted to do. We decided to do a full out Turkey day at Erin and Paolo's house...Thanks for new lifelong friends!

I knew this wasn't going to be a "normal" thanksgiving but that's all relative. The day before I went to the grocery store to get my ingredients I needed to make the dishes I was bringing. I was making brown sugar carrots, green beans wrapped in bacon, and a Chocolate Meringue pie (everyone knows this girl dislikes both pumpkin and apple pie...so chocoalte it was). At the grocery store I went up to the butcher counter to get the prosciutto/bacon. I asked for "20 fette sottili" (pieces thinly sliced), but all I heard was thump, thump, thump while I was getting the butter. I walked backed over to the counter and saw he was cutting them by hand, and asked him to stop because I needed them very thin. He said it wasn't possible to do and that was that...I got some different stuff and proceeded on my way. I had to go to three different supermarkets to find a round pie tin before I found one. Thanks for presliced bacon and round pie tins.

I got home with all my goodies and started blanching my beans I got at the market, chopping carrots, whisking melted chocolate, weighing all my ingredients after converting them all to metric system...such a pain, and using a baby bottle to measure the liquids...I was getting nervous about the outcome of everything. Things were moving along and then I realized, after trying, I didn't know how to turn on the oven. Luckily we had a toaster oven, and I used that to cook the pie. Thanks for baby bottles to measure and toaster ovens!

After I finished the dishes, I realized I was running late, like usual, and had to change and figure out how to pack all this stuff. I had two pans of carrots and one of beans, a big pot for mulled wine, and the fragile pie. I walked the 10 minutes to the bus stop with ease, it came in 5 minutes and was able to sit down when I got on. We arrived at my stop and I got off, walked the 5 minutes to the next stop, and caught that bus with ease as well. I wasn't able to sit and everyone stared at me with all this stuff in my hands...typical. As we climbed the hill more and more people got on and I was pinned in the aisle holding the heavy food with one arm and the big pot with the other...I can't imagine what I looked like. This lasted for an excruciating 15 minutes that felt like forever and had to force my way off the bus...the entire time worrying about my pie. Thanks for buses that got me to Erin and Paolo's.

I got to Erin and Paolo's and they were just putting in the first round of 4 chickens. We didn't have enough room for a turkey, and would have to have bought it on Wednesday with no place to store it, so chickens it was. I immediately threw down the food and ran to find the Packer game...of course making sure the pie was ok first. We watched the game in streaming...and I talked to my family on skype. Thanks for technology so I could watch the game and see my family!

At this time the Packers had one a great game and everyone started arriving...old friends and new faces. People mingled and drank mulled wine while we were cooking the feast. There was so much food...6 chickens, 20 potatoes, 20 bundles of beans, 2 pans pasta al forno, 1 pan of carrots, bruschetta, gravy (i made all by myself from scratch...you proud grandmas???), 3 pies, pumpkin, apple, and chocolate...and people from all over the world...Guatemala, Austrailia, Spain, Argentina, and America. Everything was delicious! I was worried for nothing. Even though there were no mashed potatoes, we survived, and everyone had a great time. Thanks for a great international Thanksgiving in Rome and a PACKER WIN!

I of course missed my family and friends but it sounds like you all had quite a lovely holiday. I will hopefully have some pictures, but unfortunately I forgot my camera, of course. Thanks for my family and friends who love me even though I am so far away!

The following night we went out for Paolo's birthday. We had a great dinner at Luzzi's Trattoria followed by some limoncello...which they just leave the entire bottle on your table. I haven't quite figured that one out yet.

On another slightly different note: Since I started hanging out with Erin, we have been cooking up a storm. We started with Sunday Fundays and just making pizzas from scratch...then we went on to cookies, and muffins, and tortillas...(our first two attempts at chocolate chip cookies were disasters). We have mastered that problem...less butter, hotter oven, and a bit more flour...and now I have started to cook things at home more. I made brownies the other day for Guilio. They turned out pretty well, considering it was a recipe I had never made before and it called for fruity olive oil and I used regular. I was already taking a risk making olive oil brownies to begin with, but I just added an extra teaspoon of vanilla and they were good to go. I did, however, forget that I didn't know how to turn on the oven...still, and had to cook them in the toaster oven again.

I will be making brownies again for a dinner that we are going to tomorrow. I am going to make the regular chewy brownies for tomorrow...real American style :)

Also, Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas here. There are a lot more lights and decorations here then I thought there was going to be. It makes me happy. This is my favorite time of the year. This Tuesday is "festa" for the Italians. It is the day when EVERYTHING is closed, everyone is off, and they put up their decorations and tree, but it's really the day of the "Immaculate Conception." Everything will be closed Tuesday for sure, and probably tomorrow too. Tonight is St. Nick's and it will be the first Christmas without a stocking...strange. I think I might go buy a few decorations to make it feel more like home :)

~~ A ThiNg ThAt MaDe Me GigGLe OgGi ~~

So I was on the metro today and it was crowded but I managed to see across the way...
There were three men, probably between 25-35, who all had large Disney Store bags. They sat there the whole time I was riding the metro chatting with each other about what they got. It was too funny. Just not something that you see everyday. I wish I could have taken a picture.

Oh and I also got some medicine for my ears today. I have to do this funky aerosol with different medicines...It's strange. The machine is really loud, and it takes like 15 minutes for it to all become steam...The Italian way I guess. Another one of the medicines is supposed to make me drowsy...so far, no dice. But I am off to try and sleep.

Buonanotte!

~~ OdDs anD eNds ~~

A note about my last post...
I did get a chance to go take some pictures of the commemoration of the Berlin Wall here on the Spanish Steps. Here they are...



Today has been a pretty good day. I went for a run this morning and then ran some errands and had coffee with a friend. Now I am just sitting at home waiting for my mom to come and skype with me...hoping to catch the packer game in about an hour. (no luck...)

This week went by so quickly...they all seem to do that lately. Tuesday, I again went to the bar to find out when I worked, but again found my name not on the schedule. I spoke with the "new owner" and he went through this big spiel about why I wasn't on the schedule...because he didn't know me...because he forgot I worked here...he didn't know my work eithic...every excuse in the book. AND then the truth came out. He doesn't really want Americans working in the bar anymore, he's slowing weeding us all out of the schedule...but little does he know they are all going to quit. So take that one Guiseppe!!! He told me we want to be treated like Americans but get all the advantages of being Italian...whatever that means...So now I look for another job. No biggie...

Wednesday I went boot shopping...sounds fun but in reality it's not. I can't find any boots here that fit over my calves...There is definitely a difference between Italian calves and American calves. Guess I better start running...I did end up finding a pair at an outlet store. They were only 30E!!! A steal considering all of the cheap boots here cost around 40E. I know mom...I even find the bargains here :)

Thursday I got to go to a dinner with Guilio at the house of the American Ambassador here. I got to dress up in fancy clothes. It was fun but we were going on the vespa and I kind of forgot about that. Needless to say I had helmet hair when we got there. Guilio teaches in a program here for Americans called...insert brainfart here...so that is why were invited. Funny story...When we first arrived we dropped off our coats with a coat checker and then proceeded to go into another room because Giulio saw one of his colleagues. The only thing is we didn't see the line of people waiting to go in to this other room. When we came through the door there were about 5 important people waiting to shake our hands...We both passed thorough the line and then Giulio stopped in his tracks and turned around and asked me if we just skipped the line. I turned around and looked and saw that yes we did. Giulio then saw that the first person in line was the Ambassador of Italy...WHOOPS!!! The food was delicious...the garden amazing...and the house magnificent. I even got the opportunity to speak with an Italian woman here about how to make chocolate chip cookies better...3 times trying...all failures in their own way...she gave me some pointers so hopefully the fourth time will be a charm. :)

Friday I went to the doctor. This was a trip. I had to catch the train to La Dispoli. I was going to one of Giulio's friends. I arrived at the train station 10 minutes before the train was supposed to leave. I got my tickets but couldn't figure out which platform I needed to be on. I asked two people but they weren't sure...so I ran back to the ticket window and asked. She said, "Binario 2." So I went back up on to #2. The train was supposed to leave the station at 9:50...that came and went and so did about 4 trains on different tracks. I was starting to think I was on the wrong one, a train came and I got on. About 10 minutes into the ride I was asked for my ticket and reassured I was on the right train.
When I got to La Dispoli I met with Dr. Gentilli, got some good news and bad news, a prescription, and jumped back on the train for a half hour ride back to Rome. The train ride was really relaxing and it was only 5E. I might just do that more often. Although I had a group of drunk American tourists who thought I was an Italian girl. When I got on the train I asked if I the seat was open in Italian and they just motioned for me to sit. After while they started chatting about me and the other Italians on the train and how none of us speak English. I just thought it was quite funny.

Saturday was a pretty quiet day. We went to the opening of a new museum here in Rome. We just went to see the building. It was pretty amazing. I liked it a lot. The architecture is very contemporary which is very strange for Rome. Here's a link to an article:

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=12789

That night Giulio's parents came over for dinner, and then Fabiana and I went to a graduation party for her cousin. We bonded on the way there and talked about boys and stuff. It was pretty fun. It was at the bar that her cousin's, Tiziana, friend owned. The bar itself was really neat. It looked like it was an old place where they stored water or something. It was circular and had built in booths in the walls. There was tons of food and drinks to go around and a delicious torta to top off the night. We got home around 2 and Fabiana and I were exhausted.

As I said before...this morning I got up and went for a run. It was great. Went for coffee etc...and then came home worked on some stuff and then we went to a birthday party for Daniele. He turned one today and is the baby that lives downstairs who cries all the time. After that we went to the Pizzeria for dinner...and then I came home to try and find the packer game...no luck...nothing would work. Better luck next time. At least they won!!! GO PACK!!!

Adios for now...

~~ CrAZy DaYS ~~

So the last few weeks have been a little crazy...

I have been all over the place...well in Rome but...just going a little rollercoaster ride. Life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful ride...

Today I gave Alessandro his first time out...he decided he wanted to rip up a page in "Lilli e il Vagabondo" (Lady and the tramp), and crumple it up and pretend it was a ball. The book was one of Guilio's from when he was little. It was a little beat up already but still...Let's just say he was one of the best kid's that every took a 2 minute timeout. I was amazed. Anyway...after words I asked him if he understood what he did and he said "yes" and proceeded to give me a kiss and asked me to read him a book. It was cute.

I am still going to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which I enjoy. Although, the first couple of weeks after we changed classes it was frustrating because I was relearning things that I already learned, but I stuck it out and the class is ok now. It's only a class of women...A few Americans, whom are very nice, a lady from Russia, she is great...I like her a lot, but my favorite one is little old Lucy...

Lucy is a nun from Holland...She has lived in England for the past 11 years and she has 5 sisters and also had a brother that passed away about a year ago. She has come to Rome to work in a church here that is near the Spanish Steps. Every day for our "pausa" (our 15 minute coffee break) we go to get coffee and she tells me stories. It's great. She has been everywhere in the world helping other people and living her life. She offered to pay for my coffee one day which was very generous...and then the next, and she has offered about 5 times now. I try to pay but she says no...She says she is a very fortunate woman who's brother left her quite a bit of money and she enjoys helping people. It brings her joy. Sometimes I feel bad for her because she has difficulty in class but then I remember how much she has done and how much she has seen in this world and I know that she is strong and it probably doesn't bother her as much as it does me, but still. I enjoy having her around.

Speaking of school...When I go to school I always grab the free Metro Giornale before I get on the metro so I have something to read...although trying to read when you are packed in like sardines isn't the easiest thing in the world...anyway...I read as much as I can about the news from around the world...eventhough I don't understand everything...I came across an article about the Berlin wall...Last Tuesday was the 20 year anniversary of the fall of the wall. There was a small picture that was above the article. I didn't realize it at the time, but when I came out of the metro and walked passed the Spanish steps I realized that the picture and what I saw was the same. A group of students had recreated a portion of the wall and it was there on the steps. It was great. I hope it is still there tomorrow so I can get a picture of it.

In no particular order...

~~I ate a chestnut for the first time...not sure how I felt about it the first time...It kind of tasted like ham...I thought only squirrels at them.

~~We started Sunday Fundays!!! in Rome. I go to a friends house and we hang out and cook, watch movies, games, or whatever is on, and eat...It's great. Sometimes we may crack open a bottiglia di vino or a beer now and then ;)

~~I have attempted to bake cookies with my friend Erin...which we haven't had real success. We've tried both chocolate chip and oatmeal. They always turn into one big buttery cookie...The boys eat them if nothing else.

~~I did a load of laundry and the drain wasn't hanging over the tub, so when I came home with Alessandro after the park there was a little bit of a flood in the bathroom. Not really my fault because the housekeeper was her in the morning and if I would have told him that there was laundry in there maybe he would have remembered to put it back...

~~On a brighter note...Ale is starting to speak quite a bit of English, which is fun.

~~I learned to make flour tortillas...so easy...who would have thought.

~~I realized that when I go shopping for a pair of boots here I shouldn't be too optimistic because I have American calves and they don't fit in most boots...and it's really hard to find a size 41...

~~I have my first real ailment here...a double ear infection. SWEET!!!!

~~I miss my family and hope that my lil bretters, emily, and robert get better soon, especially Robert so he can read the "word of the day" tomorrow at school. Only 10 first graders get to do it all year.

~~I went for what I thought was going to be an easy morning jog in Villa Pamphili with a very tall guy from Holland whose stride was quite a bit larger than mine...let's just say I was sore for about a week afterwards, but it was a gorgeous day! The sun was shining and it was warm.

~~I got another letter from my Grandma Rudy today which brought a giant smile to my face...and made the news of me not being able to work at the bar anymore a little more bearable...still searching for a new job.

~~I bought a new sweater the other day :)

~~I got a great package from my friend LYNN!!!!!!!!!!!! Loved it...I wore the scarf she got me the other day, and the socks today...because all my other ones were dirty...

~~Got news that one of my friends is coming to visit the second week in December.

~~I want to plan a trip to Venice sometime soon.

~~I am going to be babysitting at home friday night so anyone that wants to skype please call me. I will find a lot to do but it would be nice to hear from people :)


Now I have to put some eardrops in and head to bed...it's past my bedtime, and if I want any clean socks tomorrow I better get some sleep so I can get up early and do some laundry.

~~BUONANOTTE A TUTTI~~

~~ A LiTtLe LoSt ~~

I think this is my first post about how I feel about things...

So this week so far has been a little rough...I am missing everyone from back home and everything I see or do reminds me of something of home. At school, we talked about food that we missed from home, and who will be going home for the holidays...My friends here ask I will be going home for Christmas, what I am going to do for Halloween and Thanksgiving...I get invites and messages from people at back in the states about Halloween parties, baptisms that I will be missing...and all of this has me thinking...

Everyday I look at pictures of the little ones in my life and I wonder how much they have grown...what they have done at school today, what thing they did for the first time, or what they had for lunch or why they cried before going to bed...I think about the new ones that I haven't seen yet and wonder what they look like...what their little giggles might sound like...I wonder when the next time I will her the excited little voices scream "Auntie Kim!" or when I will be able to come home...

The other day I got a letter from my grandma rudy and I knew it would be a good day....I got a late birthday card from my friend Miss Meliss and I started to cry...I got a halloween card from my mom and it made me laugh...And then in the end I just miss all three of them.

I miss everyone and I hope you all know that. I think about your all often and I don't want you to feel sorry for me...I chose to be here and I am happy and I am in great hands, but it hasn't been all smiles and dreams...I have my bad days too. It has been an adventure...A roller coaster of sorts. One that is fun at times and fricken scary at others...one that has lots of turns and sometimes gets turned upside down. That's life right. We all get on this rollercoaster. I just chose to get on one that happens to be a little further from home...

Anyway... it's Halloween this Saturday and I have no idea what I am going to be...any suggestions?!?!?!?

Love you! Miss you!