Italian Chef for the Day

One of my favorite things I have done here was a cooking class.  Aurora (one of our program directors) approached us with this opportunity to get cooking lessons from a chef from Le Fate (meaning the fairies- an organic restaurant in Trastevere).  We had to pay 30 euro to attend, which is a lot cheaper then the 60 it usually cost.  There was about fifteen of us who signed up.

We got there, put on our aprons and headed to the kitchen.  The chef's name was Andrea and he told us that we would be learning recipes that are all do-able at home.  We made home-made pasta with Bolognese sauce, a meat dish and a strudel.  Everything was so easy to make, with the exception of the home-made pasta.

During the class, Chef Andrea really emphasized that the most important thing to do is to get fresh ingredients.   He told us that instead of going to the grocery store, we should get our ingredients from the markets.  In Rome you can really tell the difference between grocery store products versus the market products.  All of the produce from the markets taste so much fresher.

The day after the class, I actually made the strudel again for my host family.  They loved it and thought it was better then the strudel they have eaten before.  I was so excited because I was nervous to impress them.  We even had extra dough and were also able to make cookies and a pie.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to learn about Italian cuisine and how they cook here. After the class, chef Andrea emailed all of us with the recipes so that we could try them again.  I plan on impressing my family with the same exact meal when I get home.

“…But I can’t even touch my toes!"

On Thursday I went to a Yoga class with Michele.  Our host brother Niccolo is a yoga teacher and invited us to come to a class.  He teaches free classes at this anti-government establishment.  I was really nervous to go to the class because I had no idea what I was doing.

He gave us directions and we ventured out to this place called the “cinodrome”.  From the first impression this didn’t seem like the safest area in Rome.  We got to the building and there was artwork hanging all around.  We went outside, where there was a field and gardens in the process of being created.  Nicky is planting a garden to grow vegetables and fruit.

There were about 10 other people there.  We began the class outside with the sunset, then we moved inside when it got a bit colder out.  Inside we did the yoga accompanied by some Indian music and incense.  It was similar to a yoga class I attended at home but without the music and incense.  It was an interesting experience to see the difference between this class and one at home.  

Is this real life?!?!

This past weekend Michele, Angela and myself went to Venice.  Venice is really expensive, so instead of booking a hotel we got two overnight trains.  We left Friday from Rome at 10 pm and arrived in Venice at 530 am…yikes right?  This obviously wasn’t the ideal situation but when on a budget, you do what you have to.  We got there and were delirious (to say the least).  We walked around for a bit then found a café to get coffee.  After coffee we walked around for a bit.  Once it hit 9 am, more things started to open.

The way the streets were narrow and windy reminded me of Tuscany.  It is such a quaint area, but surprising is also very populated.  Venice is also very touristy, hence the really expensive prices.

Around mid day, we took a ferry to Morano (a small island that specializes in glass making).  The island was so beautiful and full of so many glass shops.  I bought a few pieces of jewelry as gifts for my friends.  One shop we went into let us watch how the glass was made.  I had no idea how much work and craftsmanship has to go into even just a tiny glass ring.

After Morano we went to St. Marks square and saw the Basilica.  St. Mark's Basilica somewhat reminded me of the basilicas we see in Rome.  It was very elaborate and beautiful, decorated with gold structures and frescoes.

After the Church, we took a gondola ride.  Even though they were expensive, it was an opportunity we couldn't give up.  Our gondola driver (Andrea) took us around St. Marks area and showed us some of the interesting sites to see. The water was calm and the streets were quiet, it was a very serene and relaxing experience.  After the gondola, we got dinner and then got back on the night train at 11 pm and arrived back in Rome in the early morning.

I’m really glad I had the chance to go to Venice.  Even though it was very tiring, it is one of those things you have to see in Italy.  The whole environment felt like it was out of storybook.  When I was sitting on the gondola looking at everything all around me, I realized that I was actually on the canals of Venice. It is still (3 months later) so hard for me to realize that I am actually in Italy.

BRRRRRR....

Recently I went to “Ice Bar” with a few of my friends.  We heard about this place and it obviously sparked our interest.  So many bars in Rome are very similar to ones back in Baltimore on York Road.  We wanted to try something new and different.  We took the metro to the Coliseum and walked from there.  We walked down a tiny side street and eventually found it (I have a tendency to take an hour to get somewhere that should only take 10 minutes).  We paid 25 euro to get in and have one free drink.  They gave us these coats and gloves to wear, which were made special for the bar’s environment.  The bar was about 15 degrees Fahrenheit.  Everything was made out of ice; even the drinks were given to us in ice cups.   I couldn’t stay there too long because it was getting too cold, but it was definitely a new experience. 

I want to find places like “Ice Bar” to go to.  I want to stay away from places that I could find in the U.S. and live like the Italians do.  So many of us here go to Irish pubs and American bars.  "Scholars" is the most popular Irish Bar, they even have a Loyola tee-shirt hanging up on the wall.  While "Scholars" is fun, there's always opportunities to go places like it. From this point on I want to explore other options... "When in Rome...Do as the Romans do" Right?

Picnic on the Ruins

Last weekend many of us decided that we should make mini trips around Rome to see all the sights.  One of our teachers here told us about Ostia Antica, an archeological site of an old ancient city in Rome.  I went with three of my friends to see these ancient ruins.  The site was only a few metro stops away and only cost 3 euro to get in.  We brought a bunch of food and had a picnic in the place where the ancient theatre used to be.  The city was still preserved pretty well, a lot of the ruins still had the street signs on them.  It was so crazy to see where people used to live.  The way the streets all intersected and lead to different other rooms almost reminded me of a shopping outlet, with passages at every turn.

I tried to imagine what life was like for the people that used to live here but it is so hard to imagine.  We are so used to our modern day world that I feel like I don't even know what life used to be like.  The idea that I am studying abroad in an ancient city that is still very much today preserved, is hard for me to grasp.  I could be walking down a street with ATM machines and McDonalds but then take a few more steps and find myself at the Colosseum or a 13th century Basilica.  This is something you can't really find in the United States.  The ancient city was a beautiful day trip, it was so interesting to travel back to see a glimpse of where people lived in ancient times.

Barcelona Sun

After a constant and on-the-go trip to Paris, I was so ready to relax in Barcelona.  To be honest, I had no idea what to expect- I sort of pictured Barcelona to be like Mexico (with music, fiestas and full of life).  After the exhausting 13 hour train ride, we finally arrived in Barcelona.  We got a cab outside the train station and had it drop us off in a Piazza nearby our hotel.  We pulled out a map to try to find our hotel and during that time period two people saw us struggling and pointed us in the right direction- this was pleasantly surprising to us because usually people just keep on their way even if they see people who are clearly lost.

After finally finding our hotel and dropping our bags off we went exploring to Piazza Catalunya and Las Ramblas.  Both places were full of life- shops, bright colors, music playing.  Barcelona had a different atmosphere then in Paris and Rome, the people were much more relaxed and friendly.

Two of the days we were in Barcelona we went to Port Vell and Port Olympic.  The beaches on Barcelona were beautiful, people were just walking on the beach or playing a game of volleyball.  Many people brought their dogs and just let them run loose on the beach.

After four days of exploring Barcelona, I was definitely happy that we decided to make the trip.  Barcelona was a completely new environment than what I had found in many parts of Italy and in Paris. Barcelona was a less stressed and more relaxed environment, where the people seem to have less of a strict agenda.  Being in Barcelona was perfect for the second half of spring break but I still appreciate the different lifestyle that Rome has to offer.

Wait...they hate Americans? Great.

Over spring break I traveled with two of my friends, Michele and Angela, to Paris for four days.  We were extremely nervous because the three of us aren't the best at navigation.  On our way to the airport, we asked our taxi driver about what to expect in Paris.  He warned us that the people there are not the most friendly, especially towards Americans.  This wasn't the first time we've heard this generalization, so we went in with precaution.

After our flight we landed in Paris and bought a metro ticket for 50 euro (everything in Paris is really expensive).  After some struggling we asked a random stranger if we were about to board the right metro and he assured us that it was correct.  To our surprise the man 1. knew english and 2. was very friendly and helpful.  We assumed we were lucky and just happened to find one of the friendlier people in Paris.

One day for lunch, I stopped to get a baguette at a bakery.  It only cost 1 euro but I paid with a 20.  Mistakenly, I left without my change and continued walking down the street.  A few minutes later, an older man came running down the street asking me if I left my change at the store.  I was so thankful, especially because he went completely out of the way to let me know.

Our last night in Paris we had to board a night train that would take us to Barcelona.  We were a little worried about what to expect because none of us have ever been on one of these trains.  We got a cabin with four beds and we were praying that the fourth bed would be empty.  We didn't want to awkwardly room with a French person that we didn't know.  And of course with our luck we had a roommate.  Her name was Solee, a 22 year old french women, who was married with a baby on the way. At first it was really awkward because she didn't know any English, but then we used a little Spanish, hand gestures and an american magazine to communicate with her.  We talked about the celebrities in the magazine and all of these American shows that she knew (Gossip Girl, the OC, Beverly Hills).  It was so interesting that we could speak completely different languages but yet have things in common and could talk for hours.

I really thought that people in Paris were going to hate us because we are Americans.  Everything that happened over our break proved this to be completely untrue.   This generalization about the people in France was completely a stereotype.


Our Trip...

The Eiffel Tower

Notre Dame

Versailles

The Louvre