December 29 2016

Winter break has been keeping me busy.

On the 26th I made my first batch of Latkes! They were a little oily because I crowded the pan, but  a good learning experience. This is my host dad (Mati's dad, Tony. I don't live with them but they are my second host family), trying a latke with apple sauce.

We took the rest of the latkes and a specially requested turkey to a great christmas party at Bea's house. One of the interesting things about this week has been celebrating Hanukkah. I brought my Menorah to the dinner and they were all enthusiastic to celebrate with me. 

A little gift exchange. Fun Fact: Everyone in Ragusa loves Yankee Candles.

Playing cards after dinner.

On the 27th, Zia Graziella invited me to go to Catania with her Anna, Ana, and Martina. It's a pretty easy day trip, about 2 hours on the bus. There were three Brazilian girls doing a one month exchange, and their Italian host sisters coming to visit Ragusa for three days. We went to pick them up, but had some time in the city before they arrived. This is the view of Mount Etna (The largest active volcano in Europe) as we were driving up.

Martina and I on the bus.

The elephant statue that is the symbol of Catania.

Big city streets.

Little alley way where we went to have lunch.

The group!

Since arriving in Sicily I have not eaten a hamburger. I'm not a big hamburger eater in the first place and usually they are at the very bottom of the menu, so I don't expect them to be very good. I also feel way too embarrassingly american to order one, but the restaurant we went to way a hamburger place and I really enjoyed it!

After lunch we spent some time walking around the park in Catania. I don't know why but this beautiful gazebo immediately reminded me of the song "I am sixteen going on seventeen" from the sound of music. While sitting in the gazebo I played the song on my phone for the other girls to hear. 

The park.

It seems, that that the only acceptable activity in Sicily during December is eating. As soon as I got home from Catania I went out to dinner with my whole host family. They have been regulars at this great seafood restaurant since the kids were really little, so we took a picture with the really sweet owner. We also lit my mini menorah at the table in the restaurant. 

The waiters kept on bring out plates and plates of different seafood, I though this was one of the prettiest ones.

I know this will come as a great shock, but the next day I went out to lunch. It was really funny, the day before my grandma in Minnesota had taken all my cousins out to lunch and I was feeling sad to have missed it, but my grandma in Italy had the same idea! I had a great time with the cousins, sadly Anna and Michella couldn't make it. 

This scaccia is very typical of Ragusa. 

The restaurant was in the country side, and made all of its own cheese. As part of the appetizers each person was given a bowl of fresh ricotta cheese. It was delicious but there was no logical way to eat all of it. This was not a problem for all of the guys at the table, but thankfully we were able to take some home.

Of course for dessert there was cannoli with fresh ricotta. 

Last night I went out with my friends Angela and Pierogiorgio. This is defiantly not a great photo, but sadly the only one I have. 

While we were walking around Ragusa Ibla, I suddenly realized I had not lit my Menorah. The funny thing is, that I have taken to carrying it around in my purse, because I almost never know where I will be in the evening. We found someone with a lighter and they were really sweet to light it with me and we talked about Hanukkah. 

We found a cute little playground and hung around for a bit. It was nice to spend time with a small group of friends! 

December 26 2016

The holidays have come! Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year!

Friday night I went out to dinner with Matilde and Simonetta's families.

The Fudge turned out great.

Saturday, my older host brothers Luca and Bruno came home in time for lunch. (Giogio and Luca) 

Davide and Zia Graziella

Giogio cooking and Luca eating.

Bruno and Anna

Silvia and I.

In Sicily, for big family meals, it's typical to start with a pasta dish and then move on to a meat or fish dish. I think I have had pasta for every single meal since Davide got home.

Bruno with the cannoli.

One of the things I love about my experience in Ragusa, is the family dynamic. My grandma, aunts and uncles (and cousins now that they are home for the holidays, Anna is the youngest so it's been just her) live in the same apartment building. It's perfectly normal to walk into each others apartments, with out knocking, at any point in the day. In this picture Zia Graziella, Anna, Ana, and Michella (one of the older cousins) walked in while we were having lunch.

After lunch I went downstairs to make a Brazilian carrot cake with Anna and Ana.

While the cake was in the oven, the sun set, and the first night of Hanukkah began. I had my mini menorah and we lit the candles. (there should be an H at the end oh hanukkah...)

For dinner we all met at the beautiful country house! In Sicily, instead of celebrating christmas the morning of the 25th, it's typical to have a big celebration the night of the 24th. Gifts are opened at midnight.

The whole family! 

The table.

The typical appetizers include a wide variety of focaccia e scaccia. Scaccia is a very typical to Ragusa, its a thin dough folded and layered with tomato sauce. Most Italian food is just a combination of starch tomato sauce and cheese. The meal also included a a few Bakala ( a typical fish) dishes, one was of course a bakala spaghetti,, and sausage with potatoes.

Serving the pasta.

The crazy number of gifts we opened at midnight.

After gifts we moved on to singing and dancing! 

The dancing.

Luca, Silvia and Michella watching the dancing.

The family party was over around 2am, but that didn't mean the night was over. All of the young people met up in one of the many squares to celebrate with friends.

The 25th was a much calmer day. After some much needed sleep we drove to Scicli( a town about 25 min from Ragusa) to have lunch with Pino's side of the family. I forgot my phone in the car, but here is a picture of the sunset in Scicli.  

A very dark picture of me and my four host siblings in the car.

When we got home I went to celebrate the second night of Hanukkah with the Francone's. On the 30th I am cooking a Hanukkah dinner, but sadly they won't be able to make it. 

It has been a great time celebrating the holidays in Ragusa. I missed my family back home, and our traditions but it just makes next year even more special. Sending love to you all!

December 23 2016

Last night I went to a big school dance. It isn't technically organized by the schools, but almost everyone goes. In Italy everything is much later. A typical dinner starts at 9:00. We got to the dance around 12:30 and left around 4:00. Sadly I didn't get any pictures, it was pretty dark and crowded.

Piazza San Giovanni.

One of the interesting aspects of my host family, is that my host dad is a very well know and respected doctor. During the holiday season he gets a wide variety of gifts from his clients. This is a picture of what seems to be a whole entire vegetable market on the kitchen table. 

Another gift basket. We've also eaten a few different chocolate boxes and panettone.

The holiday season is very festive in Ragusa. This marching band was walking up and down Via Roma in front of my apartment.

Today I made my great-grandma's fudge recipe, that my aunt makes every year for christmas. My plan is to give it as gifts, but I'm worried it may be too soft, I'm hoping it is hardening up in the fridge!