November 18 2016

After over a week of planning and organizing, I host my early thanksgiving dinner. I've never really cooked before but I wanted to do something special for my classmates, so I went all in. I prepared turkey, corn bread, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin cake for over 20 people. It was especially nerve racking cooking the turkey but it turned out perfect!

I was so happy I asked my best friend Matilde to help she was so sweet and kept me calm the whole night and knew exactly what to do with out asking.

Everybody loved the food. When everything was on the table and everyone was settled down they all applauded me numerous times. The energy was so happy and festive, making the effort completely worth it. My classmates surprised me with a cake with an American flag on it, and even shoved a piece in my face! The cake to the face is pretty typical during birthday parties, but I wasn't expecting it for thanksgiving. It really made me feel like they were celebrating me and the effort I put in, in addition to thanksgiving. One of my classmates even told me it was "a form of initiation, so welcome".
I have more pictures but they are having trouble uploading, so this is what I have for now.

In the kitchen cooking.

The class!

Making the gravy. Photo credits to Matilde.

The food. Minus the gravy.

The guys.

The cakes.

Cake in the face.

November 13 2016

On Friday the two of the best mothers in the world worked together to make my day. My amazing mom sent me a package from the United States. It arrived the day that Giovanella was leaving for Dubai and I was going back to the Francone's house for another awesome week. Wonderful Mom Number 2 (Giovanella), surprised me at school with the package before going to the airport, and also put 20 euro in my diary just in case I went out with friends this weekend and needed a little extra money.

Trying to wait for English class to finish before opening my package.

My favorite items from the package. A Minnesota loon that makes the bird call, A super soft shirt that says "The Wilderness is Calling", and a bit of my favorite Halloween candy!

Saturday morning I woke up to Wonderful Mom Number 3, Concetta, asking me if I wanted to go to school or stay home to help her and Nonna make Arancine. I chose cooking school.

After preparing all the arancine to be fried later that night, we met up with Concetta's sister to go to a market in Vittoria. We walked around and looked at shoes and clothes. Concetta being one of the sweetest people ever bought me a warm onesie! 

Later a few of Matilde's friends came over to eat the arancine, and then we went out. 

This morning I shared an american recipe (but much much simpler) and we made pancakes. Their defiantly not the same with out blueberries or maple syrup, two items very hard to find in Ragusa. We then had lunch with some relatives that finished with some cannoli with homemade filling. 

November 10 2016

On Tuesday I had way too much free time, as always, so I made a batch of oatmeal raison cookies. My plan was to bring them to class to share with my classmates. The hope was that they would be victory cookies for Hillary Clinton becoming president. Instead they were condolence cookies because of Donald Trump's election.

Everyone on Facebook has explained the emotions and consequences of Trumps election better than I could, so I'll just explain the differences of experiencing the election while in Italy.

Those of us living in America are surrounded by people who feel just as afraid and dumbstruck as ourselves, because together we realize the significance Trump's elections could have on our country and lives. It seems that despite the separation of the country there is a sense of unity as people comfort each other and fight to put good into the world in the midst of a tragic event ( I am making this assumption based off conversations and Facebook posts).

 Living in Italy in this moment I am mostly surrounded by people who feel very distant from the problem. Instead of a being perceived as the earth shattering moment it truly is, it's just a joke (which is truly what America has become). As the American girl people are constantly joking with me about if I voted for Trump or if I am happy about it. Thankfully because the election is over the jokes are slowing down, but there seems to be little thought given to the fact that Trump doesn't just go away after election day, he's going to be causing problems for four years.

That mostly sums up the experience, and I have had enough of politics. My big project for the moment is Thanksgiving. A few of my classmates mentioned that they would be interested in celebrating it, so I went home talked to Giovanella and am now planning on making thanksgiving dinner. I invited everyone one in my class (24 people) but am assuming around 10 or 15 will come. I am pretty nervous because I've never done big cooking like this before, but I am organized and I think I can do it. I am hoping it will be a good bonding experience with my classmates.

November 7 2016

I just got back from an amazing weekend in Malta (more specifically the Island of Gozo).

 When Giovanella first told me we were going to go, she said we were going because Pino had to work. She didn't mention that in addition we would be attending a very fancy art exhibition/Anniversary party for Abrahams's Supplies Company. One of my host parents good friends (who has stayed at the house on occasion) is the international art curator who put together the event. Everyone we met this weekend seemed to be some very fancy person who owned a prestigious restaurant, or sports medicine company or ect. I probably shouldn't have been surprised, I've slowly come to learn that my host dad, Pino, seems to have replaced a knee for every important person in Italy.

Saturday morning we were treated to one of the coolest moments of my life. We were invited to watch the two artists, Alfredo Rapetti Mongol and Austin Camilleri, collaborate to make a few pieces of art. We were able to watch right over their shoulders as they worked, I even held some extra paper out of the way for them. Both have unique styles but use similar techniques. Every piece of art was incorporated into the next one. If one piece had too much paint or water, or whatever substance they were using it was transfered on to the piece of art beside it. It was just as much performance art as visual art. There was music and the smell of paint and fancy waiters walking around with wine and Hors D'oeuvre's. As the artists were finishing up they gave me a hart attack when they started ripping up pieces of the art. Each guest was given a piece to take home! I think because I was one of the most enthralled and attentive viewers while the artists were painting they gave me an extra piece from a different piece, that was different from everyone else's!

In this picture you can see that I am literally standing right over their shoulders.

The art I was given! It was also signed by Signore Mogol who incorporates calligraphy into almost all his art. He even adressed it to me on the back!

After the performance, we were taken to see Gozo's palace. At that point I was pretty exhausted so I didn't retain much information or the history we were told but it was still beautiful!

After our castle adventure and resting for a bit in the very large house we were staying in (I think another one of my host parents friends rents tourists homes) we dressed up to go to dinner. Even before the food was served I knew it was going to be fancy just based on the number of utensils and wine glasses surrounding my plate. The five courses were some of the most delicious food of my life The chef had based each dish on a painting or aspect of the exhibition.  I have pictures of it all below! I'll try my best to explain what it was but my culinary vocabulary is seriously lacking.

Second course(Sorry this out of order but I gave up trying to fix it). Fish risotto that is black because of the ink inside the fish, the white parts are cheese. 

First course. I don' remember what everything was but the middle was a blueberry gazpacho.

Third course. Some sort of steak with a mushroom situation on top, the little round meat piece tasted like brisket, and the little red rectangle had beats.

Fourth course was a pre-dessert! It was a fancy version of cream, honey and a little donut. 

They saved the best for last! A chocolate mouse with raspberries and a raspberry macaroon, and the most delicious cheesecake of my life with mango sorbet. I almost cried when I saw the waiters clearing plates with piece still left on them.

The next day we took a walk along the water, and had lunch at a beautiful restaurant over looking the ocean (of course owned by one of my host parents friends).

Some of the cleanest and clearest water I have seen.

Rotary I promise this was nonalcoholic but 100% delicious.

Our table

More amazing food

Sometimes I take a second to wonder how I would survive all these new experiences with a closed mind. When someone puts baby Octopus on my plate I just say thank you, eat it, and enjoy it.

Overall it was a weekend full of new cultural experiences that I will always cherish!

November 3 2016

I had a great time in Boglona and Pisa! It was great to meet Giovanella's son Bruno and to see Davide again. I also loved spending quality time with Giovanella and Anna!

One of the oldest buildings in Bologna.

More Bologna

Tower of Bologna

I couldn't believe it when I looked through my photos and saw that I had gotten a photo of this little scene out the window of the train to Pisa.

Our hotel in Pisa

The leaning tower!

Me, Giovanella, and Anna!

I, of course, was required to take a dorky tourist picture.

Inside the tower.

The view from the tower.

The view from the tower.

Having lunch in the square.

The plane ride home.