grazia.rosa

Lazarus

2010-02-14T20:39:00.004+01:00

So, you thought I was joking when I said that the only reason why I didn't post was because I didn't have internet? Enter Fastweb: return of the blog.

When I look at the last entry I posted, it's in some ways amazing how the more things change the more they stay the same. I've fulfilled my cliche quota for the post, thank you.

Still dealing with apartment haps and mishaps, still trying to be eco and failing for the most part (I'm sorry...but bleach smells clean.), still taking useless videos and pictures of things that are probably interesting to me and .2 other people in this universe (the two/tenths of Graham that tune into my inane stories). That's something that's changed quite a bit -- today's our two year anniversary. It's really quite exciting to look across the dinner table and still get giddy. It's been a delicious time so far :)

Rather than try to recap (I've lived in a grand total of 5 apartments since my last post), let's just go from here like we never left, shall we?

I'm experimenting. In my head, carrots will work as a substitute for squash when roasted and cut into sticks. Essentially trying to make carrot oven french fries here. Will report back on the findings.

Just downloaded "Bright Star", seeing as how Italians more or less abhor any film that doesn't have some big-tittied blonde falling for a fat, balding neurotic guy (read: Woody Allen meets Chevy Chase) and probably will never getting around to releasing it in the cinemas here. Opened up the file to see the quality and WHY is it that all period films feel the need to have at least one ginger troll-looking child. You know the type -- hungry-eyed little woodland creature dressed and coiffed like a real-life Raggedy Ann. Hope this film is good, though -- two hours of Keats. At least I won't have to blah-blah-blah about the state of Italian entertainment at the museum anymore. There's only so much you can say, really. See above.

Carrots smell good.

Place spic-and-span; Graham's ma coming in tonight. Meal so far? Culurjones and Falanghina.
HAHA. Love dialect names.

Ah. Screenshot for the ginger hobbit:
Am I right?

Thought so.

Oh yes. Minor side note -- I am the proud holder of a Tessera Sanitaria, folks. I know that this will blow all of your minds, but yes. I have state-run health insurance. My doctor has her office down the block from me for the princely sum of €no-more-taxes-than-you're-paying. We'll see how it goes, but I should be rolling in around naked in my glut of free pharmaceuticals by this time next month. Or something to that vague effect.

We open the box of €14 pandoro tonight (it was on special offer...what do you think we are? Lorenzo de' Medici?)...excitement!!

next... Florence! Watch this space...

My life is too good sometimes.

2009-01-22T15:15:00.002+01:00

Every once in a while, I get so overwhelmed with the beauty and goodness around me that I could actually fly if I wanted to.

This is one of those moments. This morning I was a very poor lady wondering how to pay my rent due next week, when it seems that I am getting a huge lump sum of money left over from my loan. So I can actually breath now and sleep at night. As some of you may know, the tourist season has been so bad that in the past 10 days I've gotten only 3 tours. Small ones. Not good when you really really need the money. Well, I'm still poor in the long run, and I will have to pay this money off, but thank God I have a place to live and food to eat.

This morning before all of this happened, my roomate Rossana put 5euro of credit on my phone, just as a small act of kindness to keep me from worrying about not being able to use my phone. She is gold.

Also, I am officially and completely registered for classes. And I'm loved! And I didn't even have to wait for my bus to come today! It was just there! It's the little things in life, guys.

Time to celebrate.

Ghost Town.

2009-01-13T15:13:00.003+01:00

So, I'm back and severely jet-lagged. I keep waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning. This could take a while to get over.

With that said, I'm feeling a little strange about my return. I gave a tour today (thank the Lord, because I still have no money) and there was no one at the Vatican, yet again. When you are standing in front of Saint Peter's square for an hour and no one walks by, it is divine intervention when you get a tour. But it was strange to be in the museums today. It could be because I'm so tired, but I feel like I'm floating through my day watching myself talk at people.

Also, my friends aren't around yet and Freya wont be back this semester, so I haven't gotten back into the swing of things yet. Eventually.

New York ended up being a really nice trip. I almost got everything done that I wanted to do, but the rest of my list will be completed in March when I come back for a wedding. Must make it to MoMA and spend some time with my city folk.

Not much has changed here since I've been gone... my favorite mosaic in the Vatican Museums has finally been revealed after over a month of restoration. That's about it. I also have a fixed computer thanks to my Daddy, so music and bellydance have come back into my life. I'm thrilled. Still have no internet in my apartment, so don't expect much of me. But I will have some nice abs soon, after dancing and pilates. Hurrah!

I think my financial things are finally working out at school, so I might be able to register for classes sometime before the semester starts in two weeks. What a mess.

So order of the day... get an adapter, get home, eat leftover pasta, read, bellydance, shower, read, sleep.

Ummm, but in reality, I'll probably fall asleep once I get home. I'm beat.

Just want you all to know...

2008-12-19T20:03:00.002+01:00

...that the American government is just as freaking incompetant as the Italian one. You do not live in the Promised Land.

Stupid government has still not sent important forms to my house so that my school will accept my student loan. Which means I'm still not registered for classes, which means that my loan might be cancelled, which means that I have to spend my so called vacation worrying about money, yet again?

So stupid American government is a big fat loser and is just as slow and unorganized as the post office in Rome. And that's the truth. Ha.

I get to leave tomorrow morning because I'm sick of this country too. I need a break from everything, please.

Umm, candy canes. Everything can be solved in candy canes. I'm convinced. And it's so hard for me to stay mad at these things because I'm too full of love, as usual.

New York!

Baby's on Fire!

2008-12-16T17:32:00.000+01:00

I am a bit of a con artist when it comes to school. I'm not a good student, I don't go to classes, I hand everything in late, but people like me.

Success! Everything is finished! Done with school! Time to celebrate with a bottle of wine and a good book. Mmmmm.

Lady Elvis.

2008-11-25T19:52:00.002+01:00

So, I'm writing a research paper on Elvis' portrayal in the media as a religious icon, specifically in art. I'm reading/listening/watching everything Elvis, which you all know for me is not a chore at all. I did come across the most incredible piece of audio though. I've never heard Elvis cuss like this before, but man, the guy was badass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmLIBL4xgJ0&feature=related

Wouldn't want to get on his bad side! Either way, I want his '68 special in full. When he sings 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy' I die.

Things to do in NY:

2008-11-17T13:36:00.003+01:00

Go to a freaking diner for every meal. Fin is constantly making fun of me because he says that every conversation we have I mention a diner at some point. I can't help it. Thick french toast smothered in syrup, or a huge burger with fries and a pickle, or grilled cheese, or a BLT on a toasted bagel with a thin layer of mayo (and a pickle o'course). Oh gosh, I'm hungry.

THRIFT STORES!!!!!!! You don't understand. There are quite a few vintage shops here, but the Italians can't figure out that used crap should be 5€ per bag, just like at the Salvation Army where you can stuff a bag to the bursting point and pay 5 bucks. Heaven. Also, I need a new wardrobe, new bags, new shoes, new accessories, and there is nothing quite like getting clothes that are already broken in for you while paying nothing as well. I'm sick of spending so much money on everything!

Bleeker Street. Must take a nice long walk down one of my most favorite streets in all of NYC, stop at the record shop and buy nothing, and head over to Tea Spot while I'm in the area.

The Met and MoMa NEED to be visited, considering that my last trip to the states was severely lacking in art. I'm such a spoiled biotch and I'm getting tired of seeing the Vatican Museum collection all the time... I need something to spice it up.

Payless. With Rome being a graveyard for shoes (curse you, san pietrini!) every single pair I own is either completely worn down or not made for the monsoon weather we get here every once in a while. Time for some good, cheap shoes to last me the winter.

Basso 56. I am telling you, if you are reading this and have never been to this restaurant in NYC, please go. It's on 56th and 8th ave, serves really incredible Italian fusion food (the chef Paolo is from Rome) and the co-owner Alex (from Albania) is absolutely wonderful (and super attractive). This is the only restaurant I actually want to eat in... every other time I just wanna go to a diner.

Bryant/Central Parks. Must stroll, must experience kissing in both parks, because when I was actually living in NYC I never got to. Or did I? Don't remember, so it obviously wasn't that great. Either way, this time around I get to do all of the wonderful romantic things I've always wanted to do in NYC. Hooray!

Alice's Tea Cup. This is a day for the girlies... high tea with my cousins, including my little Julia. Can't wait to see that curly head.

Fireplace! I'm dying for a fireplace, with the Christmas tree being the only other light in the room, a Wayne Watson Christmas album playing, and homemade cocoa from scratch. Also, I am really excited for roast beast on Christmas day. I'm really hungry. Oh gosh.

That's all I can think of right now. I'll add on, or you all can help me plan my 3 weeks there. Love!

BIRTHDAY!

2008-11-10T16:49:00.002+01:00

You all will not believe how perfect my birthday was. Turning 21 in Italy is probably better than it ever would've been in the states... there wasn't that whole 'ooooo, you can drink now!' thing hanging over my head. I've been able to drink in Italy since I've got here, and in the states for that matter. Apparently I look older than I am.

Well, I had a tour Saturday morning, and since I let everyone in on the fact that they were on a special birthday tour (and because I'm a pretty damn good guide) I got about 55€ in tips. SWEET! Then, Fin came over and he bought me the classical guitar I had been eyeing :) Then we went to go meet Rita for a drink in Trastevere, than we headed of to San Lorenzo for some dinner.

Okay. Best part. We went to go see some live music, and it just so happened to be rockabilly night!!!!! So I got to dance to the music I always dream of dancing to! It was perfect! And all of my favorite people were there (well, most of my favorite people!) and we danced and had a fabulous time.

I have no clue what time we got home. Who cares? Birthday! Now I'm an oldie.

Things to look foward to: coming home in December! I'm so excited! Can't wait to get into NYC. Okay. no more time on the computer in the internet point love you all byebye!

List of things:

2008-10-22T13:55:00.002+02:00

I'm leaving for Nice tomorrow, staying until Sunday night, and I don't speak a word of French except for the bad ones. Freya and I plan on living on a diet of baguettes, brie, and vin to keep our spending to a minimum. Also because we have to pay to get into all of the museums. Matisse, Picasso, Chagall, Miro'... sono emozionata!
I have so much work to do it's disgusting. Why am I going away for the weekend?
Excited for Christmas and food. People need to feed me and love me.
Tired of Rome, so Nice will be a nice change.

kisses.

Crazy Asians.

2008-10-08T12:59:00.002+02:00

I was gathering at the Vatican this morning, and this Asian guys starts filming me. Before I knew it, I'm being swarmed by about 15 other people that wanted to take their picture with me. They all kept taking turns making peace signs and thumbs up, and I'm being pushed every which way to get in between these people so they can all get a picture. All of my friends were just pointing and laughing.

They probably thought I was someone famous.

Either way, by far the most bizarre experience in Piazza San Pietro.

Fat Americans.

2008-10-06T14:22:00.002+02:00

Mommy sent me this and I died laughing in the computer lab at school.

After a two year visit to the United States , Michelangelo's 'David' is returning to Italy ...

His Proud Sponsors were:

Not that far off, no?

Impegnata.

2008-10-01T16:03:00.002+02:00

After really learning how much work it'll take for me to become a restorer, I've made a new decision as far as my art historical career goes. Giving tours has sparked something in me, just as teaching bellydance lessons did about 3 years ago.

I want to teach! Picture me, in NYC, being a professor at one of the billions of universities and giving tours at the Met. Fabulous, no? I'll buy a vespa as well... a shiny red one with camel-colored seats. Mmmm.

Yes, I come up with new things everyday, but I actually follow through, no? I moved to Italy when everyone thought it was just a pipedream. After dreaming of becoming a tour guide and wearing cute outfits while telling people about Michelangelo, I landed a job. I'm driven when I need to be.

I have plans... graduate in December 2009, stay in Italy until May working, and then find out the cheapest way for me to get to grad school, whether it be in the EU or in the states. Then we'll see about settling down somewhere I can land a job. PhD? Lovely idea. I'll be only 22 when I graduate, so I can be nice and young when I finish my schooling.

I decided all of this within the past hour or so, while sitting through my Restoration class. Nothing can stop me now!

It'll be a boyfriendless two weeks... I'll fill up my time with some nice research about the rest of my life.

Happy! Rome is beautiful, and getting colder, but things are lovely. I wont be playing at the open mic this Thursday, because Rita's daddy and sister are here, so we're having dinner. Excited! Then I might head out to Big Mama's to watch this female jazz guitarist.

Picasso exhibit is starting on the 11th here in Rome, which is another exciting thing for me. Also, I'm going to Nice for 4 days starting the 23rd to visit some Picasso and Magritte museums with my Picasso class. Printmaking is tomorrow, so I get to get my hands all lovely and dirty in black inks and lanoleum shavings. Then there is a weekend of tours and reading to do, while preparing some assignments for classes and sitting in the park. Possibly some guitar in there as well... I promised I would learn 'Landslide'.

Happy October! Miss you Mommy! (and Aunt Maggie... considering that you two are the only ones that read this hehe!)

2008-09-11T13:32:00.002+02:00

So here we have it, the link to my first article written for my tour company's website:

http://www.wheninrometours.com/Articles/Rome-News/Top-Gelaterie-for-Gelato-Addicts.html

Extremely corny, but I get paid and that's all that matters.

Summer has officially ended, but my first week of school has been decent, and tonight is the first open mic of the season at the pub we go to. Hooray!

Severly lacking in Technology.

2008-08-18T17:30:00.002+02:00

So, my computer is busted, our internet is turned off, and I've been living the life of an Amish bachelor... reading books by candlelight and eating take-out. Haven't really been in the mood for cruisin' lately, so I've been sticking to the area of Esquilino, going to parks and practically eating books everyday.

But I am loving it and soaking it all in. Soon all of my friends will be back in Rome, I'll be starting school and working as well, so this is probably the only time I can sit back and enjoy my whole lot of nothing before the chaos begins.

I don't even miss the internet. I miss the fact that there is no music in my house because I have no means of playing it. WOE! I barely even know what Elvis sounds like anymore (exaggeration).

Things are wonderful otherwise. I plan on taking a much needed trip to Florence before school starts. My poor little Art Historian soul is dying to see David up close for the first time. Now I have the funds to do so, so whether anyone wants to come or not, Florence is my next stop.

Work is delicious. I am thriving, making loads of tips because I can't help but gush about Michelangelo like he is my son or something... I wish everyone could take my tours. People always ask me if I get bored of talking about the same thing everyday, but I truly never do. New people, new questions, new personalities. I love it. Today I had these two women that were so overwhelmed they started to cry in the Vatican Tombs. I got to share in that moment and they thanked me profusely after the tour for my energy and enthusiasm.

Some American gave me a 50 USD tip today... I'm going to H&M when I get back to the states!

I love everything. I wake up early, smiling and singing every morning. Tomorrow I'm meeting my friend Sina for breakfast in front of the Pantheon before work. Che bella vita!

Kisses to all. Come to Rome please!

A real update!

2008-07-26T20:37:00.002+02:00

So, a little review on the trip back to the States... America was great and it was the first time since I've been back that I really felt like I wanted to be there. I missed Rome, but for more practical reasons than anything. I loved being surrounded by my family and I felt a new love for America that I haven't felt in a while. It was great to see Ariana graduate and also to hang out with people my age... I had never really had the typical high school experience, so this past time around I got to have a taste of what it was like.

Even so, upon coming back to Rome I was set on loosing the job at the restaurant. The amazing thing is that my next door neighbor Romy (who has also attended AUR) works for a touring company and it turns out that they needed people.

So here I am! I officially finished at the restaurant this past Thursday night and as of today I have given my 3rd tour of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. My little Art Historian heart is fluttering! I have been able to revel in Michelangelo's masterpieces while also sharing my passion with other people. It is truly the greatest thing that has happened to me since I've been here. And imagine... wherever I do end up, even in NY, I can put on my resume that I gave tours in the Vatican City. I've got it made!

And, my gosh, do I get paid for it! For what I make in one tour in 3 hours I would make in the restaurant after two days of 16 hours. So I am doing much better financially as of late. I couldn't ask for anything more.

All of my friends have pretty much gone home for the summer and Stef and I are looking for a new apartment. Other than that, life is beautiful as always, and I finally have all of my nights off to do what I want with.

Blessed beyond belief!

Quickie.

2008-07-24T02:23:00.001+02:00

Tomorrow (or today, counting the time for me) will be the biggest day of my life since I've been in Rome.

Tomorrow I become a full-blown tour guide of the Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica. I also finish off my last night at the restaurant. Wish me luck. Pray for me. I'll write details soon!

My Roman Holiday, Part 1

2008-06-09T13:36:00.003+02:00

So, with our grand return home coming up within the next ten days (woo hoo!), I know that I will be continually asked the same few questions by everyone: Do you love Rome? Do you want to go back? Do you think you'll end up in Italy? Don't you miss your family? How is your mother dealing with this?

But above all, I always have to explain to people that my life here is probably very different than they assume it is. No, I don't come straight out of the film Roman Holiday. My own version isn't sitting at a cafè across from the Pantheon or eating gelato on the Spanish Steps (it also isn't passing out in front of the Colosseum and having strange men find me and take me home, even if they are Gregory Peck). No, my friends. My life is a little less Hollywood, believe it or not. Allow me to show you through my series of posts that reveal what life in Rome really is... not what some rich study-abroad will tell you.

So Part 1 begins with the excitement coursing through my veins as we speak... EURO 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay... honestly, I've always wanted to move to Italy, right? But the extra and final push I needed was winning the World Cup 2006. It truly was one of the greatest moments of my life because it finalized my decision to get the heck out of Fordham and start a new life in my big beautiful Italian bubble. I also promised myself that I would never miss something this big again, because although it was amazing to watch that moment with my family, literally a half-hour later I was on the road to Pennsylvania to yet another location that couldn't care less about the World Cup or calcio for that matter.

So here I am, in Italy for Euro 2008. Today is the first match for Italy against Holland. I'll be working all night but we always keep the game on. Let's pray for a victorious Italy, because even though I go home for 3 weeks, I'll be in Rome for the final... Italy MUST be in this final. I look forward to doing this:

EDIT: Just realized that I actually wont be in Italy for the final. Which means that I moved here for nothing. At least I'll be with Uncle Steve.

New Life!

2008-05-24T10:26:00.006+02:00

Let's start with Graduation. I went to the AUR graduation this year because a lot of my good friends were graduating... specifically my friend Cortney (see above, Cortney, Freya). The graduation ceremony was held not to far from the school itself at Villa Aurelia.

I don't think you understand. This is a large manicured garden with fountains and a huge beautiful villa overlooking the entire city of Rome:

This is the view from the top... first off, look at my amazing colorful city! You don't see this kind of color in New York, that's for sure. I was swooning the whole time. The ceremony itself was incredible and short. At most, 40 kids graduate a year, making the whole experience that much more intimate. It wasn't like that huge anonymous ceremony we had to sit through for Stef's graduation at Fordham. It was quiet. We sang both the Italian and American National Anthem's. I cried during both of them.

Then comes the reception. Okay, maybe I'm not used to the high life, but it definitely felt nice to have a glass of prosecco in a lovely garden while we are all nicely dressed and mingling with teachers and family and friends.

(Freya, me, Alison, Rita)

So now, I cannot wait to graduate. Not only for the party, but because graduating from AUR isn't going to be like my stupid high school graduation, which for me wasn't much of an accomplishment at all. Also, if you plan on coming to visit, plan for May 2009 so that you can enjoy the free prosecco with me!

Okay. More on life. I got sent home from work two days ago because I was feeling nauseous and sick. I realized that most of it was just do to tension headaches I've been getting as a result of working too darn much (I thought the stress would be over after school) but also because I haven't been doing anything productive. Right now I'm sending out my CV and contacting anyone who will listen because I want to start giving tours. This little art-loving fiend wasn't cut out for the restaurant business... I'm really tired of rude Italians and having dirty fingernails all the time. Also, I'm quite sick of the harassment and I think it's best to get out of the situation before I start breaking necks. I love the people I work with, but they seem so miserable. They all work every single day and this has become their career. That may be fine for some people, but I need to be telling the world about the Sistine Chapel and making people appreciate modern art for the first time at the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna.

So hopefully by the time I come back to Rome from the states I'll have a new job. One where I get to wear dresses and talk about art. There is nothing that would make me happier.

Okay, that's my life so far! I'm going to go see the Mirò exhibit and then give my friend a haircut before work. Yay!

This little girl has a few things on her mind.

2008-05-08T11:08:00.002+02:00

Let's start with the good: I cannot stop listening to Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Allegretto. I think it is the greatest piece of music I've ever heard in my life and it makes me want to lie on the floor and stare at the ceiling every time I hear it (that's a positive thing, I swear).

Now on to the heavy... for my final project in my Van Gogh to Warhol class, we had to create a mock exhibition with a specific theme. I chose the psychological effects of artists as a result of war and violence. It is titled The Eve of Destruction after the P.F Sloan song, made famous by Barry McGuire. My gosh, the words of the song are enough to kill you. Then you have McGuire's raspy voice pleading with the listener to wake the hell up to what's going on around. Yes, it was written in the 1960s, but are we not still on the eve of destruction?

So actually, I am sitting here, writing my paper and listening to this song, looking at images of Picasso's Guernica and Kirchner's Artillerymen and crying my eyeballs out. I'm laughing as well, because what was supposed to be an easy assignment has turned into this monumental thing. Oh gosh.

I still have 4 more papers to write before this day is up. I have to work at 5. Can she do it?

Probably not, but what the hey.

The taste of freedom!

2008-05-07T02:35:00.002+02:00

So here it is. I finished my last final this morning. I still have a few papers to write, but when that is over, so is all of the crap.

I changed my work schedule. I will be working more, but I am working nights only, five to be exact. So I'll be making more money, but I am not a waitress anymore. Get this... I'M A BARISTA! Yes my friends, I am working behind the bar, frothing perfect cappuccini and making beautiful desserts. I'm so happy to not be running around anymore cleaning up after people. And yes, five nights of my week are dedicated to work, but I have Friday and Sunday off completely, and I have all day to go to museums and galleries. I can do everything I want!

And I'll be making enough money to save a little for a couple of trips or to buy a keyboard. I'm thrilled. I have a full list of wonderful things I'll be doing this summer including: learning French, reading at least 30 books, bellydancing/yoga, painting constantly, finding a new Italian boy with a motorino (now accepting applications...)...

There is much more, but my feet hurt to much to go get my list.

Anyway, I'm going to shower and then sleep really hard. It is nearly 3, I just ate my dinner, and I still have to wake up tomorrow and do things. Oh summer, you are so close!

2008-05-03T19:44:00.001+02:00

Me and Steffi standing in front of my paintings... this picture is too small to do it justice. You gotta see the brush strokes, kids! More pictures soon!

If I wanted to listen to crappy Italian music all day...

2008-05-01T21:39:00.002+02:00

...I would just turn on the radio.

But here it is, May 1st, the day of our Lord. Or really just the festa dei lavoratori. Let's not even get into the implications of this (Italians working? Wait, when did this happen?).

Right across the piazza, *my* piazza, there is a huge concert that happens every year on this day, so we were able to hear them setting up and doing sound-checks all day yesterday, and today has been non-stop music all day. Okay, I cannot say that all of it is bad. They had some jazz group play and that I enjoyed, but everything else has been pretty annoying.

I worked today though, because I have a presentation and a class tomorrow. So I was at the restaurant and there was a parade going on in front and a ton of people inside. What can I do?

I've pretty much been dying lately for a few reasons... mostly school related. Also the love-life is in a bit of a crisis because I feel like I haven't had any time to bounce back from a really stupid break-up. But soon and very soon, May 8th to be exact, my life will be handed back to me on a silver platter. No more teachers, no more books... well, actually, plenty of books because I love those, but only fun ones like Life With Picasso and This is Not a Pipe. Art is my life, no?

I just had another art show for my painting class. I'll put up some pictures soon when I get a chance to take them. Also, I'm in the middle of a search for a job as a tour guide. I'd much rather be getting paid for exploring one of my passions instead of mopping up spaghetti sauce and taking orders from a Turkish slave driver.

My loves, everything is good and lovely and soon to be gooder and lovelier. Yes, I said gooder, because I can do whatever I want.

The weather is stunning every day. Soon to be enjoyed by yours truly.

Well, a lot has changed...

2008-04-18T18:51:00.002+02:00

...I have only three weeks of school left, so all of the work I've put off until the last minute... well, let's just say it's the last minute. Umm, I'm single again and on the prowl (KIDDING MOM!)... long story. Things are okay though. It's springtime and the sun and pretty Italian boys are out.

My apartment smells like turpentine and basil... I'm painting a masterpiece and we just got a new basil plant. There ya go.

Work, good. Stef, good. School, busy. Social life, non existent for a while. Love life, stupid. Health, good. Finances, good.

Four out of seven. Majority rules. Life is still good.

Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi...

2008-03-23T20:00:00.002+01:00

My gosh, I haven't been this happy in a while. Complete and utter bliss.

Just finished a full weekend of working, just cleaned the house, and now Chris (boyfriend) is coming over and some of Steffi's friends, and we are making a lovely dinner of rabbit, mushrooms, pasta and whatever else we have in the house. Then some spumante and fresh strawberries. MMMMMM!

But I fell in love again with Rome, and with God. I didn't get to go to church today because of work, but Steffi and I read the bible out loud together and discussed the book of Matthew. Did you know that in the oldest versions of the bible the book of Matthew stops at 28:8? The verse says:

28:8 - And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring the disciples word.

I actually kind of like that it originally ended there, with this mysterious supernatural resurrection. Also, if you can, listen to Keith Green's 'Easter Song'. Amazingly composed and the words are stunning.

The heavens opened up today and it rained and hailed in such a beautiful way. I met beautiful people at work today, and some of my clients from last week returned to say hi. This couple that was here last week prayed before their meal. It made me cry a little, because I had been so emotional after the death of a friend's mother, and it was comforting to see people praying. Made me think of home.

What a beautiful life this is, no? And best of all, I get to sleep until forever tomorrow morning for the first time in months. NO WORK NO SCHOOL! Genius!

I love you all. I hope everyone has a beautiful easter, enjoys your meals and your family and friends.

Mommy, call me! :)

The angels, they all surround us
And they are ministering Jesus' power
Quickly now, reach out and receive it
For this could be your glorious hour

Only Rome could make me this dramatic...

2008-03-20T15:03:00.003+01:00

Somewhere in these ancient walls I fell
peacefully tumbling
down
and
down
giving myself up completely to be
thrown into the whirlwind
of loud faces and even louder truths.
Here I am
your willing slave
ready to crawl across filthy floors
and sleep in your sun.
The streets vibrate with each step I take
humming a tune that I've heard
somewhere in my dreams.
I hold on so tightly
careful not to let one single drop
slide through my fingers,
prepared to drink and bathe and soak
in this dirty water.
I'm ready for you to grab me again
and squeeze me so hard I just might
be crushed, but even with my last breath I'd say
'Bury me within these walls.'

Monumental News!

2008-03-16T20:47:00.004+01:00

So, my friends. Tomorrow I become and adult.

Tomorrow Stef and I pay rent, in full, without any help from anyone, without borrowing any money, without stress and crying. We've worked hard, and we will pay our rent completely on our own this month for the first time. Holy crap, we are growing up.

Isn't it wonderful how God takes care of us?

Mmm... I can smell spring!

2008-03-11T18:41:00.002+01:00

After quite a few days of rain, greyness and chilly winds, Rome is starting to warm up. I'm preparing for at least three days of warm sunny goodness to save me from the grasp of winter.

And spring in Rome! What a brilliant time to be here... people shedding their winter coats (everyone but the Italians... they never seem to get the spring memo), parks being filled with families and little kids playing football. Then there are the street performers. Last year we got some acrobats from Cirque de Soleil doing odd contortions and balancing acts in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere. I wonder what it will be like in San Giovanni! Probably more MtV crap. Oh well.

I'm most excited for the nights to get warmer... I can't wait to be able to walk around at night trying to feign a smile while half freezing to death. No, it isn't really *that* cold, but Italy has made me a whimp, what can I say. Anyway, spring is the season of new beginnings and love. Oh what a joy to love and live in the spring in Rome!

I know work is going to pick up too, and now I'm wondering if I get to wear pretty dresses instead of stupid black pants. BORING!

Good thing/bad thing: Just broke a guitar string. Sucks major because I really wanted to play. But now I get to go into the guitar shop right near piazza San Cosimato and buy some strings and make friends with the guys that work there!

Also, with the warmth comes the opportunity to make a couple extra bucks by singing in the piazza with my friends and my guitar. Even if we only make enough to buy a bottle of wine, no worries. Good times had by all! OOOOO SPRING, COME TO ME BABY!

Oh what a life.

2008-03-06T23:33:00.002+01:00

My gosh, I just can't seem to get back into a rhythm. I'm trying hard to juggle everything, but this weekend I have too many things to catch up on... late papers to write, gotta go to work from 10-6 everyday, gotta see il ragazzo, must study for midterm on Monday, and I have a fabulous presentation as well that I haven't even thought about starting. AHHHHH!

The brilliant thing is that I am starting to train my wrist to play bar chords on the guitar. After about 8 years of playing in one position, I'm ready for the workout and the new callouses. I don't care if rough hands aren't considered sexy on a woman... I'm all about my guitar callouses. Point is, after playing for about a half hour, my wrist is killing me. Maybe mommy can teach me some good wrist exercises for increased strength. Hoorah!

Tomorrow night, I go out, but the rest of the weekend I'll be inside after work, getting my life in order. I've been having a meltdown lately because I hate all of my clothes and feel like I cannot truly be myself in cold weather. Next winter I'll move to Lampedusa and eat fish all day. Mmm.

I'm feeling a great affinity towards Elvis these days. My Elvis-sense is tingling. I will now shower, put some curlers in my hair, and fall asleep to It Happened at the World's Fair.

Non posso parlare inglese di più!

2008-03-01T18:38:00.002+01:00

My list of nicknames at work is growing... 'La Piccola', 'Kennedy', 'Onassis', 'Biancaneve'...

But everything is wonderful. Even though I haven't been sleeping much lately, today was great at work... I got to take an order from a group of young Americans and use the special digital thingy! And I did everything right! And I was able to joke around with my co-workers today, all in Italian. I CAN JOKE IN ITALIAN! YAY!

Everything is as it should be... work, love life... well that's it actually. School is still a casino because I need to catch up on all of my work. That's what tonite is for though.

I miss everyone.

Back to reality.

2008-02-25T18:16:00.002+01:00

So as you can tell, there hasn't been any posting since the family arrived. This is because we had little time to breath, let alone write in a silly little blog. But here we are, three people short of a full tenement apartment, and things are starting to seem really empty.

It's time to swing back into things after missing tons of class and work. New things going on... I go a job! Thank God! I work at a restaurant across the street from the Colosseo and it has been great so far. I am only supposed to be working lunch, but last night I worked until 1 while the scum of Rome danced and drank all night. I was severely grossed out by bronzed, boozed party promoters with their slicked back hair and white smile, schmoozing with drunk girls and bossing me around. Never again, says I.

Anyway, lunch is so nice to work, because it is busy with lost of tourists that are excited to be sitting across from the most recognizable monument in the world. Everyone is so nice, and I love meeting all new people. Salvatore is the host, and he is this wonderful older guy that was born in Mondello... paesano! So was stand around and talk about Palermo all day... what more could I ask for? And it is a healthy blend of speaking English to customers and only in Italian to everyone I work with. Life is good.

I have really been missing out on the school part of life, and I may or may not have a paper due tomorrow.

Things are busy, but eventually everything will even out. Look out for emails from my mommy with all of the pictures from their stay here.

Forza Palermo!

Adventures in Eco-plumbing

2008-02-04T22:58:00.000+01:00

Our drain has been rather sluggish since we've arrived and it's finally reached the breaking point. So what are two environmentally concerned girlies to do when faced with shelves and shelves of Mr. Muscolo?

Remember making volcanoes in 2nd grade science class?

Yeah. Something like that:

SO MUCH MORE FUN THAN DRAIN-O! And...it works better, too! For best results, as I've found, in an empty sink dump a bunch of baking soda and a bunch of salt down the drain in alternating layers so that they mix up all nice and whatnot. Leave the mess for a couple hours to settle into the clog (I mixed it all up right before leaving for a class) and after, pour a good load of hot-but-not-boiling vinegar down. ENJOY THE SHOW! A chaser of hot water and a couple of plunges later and my drain was practically sucking water down. A quick baking soda/vinegar flush once a week will keep drains clear and fresh smelling (so I've heard and will make sure to try out).

On an Italian note -- baking soda here is found in the drink aisle of a grocery store. The equivalent to the soda and juice aisle of American stores. Um...why?

Also, sidenote, do you know how difficult it is to explain the concept of "unless"? "The pasta will be bland unless I add salt to the water" was what I ended up going with to explain the whole thing. It's just strange...things and concepts you use every day become these weirdo things when you have to parse and explain them. So "unless" is a "fate-changer" You state the expected path of an event and "unless" is the event that will change the inevidable course. What? Yes. ARGH.

Bits and Bobs

2008-01-30T09:40:00.001+01:00

I feel like I only post here when I'm doing something ridiculous (which actually happens more often than my frequency of posting here would suggest -- I am terrible. I fully admit it!), but right now I'm both building muscle mass and rectifying the whole brown sugar situation:

I'm making my own! Zucchero grezzo di canna (raw cane sugar) plus the molasses I picked up from the import store. I'm grinding the coarse grains of sugar in my mortar and pestle to a finer grain (although there are still some big beautiful crystals hanging about) and pressing it through some molasses. This is what the stuff looked like with about 3/4 of the sugar already added. Gorgeous, rich, moist -- I wish I could do justice to the smell, but it's this thick and almost smokey richness that is just beautiful. I'm just about done with it now and it's looking like any nice rich dark brown sugar you'd pick up in the store. Coarser grains of course, but mmmm it's lovely, and full of the natural trace vitamins and minerals found in unrefined, unbleached sugars! Sugar that is (in at least some ways) good for you? Why thank you, I do believe I will. I'm going to put it in this mason jar we picked up from Ikea to show it off, and to keep it from drying out like a brick. (Also, I'm pretty much obsessed with Jamie Oliver right now and homeboy would definitely approve of the natural goodness of this sugar!)

So, I posted before about the obelisk down the piazza from us -- It'd been shrouded in scaffolding and advertisements since we'd gotten here. As we're driving up via Cristoforo Colombo in the shuttle back from the airport, all of a sudden this comes in to view from beneath the archs of the walls. As much as I'm sure the obelisk in all of its unrestrained glory is breathtaking in and of itself, this? The thing rising from these jagged poles and platforms is pretty staggering in a different way. Each evening we get this view of it with the sun as it's setting peering through the structure. I caught this picture last Saturday night -- I mean look at that sky. The picture barely does it justice. Those two little dots are two giant balloons that were released from a Carnivale party that was going on in the square in front of the church's side facade. If I can get my camera to behave (it's in full revolt right now) I'm going to get some pictures of the Carnivale happenings this weekend. This is the last week so Sunday should be a riot -- all of the little kids walking around in these outrageous costumes (princes, princesses, clowns)? It's pretty fun to see.

And just for fun, here is the "fresco" that's on the wall in our room. This was before we did any arranging (there's a big armoire in the middle of the wall now). The thing is actually an enlarged photo (complete with typical 70s color saturation) on four strips of wallpaper and it is hideously hilarious. Jackie, Freya and I have a new goal in life: find out where the picture was taken, go there, take a picture in typical tourist fashion (peace signs and fanny packs), and hang the framed picture right in the middle. Amazing!

We didn't die, but nearly did in our hearts.

2008-01-27T11:39:00.000+01:00

Never, ever, ever again.

Here, my friends, is the true story of two girls. Two little Palermitane trying their hardest to find tickets to the Roma - Palermo game. And not just any tickets. Tickets for the away fans section. Tickets to sit with all of the Palermitani so that they could cheer to their hearts content for their boys.

Unfortunately, this was only a dream, because (surprise, surprise) every Italian is oblivious. Sure, I knew this, and love this about living here, but yesterday after running around to 4 different Roma stores, it gets to be a bit too much.

Let me fill you in a bit on how this works. You do not buy tickets at the stadium. You buy tickets at various AS Roma stores, some which are supposed to sell tickets specifically for the settore ospiti (the visiting fans section). This is the section we were going for. After being turned away from the one down the block from us on Friday, we took Saturday (the day of the game) to find these seats. We went to the Roma store in the centre and were turned down. The man of course has no idea where to get these tickets. Then we make our way back home and try the one down the block again. Some genius kid decides to tell us that we can go to the ticket booth at the Gran Teatro to get the tickets.

This is about a 1.5 hour trip.

We go all the way there, and find out from the woman that away tickets are never sold in Italy on the day of the game. But if we knew about this place yesterday it would've been fine. WHY!?

Fine. So we buy tickets next to this section (which is quite far away because they close off the two sections closest to the Palermo fans. Talk about your security.

Okay. We travel all the way back home to eat for the first time since breakfast, and then travel all the way back, bundled up and ready to go.

We are sitting in the middle of a bunch of Roma fans. They are singing, cheering, chanting, waving scarfs and making obscene gestures at the Palermo fans. Poor little Steffi and I are sitting silently, squeaking here and there when good and bad things happen to Palermo. And when my favorite player Rinaudo gets a red card (completely uncalled for), Roma scores a goal 2 minutes later. Everyone around us stands up and cheers and we sat all discouraged in our dirty stadium seats.

So all in all, regardless of the multiple pilgrimages to find tickets, the 28degree weather, sitting with a bunch of stupid Roma fans... at least now we know how to go about doing everything for when Lazio plays Palermo on May 4th.

Also, I did get to see Francesco Totti play, which just solidified my reasoning for disliking him and Roma. Perhaps if he spent more time playing and less time rolling around on the floor like a baby trying to get calls from the ref, he would be a considered a good player in my eyes.

In non-football related news, we are going to a new church today. A non-english speaking church. Finally! Long story. Write later.

Forza Palermo!

Ikea! Ikea!

2008-01-24T23:56:00.000+01:00

Hurray! Ikea is so good to us! I am proud to say that for the first time in my life, I am a proud owner of a down comforter. And for only 25euro! We both got wonderful bedsheets as well, and the apartment is finally starting to look like a home. Life is delicious.

As are the kebabs from around the corner. We made a kebab run tonight (because we already ate all the food in the house) and the guy gave us free falafel to try. Not only was it free, but it was mmm mmm good too! I could get used to this.

Pictures will be up soon of our new place.

I have been lucky to have this mini-vacation before school to settle in and such. Umm... it also gave me the time to start watching Buffy again... which is the best show ever created. Too bad all of those free tv sites don't have it, so now I'm all stuck downloading every episode. Can you say LOSER!?

Don't care. Watching Buffy will educate me on how to beat up all the gypsy thieves in Rome. Ha!

Here. Safe. Happy.

2008-01-22T19:20:00.000+01:00

So here I am, writing to you all from our very lovely new (old) apartment. As most of you know, we switched apartments with the people living next door to us. Long story. The point is that we now have a lovely studio with a little loft for Stef to sleep in (she just can't shake off the whole attic creature thing!).

We'll post pictures eventually, of course when we have fixed it up and decorated with the help of Mr Ikea.

School doesn't start until next Monday for me, which is wonderful because I still can't get my body to follow Rome time. I sit wide awake at 3am.

But I'm so happy to be back. I have really good feelings about this coming semester. I feel like it will be a perfect combination of my first semester (all fun, games, and Italian loveliness) and this past semester which was all serious business of paying rent and getting schoolwork done. Last semester I didn't really have the time or energy to spend exploring Rome and meeting new people. This time will be different and I'm happy for it.

My friend Freya took a semester off to go to a language school and do an intensive Italian course. I think I'll follow her lead this summer. I want this language so badly, and if I want to start speaking it fluently, it is essential to learn through speaking, reading, and hearing it constantly.

My family comes in 3 weeks. I'm gonna make them party ;)

The Paintings.

2007-12-07T00:47:00.000+01:00

So last night was the exhibition for all of the studio art classes. Here are some pictures of the paintings I worked on this semester (minus two because they just didn't fit in with my theme).

(Autoritratto, just in case you couldn't figure it out!)

If you look up Giacomo Balla, Emilio Vedova, and Pino Pascali, you'll understand what I was going for. The exhibition went really well, and I spent a lot of time setting up the entire show... so my professor Breda (who is swiftly becoming a very good friend of mine) bought me some chinese food, and we ate lunch together and talked about art. She is this little old hunched over Irish woman with a big heart and a sharp wit... I'm glad that I'll have classes with her every semester from now on.

Anyway, school sucks, there is too much work ahead of me, and I'm desperately awaiting next week, because I would much rather be taking a bunch of stupid exams rather than writing ridiculous papers. My weekend is shot, and all I really want to do is go see the Pop Art! show and the Rothko exhibit... maybe I can sneak it in on Tuesday.

We are coming home in about a week, and this means packing up our entire apartment and figuring out where to leave all of our stuff while we are away. I'm fighting the urge to just burn everything so that I don't have to deal with it.

But Christmas is coming, and we've been listening to the music non-stop. If you really want to hear some good Christmas stuff, download The Ventures Christmas... nothing like beach music to get you into the spirit!

Scrubs, gallery openings, and lots of papers.

2007-11-30T18:52:00.000+01:00

So if you are wondering what we've been up to, it's a whole lot of ridiculousness... working a lot and such. Stef has been at Berlitz every day, except for today (yet another bus strike).

Last night I had a final project for my Art Gallery Management class and my group had to put on an exhibition. So we got a couple of friends to display their artwork, bought some food and wine, and held an exhibition that was very successful. Here are a few pictures of our group:

Melissa, Ursula (my professor), Freya, Alison, Me, Catie

Things get silly.

Afterwards I went to my friend Rita's house to play guitar and sing Christmas songs. Now I'll be holed up at home all weekend writing 3 papers, painting, and studying for finals and such. Tomorrow night is my friend Steven's concert at one the churches by my old apartment.

And then we come home on the 15th. Cute right? I'm excited for the season, but there are a few things I'm dreading, like renewing my visa in the depths of the Italian Consulate. People don't realize how that the DMV is a dream compared to the 5th ave hell hole with dim lighting and broken seats.

Anyway... life is hectic but good as long as there I can make a sandwich with prosciutto, smoked cheese, olive oil, salt, and some rucola. Mmmmmmmmm...

A can of crazy!

2007-11-19T17:23:00.001+01:00

This week is the start of the madness. Papers, gallery exhibitions to plan, finals, packing to move into a new apartment... wonderful.

I have a final on the 14th and a flight to NY on the 15th. And somewhere in between there I have to move all of our stuff into our new apartment next door. WHY!? Haven't been getting good sleep because of my neck, and I've been getting sick off and on for the past couple of weeks. I think a doctor's appointment is in order, along with being with my family, going into the city to hit up the museums and galleries, renewing my visa, translating documents, all for my month vacation back home in NY.

No worries though. I'm looking forward to Starbucks, Fox Soccer Channel, internet in my house, seeing my family and friendsies, and getting to squeeze Steven and Julia for a whole month!!!!!

And because we are bringing our family from the homeland with us, I'll still get to speak Italian all break. I think this is a great deal.

Less than a month until we arrive at JFK.

Or Ellis Island.

Birthday fun!

2007-11-13T13:20:00.000+01:00

So I'm 20 now, along with the rest of the world. My birthday was actually the best one I've ever had, and it was totally worth losing my teenage years.

The day started off with a really really attractive bus driver that took me all the way to school. I had a midterm that day that I totally rocked because it was so easy, and after that class I went to Freya's house and we had some celebratory wine and pizza. I hung out there the rest of the day and Stef and other friends met up with us, and we went out for a monstrous dinner at my favorite Thai restaurant here. Tons and tons and tons of free food, lots of wonderful pictures, and a little limoncello later, we walked our way over to Piazza Trilussa (possibly my most favorite place in Rome), sat on the steps for a few hours, and sang Cat Stevens and Beatles songs with a bunch of Italians that had a guitar.

It was a wonderful night full of so many friendly faces and beautiful music. What more could a birthday girl ask for?

And now, I'm all feverish and trying to get my way through the school day, which isn't working out too well. But I'm a trooper.

I made my schedule for next semester and it goes a little something like this:
Art for Arts Sake
Italian Writing Styles
Painting II
Van Gogh to Warhol
Art of Renaissance and Baroque

This is exactly why I moved to Rome.

Really excited to come home though! I just want to eat a huge Christmas meal and take a wicked nap right after. Mmmm...

My Vacation from Rome.

2007-11-05T12:47:00.000+01:00

I just had a week off from school and I did my most favorite thing in the world: nothing.

I slept all day, sometimes went out at night, but mostly just vegged around the house and walked around aimlessly. It was amazing.

Back into the grind. I think I'm becoming a nerd with the amount of work I have to do. It's probably better this way because as of this Thursday I will officially leave my teenage years. I need to grow up, I guess. (Expect another post soon completely contradicting this one).

Ummm... I'm diving into the Italian language, because I realized that I have barely been speaking it since I've been here, and I need to get back on track.

And also, Palermo better beat Napoli next week. That's all I'm saying.

I have nothing to wear for my birthday. Must find a nice outfit for fun and games.

The world needs more smoked cheese.

2007-10-23T13:46:00.000+02:00

So Steffi planned on writing this epic post about our ridiculous weekend, but I don't think she finished it. Either way, I'll just say that I'm thinking about joining the Communist party of Italy just because they know how to throw a good party/parade.

Joking.

But seriously, I have 4 tests in the next two days, and I'm not freaking out at all, because if you just study a little, everything comes together. Right?

After Thursday, I'm on vacation for a week, and it is definitely deserved as well as needed. My plans include: sleep, reading, writing a couple papers, visiting all the museums and galleries I've been wanting to, sleep, eating soup, eating bread, eating, a little vino, dancing at Rialto, and working a lot so that we can pay for rent.

As far as working goes, I babysit these two little Italian boys, Simone and Michele. They are 4 & 7, and they crack me up on a regular basis. The language barrier is quite funny actually, especially when I'm giving them a bath. Apparently Michele believes he has a un pisello grande, while Simone has a pisellino. Greeeeeeeeeeeeeat.

But this job alone will not pay the rent. So I'm going to the Abbey Theatre Pub, that caters mostly to Americans and the Brits with American sports and lots of rugby... and I'm going to get a job. Or I'll try to get a job, try really really hard. Really, waitressing is the way to go if I want to be able to make some real money quickly, so I'm hoping to get a job on my English/Italian skills and my good looks. C'mon, you gotta use what you got in a flashy city like this.

I figure it's a good way to meet people too. Meet them at work, and then never see them again... probably the best thing about meeting a lot of people. There is no follow-up. Sweet!

So pray that I get this job, and that I get it really really soon... because Di Croce girls cannot live on bread (credit card) alone.

ps- There is a bakery right underneath our building that bakes fresh bread every day, and the guy there gives me about a euro discount every time I go. I spend about 2euro on a ginormous piece of fresh crusty chewy bread. Che bella!

If you are what you eat...

2007-10-16T13:58:00.000+02:00

...I should be turning into a piece of prosciutto very soon.

In sickness and in health.

2007-10-15T17:02:00.000+02:00

So just in time for a week of studying and catching up on all slacking tendencies before midterms, someone decides that I need to start getting sick.

And it's like that evil sneak-up-on-you sick. Like, I feel it brewing behind my eyes. Hoorah!

Food shopping today will consist of the ancient remedies of chicken soup ingredients and lots of vitamin c. And also smoked cheese. Always cheese.

Stef and I have no warm clothes. Fall is already here. Maybe a trip to H&M is in order, especially because my birthday is coming up real soon... mmmm, 20 years of awesome.

One of my friends recently said to me that one's enchantment with Rome has to fade at some point. He said this in response to me finding it difficult to enjoy the city since I've been here, mostly because of stress of financial things and school and all that rot. But I don't think that's true at all. I think it's possible for certain people to lost there enchantment with a lot of things, very quickly, but again, it takes a certain person to never lose it. Every experience is what you make of it, and if you want to disregard the magic floating around this city then of course you'll become oblivious to it.

I just know that this city captivates me like no other place ever has, and even though I haven't been able to experience it to the fullest yet, I cannot be discouraged.

And now, time for food.

In which I disclose things which I have learned...

2007-10-15T14:42:00.000+02:00

So let's talk about lying things that lie.

1) The ATAC website.

So Rome has this great and fantastic website for its public transportation system. That is, it would be great and fantastic if it didn't LIE all of the time! For instance: I've been dying to go to this huge shopping plaza Porta di Roma for the longest time. It's a bit of a ways outside of the city, but it's one of two IKEA locations in the area around Rome and IKEA = Love. You know it's true. Anyway, Jackie and I decide to make a trip a few weeks ago using the route planner option on the ATAC site which tells us to take the 84 to a stop and then IT'S SO RIGHT THERE. SWEAR! Following said directions led us to...the autostrade. The highway for those unfamiliar. Which we gazed along seeing signs for Porta di Roma in the distance and gave up. I find out today that the 38 has an extended route that drops passengers off in the IKEA parking lot.

You'd think I'd have learned my lesson.

No less than 4 times since have I tried to plot my route using the website only to find after trudging across cobblestoned alleys that directly in front of my destination is a merry little bus stop just bustling with arrivals and departures. So, right now I'm downloading PDF files of all of the bus routes in Rome, because ATAC? You are a lying liar who lies.

2) Recipes.

There is no brown sugar in Italy. Molasses is an American product that just doesn't have the same following across the pond and is pretty much non-existent except for specialty international stores. FEAR NOT say various ex-pat websites! Brown sugar exists! Just look for zucchero di canna (Zucchero di Canna...are we ending that word with a varro? Because in that case, I'll *adapt the recipe, thank you* [this aside brought to you by a very silly football obsession and yes I'm stopping now])! Those of you familiar with Starbucks' ever delightful 'sugar in the raw' will know what that ingredient is. And what it isn't. Which is brown sugar.

I need to bake cookies, people! Fortunately there seems to be a huge international supermarket (glory of living in a major metropolitan area, huzzah!) near the Vatican, so I'll be making a field trip there in the not so distant future as the weather has turned snappy and, cookies, people. Cookies. Gluttony may be a sin, but even Jesus was all about making food and making it the best stuff around (Good wine? Bread? Fish? That's what I'm talking about).

3) Citibank
Liars. WaMu >>>>>> Citibank

4) Who cares, as long as I can make oatmeal cookies, Who. Cares. Indeed.

Hopefully I'll be back with pictures of the glorious result of this epicurean search. And it will be glorious...

So...things. Good things.

2007-10-13T13:29:00.000+02:00

Oh man, I suck. As I was making the layout for this site I would get all snippy at Jackie like "you'd better not put my HARD WORK TO WASTE and not post" and here I'm the one who's being rather lame with the whole thing.

So, slight update -- I am employed! About a week and a half ago I got a call while I was on a bus from a strange Italian number, after hopping off the bus and fumbling around Piazza del Popolo, I hung up from my conversation with Hugo of Berlitz Intl. regarding a CV that I'd sent him. A few hours and one interview later and I was a contract employee of Berlitz EUR and the first full-time hire for the new language school at Tuscolana (which is a 4 minute bus ride away from the apartment). I cannot tell you how blessed I am to have this job. It's a full time job teaching English in an amazing, internationally renowned language school with room to grow and a salary I most certainly did not think I'd be making within a few months of being here. Let's just say that the people who live next door have been living here for a few years and advised Jackie and I that "you shouldn't expect more than 1.000 euro a month" and, well, I didn't expect it, but I'm more than thrilled that I'm working a legit job that pays nearly twice that at its base pay.

God's really blessed me, not only financially with this, but emotionally. I've been struggling a bit with resentment at the amount of money that I put into my university education and with the fact that most of the jobs here that I'd been applying for didn't make use of that degree. Berlitz requires its instructors to at least have a university degree, so it's been kind of a relief for me to know that those four years are really helping me live and have a job that I'm going to enjoy doing. So woohoo to that.

Other than that... Palermo needs to shape up and stop giving me heart attacks and, um, SOMEONE needs to stop leaving Zacca off of the national team sheet, and if that made no sense to you just ignore this paragraph. It is of no consequence.

Also, I pick up a WiFi signal in my laundry room. Go fig. But my computer won't connect to it. I don't know. But do not underestimate my insanity -- I *will* sit cross-legged on the top of the washing machine (for its 2 hour cycles) and surf instead of hauling myself to Trastevere. Oh yes.

Love you all,

'Sei di Sicilia?'

2007-10-09T13:04:00.000+02:00

Sometimes you think you speak Italian well and people know right away that you are New Yorkese. Sometimes you don't think at all and you get asked if you are from Sicilia.

Last night we went to Mondo Arancina, this little Sicilian place that sells pizza and arancine (rice balls is a much less attractive term!). I order my arancina and the cashier asks me if I'm from Sicily because my accent is very Sicilian... I thank him of course and we get into a conversation about family in Palermo and such.

Point is, I sounded like I was Sicilian and that makes my life. What more do you want?

Nobody wears red in Rome.

2007-10-04T12:20:00.000+02:00

Why am I always the cartoon character wherever I go?

So things have been in complete madness since the last time I wrote. My school ruined my loans for this semester, and blah blah blah things got insane with me going to the financial offices every day, being treated like a criminal delinquent, falling behind in my schoolwork and losing weight... but thank the Lord, it's all over.

Somehow, I was able to explain the entire complicated situation to our landlady (all in Italian, thank you very much) and she was completely fine with everything, very relaxed, kept telling me not to worry and just to call her when the rent is ready. And people don't believe that there is a God that is watching over us and providing for us... Ha!

I was talking with our friend Jake last night (who is right now in Rome staying with us!) and we were discussing how blessed we are to have our parents. We both come from families that support and love us no matter how screwed up things get, and how incredible it is because many people don't know what it's like.

So for the first time since I've been here this month, I'm at ease, I'm relaxed, and I'm finally able to enjoy my beautiful city to the fullest.

Jake will be here for a week, then he's off to travel around the rest of Europe for a couple weeks, then making his way back to Rome for a few days to hang out before he goes back to Jersey... it's great to see a familiar face from home. And it's also so much fun taking someone around the city you love and showing them all of the wonderful things.

I keep picturing my family and I sitting on the steps of Trilussa on a weekend night... mostly because I think it would be funny, but also because you want to share your favorite things with the people you love. Hope they are ready for it in February.

Things are good. I'm in the process of speaking to all of my professors about my situation, so they know that I'm not some slacker that doesn't feel like doing work... they are all incredible anyway, so it all works out.

My Italian is getting better every day and I'm even beginning to forget how to say things in English. YES!

Midnight in my mind, five years from now.

2007-09-27T15:13:00.000+02:00

I'll never discover a painting. I wont be in some grad school with my nose in a book, researching an artist's every breath to track down a piece. I see my rooms in disarray, but charmingly so. I can smell the aroma of freshly cooked vegetables and basil all over my brightly colored kitchen. The sun shines through my windows peeling with salmon colored paint and it warms the simple tile floor, worn and old. I'm barefoot, as usual, even though I still own a plethora of shoes. I have a room strewn with canvases, large and small, my own originals that aren't etremely good of profound, but the colors make me happy and I like to get my hands dirty. I have an old black typewriter and I sit like my grandfather does writing out my life story. Might as well start as it's fresh in my memory. Sometimes I get called in to work on a painting or to restore a mosaic, here and there. I eat lemon gelato and lay in the park with fresh fruit and my guitar at my side. I drink wine with friends and I go see Palermo play when they're in town. I sit and draw in piazzas, faces, hands, windows... I'll never be an artist like my father or sister, but I find joy in any sort of creation. I often write down my dreams and when I'm home I wear large button-down shirts and no pants. I listen to classical music and conduct orchestras as I walk through my rooms. My hair is long and still as black as ever. He tells me I give the sweetest kisses in all the world, honey and wine.

Palermo, lezioni, soldi.

2007-09-25T12:28:00.000+02:00

So, I'm thinking about becoming a genius.

I truly am in my element right now, studying exactly what I want to study, thriving in all of my classes, and for the first time truly enjoying school. This is exactly what I would never get at Fordham.

My direction in life is changing a bit. AUR might be starting a Restoration concentration next year, so I'll definitely be taking all 6 classes for the requirement, but I'm wondering now how I'll fit this all into 4 semesters or so. Summer classes! I'll be trying to get all of those stupid classes out of the way, like math and science, so that I can focus on the things that are more relavent to me.

Tonight I'm going to a gallery off of Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere with Freya... it's a requirement of our Art Gallery Management class and we have to do a write up on the function, layout, lighting, etc. of the place, and it's all very wonderful to me. There are so many interesting galleries here... I want to get involved in the gallery crowd. Go to openings, meet artists and historians, learn everything there is to know about everything... and here is so much more down to earth than in New York. The galleries there are kind of stuffy and high-class.

Which inspires me (and this is where the new direction comes in) to consider opening up my own gallery... something really earthy and accessible, a way to have a relationship with local artists and give people a relaxed atmosphere to view art.

We'll see. I must learn it all first. Restoration too. Maybe add a coffee shop into the mix as well... sip on espresso and discuss art, my two favorite things.

more pictures!

2007-09-24T14:32:00.000+02:00

Tottitottitottitottitotti...
Just a glimpse of the lovely advertising campaign throughout Roma. Oh Totti.

Waiting for the 44 in Piazza Venezia

So, the Palermo-Mlada UEFA Cup game was on the other day ON A CHANNEL WHICH I GET!!! and 1) the bus was really slow getting home so I didn't get to see the first half, and 2) This is what I saw for half of that second half...
So total minutes of live Palermo footie that I've seen since being here? 20ish. EXCELLENT.

Jackie and a caramel cornetto. Mmmmmmmmm.

Pictures of our church! I only got a couple that actually came out nicely because the flash washes the colors out, but this is directly behind the altar. The mosaics were done by a pre-Raphaelite artist named Edward Burne-Jones (and it just figures that as I was looking up the spelling of his name just now, I find a website that looks like it promises to have better pictures than the one I'm posting...go! Look!) who actually did the whole things around the height of Oscar Wilde's fame (1880-1890). They're really gorgeous and the symbolism behind them is really interesting. This one is Jesus on the throne of the new Jerusalem with seats for the six archangels -- the empty space to his right being Lucifer's former seat. I know there's Michael next to the empty spot (with the armor and the red banner) but I'm not sure of the others. This is a case for Art-History Jackie!

Another view

And yet another of all three panels.

This is around the corner from us on Via Merulana -- apparently we have a fellow enthusiast in our neighborhood! Totally made my day.

--------------
Videos!! Finally got these up -- it's been a long time coming, I know.

This is part one of our "apartment tour." Sunday morning in a slightly disheveled Di Croce household.

Part 2 -- Kitchen, etc...

These are the bells of the Scala Santa. I just wanted to put these here so that you all could get an idea of what we wake up to every morning. That's right outside of our window folks. Bright. And. Early.

Alright, until next time!

All work and all play.

2007-09-24T11:03:00.000+02:00

Today I'm going over someone's house to meet her two little boys and kind of have an interview to see if I'll be able to be their wonderful English mothertongue babysitter. Fun!

My class ends at 5 though, and I have to be at their house at 5.30... interesting. I'll probably have to leave early. I'm just really excited, because I miss being around kids, and I have this fascination with Italian children because I think they are all geniuses. So pray that everything goes okay, because I'd like to actually have some spending money in the future.

I think I want to go to San Lorenzo all the time. It's close to La Sapienza (Roman University) so there are tons of young Italians hanging around... and I was was walking around the area two nights ago and I saw a band dressed up in 60s fashion playing Beatles songs. What more could you want?

Your general, boring update.

2007-09-20T17:14:00.000+02:00

My feet are always dirty.

Some may not know this, but Rome is a pretty dusty, dirty place... as in we get winds from Africa (supressing Joni Mitchell song) that bring us lots of desert dust. So you must sweep and mop perpetually... but even so, walking around barefoot in the house, on the balcony, open-toe shoes... dirty dirty feet.

I love it.

My Italian is not getting any better, but I am trying to study and do more reading/writing, and my friend Steven I set up a little study group... I've decided that I must learn passato remoto perfectly, because it is used mostly in Sicily, and I always strive to be more Sicilian. Forza.

Anyone else thrilled that Inter lost last night? ;)

Tomorrow morning I have a class at Galleria Nazionale Dell'arte Moderna... we talk about a painting as we are looking directly at it. Amazing, no?

Baci!

Picture post!

2007-09-17T13:30:00.000+02:00

Alright, pictures! My camera decided to play broken for about a week after we got in so I haven't had much to post, but it got over itself a couple days ago and I've been toting it around. So yes, pictures! Click on 'em to see them at full size.

Alright, so this is pre-break. The black and white is to allow you to truly experience Heathrow airport. Jackie and I sat at this cafe for maybe three hours, jetlagged and hungry as we waited for our connecting flight. They served us cream with our coffee and it was served WARM. That was probably the only good thing about that place. ANYWAY!

Aaaand this is the view from our balcony! That's San Giovanni di Laterano right there (which is where Oscar Wilde spent his last Easter, by the way) and part of the piazza, which actually stretches from in front of the church and down its right side (in front of our building). The building in the foreground on the right is the Santa Scala which is the building that houses the staircase that Jesus supposedly climbed on his way to see Pontius Pilate. There's a bell tower on the top of the building that rings at the most random times and for the most random amounts. Let's just say that it's not meant to be a timekeeper -- we're still trying to figure it out. You can't see it in the picture but further to the right of the Scala Santa, the building attaches to part of the Claudia aqueducts which were built from 36 - 50 AD. Very cool.

And instead of the obelisk built by Thutmose III, restoration efforts have left our view with Zac Efron. Which Jackie is not upset about.

Here's Jackie being studious in the courtyard of her school.

And here's an example of what our piazza is capable of. Saturday was the 10th anniversary of MTVItalia which brought HUGE day-long concerts to both Rome and Milan. We bounced in the middle of the day to escape the screaming teenagers in their stylish duds.

Iiiiiinteresting juxtaposition.

As you can tell, I was very amused by this all.

Very.

Here's Jackie strutting her stuff on the way to the Fontana Trevi

Aaaand here she is -- at midnight when it was more or less calm and enjoyable and sans gladiatori picture ops.

Hi!

Archs over the street on the way home.

And that's it for now -- more to come once I get my hands on the stuff Jackie has on her computer!

Love,
Stef

Pics

2007-09-17T11:43:00.001+02:00

Relaxing after a fabulous meal. Freya, Rita, Steven.

Steffi, Neil, Freya... notice the pictures on the wall... all of your faces!

Stef sipping un cafe'.

Circo Massimo! The exhibition was called 'Maximum Silence'.

Typical meal in the Di Croce house... pasta, bread, cheese, vino, and tomato concoctions!

This is the ceiling of our bedroom.

Our view from the balcony.

Goethe makes me see the light.

2007-09-11T14:58:00.000+02:00

I had a class today in Goethe's house. It's a small museum that has a few of his transcripts as well as tons of etchings and tiny treasures all around. I was inspired though. I decided to add yet another class to my schedule so that I'm taking Art Gallery Management as well. It sounds interesting and I'm thinking that maybe in the future I'd like to set up my own gallery... we'll see.

Annnnyway, my classes are as follows:

Painting Techniques
Survey of American History (blah)
Italian Reading and Composition
Arts of Modernity
Arts of Antiquity
Art Gallery Management

Yes, six classes, but I think I can handle it, especially because for Painting there are no academics involved. I plan on being a big nerd this year anyway (and i just found out that my current GPA is a 3.1, the highest it's ever been!).

I just want to do so many things... I want to be able to take as much advantage as possible of the classes offered here.

Dork.

ps- I was just informed that Zac Efron is performing 'Ladies Choice' in my piazza on Friday. Which means that I will be right front and center screaming my head off.

Internets.

2007-09-10T12:04:00.000+02:00

So for now, we only have internet at school... this is something we are working on. Eventually we will have it in the house.

So, interesting things... we have officially been here for a week and I am floating on the idea of being here for so long. I love waiting for buses and having conversations with new people in Italian... there is something so freeing to walk out of your apartment and have access to an entire city in minutes. I love wearing wonderful clothes every day and finally having my red lipstick permanently on my lips. Che bella vita!

My new favorite thing to do (also because it is reminiscent of my last stay in Rome) is to wake up in the morning, make my coffee and sit on the floor with the windows open. The sun is so strong and warms the tiles and I stay in my pjs, all barefoot and sleepy and look at the statues on the top of the church.

Tonight we are going to Circo Massimo to see an exhibit called 'Maximum Silence'. It's a bit lengthy to explain, so I promise to post some pictures tomorrow.

Love!

Here. Safe. Sound.

2007-09-06T15:06:00.000+02:00

Ciao tutti!

We are finally here and kind of settled in. We have no internet, but Stef has been surviving without it better than I thought ;)

Right now we have no pictures to send, mostly because our cameras are out of batteries (go figure), and we still have to buy some adaptors for our chargers. The area we live in is really different than where I was last year, and I freaked a bit, but after walking around a lot we found everything we needed right in our neighborhood.

The funny thing is that our piazza is sort of the MSG of Rome. There is constantly some concert being set up there. This week, MTV Italia is hosting TRL right outside our window, so all we hear during the day is a bunch of screaming Italian teenagers singing along to Avril Lavigne. Next week there is a HUGE concert there with a bunch of famous Italian pop artists, so we are probably going to have a bit of trouble getting around that day. Boh!

The bus that we take all the time drives us right next to the Colisseo every day, so we've been developing our relationship with the building... last night on our way home we walked right up next to it to touch the walls... nothing quite like running your fingers across ancient Rome.

Still a bit nervous about making some money for rent, but I think we'll be okay. I'm hoping to save up enough to buy a vespa, because every single time I see one (which is like, every 4 seconds) I realize how convenient they are (as well as pretty awesome and fun to ride... wouldn't I look so cute on a little shiny red vespa with a camel colored leather seat?).

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAnyway, things are going good... meeting new people already and just enjoying good food and wine. Ummm, Roma is amazing.

Welcome :)

2007-08-27T20:15:00.000+02:00

Hi guys!

So this is our blog -- instead of sending out a big huge email with a bunch of attachments to clog your inboxes, Jackie and I thought that this would be a fun and easy way for you all to keep tabs of our Roman adventure. Bookmark this page and visit often to see our pictures, videos and stories -- make sure that you leave comments, too! If you look on the lefthand menu, you'll see our profiles, the archive so you can easily find previous entries, and the "tag list" where we'll group together different posts so you can find them easily by topic (for example, I'm categorizing this entry under "contact info" so if you want to read all of the entries that have information about how to get in touch with it, you can click on that heading under the tag menu).

As of right now, we don't have all of our Italy contact information, but you can definitely email us at:

Stef - themusicofsilence [at] gmail [dot] com
Jackie - lipstickmyname [at] hotmail [dot] com
(replace the stuff in brackets with the @ and the . ;o) )

We'll be updating as soon as we get all of our Italian information down pat.

-- With love

6 more days...

2007-08-27T16:15:00.000+02:00

...and I haven't started to pack. :)