Life in the Tuscania

While being on my own in a Italy here are a few things I have learned:

Cam, Me and cute dog named Argo. This was taken at Bar San Marco which is really a cafe.

1. Dogs are allowed in Public Places (bars, cafes, grocery stores, schools etc)
2. How to make toast without a toaster
3. How many things you can make with bread : Toast and jelly, cinnamon and sugar toast, egg sandwich, grilled cheese etc. 
4. In order to heat up food, use a frying pan (especially pizza)
5. I can spray Febreeze on my socks to avoid doing laundry
6. How to boil water
7. And when I do laundry, it learned it will take a little more than 2 days for my clothes to dry

Drying my clothes-Italian Style

Also while being here, I have met a ton of great people. One for example is my AWESOME roommate Cam.  She decided to take me out to dinner to get my mind off some things going on back at home….

 I miss my dog Abby...and all of the snow!

My grandma, Catherine Coglianese had passed away Wed. February 8 at age 97 (she was a trooper) and it’s really upsetting being in such a beautiful place like Italy but feeling like shit.  While all my family is at home together, I am stuck here.  I just saw her for her birthday before I left for Italy and we brought her and her BFFL Mary lol some milkshakes at the Nursing Home :) 

 I know she is in a better place because she was a wonderful person, so I hope you all can say a prayer for her.  I am going to Church on Sunday in Tuscania since I can make it to her wake to honor and pray for my Grandma Coglianese.

RIP Grandma Coglianese, always loved, never forgotten.

L-R: Grandma, Dad and BFFL Mary

As I am trying to stay happy and keep my mind off things, I will share some experiences:

• While Cam and I were looking at the menu when she took me out to dinner the waiter and her daughter waits by our table STARING at us until we ordered, they whisper and laugh, then continues to stare. (Oh and being the only one in the restaurant definitely made their presence UNCOMFORTABLE)
• When we are speaking English carelessly (by carelessly I mean talking about girl stuff) and then find out as we are leaving the guy that was sitting at the table on his break next to us speaks fluent English, literally the entire walk home we were trying to remember what exactly we were saying…whoops!
• OK so Italians get offended and think you don’t like their food if you don’t finish everything on your plate, so when we ordered bruchetta and it’s came out with brown and black paste on the bread, we found ourselves breaking apart the pieces to make it look like we had some....I felt like I was in 5^th grade again lol.
• OR how about when the chef came out and asked us if we liked the food, we all said yes.  But since Allison didn't finish, The CHEF made her eat every singly piece of penne pasta on her plate. I felt uncomfortable for her. Soo Akward!
• And for me, the worst thing is ordering food in Italy.  I have no clue what the menu says, so honestly it’s a mystery every time something comes to the table, I even feel anxiety because I feel like a newborn trying to read! I probably look constipated everytime I ordering because I am SOOOOOOOO confused and uncomfortable! Thats why I have mainly sticking to spaghetti and Margaretta pizza (cheese pizza).

Dolce (desert) on the other hand, I can eat with every meal, This is called the Crazy Heart- SOOOOO good.

Being here hasn’t been too difficult to adjust to.  I started running and doing some strength work outs everyday with a friend around a school track which is nice because I want to stay in shape.  I have also been cooking a bit more (by cooking I mean improvising) I made garlic bread with garlic, olive oil, basil, oregano and of course in a frying pan.  However, I am desperately missing pancake syrup because I believe I had a minor addiction to pancakes before I came here.  I feel it will move on the French toast now because all the ingredients are available here in Italy. lol.

But, as the days go on, I am learning a little more about the Italian culture! I was invited over for the "daily cappuccino" at my friend Iva’s host family house (more like mansion).  We actually had thick milky hot chocolate, with some sort of sweet bakery bread to dip in it, and also hazelnuts to put in as well.  I guess its “Italian Hot Chocolate” but it was SOOOOO GOOD!

I really hope my workout plan…works out :|

Ciao!

Another Day another Adventure!

-Stacy