Coconut Macaroons

  We set out on another mission. Location: our kitchen. Subject: coconut macaroons. Purpose: meet our white haired friend on her doorstep rather than out the window. Our journey began at the grocery store with a list of sweetened condensed milk (latte condensato zucherrato) and coconut. Two helpful workers and a patron later we found them. As we left, we thanked the helpful patron and she wished us a "buona torte." Good caking. This really cracked us up. In the kitchen we joyfully prepared the little cookies, the aroma of toasted coconut filling our entire apartment. As they baked we looked up some key phrases:

Abbiamo portato dei biscotti che abbiamo fatto oggi. = We brought you some cookies that we made today.
Ci piacerebbe essere tuo amico. = We would like to be your friend.
E' stato bello conoscerti. = It was really nice to meet you.

We figured these would get the general idea across. As we were baking, she poked her head out the window to hang some undergarments on the line. She waved and asked us if we were good...then blew us a kiss goodbye! We were very excited to really meet her!

After writing her a little note, we drizzled chocolate over the cookies for a finishing touch, and then set off across the courtyard to deliver our treats. Once we found her door, we nervously rang the doorbell and waited as the door slowly opened. Behind the door revealed a very short old man smoking a cigarette. We asked him if there was a lady that lived there. He shook his head and shut the door in our face. Ouch! We were so confused, but sure that this was in fact her door. We rang the doorbell again, just waiting to be yelled at in Italian. The man reluctantly opened the door again and our conversation proceeded as follows. At least this is what we think he said.

Old man: I've just eaten dinner and I have no room for your cookies. Us: We live in apartment B. Old man: Oh, you're in the wrong building. Us: No, we are looking for a lady that lives here. Old man: Grumbles. Hollers for someone. Younger lady: Hello. Us: Hi, do you speak English? Lady: Yes. Us: We are looking for an older woman that lives here. We wave at her from our window, and we have brought her some cookies. Lady: Mama! Her mother was not the little lady that we had hoped. They squabbled for a little bit in Italian. Lady: You must be talking about Louisa, she lives below us. But she's not home now. Us: Ok, thank you.

However, we are most definitely positive that she indeed lives in that apartment, for this is the window that she always waves from. We stood outside their door, a little bruised, frustrated, definitely not the ending that we had hoped. We are saving her cookies for when we see her again, but as I sit in our kitchen typing, her window looks much different than before. The shudders are closed and the lights are off. There are no undergarments hanging on the line. It is strange.

On the bright side, we enjoyed the extra cookies that we made with the ladies in our Bible study. We had the most wonderful evening, digging into God's word and delighting in his wonderful gift of Jesus Christ! We are reading through Romans, and are really learning a ton.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. Romans 3:23-24

Wonders of Fall

The air is less thick. The wind is stronger too. It carries with it the reality that time is moving on. Leaves are dying, creating piles of wonderful crunchiness on the sidewalks. I took a walk to the top of Janiculum Hill where I looked out over the entire city of Rome. It was as if I were gazing at a gigantic map, recognizing the tallest landmarks and long row of trees arching over the river. Just being away was so refreshing. The walk back really brought out my inner child! There were huge piles of leaves covering the sidewalk…where I might have skipped and frolicked when no one was around.

For my History class we walk. We have no books. We are currently studying the Renaissance Period. It is the most interested in History I've ever been. Our teacher, Linda is so very wonderful. She makes us cookies and always presents them to us with such joy. She knows little details about daily life in the past that makes her class so worth it....the cookies help too. After class this week, Katelyn and I went back to a little Mediterranean food shop that Linda recommended. I ordered a thingy called shish taouk. The lady was asking me whether I wanted it spicy or not. I said yes. She asked me again. I said yes. I watched in horror as she dumped two heaping spoonfuls of the red fiery sauce into my food. It smelled so wonderful, but a few bites into it, my lips were numb and my tongue was buzzing. Adding some humor to the situation was the couple sitting next to us. If you haven't heard, public displays of affection are quite common in Italy. This was a perfectly awkward example. Let's just say I wasn't hungry for the rest of my shish taouk!

For a little peace and quiet, a few of us went to the town of Tivoli yesterday. It is home to Villa D'Este, a home commissioned by a cardinal in the Renaissance period. Behind the villa is a large garden and an extraordinary variety of fountains. The hydraulic engineering that went into the water systems is genius for that time. We were blown away by the sheer amount of water. The three of us had a very silly picture-taking day. We became entertainment for the old folk wandering around. I think we made their day!

Train Ride Home

Long train rides are my favorite...Especially when we get a first class cabin for second class price! It is such a great time to see the countryside, get some sleep, read my Bible, and jot down my thoughts. All for the small price of $19.95. The best part is ending up in a place different from where you began.

Last week was our first school trip. We spent the first night in Sorrento, a small town in the south of Italy on the Amalfi Coast. In keeping with tradition, everyone ate at the Lemon Tree where we were served the most delicious four course meal! My favorite part was the stuffed zucchini flower.

The next day we visited a town called Herculaneum. It was like going back in time! In 79 AD the village was "frozen in time" by a volcanic eruption from Mt. Vesuvius. In 1738 excavations began to uncover the lost town. Archeologists found almost everything perfectly preserved, from table settings to frescos.

The most fascinating part was the Roman baths. The baths were the town's number one place of excitement. It was where people gathered as often as they could afford to pamper themselves, catch up on the latest news, and just get away from the daily grind. These places are extraordinary, with high ceilings and floors covered in mosaics of sea creatures. They contained a heating system of a furnace and lead pipes. The pipes carried the heated water through the different rooms, heating the sauna, and the water for the pool. It was so eerily peaceful.

 

The rest of the weekend was individual travel, where my roommates and I stayed another night in Sorrento and the next in Naples. In Sorrento we proved our penny pinching ability by finding awesome bargains on almost everything. Hostel (cabin on the coast with a gorgeous view) - 9 euro. Local transportation- free when you smile at the bus driver. Supper - 6 euro for a whole amazingly cheesy pizza that I proudly ate by myself (see the grease dripping off the plate.) Scarf from the market - 5 euro...someone's Christmas gift. Shot of Lemoncello - free (this is a famous drink in Sorrento but turned out to be a bad idea...it looked like lemonade but felt like acid burning down my throat.) My biggest downfall was gelato...but it really wasn't my fault. We went to this famous gelateria (where the Pope has his pastries specially made.) It was so busy I just pointed at a cone and shouted my three flavors. It turned out to be a 5 euro cone.  Yummy but expensive!

Early the next morning we set off on a ferry to the island of Capri. Let me just say wow! We took a chairlift to the top of the mountain where we were standing on top of the world. I've never seen anything like it in my life. The phrase "feast your eyes" took on a whole new meaning. I couldn't get enough.

The final highlight of the trip was on the train ride home. Anna and I sat with a middle aged couple who spent the first portion of the ride listening to the Rome vs. Naples soccer game. When Naples won he and several other men in our car exchanged joking cheers and boos. Anna and I decided to cheer! After the excitement calmed down, we began to talk with the couple, Rosella and Ciro. They live in Rome. He is a musician and she designs websites. They have two children in their 20s. They joked with us about their son (which was quite embarrassing especially after they showed us his picture…our cheeks had some extra color.)  Ciro discussed his career in music. Then he gave us his cd...so cool! We even had the opportunity to share our faith! Four very short hours later we arrived in Rome where Rosella told us that she currently is taking time off and would love to show us around the city. We are currently planning to meet up on Saturday. You can pray that this will provide another opportunity to share the Good News with them!

        

White Haired Friend

I have a white haired friend!  She lives across the courtyard one floor up.  She's probably in her late seventies and  likes to hang her underwear out in the courtyard.  She has the most beautiful silvery white hair!  The first time we saw each other she was hanging panties out when we both looked up and met eyes.  It was kind of an akward but friendly smile and wave.  The next time was an enthusiastic exchange of waving.  Today, I saw her hanging out clothes and opened our windows to greet her.  She motioned to the three of us and said, "Tutto bene?"  Which means 'are you all good?' I replied with a thumbs up. 

I think I will bake her a cake and deliver it to her door.  We shall be great friends. 

Little Piece of Heaven

Last weekend I witnessed a little piece of heaven. We were on our way to the town of Assisi on a really cloudy Saturday morning. The view from my seat on the bus was spectacular. Around every corner was another amazing view of the large hills/small mountains. We’ll call them hilountains. They were beautiful. After about an hour of driving, the clouds met the sun in such a way that rays of light filtered down onto the land below. At one point, I looked out and saw two very large hills on either side of a valley that was home to a heard of sheep. The hills were sprinkled with villas and the rays of light spread over the valley making it look so wonderfully peaceful. I wasn’t quick enough to capture it on my camera, but it is an image that will stay with me forever!

 

Other scenes I saw on the way were both ordinary and peculiar. There were many farmers out tending their fields, women working in their gardens, people outside their homes talking. Fields full of corn, some still green and some ready for harvest, fields of sunflowers, and also many vineyards. My eyes were overjoyed at the countryside. In one pasture were three men working on some machinery. In the next field sat three surprisingly white bathtubs, placed haphazardly near one corner. I made the assumption that the two were connected…which led to some pretty humorous visuals.

I was also intrigued by the drainage systems of roads and fields. The highway we were on had little runoff spouts into the ditch every 20 yards or so. In the pastures were deep ditches running the length of land every 100 yards. These ditches were sometimes curving all across the land or perfectly parallel with each other.

Assisi is a town that sits on the top of one very large hill. It is home to many churches and a castle that sits on the tippy top. I spent the day with one of my roommates whose name is also Anna. We sketched for a while in the Church of St. Francis, and then we found our way to a lovely little restaurant overlooking the earth below. It was an amazing view with the crisp wind blowing our hair all over the place. We treated ourselves to white wine and pasta followed by tiramisu. The whole time it threatened to rain and the waiter threatened to take us inside. Fortunately, the rain held off and we were able to enjoy the view. It was a very elegant and sophisticated dinner, leaving us both feeling like beautifully poised young women. 

How to buy bread.

Yesterday I decided to buy bread. I was walking by myself to studio after getting my permit of stay when it just hit me - I hadn't bought bread from a bakery yet. I knew exactly where I needed to go. There is a little bakery in the Jewish ghetto behind our studio. Every time I walk past, I am lured to the door by the heavenly aroma. Each time I am frightened away by the large amount of people crammed into the tiny space, standing on tiptoes just to peek at the wonderful breads. I thought today is the day! I fearlessly squeezed my way into a corner and maneuvered my head to see what was behind the glass. Once I finally made my way to the front of the line, I had selected my bread and was ready to tell it to the nice young man behind the counter when the whole fantasy came to an abrupt stop as an older woman fanned a tiny piece of paper in my face. She promptly placed the paper in a bowl on the counter and proceeded to order. I immediately assumed that I should probably have a number too, so I picked one out of the bowl and handed it to the man. He gave me a confused and humored look, and then pointed to the screen where numbers are displayed. I quickly realized my mistake. I was supposed to grab a number as I walked in and then wait my turn. At this point I probably had a really fearful look on my face, but I was quickly relieved when both the man and woman began to laugh. He shook his head and said, "No problema." He picked out my bread, wrapped it up and I received it with delight. I was further encouraged by the jolly round old fellow sitting behind an ancient cash register. He beamed a smile at me and said, "Perfetto," as I handed him exact change.



It wasn't the most graceful way to buy bread, but I decided I did it with style. I am hurriedly eating the delicious bread so I can return soon and purchase bread like a pro!

Operation: Robert E. Ihlang

I was given a mission. It was from my grandpa George. He fought in WWII and was stationed in Italy for two years. Within the first two weeks of their arrival in January 1944, his good buddy Robert Ihlang was killed by an explosion of shrapnel. George was responsible for calling Robert's parents and letting them know they had the option of having his body shipped home or coming to Italy to have the service. There was nothing left of his body, and George strongly encouraged them to have the service here. They agreed, and he was buried in the American WWII Cemetery. Robert E. Ihlang was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army of the 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division. He died on January 10, 1944. He was honored with the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. He was a brave young man who fought for our freedom.

The mission was to find his gravesite and take a photograph for the Minnesota WWII Memorial in his honor. We arrived by train early yesterday morning and found ourselves in the wonderful little town of Nettuno. The cemetery was within walking distance from the station, so we quickly found ourselves in its beautiful gardens.

We wandered through, enjoying the calm serenity of the honored place. The air was so fresh, infused with scents of pine and freshly cut grass. It was a welcomed change from the thick dusty air of Rome. Finding the gravesite brought about a rush of adrenaline...comparable to finding a treasure chest! I and my five roommates took the challenge of taking the best photograph...we're still not sure who won. It was an honor to be in the presence of a man that George knew so many years ago and still thinks about to this day.

We made our way from the cemetery to a nearby grocery store. It was the biggest food store we had seen yet, selling clothes and other home supplies. Shopping in Italy is a unique experience. I would say the major food groups are produce, fresh bread, and cheese. The options are endless, and the language barrier forces us to try many new foods just because we don't know what is what. I have found that one can't go wrong with bread, but the cheeses can be a bit tricky...and stinky! We all have enjoyed the fresh and extremely cheap produce. My new favorite snack is pear slices with brie and crackers.

 

Once we found the beach we had a lovely picnic and took our leftovers to a homeless man sleeping nearby. The water was just perfect, and we enjoyed several hours of climbing rocks and lying out. The rest of the afternoon was spent shopping. This task takes a lot of pointing and nodding, hand gestures and awkwardly jumbled Italian words. I'm sure they appreciate our business!

Finding restrooms in Italy is quite difficult. The options are as follows: Option #1 Buy something from a cafe and hope they have a toilet. Option #2 Pay a euro to use one, toilet paper costs extra. Option #3 If you're a man, pee in the street (we witnessed this firsthand) Option #4 Find a secluded area and hope no one comes near. Extra tip - Always carry toilet paper just in case. At the train station, we had no choice but option #4, as all the other alternatives did not exist. I hope to never do that again!
The train ride home was blessed with good conversation and gorgeous views of the nearby Apennine Mountains. It was a wonderfully accomplished day.