Segreteria

Alas, the cooking classes are not every day so I spend the days I'm not in the kitchen assisting the school secretaries. It has been interesting trying to explain the concept of an internship to Italians, apparently that isn't a big thing here and they don't understand why someone would work for free, experience isn't a valid answer. I know this will look good on a resumè and I'm also getting college credit for it, but they all think I'm a little crazy.

I'm only on my second day in the office, and I don't think I'll ever be very busy because I already finished up the project they had for me of editing the study abroad website for American students. They immediately placed all that trust in me and I got to read through the entire website, correcting spelling, grammar, awkwardly worded sentences and giving suggestions to make it more appealing to college students. It was interesting trying to frame the awkward sentences into more commonly worded phrases, because what they said was technically correct, it just sounded foreign. I'm guessing I probably sound like that a lot of the time.

I get to listen to a lot of Italian while I'm in there, but fortunately Victoria, another secretary, lived in the US for 15 years so when I don't understand something perfectly she helps me out. They offered to let me answer phones, but I don't feel comfortable doing that yet, hopefully by the end or, even better, the middle, I'll be to that point, but for now, I'll just listen and try to compose Italian answers in my head.

And then with Louisa

The next night I was in the kitchen, but this time Louisa was the chef. We only had 4 students: 3 American tourists, a mother and her two daughters, and a lady from Holland who has been studying at Dante Alighieri for this week, but because she speaks about 4 other languages fluently she is picking it up really quickly. I had thought from the first cooking class that I did with my study abroad group that Louisa spoke a lot more English than she does, turns out her English is very limited and I had the great pleasure of playing translator all night. Fortunately I understand Italian pretty well, and speak English perfectly so it wasn't an issue and I got to feel very useful. Also, because the group was so small I was able to cook a lot! It was so wonderful, I'd been missing cooking, not good food--my host mom is an incredible cook-- but the ability to make the good food on my own.

Louisa is maybe 50, a native of Tuscany, and so incredibly sweet. She is always happy, bustling around the kitchen keeping an eye on everything and singing. It is so wonderful to work with her. She was very grateful to have me there to translate and to have someone to talk to. Also probably so she wouldn't have to do the dishes on her own, but I didn't mind that at all, because strange as this may sound, I've actually missed doing dishes! I always offer to help my host mom but she just says no, no, and sends me away. Louisa also was so welcoming into her kitchen, trusted me with cooking and speaking even though she had never had any proof that I could do either. I got to work with her the 3rd night also and it was even better than the first because I felt more comfortable around her and knew what she expected from me. All in all, I love my internship!

Beginning the Internship

Monday was my first day in the Kitchen. Ferdinando was the chef and Valentino was assisting, we had a group of 19 people from an aeronautical engineering university in Florida; needless to say, most of them were boys. I couldn't have anticipated a warmer welcome into the kitchen, and it was a wonderful start to my so far wonderful internship. Ferdinando and Valentino were both grateful to have me there and were very courteous and accommodating but also playful and ridiculous. Ferdinando is probably in his early 40's, speaks hardly and English, is passionate and blunt as most Italians, but even more so because he is from Naples, so he is a little crazy. Valentino claims to be 30 but looks closer to 23, is young, and Italian, need I say more? but don't worry, he figured out really quickly that I'm an innocent Mormon girl and he calls me 'little lamb'. I didn't understand everything the two of them were saying, which was probably for the best, because I might have been scarred by some of it.

At one point I was helping Valentino with the dishes and got my hand stuck between two large pots, and at long last I got to use the phrase I've been dying to use ever since I got here: ''aiutami!'' they both came rushing to my aid, saved me from the pots and then mocked me kindly for just a moment, but it was all ok because it really was a silly situation. I think they were more entertained by the tone of my voice when I said 'aiutami' than anything else because they kept repeating it in affected, high-pitched, desperate voices--I'm sure I didn't sound that ridiculous, but who knows.

The group of students were also all very friendly and attentive, and because only the 3 girls in the group had any confidence in their cooking abilities, I got to assist a lot. It was nice to have some good 'ol American to listen to and converse in, sometimes I miss it while I wander the city, but I can definitely tell my Italian skills are improving and I'm able to move around the kitchen with confidence. It also helps that Valentino, Ferdinando, and the entire class had absolute confidence in my abilities to both cook, and to varying degrees, to speak.

Firenze

Florence is filled with museums and art thanks to the Medici and it can all be overwhelming but it was also lovely and fantastic. I thought it was interesting though that my favorite views were from the balconies looking out onto the countryside, all the art in the world cannot compare with the beauty that God has created, he is the ultimate and absolute artist. The Tuscan countryside is not lacking in beauty even a little which makes me think this was a perfect place for the rebirth of art, they had so much natural art to inspire them! Watching the changes from medieval art to baroque and how the return of truth affected the ability of man to create beauty. The reformation brought not only an interest in developing a closer relationship with God but a new found interest in science and humanity that is incredible. The contrast between the darkness of the apostasy and the light of the rebirth is so obvious everywhere that I wonder that more people don't notice and query as to the cause. It's truth! My favorite piece in the uffizi was the birth of Venus by Botticelli because it so so clean and beautiful. The figures are soft and lovely and Venus is feminine which is a good contrast from many of the women in medieval art. I also loved the caravaggio's, not because the topics were particularly inspiring or lovely but because they were so real. Art was a faint imitation of life for so long that when they began to make it more realistic and copy the great designer again it is so wonderfully beautiful. Wow, the church is true! And I love it! Also, I love Italy and think everyone should visit right now! Farewell, I love you all.

Talking with Claudio

We had 'intensive' language courses this week, for both grammar and our internships. Monday was a placement exam and I was put into a class with people I know speak better than me so of course I felt proud of myself but it was also incredibly intimidating, also I have discovered I do not perform well under pressure. The class was set up for a lot of speaking which is definitely the best way to learn but I would get so tense and scared I couldn't say anything! Even when I had a little notice because my turn wasn't first I'd have the sentence perfect in my head and then I'd totally botch it when I had to speak. I think this was mostly a lack of confidence but possibly also an effect of the intensity of my teacher. His name was claudio and he was really really nice and entertaining but also in the true Italian fashion he was passionate and blunt which made it a little frightening. There was an older Australian gentleman who was an opera singer and truly a character. I loved listening to him speak because his Italian wasn't fantastic but he said it all with such gusto that is was so fantastic to listen to. Everyone in the class was boggled by the fact that the byu students dont drink or have premarital sex, honestly I find it reaffirming and easier to feel good about my standards when they are questioned. Overall the class was helpful yet terrifying and sometimes I felt like my Italian was getting worse, I'm sure this is an affect of understanding more which leads to an understanding of how many mistakes I'm making and how little I actually know. However, I know I'm improving and I love all the opportunities I get to speak Italian.

Marco and Paula / Siena

We arrived in Siena around 7 where all the host families were anxiously standing around to find out who they got. Molly and I were collected by a very sweet nd Italian looking older gentleman who led us over to a Mercedes and then told us his wife would be there in a second. Paula rode up on a little Vespa smiling hugely and welcomed us, then Marco loaded all our stuff into the trunk and drove us to their apartment. The drive was fairly quiet because he speaks no English and Molly and I don't know much Italian but we made do and discovered they have no children, he hasnalwaysblived in Siena and Paula is from Florence. Their apartment is beautiful! All the floors are either marble or hardwood and the furniture is modern but classic and elegant. The kitchen is teeny but it is perfect for just the two of them. As soon as we got our bags into the room Marco took us on a tour of Siena to show us where we were to meet the next morning with our professor and point out a few things. Paula stayed at home to make dinner and when we arrived it smelled mouth watering. We began with crostinini Toscana and it is probably better that she doesn't speak English and couldn't tell us what was in it because it was so good! But when I read about it later I am quite certain I would have mentally kept myself from enjoying it, the. We had a delicious pasta dish and then potatoes, meat, peppers and peas followed by a dessert of strawberries with lemon juice and sugar. Im not sure how I'll adjust to one or two course American meals after this, I've been very spoiled. Though the food was delicious dinner was difficult and exhausting because we couldn't quite understand each other and I must say the language barrier is much more difficult than I was expecting, they know really NO english, I had come o expect something different being in Rome where everyone seems to know a little, but this will definitely be helpful with learning the language. Marco also showed us the picture of his horse Rimini that won the Palio back in 1982. He is very proud of it and I was happy to have something to talk about. We went to bed soon after dinner because they don't eat until around 9 here and we were already tired. The subsequent dinners have been getting better and better and molly and I learn more and become more comfortable with them. Thursday night was really good and we stayed talking to them for almost 2 hours after dinner about traveling and then their family and their horses. They pulled out photo albums to show us and for the first time I felt like we all carried on a real conversation though it did have its humorous stumblings as we tried to figure out words. Overall im so glad to be here and really like both Marco and Paula and hope as time goes on things will get better and we can all become a little more comfortable.

Assisi

Picture the most beautiful Tuscan town you can. Don't forget the greenery, the vibrant flowers, the narrow streets, the cobble stones, any of it, then times this by 100 and you have Assisi. The town is still mostly the same as it was one st. Francis roamed the streets and it has only gained charm by its aging. It is set up on a lovely hill affording views of the surrounding farm land and showing the picturesque contradiction of pine trees next to palms. The church was done in a more gothic style which is much simpler and less overwhelming than the overdone beauty of baroque that Rome was full of. The city had just finished a festival and the remnants of flowers and fabric draped around everything were still in someplaces. Vehicle traffic was scarce making the streets perfect to meander through. A tiny little cafe that sat on the site of an old olive press pulled us in and we had the best panini ever! Mine was a traditional Tuscan focaccia with prosciutto crudo, arugula, fresh mozzarella and heavenly olive oil....oh and tomatoes. The duomo had a wall running near it where Mary, Molly and I sat and enjoyed the sunshine and people watching. I find it perfectly acceptable to be a creeper ( aka people watcher) when you are sitting on a ledge in the sunshine in Assisi, and the fact that people are constantly walking back and forth below you doesn't hurt either. I was surprised at the large amount of nuns and priests for such a small city but it makes sense I guess since it is the hometown of st. Francis who started his own order of monks (the Franciscans) and is the patron saint of Italy, but I still don't understand what all the different colors and styles of dresses the nuns wore...different convents and different ranks I get but why we're there so few of each one and they were all together? After assisi we climbed back on the bus to go tonsiena and meet our host families.

The morning began a little later which was magical because we have been run to the ground and ache in every way possible but after a goodnights rest I was set to explore Rome again. It was a short day with only 3 churches all together before we were turned loose on Rome and every single one offered something unique. The first was the church of bones...just as disturbing as it sounds, some of the complete skeletons still had skin and hair but the two worst parts were the bone chandeliers (I didn't like that I could walk right under them) and the last room had some baby skeletons in it that really got to me. No pictures to follow because we weren't allowed to take any. The second church we walked in on a couple renewing their vows for their 50 wedding anniversary and in the last church we walked in on a baptism. Thee prayer forgave the baby for his sins and I was so grateful that we have the truth and know that infants are innocent! After that we were set loose and began to wander. The group slowly broke down Into smaller ones and eventually yielded the perfect combination of Mary Molly Berkeley and myself. We stopped at an adorable cafe in the most picturesque neighborhood in Rome (trastevere)for a delicious lunch in the beautiful spring weather while a man serenaded us with an accordion. Roaming Rome (baha imfunny) is the most delightful experience so we just did it until after dinner and then were going to meet the YSA group for the avengers movie but they ended up going to The 3d one so we deferred until a later date and continued to roam. Berkeley, Elizabeth, Carson and I ventured off into the great unknown of cinecitta anxiously guessing what wonders it could hold and guess what we found?! A closed building...a large freeway and the most gorgeous full moon ever! But it was all sketchy feeling so to calm ourselves we returned to our favorite gelateria and sweeted away all the creepiness with the most delicious gelato of all. What a perfect end to a perfect day...well almost end, the party is just getting started in the hotel so I'll see y'all later.

I forgot to figure I couldn't put pictures on my iPad from my camera so if you would like please enjoy the photos on Facebook. Rome has been the most perfectly wonderful place in the world! On mondaywe saw the colosseum roman forum etc plus discovered the Jewish ghetto crossed the Tiber several times wandered through piazzas full of street performers and street vendors and beautiful neighborhoods with crawling vines on warm Mediterranean stucco walls. The weather has been ideal, the company has been ideal, the location is more than ideal and I love errything! I have now seen 3 Italian gingers...one of them twice in two separate locations so it is clearly fate that I find the Italian gingers It is magical. We visited pompeii yesterday and the strangest thing ( the brothel) spawned and incredibly deep conversation with the girls in the group which pulled us all together really quickly. We were already close and getting along famously but now we have connected in a much more meaningful way and I can't believe how lucky I was to get this amazing group of people! We got to partake of a very important cultural experience on wednesday after visiting the catacombs and appian way (which I plan on owning a villa on someday) and were heading back to take a bus into the city for lunch and then some wandering time. We arrived at the bus stop at 1 and were enjoying ourselves when it chose that moment to downpour. We didn't think much of it because the bus would be there shortly and we would jump on and soon be dry...an hour passes, we are soaked and starving but still in good spirits and enjoying each others company. Another hour passes but the rain had let up so we were just starving and exhausted but never fear we were laughing and singing and having a jolly old time. Cinzia (our director)had called the bus company twice now to make sure they were coming and they said yes but after 3 hours had passed with no buses and food becoming a priority we finally called a taxi. The taxi ride was the most enjoyable ever! The driver was so funny driving next to another car just leaning out the window talking to him and scaring us all to death. This was entertaining and an cultural experience but not the one I speak of, the cultural experience I was most impressed by was that we had been victims of a bus strike!!!! Just for a few hours that day just because they can, in the Italian way! I was so pleased...I feel quite induced into the culture. The men here are quite lovely but quite sketchy in a funny way and they are all friendly. The worst part is when I tr to speak in Italian but they respond in English and wont let me try... So if I come back no better it's not even my fault. We got to go to a YSA activity tonight with the Roma ward and all the people were so friendly! Being a Mormon certainly did not diminish the boys lovely faces at all...in fact I believe the holy ghos accentuated them. Anyway, it was such a fantastic experince because they are all such good people living in a very different society than I ever have and most of them are converts, I was so impressed that they went out of their way to find the truth and completely lleft their culture for the gospel. The branch president after told us what a big impact it had for us to be there so I was so grateful we had that opportunity. Wow this is really long I'm sorry...I just want to keep going but I'll stop now and just be more consistent about writing in the future. Vi voglio tanto bene.