A date, then wine and cake!

I did NOT sleep well last night AT ALL!  I don’t know why really; I just kept waking up and/or couldn’t fall asleep.  However, this morning I got up rather quickly when I finally gave in and set my mind to the task at hand: going to that big grocery store and bringing back some staples; some things to last me for a while.  I knew this was not going to be easy per se because some things would be heavy and it is not a short walk.  So I recharged my batteries with tostate with the last of my peanut butter and a banana on it; I figured a little protein and potassium would be good for my muscles to start out this day of walking.  I ate in the balcony room and enjoyed the cool breeze before the sun peaked over the buildings, but once it did I enjoyed the warmth as I read!  

I am currently reading two books:  The Jane Austen book where the lady travels to South America and holds Jane Austen book clubs and learns Spanish.  The other is the La Bella Lingua where the lady is learning Italian.  The theme here is learning languages; I find this highly appropriate.  Don’t you think so?  Anyway, so after about 30 minutes of reading, I had to get ready for the day.  I decided to be uniquely American this morning.  I wore a “Bama Girls” t-shirt, my workout capris (ones with a skirt attached), my knee things (ahhh relief), and my bright pink/purple tennis shoes.  I’ve seen a few Italians in “workout” clothes, but they are always obviously “working out”.  I choose this as my “uniquely American outfit”; give me a break though, I at least had on the capris and NOT the Nike tempos.  Tempos; that brings me to this point: I want to clarify that when I am getting all of these looks for having on shorts, I am referring to my LOFT shorts (like regular shorts), not Nike Tempos!  Also on this note, I have been in some athletic shops that sell a ton of Nike stuff, and have yet to see tempos.  Is this a uniquely American thing?  

I accidentally took the longer way going to the store, but was glad that it was going to it and not coming home from it! However, the long way was a happy accident.  As I was walking, around the corner came a group of LOUD teenagers, carrying a sign made of a sheet. 

They were shouting and cheering for the cars honking their horns at them (I suppose in agreement, which is how they took it).  There were at least 1000 of them; no lie.  This sweet little Italian lady stopped to watch with me and asked if I knew what it was about.  I told her that I did not, and she said, “they’re probably from Fermi!”  WHOA…red light…that is the school I will be working at here in Cosenza!  I find it interesting that this "bridge" i pass under to go this way is like crossing under an interstate; however, it is not full of the homeless or people's discarded trash, but rather shops; here is a picture to explain: 

Also along the way I saw the sweetest, and a bit scary, thing; this man put his precious little girl on his bicycle (like on the bar that connects the seat to the handle bars) and rode off down the street!  It was the most adorable and nerve wracking thing I’ve seen.  That little girl was PRECIOUS!! 

Grocery shopping here is an experience for sure.  I spent a bit over an hour doing my shopping because I would stop and use my dictionary or agonize over what exactly I wanted, and longed a bit for Signora Gabriella’s cooking; where I didn’t have to think about how to prepare it, only how to eat enough, but not too much! ;) However, I made some good choices and also got some staples that should last me a while.  One of the staples I wanted to get was Olive oil, so that I did not have to use Ernesto’s homemade olive oil for just regular cooking; I want to save it for things like bread and special treats! There were SO many options and all SO much cheaper than at home; for obvious reasons!  I also got some mustard and Farfalle (because I had to get it because it makes me think of April), their version of equal, some jelly for breakfasts, and then my favorite thing to last a while is my NUTELLA!!!  So those were my “staples”; my things intended to last for a bit. 

*Side story: I was so excited to spot Skippy Peanut Butter! It DOES exist in Italy!

I was excited until I spotted the PRICE! Umm NO!  It was half of the amount in our things of peanut butter for almost double our price! They’ve lost their minds.  Just before I left home I was watching the Today Show one morning and Savannah G. said that she had just broken up with peanut butter because it is fattening; I think I shall do the same for the remainder of my time here!  Lilla told me the other day that PB is bad for you because it is so fattening.  To that I wanted to say, “Well Lilla, what do you think Nutella is?!?!?”  Haha, but I didn’t!

I also got some lunch meat, chicken breasts (yay protein!!), frozen little green peas (I suppose those will last a while too), some small sliced bread (smaller than ours, but intended for sandwiches; well, at least that is what I plan to use it for), some yogurt, some tomato sauce, and a Barilla pasta sauce that is a calabrian sauce (I’m thinking it will go over my farfalle), and then stopped at the veggie store to get some white zucchini and a few apples.  All together, even with yesterdays fruit included, I came in UNDER my 40 euro shopping budget!! I was pretty excited! 

*Another side story about groceries:  I have discovered that the weird brown yogurt was in fact NOT coffee yogurt either (referring to the weird brown yogurt I had in Florence)! I saw the EXACT yogurt in the store today and it is yogurt with Hazelnut!  So, I bought some!  I bought a different brand, but I still got some, and then I bought a big thing of coffee yogurt (it was cheaper, and will last a little bit longer!).  Overall, I felt good about my first trip! Oh, and they had buggies like at the Aldi Store; you put in a 1 euro coin and take your buggy, when you return it, you get your coin back. 

The walk back was a bit brutal with all of those glass bottles, but I managed to stop for my fruits and veggies AND climb the stairs!  What a workout!!  

When I got home I put everything away and organized the kitchen a bit so that everything had a place!

I sat down to write a bit, read a little bit, got ready to go to the bank/with Luca, and ate lunch.  Lunch was a turkey sandwich with my new bread, mustard (should have probably bought the French’s for a euro more…live and learn), & cheese.  On the side I had some grapes!  I also tasted my Nutella (just a bit on a knife), and it was great…I mean it IS Nutella.

I put on a cute sundress and then decided that the shoes to wear with it were hurting my feet, so I changed to a different dress and wore my Sperry’s; don’t judge…I have old knees and sometimes old feet! Luca called to confirm our meeting time, and then I was off.   

I headed off to the bank, a few minutes late; I hated being late, but I figure the Italians aren’t always on time either.  When I arrived at the bank, my very kind friend Valentina was waiting in her office.  She used English; limited English, but English nonetheless.  Once I signed my name about a thousand times, but for real, it was at least 30 times, she took me to put the 50 euro in my account that was needed.  Well, it didn’t work from the machine inside, so we had to go to a teller.  OH MY GOSH…It took 3…count them…1…2…3…to deposit 50 euro into my account.  This was after Valentina and I waited for what felt like forever just for someone to help us.  I can say this with confidence: NOTHING happens quickly in Italy!! However, at the end of the day, the important thing is that the bank account is open, and I once again had the perfect person put in my path to help me take care of it!!  

Then I left the bank and attempted to find someone in a shop who could give me a plastic bag to carry around ALL of the paperwork that they had just handed me.  I didn’t have any luck, so I went and sat down on a bench to wait for Luca.  While I was waiting I couldn’t help but listen to all of the Italian going on around me.  It really is a BEAUTIFUL language; I wish I understood more of it.  It seems to just roll of the tongue in a way that English does not.  I crave the ability to understand Italian, respond in fluid Italian, and think in Italian.  As I sat there, I became nervous about how these next few hours would go.  The obvious language barrier made me on edge a bit.  

When he arrived, we greeted as Italians do; handshake and double cheek kisses.  As we walked around Corso Mazzini for a bit, we talked about a few things.  He asked if I had already eaten lunch, and when I said yes, he said, “are you sure?  You’re so thin; you must not eat much!”  Well thanks for the complement, but yes I did eat!  We talked about what we were going to do that day; I LOVED that he had a plan! I did love that somehow we got around to talking about cars and stuff; he said that he has a car, but it isn’t that nice.  He said that he prefers to spend little money and save it to travel!  (SOUND FAMILIAR?!?!?)  He said that he saves money however he can and puts the other back to travel.  I asked where all he wanted to go and he said that he wanted to see the whole world!  (SOUND FAMILIAR?!?!?) He talked about studying at school, but then he has been in a few different cities doing a few different things work related/I think vacation related recently, so now he is at home with his parents; saving money to travel!  Then we moved on to other topics, and when prompted about plans after he had to leave, I told him that later I would use the internet to talk to friends, and he said that we could use his tablet (I think it was a Samsung tablet…or something) if I wanted to skype.  I thought that was kind of odd, but he did get it out to check the weather because we could see dark clouds in the distance.  With the clouds encroaching, we headed towards the bus station to catch a bus to the main shopping area here, “Metropolis”.  This is the place that Lila and Ernesto took me last Saturday when they were looking for a tv.  I knew this would also give me an opportunity to ride the bus with a knowledgeable person!  

We arrived at the bus station, which was crawling with teenagers, and went to the ticket windows.  He was so sweet and bought both of my bus tickets! Then we went to wait on our bus, which surprisingly did not take very long.  Just after we got on the bus, and verified our tickets (in those little machines), it started to rain pretty hard; thunder, lightening, and everything.  He had gotten us seats, and I was grateful to not have to stand.  It was a rather quick ride to the mall, but when we got off the bus it was still raining.  We ran to the closest building and stood under the overhang.  Just across the street was the open area in front of the mall, but there are others stores, which have a covered sidewalk area in front of them leading up the main entrance of the mall.  So, Luca said, “andiamo???”  (We go?) I was hesitant, not wanting to get too wet, but I decided we should make a run for it so I replied with enthusiasm (as much as I could muster up in the rain and now cold air), “andiamo!”  As we were running, we couldn’t help but laugh because we were not the only ones making a mad dash for the overhang area.  I had to jump a HUGE puddle in an attempt to keep my Sperry’s dry, and I am still surprised I was able to land in just the right spot that I did not teeter and fall backwards into the puddle.  Once we were under the sidewalk place we walked towards the entrance.  Here again we had a choice to wait or “andiamo”!  Andiamo it was; and again, we were laughing the whole way there!  It felt like a moment out of a movie, but thankfully we made it inside without getting too wet; my purse was a bit we, but not enough to jeopardize anything inside, and my hair was curly…so hard to mess it up I suppose (not that I was too concerned…no, really!).  

We were about an hour into our time together, and the next few hours would prove to be interesting.  It is mentally EXHAUSTING to try and have conversation in a language you are not fluent in; or at this point even feel conversational in.  I feel as though my Italian is getting WORSE!!! However, we struggled through a few topics.  We walked in stores, looked at tvs (& enjoyed a laugh while watching a 3D tv), clothes, books, etc. etc.  At one point we stopped and sat on a bench in the mall and “talked”.  I use quotations because I want to stress that this was one of the hardest language things. He would say something, but I would either catch pieces of it and be able to give a vague response, or he would have to ask if I understood and 9 times out of 10, I did NOT!  We were able to talk a little bit about random stuff and somehow got around to me having been a dancer.  He understood that I took tap, but could not understand jazz or anything.  I mentioned the Rockettes and with my lack of vocabulary, we ended up looking them up on YouTube.  I enjoyed watching them (made my heart skip a beat) and he now understood.  We had been in a sports store and he pointed out his favorite soccer team here in Italy (I cannot think of how to spell it, but I know they are located in Torino and the name starts with a “J”).  So, once we watched the Rockettes and talked about it for a bit, he showed me a video on YouTube of the inaugural game in his favorite team’s new stadium, which only seats like 45,000; silly Italians...dont they know that a REAL stadium seats 102,000!?!?!  

While we had the tablet out, he asked me if I was on facebook; then requested my friendship on there.  Then he decided he wanted to look at my profile pictures, of which there are over 100.  So, he started going through them!  He smiled at my Italian profile pictures, and  said that I was a cute child.  When he saw some of the more close up ones, he thought they were beautiful, but felt this need to poke the end of my nose; in this endearing way and then explained that I have a button nose.  He had also been doing this thing where he tousled the back of my hair and said it meant, “relax”.  Still flipping through my profile pictures, he said that I travel a lot!  I was able to show him Radio City, and he said I looked beautiful in them.  The only real road block with these pictures…the ones of me and Mike.  I explained who he was, but he still seemed a bit shocked when he got to the picture of Mike proposing.  Apparently in Italy they describe boyfriends & girlfriends, and fiancés/fiancées, with the same word; he said something about meeting the parents, and then something (clarification: not ME meeting parents, but I think he was trying to explain….it was lost in translation).  Text book Italian taught me that boyfriend is saying, “il mio rigazzo” and fiancé was “il mio fidanzato”.  Not so here in Cosenza, apparently.  He moved on quickly, but that was a conversation I did NOT see coming, but there it was.  Moving on, he requested to be my friend on skype as well.  When going through the pictures, he also commented on how beautiful he thought my smile was, and then when I would smile afterwards he would say, “ahh there it is!”  So sweet!  

So, I couldn’t sit anymore and I was beginning to get a bit hungry because it had been like 4 hours since I’d eaten!  He suggested we walk and get gelato!  Umm, YES please!  This was the most amazing gelato.  I got half strawberry (the BEST fruit gelato I’ve EVER had) and crema caramele.  It was SO cold and refreshing and was the perfect thing.  Then we walked down the “food court” to the McDonald’s so that I could see the menu.  He had asked me earlier about eating McDonalds, and I explained that I didn’t care about it really.  I did want to see the menu; the most interesting thing I noticed (mainly because it was very similar to the McDonald’s I went to in Florence) was that the have a cornetto (basically a pastry) and cappuccino/un caffe advertised with a HUGE sign!  

We walked a bit more browsing in all of the stores.  He had fun picking out high heeled shoes for me, which I had explained I don’t like because they hurt my knees and so I never wear them.  I did try on this one super cute black shoe with a reasonable heel and it was a t-strap! Made me long for Rockette shoes!!  We walked outside, but then decided we had exhausted our mall time and went to catch the bus.  We witnessed a couple having a HUGE fight, which was awkward, but then they locked themselves in the car to finish the fight.  While waiting he pointed out the direction of a movie theatre and suggested that we go see a movie one day! The bus finally came and we made it back to the bus station in no time.  We walked together for a minute and then parted ways because he had an hour until his bus would come to take him home, and I was going home to change clothes and head to the hotel.  I was impressed with the fact that he did not ever suggest that he come with me to kill the time or anything.  He accepted this and said that he would call me; I was so happy he didn’t attempt to know where I live or come with me.  So we hugged, gave the traditional cheek kisses (something that was fun to observe in the mall among the teenagers; guys doing it with guys and girls with girls and kisses on the cheeks all around! I love it!), and we were off.  

**Notes about the day:  I cannot even begin to describe to you how difficult this was.  I had trouble understanding and he had to keep repeating things or rephrasing them.  I am SO grateful that he was so patient and kind.  He said from the beginning that we would speak only in Italian; for my practice.  I think he knows more English than he is letting on because he almost used it a few times and then went back to Italian (and a few times he DID use it).  I was so frustrated with not knowing what he was saying!  Sometimes it was because of the vocabulary (and a couple of times I had to use my dictionary), and other times it was that the speed, and others it was that the accent and/or dialect is so different that I am still getting used to the way they shorten things and/or run them together.  My brain was EXHAUSTED and I was longing to talk to someone who spoke fluent English!  There were even a few times I just wanted the afternoon to be over and to be alone.  This is my downfall; I get so frustrated that I’d rather just be a loner; at least I understand my own thoughts!  However, I did my best to fight this off, and I succeeded (for the most part).  I suppose I could have postponed internet time and gone with him for another hour, but my brain just could NOT take it!  I NEEDED English…complete thoughts…I needed my escape into my own world!!  However, my favorite thing about the day is how he says, “Elisa Maria”.  He asked me my name and asked for my “full” name; Italy, it is a MIDDLE name, but the Italian accent makes it sound wonderful, so no complaining here.  He asked this when I spotted a rack of pens with names on them (in the US I wouldn’t even bother looking because they never have my name), and they had Elisa!  The little kid inside of me who still hopes that someone will have my name was pretty excited!  So, the Italians can call me Elisa Maria all day long in their beautiful accent.  

While we were on the bus, Ernesto (landlord) called and was saying something to me in Italian.  Between not understanding Italian, and the noise on the bus, I could NOT figure out what he was telling me, so I just said okay and hung up.  The longer I thought about it, I realized that he said the phone guy was coming at 5.  I made it back to my apartment and changed clothes right around 5.  I was further delayed getting to the hotel when I discovered that my things hanging on the clothes line were BARELY hanging on and the things on the drying rack had been rained on.  UGHH…the wind had blown things all around on the line and it rained on the drying rack clothes!  I was SO annoyed; all the work I did handwashing and the time spent doing the other…WASTED!! UGHH!!!  I took care of that, untwisted the line, and out of annoyance just threw it all on top of the washer.  I closed the windows out there and grabbed my stuff to leave.  

When I got down stairs, Ernesto was waiting at the gate.  I spoke to him and he explained that the guy was coming today and the modem should take 4 days.  I don’t understand why this is taking so long, but I am rather relaxed about it!  I told him I needed to take the garbage out and I was sorry it was potentially in his way!  We parted ways, and I went to the hotel. 

Internet time:  I got to talk to Britt for a bit, which was fabulous!  Britt is so encouraging and supportive, and I have always loved that about her! I tried calling Kelly on skype again, and was soooo very happy when she answered.  I told her first thing about Luca; I knew she would want to tell Gracie!  We talked for a good bit, and it was so nice!  A wonderful, wonderful treat!  She emailed me pictures of the girls in their beautiful dresses. I was able to talk to April for a bit on skype phone, and then I was able to talk to Erin on facebook; nothing like talking to your favorite people.  I talked to April again after she went to a protest; it’s a day of protests around the world…well, in Tuscaloosa and Cosenza! I was able to email with my momma and update my blog.  I was also treated to a wonderful treat at the hotel.  There was some sort of party going on in their conference room area and once the cake was cut and served, one of the regular men I see brought me a small slice of the cake and a glass of white wine! 

HOW KIND?!?!  I am thinking I will continue to stop by the hotel every now and then because they have been so kind and generous.  It will be nice to stay in contact and see such friendly faces!  Also, if anyone wants to come and visit, I will be suggesting this place! The price was great, and though there might be a slightly better price somewhere in town, these people have been so good to me; and it is right down the street from the main stretch of Cosenza.  The icing on the cake was not like our icing; it was lighter.  It also tasted like eggnog (which I LOVE!!!!!!!!!!), so I assumed it was some sort of rum icing.  The white wine was good too!!  

After about 2 hours of internet time, I decided I had to head home to eat; it was 8 o’clock.  I am becoming Italian! ;) Britt and Erin had gone back to working, my momma was on lunch/walking with her friends, and April had to go to class, so timing was perfect.  I packed up and started walking.  It was a nice walk; a ton of people out, some stores closing, and the weather was perfect.  When I got home I heated up leftovers from last night and sat down to watch Gilmore Girls while I ate! Happy girl!  

The rest of my night was uneventful; eat, shower, writing, etc.  

**My random thoughts:

1.      I wonder if you (the general you) feel like you have had someone or something ripped from your life?  You feel like they/it are still within reach, but things have changed, or things are lost, and you fear that they/it will never return to normal.   Normal is a relative term I suppose because they will never return to the true normal you crave, but it is still hard to accept.  I suppose the best thing is just to learn to adjust; NOT easy for us slow-to-warm (esp to change) people, and made worse by my type-A, want to plan and have things work out our way, people.  

2.      Not that Luca and I cannot be friends otherwise, but I wonder if he loves Jesus?  #1 thing to find out next time I see him; assuming he does call of course.

3.      Just because it makes you happy in the moment doesn't mean it satisfies the soul! Whether it is a person, a food, an experience, etc. etc., these things do not satisfy the soul!

4.      Do not let anyone else define who you are and/or who you will become!  Only God himself can do this...if you are willing to follow!

Impara con me: Mancinare- to mill/grind

                            Macinello- grinder

**learned at the grocery store this morning when looking for pepper

 Picture of the clothesline... 

And a picture of the placemat from Ernesto: