Carving Pumpkins in Italy!

“When witches go riding, and black cats are seen,

the moon laughs and whispers,‘tis near Halloween.”
~Author Unknown

Halloween is such an exciting time; filled with candy, Jack-O-Lanterns, costumes and good-ol’ Trick-or-Treating. For many of us, I think it’s safe to say Halloween is a beloved holiday. It differs from other Holidays, and based on my experience, you just need the basic ingredients for a fun day: Candy, Food, and Laughter.

My mom’s birthday is Halloween Day, so for me, Halloween isn’t just a day of celebrating, it’s an entire week of celebration! We decorate the house, find costumes and buy loads of candy! I bake cakes and cookies, find a delicious margherita recipe for my mom and her friends and try to figure out the perfect makeup for her costume.

I’ll miss Halloween back home this year, I’ll miss it with all my heart. But, I had the wonderful opportunity of introducing it to my dear little Italian girl Bea and her friend Livia. I can’t imagine a Halloween without carving pumpkins, making pumpkin bars and eating candy. Now I can say I introduced a completely brand-new cultural activity to these girls - one that I hope will stay with them forever. And by the look on their faces, I couldn’t have even prepared myself for the happiness I felt.

Occupy Rome....Not So Peaceful

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” Mother Teresa

Italy, the home of cobblestone roads, ancient landmarks, tiny cups of espresso and an endless supply of cheese. Home to quiet afternoons, and evenings filled with Aperol Spritz and homemade pizza. The home of neautrality and peace - or so it seemed.

Since living here, I discovered, the hard way, the biggest danger in Rome - being robbed. Being robbed is no fun, but from my experience and knowledge, it beats the haneous crimes we see in America.

My opinion was changed over the weekend as I saw a “peaceful manifestation” or protest, turn into violent and destructive behavior. This peaceful occupation, organized for thousands of cities all over the world, was supposed to replicate the one occuring on Wallstreet in New York City. Instead, the “Black Bloc” as is was so bluntly named, was not just a group of protesters dressed in black walking the streets of Rome, it was ticking time bomb, ready to explode. There is an estimated 1.4 million dollars of damage done to the ancient streets of Rome; cars were burned, police vehicles attacked, and buildings set in flames. 

At this time, I’m slightly shocked at the behavior from the young Italians, but when the government won’t listen or make changes, it makes me wonder what the appropriate action should be. What should the people do? 

This doesn’t just go for the Italians, this goes for all countries experiencing separation between the people and their government.

When peaceful protests are heard only as a whisper, does violence and destruction create action, or will it just cause more distance between the government and it’s people?

Below shows the evidence of the destruction from October 15.

*Photos courtesy of Time online...

click on the link for full album Time: Occupy Goes Global