Snow

“Life is like walking through snow. Every step shows.”

— Jess Lair

Weather is often a “small talk” topic for conversation; you know, when that awkward first date gets a little TOO quiet. Or, how about when you’re traveling to visit friend. If it’s an unusually sunny day, your friends will say to you “Hey, you brought the sun with you!”

When I moved back to the States two months ago, the joke between Francesca, Vincenzo and I was how cold I would be. Living in the Mediterranean for 9 months, I had adapted to the hot weather and the freezing weather I was about to encounter in DC was not the good. 

As I stare out my apartment window, with the sun shining and the thermometer pointing to a warm 57, and as I stare at the National news and see pictures of Rome covered in SNOW - yes, I said SNOW. I think: “Marissa, you brought the weather with you”.

It hasn’t snowed in Rome for 25 years. 25 YEARS.  

This year, they get hammered with snow and DC feels like Spring.

Tell me you don’t believe in coincidence. Because I sure do.

I miss Rome, I miss Italy. 

Seeing the Colosseum under snow would be magical. 

But I like where I am for now and can dream about my next

visit to the motherland.

Italian Stallions

“Italian men are like show-poodles, sometimes they look so good, I just want to applaud.” -Liz Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

I’ve had a lot of people ask me about the “Italian Stallions”. 

‘Marissa, are they as beautiful as everyone says?’

 ‘Are those ‘rumors’ true?’ 

I lived among the beautiful Italian men we all here about when we watch movies, read books, or relive stories with our Italian grandmothers. 

Many people say: “There is no better-looking man than an Italian man.” 

And I can concur that after living in Italy for a year, and meeting all type of beautiful men, some of these men look as if they were hand-carved by the gods themselves. 

So, it’s time for a guilty-pleasure blog. For all my female friends - Go ahead and gaze upon the Italian men me and my friends have had in our life and then you can be the judge if you should dump your boyfriend and fly to Italy. :)

Christmas Time

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world 
and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” Norman V. Peale

Christmas in Rome is unlike anything I have seen. Truly, it’s as if pages from an old-time Christmas story have been fully replicated and placed along the cobblestone roads of this enchanting city. Lanterns and golden strings of lights line Piazza di Spagna as chestnuts roast on every corner. And when the evening begins to bring a chill, Romans escape the cold by ducking into a classic, warm cafe for hot chocolate. I’ve always said how incredibly beautiful Rome is at nighttime, but the Ancient Ruins of Rome seem to come alive, and with the glow of the moon, Christmas in Rome feels victorian, classic - and for all the Christmas’ I have seen, it’s the gentlest and most beautiful when in Rome. 

 

Aperitivos: A Beautiful Italian Tradition

“In a world of disorder and disaster and fraud, sometimes only beauty can be trusted. The appreciation of pleasure can be an anchor to one’s humanity.”

Learning to appreciate the simple things in life. Something I have learned while living in Rome - Understanding how to forget about disorder and disaster and take in the beauty surrounding me. For me, taking an aperitivo with my friends under the stars in Rome is one of my favorite Italian traditions and favorite ways to enjoy the beauty of such a wonderful place . I love spending an hour or two after work, laughing with my friends, forgetting our cares and concerns, all while sipping an Aperol Spritz.

I still remember my first Aperitivo in Calabria two summer’s ago; I was with my friends Jen and Natalie when we had no idea what an “Aperitivo” was. But when the waiter came out with plates of handmade Italian food and fruity drinks, I knew I would immediately enjoy ‘taking an aperitivo’.

Even today, whether I’m with my friends, or sitting at a cafe reading a book, there is a gentleness, a simplicity in sipping an Aperol Spritz and forgetting your problems, if only just for a moment. One thing is for certain, I will do my best when I come home, to continue this age-old Italian tradition and introduce my friends and family to what I consider to be one of the most enjoyable ways to enjoy “la bella vita”. All I need is to find a way to sneak Aperol in my luggage.....hmmmmm

My Little Sister

While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt

Eight months - eight months I have spent living in Rome, doing exactly as I expected; teaching English, learning Italian, eating gelato, drinking wine.

But one thing happened that I wasn’t completely ready for: becoming attached to a 4-year old bundle of happiness who has taught me more than I may have taught her. 

I’ve learned patience; that every little moment should be handled with care and consideration. I learned to appreciate the small things; talking a walk and picking flowers, playing on the swings for hours - all these activities plus so many more have lightened my spirit, brought joy to my heart.

As I pack my bags, and take down the pictures Bea has drawn for me, I reflect on our time together, and wonder when I will see her again. How old will she be? Will she remember our time together? Having a “little sister” is something to treasure forever and I can only hope I’ve made a positive impact on her. I look forward to seeing her grow and learn and even though I’m sad to leave her, I have no doubts I will see her again, because I don’t believe in “goodbyes”, just “see ya laters”

An Italian Thanksgiving

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” 

~Thornton Wilder

I spent my first Thanksgiving away from my family yesterday. It was a strange sensation, not heading out with my friends on Thanksgiving Eve; not waking up to the smell of a roasting turkey; not watching the Macy’s Day Parade and, of course, missing out on my mom’s pumpkin bars. When you are so used to  traditions, I think it’s often hard to adjust. However, even though I was far away from home, I felt right at home as I spent my Thanksgiving with Bea’s family.

I did it all; roasted and stuffed a chicken (yes, a chicken, turkey is impossible to find), homemade stuffing and cranberry sauce, roasted potatoes, apple crisp - the works. All day, Bea and I cooked and prepared for her first Thanksgiving. And as the doorbell rang, my nerves went through the roof. I was happy to cook, and excited for everyone to indulge in an American tradition, but, cooking for authentic Italians - that’s another story! Not only was I cooking my first Thanksgiving, but I was cooking it for a culture famous for food and cooking. 

At the end of every Thanksgiving meal, the worst part is figuring out what to do with the leftovers, but as I looked around the table and saw the chicken had been demolished, the salad had finished, the apple crisp had disappeared and the cranberry sauce was no more, I realized my meal had been a success. 

So yes, I may have missed out spending my 23rd Thanksgiving at home, but I was able to introduce my new friends to a beautiful American tradition, and the best compliment I could get was watching the food disappear on their plates and their belts get a little tighter.  This was a blessing I will always be thankful for - a moment to treasure.