Ceramics and Cooking Made My Day. Period.

I had SO MUCH FUN TODAY! I seriously cannot expressed how STOKED I was to start my ceramics and cooking classes today.

First of all, having an art class in Italy, the art capital of the WORLD, just takes my breath away. I was so giddy. Our art teacher doesn't speak a lick of english....I lied...she speaks 2 words. "Looka" and "doll" Whenever she wanted our attention she would say "Looka! Looka! Looka!" And one time she held up a picture of a doll and said "Looka, doll, doll!" She was just hilarious. Her room was nicely disorganized and filled with art, just the way an art room should be :). She spoke to us in Italian and looked us in the eye as if we could understand what she was saying. hahaha I loved getting my hands dirty in the clay and understanding a word here or there. For a moment I stood at the window to look at the Tuscan hills and Italian blue sky that never seems to have a cloud, and thought about how lucky I was. I was so happy at that moment. <3 We molded red clay today. I carved out the shape of Italia, to be a memory for me when I go home. I can't wait to paint it next week! :)

Cooking class was just as incredible! The cook was another character. Who said "brava" with sarcasm, letting us know that we are still learning and have room for improvement. hahaa We watched him make formaggio---CHEESE! Ricotta cheese to be exact. It was actually pretty simple and really fun to watch. Then we got to get our own hands dirty and make Cannoli's!!!!! I squealed! We watched him make the dough and knead it till a sweet smell overtook the kitchen. (It was the white wine he used, lol) We got our little round sticks that look like miniature rolling pins and starting rolling our cannoli's! My first one wasn't very good. haha but the next ones were better. We put them in the deep frier and took them out. The left-over pieces of dough are also put in the deep frier and they come out as little strips. The cook sprinkled powered sugar on them to make a tasty treat. He told us that they are called "chit chats" or "little lies" (i wish i could remember how to say it in italian). The Italians call them that because people sit around the table and talk about each other while eating those. :) hahah Over the next few weeks we get to make gnocci's, pizza, tiramisu, and something else, I forgot.

I am THRILLED! Italy is beautiful to see but even more beautiful to experience. I LOVE art and so getting into it today was just the perfect medicine for my soul, and made my trip thus far. And getting in an Italian Kitchen? Who DOESN'T wanna do that?!

:)

It's been 3 days in Italy

I have been in Italy for 3 days, 

and I have had gelato 2 times, 

and been to Il Centro 3 times. 

I have walked a million miles. No really, like a million miles. 

Okay fine, at least 20 miles. At LEAST. 

I have talked to Italians...in ITALIAN :) 

I got over looking awkward in the security booths in airports, got adjusted to the time change, and have completely unpacked. Tomorrow is my first day of class and I am ready to roll! I'm not fluent in Spanish but I do think that I catch on quick and so I hope that learning Italian will be fun, challenging, but fun.

I still really do wish that I came to Italy with people that I love and that love me. Not that I won't meet amazing people, because I already have, but just that there is something special about being able to experience things TOGETHER. I want my friends and family to be able to be here with me and share my experiences! That part has to be the hardest part so far about this trip. It's hard because I'm not "besties" with anyone here. I'm new to everyone. And vice versa....well, for the most part. So I wish I could just vent to someone that's HERE. Anywhooooooooooo....

I'm going to munch. OH munch! Hahahahah these Italians are CRAZY with their food! They eat soooo much carbs; if you think you are Italian in america, try being Italian in Italy. haha They served a thick slice of mozzarella cheese that was breaded and deep fried as a side dish the other night. Cheese, breaded, AND deep fried. Mamma Mia!

Oh and they smoke. It's so gross. Really? Can you puff your smoke NOT in my face? Grazie.

And they walk. Leave the cute shoes at home ladies, unless you are Italian (cause the Italian women wear HEELS in town). I made the mistake of leaving my sneakers at home and my feet hate my guts. We walk so much. No wonder the Italians stay in shape, they walk!

Ciao for now. <3

There is no place like home.

I made it to Florence, Italy! Hurray! Now if my body and mind will only cooperate with what I know my soul is feeling...hahahaha allow me to explain; jet lag.

I boarded the plane a bundle of anxious nerves, squeezing the mess out of a plush miniature football my brother gave to me and trying not to look like a lost puppy. I yawned big, chewed my gum hard, and squeezed that football like there was no tomorrow, and amazingly enough, no ear pain! Not one ounce, PRAISE THE LORD! But (because there is always a but), I HATE flying alone.

My natural character as it is has a bit of anxiousness to it, so I don't need the help of a cross country trip to make me any more of a crazy person. I was on the brink of tears and even shed some just a few times, yes I know I am a baby. I just NEED someone to hold, and touch, and squeeze, and squeal to through the whole process. SO....I hated that. Gross.

Next....I can NOT believe that I am in Italy! WOW! Really?!? It just feels like a super beautiful place and that I can still reach my loved ones so easily, but, I can't. This sounds really sad huh? Lol, I should be rejoicing that I am in Italy and instead I'm writing all this junk.

The unknown is scary. And all these girls are so so sweet. Every single one of them, and I am grateful for that. The place is beautiful. I believe that I will have an amazing time. But (because there is always a but)...there is just no place like home. Whether that home is split because of college or whether it feels like home because your special someone is around....the feeling of home is priceless. I personally don't care for the physical home I have. But I love the people that make it up. And I love the extended ones that make up my family. My  extra brothers and sisters, and of course my dear boyfriend.

I wish all those people could be here with me! Maybe that's why it sucked so bad on the plane because instead of being excited and being able to share that I had to hold it in and be scared. I am NOT looking forward to riding in that plane again for the ride home....but the people on the other side of it are so worth it.

And so is Italy. :)

Cowardly Lion.

"What do they got that I ain't got?.....Courage. You can say that again"  

--- Cowardly Lion, Wizard of Oz

I am boarding a plane to Italy in about a week to enjoy 6 weeks of Italian sun, authentic gelato, breath-taking landscapes, delicious food, and the world of art. But guess who is scared out of their mind; me. Why am I scared? This place is going to be incredibly amazing and I know I will walk away wishing that I didn't have to, but for now, I'm scared. And I'm embracing it (hopefully not too much).

I'm afraid because I have never flown alone, much less fly at all due to my own mother's personal fear of flying. Therefore I am afraid of looking like a deer in headlights at every stop from here to Italy. Secondly, I am afraid of making new friends. Let's be honest, it's not like being in kindergarten again. People look and judge and make first impressions (at least I do). And so I'm just nervous about being vulnerable and putting myself out there for other people to get to know. And there are some other ridiculous things I am afraid of.

Maybe I don't really lack courage like the cowardly lion, maybe I just lack...i don't know, adventure? Maybe it's just the fear of the unknown that's eating me alive and that will have me self-soothing in the plane. lol There is something that we all feel like we lack a little. But the truth is the quote should go something more like this:

"What do they got that I ain't got? .....Nothing. You can say that again." 

So maybe its not courage or adventure...maybe you have enough of that or wish you could turn it down a little. But you have got everything in you that you need to live the incredible life you wish you lived. God made us that way. :) Just jump into that new experience and give it all you got. After all, this blog is about being more muchier. Go ahead. Get your muchness on.

You can say that again. :)