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?!

:)