Coffee & Honeycomb: italy

Showing posts with label italy. Show all posts

THE THANKFUL PROJECT DAY 4 : AN EXPERIENCE

Monday, November 4, 2013

I'm linking up with Kenzie @ Chasing Happy this month to participate in THE THANKFUL PROJECT.

Never heard of it? Taken from Kenzie:

"The Thankful Project will be 28 days of intentional gratitude and community. Each day, we'll write a post in response to a gratitude prompt (see the list of prompts by date below)... The motivation behind The Thankful Project is this: an attitude of thankfulness can help us push through and overcome just about anything..."

Isn't that great? I love that Kenzie thought of this and is sharing it with the rest of blogland. I missed the first three days, but I am just going to jump right in to day four. Today's prompt is an experience.

One experience that I am thankful for is living in Verona, Italy for four months.

I studied abroad in Italy in the spring semester of my junior year (January 2013 - May 2013.) It's been less than a year since it happened, but it feels like such a long time ago. Once in awhile I'll come across an old photo or even a scenery in a movie, and I'll immediately recognize the location and feel a wave of nostalgia. The memories will suddenly resurface and feel so vivid, taking me back to the different conversations, smells, emotions, and feelings. Wow, it is still so surreal.

Studying abroad in Italy was probably one of the best decisions I made in college and that semester will always hold a special place in my heart. :) It was a time I learned a lot about myself, about this world, about God, and building relationships with people different from you. I feel so fortunate that I had the chance to go and that my parents were supportive and helpful to make that happen.

Rather than try to condense the greatness of Europe with a few words, you can find photos of all the places I went here! They're all directed from my wordpress so it takes awhile to load, but I think I'm planning on making a "city guide" for Europe sometime soon.

But yes, if you are in college and have the opportunity and means to study abroad, do it. Please do yourself a favor and do it — even if it's only for a break and not a full semester. You'll see so much beauty, taste and smell such different flavors, and witness cultures and lifestyles you didn't know existed. And you will fall in love with all of it.

*Find my European adventures here.
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* Share what you're thankful for and link up your posts here.

vacation leftovers | liberation break

Friday, July 12, 2013

In italy, all schools are let out for a week in the month of April for something called, "liberation break," which is basically a national holiday celebrating their independence as a country! (Yes, they get a whole week to do that.)

My roommate's boyfriend, along with his brother and best friend, came during that time to backpack Europe, so we spent the break together touring Rome and Cinque Terre, Italy. Here's a little video I made of the trip. :) The quality is very low budget, and I had no understanding of how to manually focus or use the zoom, but its still fun to look at. If anything, the music is pretty catchy!

GODERE! (:

liberation break from jenny kim on Vimeo.

The Last Supper @ Casa Vino

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Spring Cleaning.

Monday, April 8, 2013

The month of March was a fun one. Traveled with new friends, caught up with old ones. Visited five different countries. Played in the rain, played in the sun. Got my phone stolen (twice). Watched an English musical, watched Spanish flamenco dancers. Rode a gondola in Venice, rode an ATV in Greece. You know, the usual. (:

Now, it's starting to look a lot like spring around here. Flowers have started to bloom and patches of dirt have been newly replaced with fresh green grass. My favorite part? Looks like flip flops are out for good.

But a change of season means more to me than just pretty nature. Like fresh laundry and new sheets or a clean page in the journal, spring is the opportune time to turn a new leaf in my own personal life. A total spring cleaning.

New priorities, new goals. This month of April, I want to actively start adding healthy habits and good decisions into my daily life. And it will look a bit like this...

Get back to the heart of worship. Recently I heard that what we know about God is, and will be, the most important things about ourselves. That is a very strong claim, but I am an absolute firm believer in it. With all the travels and craziness that consumed my life in the past four months, my pursuit to know my maker fell into the backseat more times than I'd like to admit. But, Jesus has reminded me of his infinite grace and love; and in response, I am shaking the dust off my hands (again) and fixing my eyes back on Him. What will that practically look like? Fill my brain with more truth, less garbage. I would be kidding myself if what I read, what I watched, or what I talked about didn't influence my thought process and eventually, actions. I know alllladat is very closely interlinked. So, I want to start spending more of my free time reading encouragement and truth, reading the word, listening to sermons, and enjoying/pursuing interests the Lord has placed on my heart.

Take care of my body. I never had a healthy eating habit. Most of my meals were consumed in the car ordered from the drive-thru, or past midnight, or purchased from the bakery of the grocery store. Now that my body is decaying and my metabolism is slowing at an uncomfortable rapid rate, I need to start taking care of myself better. What will this look like? Eat less carbs, more veggies. Stop snacking or eating out of boredom. Eat more meals at the table, not on the couch. Pour less sugar in the coffee.

Work out every day. I picked up pilates this past month. Nothing extreme, just some youtube videos I found online, but I've actually noticed difference in toning and posture — and body image as well! I dread Insanity and I dread running even more, so it's nice that I've found a work out I enjoy! (:

Read two books. I don't work too well without a deadline, so I'm going to add some pressure and try to read two-three books each month. This month I plan on finishing two books before the calendar turns.

Journal. I come home in exactly 26 days. Before I know it, life in Europe will only be a memory, and the only thing real I'll have left are these blog posts, photos, and faded memories I manage to retain. And to help that retention, I want to journal each day — feelings, funny moments, interesting foods, lessons learned — to really make the days count.

LESS ISN'T SO BAD AFTERALL

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The crust is my favorite part of the pizza. I'm a firm believer in the idea that "the best should be saved for last," which is why the inventors of pizza placed the dangerously delicious doughness we now call "crust" around the END of the pizza. (Because it's the best.)

This belief might be due to the fact that I'm from Chicago, home of the incredible deep dish pizza. (Miss you, Lou's. I'll be back one day.) The deep dish pizza -- one slice's width, length, depth all bigger than the palm of my hand, requiring silverware in order to enjoy it. My need for a fork and knife is probably a good thing so I don't step over the barbaric line in public and just inhale the whole thing. The past three years while I was on campus in Champaign, deep dish (done well) was always difficult to find, so I would religiously make a trip to Lou Malnatis, my favorite pizza joint, every time I visited home. One deep dish pizza, Lou's salad, and a side of pepperoncinis always did just the trick.

So once my bags were packed and we said our good-byes, (Me and Lou Malnatis, that is), and made the difficult decision to go live in Italy for a semester, you can imagine my disbelief when I found out that Italians enjoyed their pizza THIN-CRUST!!!!

"Wait a minute. You mean to tell me, there's LESS crust? LESS?! I just don't understand... What's the point?"

Simply put, I was pretty upset.

Anyway, trying to be the open-minded and not-typical- ethnocentric-American individual I am, I gave it a try.

Confession: I actually liked it.

My roommate from sophomore year and oldest friend came to visit Italy for her spring break. For her first night, a few of us from the same hometown decided to all go out to dinner and celebrate. We chose San Matteo as the venue because it was highly recommended across the board to be THE best pizza in town. Plus, apparently news had broken out that one of the employees was a former model, so not only was it famous for its pizza, but also for the adolescent girls flocking for some eye candy. Both reasons were enough for us to make a visit. Dinner and entertainment? Done.

The menu was long and extensive with pages after pages of different pizzas. The four of us are very indecisive individually, so collectively, it took that much longer to order a dish. We each perused the menu carefully reading each description under pizza name, and finally settled on three that we decided to share family-style.

{ Italian thin crust is something entirely different from Chicago style. The crust is thin and chewy, crispy around the edges. The sauce is light and fresh as opposed to the usual thick and creamy tomato sauce. This one was topped with shredded cheese, pepperoni, and mushrooms. Despite the thinness, it was actually very filling! }

{ Fresh mozzarella and prosciutto shaped in a heart. I didn't fancy this one too much because the prosciutto made each bite a little too salty, but the other girls really liked this one. Despite the thinness of the pizza, it was surprisingly very filling and satisfying. Between the four of us, we were struggling to finish the last slices! }

{ Cooked spinach and fresh mozzarella This one was one of my favorites. Between the thinness and freshness of the ingredients, it really brought out the complex flavors of cheese, tomato, and buttery goodness. }

My lovely dinner dates.

I keep finding myself craving for thin-crust pizza now. My palate has expanded -- not that I'm abandoning my first love by any means -- there's enough [ food ] love to go around for this chick.

Currently...

Monday, March 25, 2013

Spring Break was this past week and I celebrated with some girlfriends in Spain! We started in Barcelona, stopped by Valencia to catch the end of the Las Fallas festival, and then made our way to our final destination, Madrid. It was nice to escape the rain in Italy and be surounded by the sun and palm trees of Spain. It wasn't quite hot enough to jump into our bikinis, but there were some days we dozed off on the beach. I guess I really shouldn't complain about weather though to friends back in the midwest. I heard there was a terrible snow storm last night?! Glad you were at least rewarded with a snow day though, right? (:

I have one week of "normalcy" AKA staying home in Verona, and then next week is Easter vacation. Starting Sunday, I'll be in Greece! Pretty much everyone from my program made reservations at the pink palace in Corfu. It's supposed to be this fun-loving resort that provides living accommodations, breakfasts/dinners, group activities like booze cruises, snorkeling, beach volleyball, and more IMPORTANTLY, one complementary pink toga for each guest. (: I know, that alone sold me.

I'll try to squeeze in posts of my adventures in Paris, London, and Spain before I head off!

* side note: I have exactly five weeks and five days left in europe, and then it's back to the states! man, how FAAAST did time fly! i also do have exciting plans for this summer. starting june, i'll be interning at the chicago office of HAVAS WORLDWIDE through the 4A's MAIP program. not only will I be in the office +40 hours a week, I will also fly to NYC twice this summer to attend ceremonial dinners, participate in weekly seminars, and be a new member of the MAIP network. i'll be trading easy italian gelato for starbucks coffee, walks on cobblestone streets for rides on the metra, and 4-hr lectures for 8-hr work days. as much as i want time to just slow down right now so i can milk each and every experience while here, i'm also ecstatic and ready to be in a regular workflow. ready to be consumed with conversations on consumer behavior and insights, brainstorm sessions with our feet up and take-out in hand, late nights before big pitches, preparing research decks and documents... i'm ready to be in my element. but again, italy, don't take it the wrong way and slip out of my hands quite yet. (;

i think this is what growing up starts to look like.

The Lord provides...

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

"...How much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" -- Matthew 7:11

We asked for a church, and the Lord delivered so much more. (:

Attending a church in Italy -- let alone finding one -- was more challenging than I anticipated. There were travel excursions planned the first three Sundays in Verona, so we went through a hiatus of no communal worship or service, and I could just feel my soul longing community. Fortunately, through a friend who studied in Verona previously, we got in touch with a few American Christian churches in the vicinity.

We decided to check out a home church made up of two American missionary families. They invited us to evening service — and supper, as well! Kind folks they are. (;

Each week we gather in the family room and sing along to the music/slideshow on the tv screen, listen to a sermon, followed by a home-cooked meal. (: Last week we met two hours earlier to spend more time together. We ate bread, drank tea, played board games, and just enjoyed each other's company.

Sundays with these people have been some of my favorite memories while living in Europe. Sometimes I leave church feeling so overwhelmed with the Lord's love shown through these people. I'm learning more and more why the Lord calls the church beautiful and why he stresses the importance of unity and love within it. Time with the body softens our hearts, allows us to be vulnerable, reveals Christ love in the flesh, reminds us of our purpose, fills us with truth, love, and encouragement, and in turn, reenergizes us to be light in our mission field. And that we can't do it on our own, He never intended it that way. We need the body.

Living in Europe — apart from CFC + LWAC — has definitely developed a new appreciation for a church to call home. For services to regularly look forward to. For a community to worship with. For brothers and sisters to walk life with. For the word preached to prune you. For leaders to hold you accountable. For prayer meetings and revivals to remind you that the Lord wants to transform you. Being here has increased my love and appreciation for the body.

Thank you, Jesus, for your provision. (:

Overdue.

Monday, February 18, 2013

So many things I want to share with you all — like how I went to Belgium, or how I found an amazing church, or what I've been cooking, etc — but it will have to wait until I return from Paris next week. When I do return, though, get ready for a long overdue rampage of recollections.

Til then, here are some of my favorite photos from last week.

Well, Now We Know...

Friday, February 1, 2013

... Just because gelato is on your way home, doesn't mean you HAVE to stop by and get some.

... If 80% of your diet consists of gelato and nutella, your skin isn't SUPPOSED to look good. (And your clothes aren't supposed to feel looser.)

... Don't purchase anything on the main streets of flea markets. Don't even let them entertain you by bargaining a few cents, whatever you want will still be half the price a few stands over.

... To just put that freaking water bottle in your purse before you leave the house, because you will get thirsty and be forced to pay 2.50€ for a glass if you don't.

... Just because euros come in different colors and sizes, does NOT mean it is ACTUALLY Monopoly money — so stop spending it like it is. In fact, it's monetary worth is much higher than the American dollar.

... And don't even think about dismissing the value of a coin, it's not just change for the meter anymore. Coins can be 1 or 2€!

... Don't wait until the last minute to buy plane/hostel tickets. You will get a much worse deal than your smart friends who bought it a week ago.

... Don't go to a currency exchange located in THE central hub for tourists. That "standard" 9% maintenance fee is a scam. Not to mention completely avoidable.

... Don't order a cheese pizza if the price tag says 9€.

... That 1 + 2 does, matter of fact, equal 2! This isn't rocket science, people... But I still had to learn these lessons the hard way.

"Well, now we know..." | That phrase used to be comforting, but 98234 rookie mistakes later, it is not so gracious. It is now delivered in an unfriendly tone, and mocks me with the low number in my bank account. "Well, now we know..." See the difference?!

People can learn from their mistakes, right....? Idk, I'm gonna go ponder this over a tub of gelato. Ciao!

black & white | a photo diary

Thursday, January 31, 2013

In my Photography 101 class, black and white composition has been the conversation of late. We took a field trip to Scavi Scaligeri to study the variety of techniques and styles, we watched documentaries and studied works of Henri Cartier Bresson, the father of modern photojournalism; and most recently, we went on a photo walk to apply what we had learned.

Inspired, I decided to take a stab at B & W myself — digitally altered, of course — to show my new found appreciation.

And this last one is for sh*ts and giggles. "Tua mama." Italians can be low-brow, after all.

"A dark hole in the ground? Oh, perfect. Can I please squat down and pee in that?! I even LIKE that the ground is so sticky from others' missing the bowl, it holds my grip."

— Said no one, EVER.

Italy's public bathrooms, everyone.

The Magical Finger Foods

Monday, January 28, 2013

There are times in Italy when I discover something so magical that after experiencing it, I get this urgent need to share it with the world. And by the world, I mean this blog.

Yesterday was one of those instances.

After spending the afternoon indulging in cappuccinos and gelato, and writing love notes to friends back at home, the hot dog and I were famished and ready for a real, proper meal. You know, a meal with more meat than greens, served with multiple sides, followed by a second course — plus an appetizer and two desserts.

We decided to eat out, or mangiare fuoi, because although our fridge WAS stocked, none of the food in it was good to eat. Everything was either coated with a layer of mold or had a lingering sour smell. Yum. (We kind of have a hard time throwing things out. But it's not our fault! Our house mom has this complicated recycling system that we
~~are too lazy~~ can't seem to to figure out.)

Plus, we were feelin' sushi. (;

BUT NOTHING WAS OPEN. So we aimlessly walked up and down Porta Nuova, bantering about all our favorite sushi rolls and all the horrible things we would do just to be able to eat some, until we finally compromised and decided to eat at the next place that smelled edible. I know, we're easy. Food is our kryptonite. Our RD, Claudio, had recently sent us an email listing a bunch of different places to check out that offered special deals. One on the list, L'Orologio, which was the restaurant we had our very first dinner at! (: The listed special was that from 6pm - 7:30 pm, order one free drink and receive unlimited food.

Unlimited food? I mean, we couldn't not check it out.

So we strolled in — entirely confused on how to even go about the situation. We didn't know how to ask if what we had heard was a legitimate deal, if we were misinformed, where to find the free food, if they had bibs, buffet, all you can eat — unfortunately, those weren't in our Italian 101 vocab list, yet. So we kind of just hovered, awkwardly, trying to gather what the norm was based on the seated guests. And not a single person paid any attention to us! I mean, we were pretty freaking obvious that we hadn't the slightest clue what to do. We might as well have been wearing dunce caps and neon signs saying "help." But nope, no one noticed or cared. So after standing in the middle of the restaurant for an inappropriate amount of time, we decided to take the situation in our own hands. We found a menu and an open seat and sat down, our brain muscles juicing, trying to quickly concoct a plan on how to find the all-you-can-eat... And then, at that moment, we saw the bar of finger food.

(Cue heavenly music.)

When we finally grabbed a servor's attention, he kindly informed us that the kitchen was closed until 7pm, but we were welcome to help ourselves to the finger food if we ordered a drink.

All that finger food? If we buy ONE drink? The restaurant had no idea who just walked in.

(Okay, so these photos don't really do justice to how magical this situation was. But use your imagination a bit.) For 2.50 we got this and alllla dis. We shamelessly went back to the bar four times, and one guest even (jokingly) took my plate away when he realized that sad number.

Then once our stomaches were stuffed with bread and oil and tomatoes, we got gelato. And then we came home, put on our fat pants, laid down and proceeded to finish an entire box of honey nut cheerios in one siting — I'm not even kidding you. But is that so wrong? Is it wrong to finish an entire box of honey nut cheerios in one sitting? Is it wrong to eat gelato twice in one day? Is it wrong to steal chocolate coins from Lorenza's kitchen?

I think I have a five-month food baby.

Another reason why I love L'Orologio:

Free wi-fi? Please and thank you. I can finally upload my awaiting Instagram pics!!! #FirstWorldProblems

On a not-so depressing-or-embarrassing note... I finally booked my flights for Belgium and London. Cheers to traveling + more food adventures + photo ops + potentially gaining some dignity and culture and maturity!

Ciao bao.

A Weekend in Florence

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

This past weekend, some girls in the program and I decided to skip class on Friday and take a trip to Florence. Best decision ever. We had our first exam that Thursday, the day before departure, so timing was nice — the perfect way to commemorate the completion of the first unit and celebrate with a little hooky + retreat.

And man oh man, was it a celebration. We caught Florence on the most beautiful day: the sun was in its full glory giving everything in its reach a little glow. (Not like the kind of glow girls tried to achieve via spray tanning the day before prom. #Yikes.) Florence radiated — the good way — and its radiance was contagious.

Everything from the monumental architecture to the back alley streets made for the most perfect backdrop. And trust me, I took advantage of each and every one of those photo ops. (; Every minute or so I would look up from my map and just be blown away with what was staring back at me. If you ever have the chance to travel, put Florence somewhere high on the priority list and see for yourself.

Here are some highlights of the weekend.

Florence was a weekend of firsts which made it exciting — first time planning a trip since arriving in Verona, first time missing class, first time riding Italia rail, first time staying in a hostel, and first time traveling with these girls. And since it was my first, it's a favorite in my book. (: