Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Polenta (Po – lent – a) – Type of Food (Cornmeal porridge in mashed potatoe consistency)

(Sorry no pictures today, I forgot my phone at home...)

            …today was my long day of classes….started at 9 and had language until 11, and then culture class until 2..so a lot of hours today but not bad at all because I am loving what I am learning…..language is cool because I like getting better at speaking, but culture is just interesting in its entirety…the professor is great because somehow, you learn without actually him just lecturing or “teaching” in the normal sense of the word….i don’t know, it is hard to explain but I am loving it….spending 2.5 hours in that class is not hard at all J….
            …after class I had a free afternoon, so I spent it napping, catching up on How I Met Your Mother, a little homework, and looking up/booking fun stuff J…since, MOM AND DAD WILL BE HERE IN 2 WEEKS!!...I was working on some things for them and actually found them a flat to rent for the week they are here and it is located in a really cool part of town too which is super exciting….i think itll be cool for them to really feel like Italians living in their own place J….I totally cannot wait for them to get here….I miss you guys so much…this blog may seem like I am living this amazing, dream like adventure (and trust me I am) but Italia doesn’t deter missing home, my people, and those I love…it is definently tough being away, but as I am told by all everyday and I know, it will all be totally worth it in the end….but regardless, I am definently missing you guys …..sending my love home through the blog every night J….but mum and daddy come in two weeks and I couldn’t be more excited, I think I am the first of the group to have visitors which is kinda cool too….cant wait to show them everything in this new city, I now call home J;…..
            ….tonight I got to go to dinner with Eliana at her dad and stepmom’s house J….gah, this is absolutely one of the VERY BEST parts of living with a host family (and I think the other kids are wishing for it honestly)….dinners with my new Italian family….Elie’s sister, Valentina was there as well and that is always fun….Ricardo and his wife live in a gorgeous apartment, right on the River Po! (the longest river in Italy that runs right through Torino)….his wife works in antiques so the house’s contents is truly amazing….mom you would love it….im totally bummed I didn’t bring my phone to take pictures L…..but I will when I go back for sure!...
            …dinner was delish, of course J…it was polenta which is a very popular, almost comfort food for Italians…it is cheap and a good meal that fills you up on a cold day….which today definently was, we got a couple inches of snow!....but anyways polenta is made of corn….i was always told it was a kind of porridge, but it was more the consistency of a slightly thicker than normal mashed potatoes…no matter it was super good…when I was about half done, Ricardo came over, took my plate and then put a few different types of cheese in it and heated it so the cheese melted and then it was EVEN BETTER!.....we also had a mix of meat in a really good red sauce, not a pasta sauce more the flavors of like a sauce from a roast….again super good J….
            …after dinner of course, the game choices for the night were a back and forth game of “how do you say?” and then what can we give Molly to try….tonight I tried two crazy new things, and some different chocolates since Torino and Piedmonte (the region) is famous for it…the first crazy thing was an after dinner “digestive” that was the strength and made the same way as limoncello, but instead of lemon rinds, it was made of herbs….very, very odd but surprisingly good….it was in a bottle tho that looked like the equivalent of Italian moonshine, so that added another element of surprise J….the other, and most crazy thing, were alcohol cubes….so weird but good….so basically it is a tiny canning jar of pure alcohol (Italian Everclear), some lemon or lime rinds, and sugar cubes….you leave it for at least a week and then you can use….they had me eat it straight and it was soo weird haha….apparently they use them for after dinner coffees…soo interesting the things I learn at dinner with the family J….I totally love it J….
            …everyday here is a new adventure and I love even the days that all I do is go to school and then come home and hang out…everything I do is new…and its so cool to remind myself that I live in Italy….somehow I think all of the USAC kids to some degree feel like we can t believe its been ONLY 2 weeks here, but at the same time cant believe that’s ALREADY been 2 weeks….its such an awesome crazy experience…

            …tomorrow is my last day of classes for the week and then in the afternoon heading to watch a bunch of USAC American kids play a pick up group of Italians, which should be a lot of fun J….and then I think, making dinner with Natalie at her place….overall life is going just swimmingly….thank you for all your kind thoughts, and prayers….truly love and miss you all J….

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