The Christmas Spirit through Song

Christmas time is a time when we all become a child again, except for Disney World,  I'm always a child when I go there! But, Christmas is magical. The lights, the trees, the decorations and the happiness that comes with Christmas. Even though, I am not in America during the Christmas season, I can find it here in Italy. It isn't as extreme as in America but you can find lights on every street corner, Christmas trees in people's windows and the stores filled with people preparing for Christmas. What excites me is when I teach my classes, I am able to look out the window and see lights on the balconies. The lights aren't always hung nicely but to see the lights makes me happy. Today, especially, I felt the Christmas spirit. It helps that Christmas is just around the corner and that this is the last week of school. But, we had a spontaneous day of Christmas caroling in my classes. It helped that I was in the singing mood. I started and my students joined in. My first class had only 2 students but they seemed to know all the words and gladly joined in. My last class was bigger and some of them wanted to sing, of course I obliged. Even if they didn't know the words to some of the songs I sang,  they still tried to follow along. What was amazing was when all 8 of them joined in for Jingle Bells. The class was so loud but it sounded like heaven was singing along with us. It was overwhelming for me to hear them all singing. These are teenagers mind you, and for them to sing along, I felt was the magic of Christmas! I also felt a strong feeling that something else was going on but I can't figure out what exactly it was.

After we sang the English Christmas carols, they started to sing the Italian Christmas songs for me. It was very nice to hear them sing Silent Night in Italian (Astro del cielo) and their own Italian Christmas song, Tu scendi dalle Stelle. As they sang, Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle, I was trying to intently listen and try to understand what they were singing. It was beautiful to hear them singing :) Then I heard, bambini (children) di vino! I stopped them and I said, WHAT! Children of wine??? They all laughed and said, "No teacher! DIVINO!" Oh, divine. Ok that makes more sense....Guess I know what I was thinking about.....

Anyways, it was a magical experience for me tonight. I truly felt like a child again singing those songs. It made me remember my wonderful childhood and our annual Christmas Caroling around our lake....I was also impressed that even though I listen to Christmas music, I dont really sing the songs, especially the carols... But here I was recalling them after all these years. Just wanted to share. Another little touch of Christmas!

Oh and I just remembered a good point made by Buddy from the movie Elf. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear! I think my class made Santa's sleigh fly! :) I definitely felt the Christmas cheer!

Dinner with a Wonderful Family :)

Last night, after work, I went to a student's house for dinner. We had made plans prior that I would go to her house for dinner and afterwards we would go to Naples to see the Christmas decorations.

So at 8 o'clock, after my lessons, I joined my student's father, who is also a student, to their house for pizza. It was raining but we made it one piece. As I walked into their house, I saw Christmas everywhere! They had a huge Christmas tree and decorations in every corner of the house! I was very impressed and definitely felt the Christmas air!

 

 They even had decorations in the bathroom like in America. They couldn't believe that I took a picture of their bathroom...But I thought this was too cute! :) 

The Pizza! This is Pizza Fritta Montanara- Fried Pizza with Tomato sauce and cheese

This is Pizza with Potatoes, Cheese and Rosemary

 Christmas glasses! :)

 This is Pizza Fritta with Scarola - Escarole 

 This fruit is apparently an exotic fruit, but I didn't know what it was...anyone know? They said it tasted like a cross between a kiwi and a banana. 

 We went to Naples, but unfortunately due to the rain everything had shut down. But there were some lights! :) 

Overall, the pizza was delicious and we had lots of laughs! A fun night I won't forget! Thanks!

I love being an adult!

I am an adult. I have been for over 7 years legally. I think mentally I have been an adult for more than that. I tell myself these things but sometimes it doesn't sink it. But, yes, I am an adult. And recently, I have realized how I am becoming more and more of an adult every day. For me, I have realized this through food. When I was a child, I was the pickiest eater. Now I love everything, except fish. I found myself crossing into a new realm a few weeks ago. I cook often and I do enjoy my cooking but every now and then I surprise myself. One night, a week or so ago, I came home after a long day at work and decided to make something fast to eat. I was fighting allergies and sinuses and I decided to make soup. Ok, I like soup, something I have recently, within the past few years, admitted to myself. But, then something popped into my head. An egg. What? No! But I found myself reaching into the refrigerator for the egg. I was going to make egg soup/pasta. I don't know the name but my grandmother would make this at least once while we were at her house for Christmas every year. And, I hated it! I thought it was gross! I remember and could actually hear my deceased grandfather say this as I was making it, "Oh this stuff is good!" 

Why are grandparents/parents always right!?! Well I made it and ate it. My throat and sinuses felt better and I actually liked it, a lot! 

The picture doesn't look that appealing but you will have to trust me, it was good. :) 

The whole experience made me realize that I was an adult and I enjoy liking things that I didn't like as a child. I was finally growing up! I also realized that I am becoming like my family! How did I know how to make this? I hated it, why would I remember how to make it. I had never made it before. The last time I had it had to have been years ago....but somehow I managed to make it very fast and accurately. 

This is my specialty dish. I never liked zucchini. Now this is my staple meal. My favorite. Zucchini, tomatoes, onions and cheese. :) Another reason I love being an adult. 

Here is my conclusion to why I love being an adult....First, vegetable soup. I never liked soups and here I am making them all the time! I can't stop eating it tastes so good! :) Healthy and so unlike my childhood self. And finally, Wine. By far my favorite reason for being an adult! :) 

Just felt like sharing. :) 

Identity

My students asked Ipolita and myself this question this past week: "Why are you here?"

They ask me frequently but I wanted to address it again. My students find it interesting that my dream is to live in Italy when their dream is to live in America. They compare their city/town to the American cities they see on television. I tell them there is no comparison. They are different. Italy is an old country, America is new in comparison. The houses, buildings, roads and cars are bigger. There is more space in America. The culture is different as well. But, I tell them that Italy is wonderful because it is old, it has a rich history and culture. Plus, the food is amazing! :) We went on to debate many other aspects as well...

The discussion made me think about my life and why I am in Italy. This is what I have discovered....

Being born and raised in America was a privilege that I was fortunate to have and wouldn't give up for the world. I love my life and without my life in America I wouldn't have had the opportunities that I have been blessed with. America is a cultural melting pot filled with many ethnicities. It is amazing to say that I know people with origins from all over the world. I myself am quite the mix. This is something that many people can't say. All the Italians I know are 100% Italian. Yes, I know in history there have been many take overs but for now they are "Italian." I tell my students that I am Italian, Irish, Swedish and German and they are amazed I could be so many things! :) I inform them that America is a country full of immigrants and that no one in America is 100% American because American as an ethnicity doesn't exist according to me. We all came from somewhere, except for the Native Americans who are technically the true "Americans." But, that is a subject in itself. Back to my life. :) So I am a mix. I told my students that unfortunately many people in America don't know where their ancestors came from. I am fortunate that I do know and am interested in my family history.

It is this that has drawn me to Italy. My ancestors were from Sicily. I grew up with customs and traditions that I thought were "American" but I have found out that really they were Italian. When I was little I was curious in Italy and everything that came with it. I dreamt that I would live there one day. That dream has come true but why was it a dream in the first place. For me, learning about my history and where I came from would somehow help me identify with who I was. I felt lost as a child/teen. I have pale skin and blue eyes, very much my father's child and recognized with that part of me but I wanted to find the Italian, my mother's part in me. I grasped on to my mother's culture as much as I could but I still couldn't feel whole. I knew only a part of myself and I needed to find that other half. I think living in America allowed me to feel "American" but I was missing another component, my "Italian" life. This was what I was lacking and found last year when I moved here. I felt it right away. I was whole. I found my identity. I was truly Italian American but in America I never felt that. I only felt like I was an American. Now, I am continuing to learn the language. I am at the point that I can understand a lot, even to the point that I can understand a random conversation on the train while I have my earphones in my ears listening to music. Speaking is another issue but I do speak when I am forced and even though it isn't beautiful, I can make myself understood.

I am proud of myself. I found the missing piece to my life's puzzle. I am Italian. My heart is home. I know who I am. I am working on the language so I can feel completely Italian. I am not fluent but I can speak more than anyone in my family and that in itself makes me feel happy to know we can continue building on the relationships my grandfather formed many years ago.

The beginning of Christmas and Winter!

December has arrived! The countdown to Christmas has begun! It is a very exciting and fun time for me! I love this period. Unfortunately, the weather has started to show signs of winter. And in Naples, that is having rain for two weeks nonstop! Mamma Mia! It rains cats and dogs! It rains sideways, front ways and back ways... I have been caught in it far too many times and I end up being drenched and soaked for the entire day. I am ready for it to be over with! :) And, I know it has only just begun! So in the mean time, I am continuing to take my vitamins and eat as much vitamin C as possible. I can't get sick! 

Here is my defense for any colds...

Speaking of food. Surprisingly enough, that hasn't stopped. Shocking, I know! You will see below pictures from this past Sunday. Although, I wanted to share the napkins Ipolita had at her house...they say "Buon Appetito"! I thought it would go nicely with all the food pictures :) So Buon Appetito!

 The start of Sunday's lunch at Ipolita's mother in law's house....Starting with Antipasti...

Then the first dish: Genovese. This is pasta with onions. Her mother in law made it especially for us. I had never had it and since I love onions they insisted that I had to try it....and boy was it good! :) It reminded me of a pot roast flavor but with a lot of onions. 

 The meat that was in the pot while cooking the onions for the Genovese dish...which was like pot roast. I was very excited for this because I haven't had a pot roast in forever, seriously, many years! I had even mentioned it to my mother that I wanted her to make me one when I come home next...But I got it early! 

 This is the Neapolitan broccoli- Friarelli - kind of bitter but I have grown to like it very much!

 Her mother in law also made artichokes....delicious!

Salad 

Lupini beans

 Fruit

 Dessert: Pastiera and Cheesecake. Her mother in law made the Pastiera and I made the cheesecake. 

The Christmas Spirit has arrived at school! Isn't the tree very pretty! 

My students' are also in the Christmas spirit! I found this drawn on the whiteboard before class started. My ten and eleven year olds are quite talented :) 

Well, as you have seen the food doesn't stop! Christmas is approaching, which only means one thing...more food and family! Enjoy the season!