A new appreciation for generosity...and food

Wow, there are many wonderful Italians here. They have embraced us with loving, wide open arms. First off, Bryan's birthday was the 24th. The restaurant where I wanted to take him for his birthday was closed that day, so we went the day before. He and I have tried many interesting foods while being here, and one of the ones he wanted to try was baccala--salt cod, a Vicentino specialty. We had it at the restaurant, and it was good. We also had some rabbit tortellini, veggies, and lots of really good bread. The desserts where delicious as well. Bryan loved it and was glad that I could keep it a surprise. I made the reservation a week before we went and was bursting with the secret until the day we went. ^_^ We had fun.
Anyway, the next day, we were invited to have Christmas Eve dinner at the house of one of the church ladies after church. We had some really good pasta and salad, bread, and...more baccala. Now, there are some foods that I can eat 3 or 4 times a week. Baccala is NOT one of them. This lady, God bless her, gave me a HEAPING portion, as well as a heaping portion of polenta--basically, grits. now, I got through half of each serving, very slowly, and thought that that was enough. I looked around at all the rest of people's plates and saw that they were almost done with their entire portions of BOTH. (Deep breath...hoooooooo boy) I scraped up some more food with my fork. Bite by bite I ate...and ate...and ATE. The last 5 bites I thought I would DIE! I finished, gave everybody a big smile, and said, "Che buono!!" which is a big compliment. The hostess smiled, and we were happy. ^_^ We ate little for dinner that night.
Now the NEXT day, we went to another ladies house, and we had Christmas dinner with her family. It was great. Again, a LOT of food. Italians can eat!!! I couldn't believe it--9 courses!!!! Now, a cool thing about the way Italians do food is that instead of 3 huge helpings of one dish, you have 9 small servings of 9 different things. They really like variety when they eat. We were fed appitizers when we got there, and then we got antipasto--a serving of other appetizers before the pasta. Very tasty. After that, we ate delicious pasta--fettucine and salmon. After that, there was a meat course--turkey and veggies. Then salad. After that, we had chocolate and fruit. Then we had cafe--espresso--and candy, and we took a 3 hour break to rest between food servings. Games were great fun. Bryan and I had a bit of translation help, thank goodness. one of the people in the family is really good at speaking English and translated for us every once ina while. Anyway, after we rested for a bit, we came back and ate more tortellini, more meat, more salad, and then we had dessert!!!! Italians can eat!!!
Now, I know I spent the past coupla paragraphs explaining how these Italians are different, but you know, I really hope I am like that some day. I want Bryan and me to be as generous to people we don't know as they were to us!! This was their christmas, and they welcomed us in, and they treated us like their family. This truly beautiful gesture is one of the things that God wants us to do for others. Although there are difficult times in our lives, we can always use our talents and gifts to help others and to make them feel special. I pray that I will someday help people in our future home as much as they helped us. How beautiful people can be! Love to all!

New eyes and our trip to Venice...

Okay, so everybody has done something amazing. Not just cool, aMAZing. When you get to do it a second time, you can't believe your luck. You get to do it a THIRD time, you pinch yourself to make sure you're awake. Well, going to Venice again was really cool. I knew it would be cool again, but being there with Bryan was truly amazing. Aunt Donna, didn't Uncle Mike propose to you in Europe? I think I remember hearing that story. Anyway, Europe is even more romantic with my spouse. That's what I mean by "new eyes." I see his excited expressions when we see San Marco's Cathedral. I see his face when we go over the gigantic bridges and look everywhere, seeing water all around us. Venice is truly breathtaking. Bryan made it new for me, and so I had the best time I've ever had in Venice. Thank God for Bryan and our love! Okay, enough mush. ^_^
Anyway, we went to the most fantastic restaurant for dinner last night. We were actually looking for a really good pizza place that we'd read about in one of those travel books, you know, like Rick Steves or whatever. Upon getting lost (again and again) in those little tiny streets, we came across a place called La Zucca--means "The Pumpkin" which was also in that book. It was fantastic!! I had Anatra dall'Arancia, which is the Italian way of saying Duck a l'orange. Wow. Bryan had some really good pork and mixed vegetables. We finished with fantastic desserts. Whee-hoo, do Italians know food!! Anyway, all this to say that it's okay if you get lost in the streets of Venice b/c you may just find another amzing little diner or cafe. Well, here are pics from our trip!! Love to ALL.
By the way, Carrie, can you tell which picture was put on specifically for you? This is the only time this shirt will be in Venice since you WON'T FLY.

Okay, I can admit when I'm wrong...

I've been catching up on classic movies lately. Bryan couldn't believe that I hadn't watched all the Star Wars movies since I was a kid. It was kinda cool, though, b/c it was as if I were watching them for the first time. I loved them--had lotsa fun watching them. Another set of movies that I'd never watched before, the exception being the first one, are the Rocky movies. They are GOOD!!! I always heard them grouped in with "those guy movies that girls never want to watch," but they were good!!! Could not believe how much I liked them. Another thing--I had always made fun of people who watched boxing with their fists clenched in the air. I did that today, watching "Rocky IV." I think what I like about the Rocky movies is that heart is crucial to succeeding. I have heart, but sometimes I forget that and get very discouraged. We all do. I've been discouraged lately b/c of the fact that we're coming home early. Customs has been insane with what they allow to get through, namely, Bryan's medicine. There are too many fees, too many difficult people to work with. We've decided to come home. We plan on serving there, and honestly probably will do better there for the Lord than here. Here at the church, they don't seem to have much needed to be done. I am updating their bulletin board--their pictures have the kids as babies, and now they're 7. ^_^ Anyway, that all said, heart fits into this whole thing b/c it is easy to lose heart. I encourage people to watch the Rocky movies b/c heart can be gained by fighting for it, realizing your priorities, and having a God manager--get it? ^_^ Love to all!!!

Part Two: Those long awaited pics...

Part one: Those long awaited pics...

We're having fun!!! Bryan and I are enjoying our time together, enjoying Italy, experiencing its goodness. Italians may not know much when it comes to getting things done efficiently, but on some things, that's part of their charm. They sure know food! I also like the way that they relax on certain things. One example is, Sunday evenings, after 6:00 PM, people walk all over Vicenza, window shopping, drinking coffee and eating gelato, enjoying Le Dolce Vita. Wonder why that was the name of the movie? Well, anyway, here are the pics. I hope the videos work right!

Pizza with french fries

Have you ever had pizza with french fries? Very tasty, believe it or not. No, I'm not going back to the states and ordering pizza with french fries on it. I liked it, though. It also had pancetta on it--yummy, yummy pancetta, which is an Italian bacon. Last night, the doorbell to the church rang, and it was Francesco Fergnani and his family, offering to take us out for pizza. How fun! It was great. Francesco has the cutest little family. He and his wife, Lorenza, have two beautiful little girls. They are so sweet, Miriam and Anna. If I decide to finish grad school for marriage and family therapy, I will think of them often as an example for an ideal family. I know every family has their difficulties, but Francesco's family is wonderful.
Other people in the church are cool as well. Valeria and Piero are very kind people. Valeria talks really quickly, but she's so expressive that I understand her the best. Between her and Lorenza, I can usually figure out what is going on b/c they describe as they talk, so even when I don't understand the actual words, I understand the basic meaning.
Okay, I'll write more when something else happens. Oh, and Aunt Donna, I have a surprise for you!! (With our history in presents for each other, you probably know what it is...)

Well I did it

I didn't want to, but I did. I said goodbye to Bryan today. I hate to see him take off on that bus to Pio-stinking-vene Rocchette. No, I'm sure it's a wonderful place. Chef Mauro and his family seem like really nice people, at least, that's what Bryan tells me. I just don't like to see him go! Before he left, though, we took a picture together in one of those photo booths, and it was fun. It's a pretty funny picture. We took a picture together that I will next week put on my blog, but we ran out of time this visit. We really enjoyed our time together, shopping together, cooking together, even cleaning together.
Okay, so what kind of work am I doing? I was given permission, first of all, to take the first coupla weeks and adjust to life in Vicenza. Lotsa things are like living in America--if you don't go out to eat, you cook for yourself. You clean, you watch movies or read if you get bored, although here I can always walk outside two steps and go to Teatro Olimpico, 15 more to go to Piazza Signoria, which has the best markets on Thursdays. It'll be packed with Christmas stuff the next few weeks.
Who's excited about Christmas??? ME!!!! I've been listening to the Mannheim Steamroller CDs like always, and I brought "It's a Wonderful Life" so Bryan and I can watch it together. We'll have fun celebrating his birthday, too.
Okay, I digress. Anyway, I will work with the Army Base, in a way, helping to advertise there for the church. I will put up signs letting them know we are here. With the church, I'm helping them organize a big dinner for another church. It's actually a weekend event that we plan with another church. We cook for them and just have fun together all weekend. Today, when I get back to the apartment, I'll study some more Italian, but everybody says I'm improving. Yeah!!!
Okay, nuff for now. Love to ALL!!!

Well I did it

I didn't want to, but I did. I said goodbye to Bryan today. I hate to see him take off on that bus to Pio-stinking-vene Rocchette. No, I'm sure it's a wonderful place. Chef Mauro and his family seem like really nice people, at least, that's what Bryan tells me. I just don't like to see him go! Before he left, though, we took a picture together in one of those photo booths, and it was fun. It's a pretty funny picture. We took a picture together that I will next week put on my blog, but we ran out of time this visit. We really enjoyed our time together, shopping together, cooking together, even cleaning together.
Okay, so what kind of work am I doing? I was given permission, first of all, to take the first coupla weeks and adjust to life in Vicenza. Lotsa things are like living in America--if you don't go out to eat, you cook for yourself. You clean, you watch movies or read if you get bored, although here I can always walk outside two steps and go to Teatro Olimpico, 15 more to go to Piazza Signoria, which has the best markets on Thursdays. It'll be packed with Christmas stuff the next few weeks.
Who's excited about Christmas??? ME!!!! I've been listening to the Mannheim Steamroller CDs like always, and I brought "It's a Wonderful Life" so Bryan and I can watch it together. We'll have fun celebrating his birthday, too.
Okay, I digress. Anyway, I will work with the Army Base, in a way, helping to advertise there for the church. I will put up signs letting them know we are here. With the church, I'm helping them organize a big dinner for another church. It's actually a weekend event that we plan with another church. We cook for them and just have fun together all weekend. Today, when I get back to the apartment, I'll study some more Italian, but everybody says I'm improving. Yeah!!!
Okay, nuff for now. Love to ALL!!!

TOTALLY NEW EXPERIENCE.

You will never appreciate going to the store and buying face cleanser until you have to do it in another country. What product is this? How does it work? Will it really get rid of pimples? Sorry, gross, but it is REAL LIFE and you cannot appreciate it until you have to do it somewhere other than you are used to being. No big deal. Well, not REALly. Just one of those things I am getting used to. I absolutely love it here, though. Vicenza has become my new (third) favorite place in Italy. Rome is cool, but it is not on that list anymore. Used to be my third favorite.
Julie, Lindsay, YES I am eating gelato for you. Rachel, YES, I am drinking cappucinos for you. Need to not gain that weight back, people, but eating this is a sacrifice I am willing to make. Still totally exercising. The DVD player in my room is pitiful. (No, I am not complainig about free, just stating a fact.) It is pitiful! that being said, when I use it to listen to work-out music, the music cuts out after 5 songs. At that point, I jog in place and wait *patiently* until it comes back. If I were in America, I would jog around outside, maybe, but Italians don't really do that. They don't have to exercise to be thin. So unfair!
I am having the BEST time here. I went to church last night with all the Ghana members, and I didn't understand a thing, except for when the Ghanese man next to me interpreted for me. Most of them speak Italian really well.
How am I coming on my Italian? Well, I've made it through half the "Italian for Dummies" book, and, well, they speak WAY TOO FAST. This American is having a bit of a hard time figuring out what people are saying, but luckily for me, they are patient. The ones that aren't just smile, stop talking, and walk away. Oh, well, I will be here for 3 months. There is TIME. ^_^
Okay, ciao mi amici e famiglia.

So happy to be HERE!!!!!! I love it in Vicenza. Now, I know you are wondering whatàs happened so far, but i will have an update later. I already typed it out but didnàt have internet access until now. In case youàre wondering about the "typoàs" itàs b-c the keyboard is a little different here. Oh, well. Anyway, things are good. The people at the church are fantastico!!! Iàm so glad that Iàm here. I studied more Italian today. Less people speak English than I thought, but itàs okay, weàre working on it. It will take time, but itàs all good. God is good and will help with the language barrier. These people are amazing!!!! At first, I was sad that I could not stay with Bryan, but I think God placed me here for a reason. There were several barriers on the road to this whole experience, so there must be a reason for me to be here!!!! In the meantime, Bryan and I really love it. He leaves for Piovene Rocchete tomorrow, (pout) but thatàs the reason weàre here.
Okay, more later. Love to all!!!!!

So happy to be HERE!!!!!! I love it in Vicenza. Now, I know youàre wondering whatàs happened so far, but Okay, more later. Love to all!!!!!

Hey everybody!!!!!!

So happy to be HERE!!!!!! I love it in Vicenza. Now, I know youàre wondering whatàs happened so far, but Okay, more later. Love to all!!!!!

Part 2 of previous blog

 
 
 
  

New friends and old

One of my favorite quotes is "What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies..." Aristotle

I dedicate this blog to all my friends. For those of which I don't have pictures, SEND ME ONE!
Love you ALL ^_^

 
 
 
  

I'm the WORST picture developer!

I always take forever to develop them. Here they are, though, some pics of me in my dress, me and Mamaw, and members of my lovely family. Love to all!
Kristi ^_^

PS--WE LEAVE TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to learn how to say "whee-hoo" in Italian...

I do know how to say, "I'd love it!" It's "Magari!" Italians love to say things concisely and to the point. all in one word, si possibile. Whee-hoo! I did learn a really fun way to say "Good luck." "In bocca al lupo" means literally "a wolf in mouth", but people say it to wish good luck. In response, people say "Crepi il lupo", which means "Hopefully the wolf will die!" Funny, huh? You know, just when I get more into studying and--now that I'm not working--have time to study, I leave my "Italian for Dummies" book in my car. Oh, well.
Anyway, the people are looking forward to seeing me in Vicenza, according to Francesco Fergnani, the preacher. I look forward to meeting him! It'll be FUN. Divertiro!!!! Okay, I know, ENOUGH ITALIAN. sorry, I'm just glad I know a few key phrases.
Nother subject. have not been as dedicated to exercise lately. Have not gained it back but have hit a slump. need to get OUT. huh, fun to type the first letter in the sentence in a lower case letter. driving you crazy Holly? ^_^ anyway, that's beside the point. so, I still have 7 more to drop before I enter the land of total health. I hope I haven't been too personal with this whole weight loss thing. I've been really excited, and who better to share excitement with than family and friends, right?
Stryker, i think suspects that Bryan and I will be leaving him soon. He can tell, and is more needy lately. wants our attention an 'at. 'sall good. We'll be back before he knows it. Honestly, it's a little strange to think about how long we'll be in Italy is as long as we've been in PA. It feels like another lifetime! God's funny. He puts you places you don't think you'll be until you get there, and then He makes you realize that He's been right all along. Why do we continually put up fights with him?
tomorrow's Sloppy Joe Singing, meaning we have church, and then we make sloppy Joe's for lunch. After that, we're going to learn some devotional songs to sing at church. It'll be great fun! I love to sing the newer songs. I do cherish the older ones, yes, but I look forward to sharing these with the church tomorrow. These people are amazing. I never thought I'd enjoy a smaller church as much as I do. Again, ALL GOD.
Okay, this was a long post. Love to all!!!!


Kim, just think about it--this could be Bison or Belle!
also, something messed up--the picture doesn't show on its own, so click on the brown box and it'll show up ^_^

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

Boy did I pick a terrible time to get hooked on a TV show. I don't know if this show will even be on in Italy, and much less, if I will have a TV. One thing I can count on, as far as TV is concerned, is that I will have my pick of Italian soap operas. They're a trip.
Anyway, I've become hooked on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Jonathan, I hope my blog does the show justice.
The writing is FANTASTIC. They are surpassing new levels of emotion--especially for Matthew Perry. I loved him on Friends. He had the best one-liners on primetime TV and still does. I've personally never been a fan of Bradley Whitford, who's the other star of the show. He's always played squirrelly, snivelly characters in movies, and I am glad to see him excel in other roles. Together with Matthew Perry, they make one fantastic duo.
I think this show will make people escape enough to enjoy the show, in that most people watching the show do not write for their own network. Jonathan is the closest of any of us to TV, as he may make it there someday, although my friend Lindsay works for a network as well. Good for those who dream big and fulfill their dreams.
Okay, to those who haven't watched the show yet, let's see if I put enough of an interest in the show into people who read my blog. ^_^

WE GOT THE TICKETS!!!!!

Whee-hoo!!! I'm so excited!!!! Bryan and I bought the tickets to Italy this morning! Thank goodness we're in the offseason, as far as travel goes. Tickets are usually a bit cheaper in the offseason, I think. Anyway, we're going to fly to Philadelphia on Wednesday, November 22nd. We'll be there that night and then most of Thanksgiving, and our flight leaves at 6PM the next day! I'm excited--I've never been to Philadelphia. Bryan and I'll check out the Liberty Bell an 'at. Whee-hoo! You may be thinking, hmmm, is she more excited about Philadelphia or Italy? HA!
Okay, here's the story on Italy. The apartment is ready for me. I'll stay there, while Bryan is in the cabin in the woods(hmm, sound like a song?) he told me he'd visit the apartment as much as possible, but he actually will be closer to the restaurant in the mountains by being in the cabin. I know, I'll miss him TERRIBLY, but we'll see each other as much as we can.
I get to work with the teens and young adults in the church. Most of them understand English, but I've been working on my Italian more lately. Learning more fun words, having a blast. We're going to study today, now that we have the tickets bought!! Studiamo oggi! (We study today.)
I'll also be keeping in touch with the soldiers at the base in Vicenza. Francesco Fergnani, the preacher over there, told me that with the language barrier, it's difficult sometimes to keep contact with them, but I'll be able to keep up with them!!! He said it will be one of my duties!!! I'm typing so quickly b/c I'm so excited. My hands are practically shaking!!!! Whee-hoo!!!!
Anyway, so I hope everyone will keep Bryan and me in prayers. With prayer and petition, this will be a mission with which God will be happy. Whee-hoo!!!!! (Does God say Whee-hoo? I think He does with some things, especially a lost soul who turns over his life to God.)
Okay, gotta go--so many things to do!!!!!!
^_^

To blog or not to blog--that is the question...

Hello. Kinda been in hiatus as far as the blog-world is concerned. Have visited other blogs, but just have not had much to say. Lately, my life is filled with Bryan, working, a combination of the two, and studying Italian with him. I'm getting better. Ricordo poco l'italiano.--I remember a little Italian--(the language, not an Italian person...)
it's fun. One of the things we're using to study is a CD of italian words that we listen to on the way to work. The woman that speaks Italian has a weird way of emphasizing her words. Bryan and I spend half the time learning, and half the time making fun of her. ^_^
Stryker's all well and good. Healthy as a horse and getting big as one.
Got my hi-notes done today. They're so much fun, and people like them. I hoped they would, but they like them more than I expected. Yeah. ^_^
I'm saving my money for the trip to Italy, so my membership to my gym has expired, and I do not plan on renewing until I get back in March. Kinda sad b/c I love the classes, but it has sparked my creativity as well. I make up my own exercise routines at home, and I try to remember the ones I did in class. Thanks again to Mom for buying me weights so I can try to keep a muscle. ^_^
Okay, that's all. Love to all!!!!

I usually don't do this...

Just wanted to make sure that people didn't miss my Oct. 12th blog. I had so much fun writing it, but then I added the dress picture, and I was afraid no one would go back to read it! Anyway, I hope you enjoy my blog with the fat people cartoon on it. I had fun with it. Thanks for indulging me! ^_^