Reflection.

Currently, sitting in the library while articles, a half drank Coke and untouched research books surround me.  I have two papers and a presentation staring me in the face and all I can think about is how fast this semester has gone.   How fast I have developed friendships, memories, experiences and how abruptly they will end.  I have 26 days left for me to spend in Perugia, Italy.  Twenty-six days to make the most of my time here and truly appreciate it.  I think when I decided to come here, I prepared myself for leaving everything in the States behind.  It was easy, no offense towards anyone.  It just was because I knew I was coming back, or at least my plane ticket said so.  What I didn’t prepare myself for was the attachment and love for this new place and people I would develop. 

Let’s take today for example, Bethany, Sarah and I went to the open air market, which is held on the first Sunday of every month.  It was beautiful seeing the craftsmanship and passion each artisan put into their work.  After, we attempted to grab lunch at Pizza Musica, a pizza shop tucked into the back alleys of Perugia.  To our dismay, it was closed, but we were pleasantly surprised at what wandering the back streets we hadn’t discovered in our three months being here.

It chokes me up that I’ll ever have to leave this place.  Perugia will always hold a special place in my heart, always.  I thought that ignoring these thoughts would help me enjoy my last days here.  You know, really live it up and not let anything get in the way.  But without reflection, what can we appreciate?  And if someday, I decide to come back to Perugia, it will never be the same as it once was.  The people, they will be gone.  And although the beauty of this city will only become greater; those who made my experience will not be there to make it that much more beautiful.  This moment, this experience will forever be frozen in time and can never be recreated.  That is the saddest and the thing I will cherish the most about this city.

Ci vediamo, 

Rae.

{pictures will follow.}

Valentine's Day

I thought this year's Valentine's Day was going to be one out of the ordinary.  I was away from home and those who I love most.  But, to my surprise, I woke up to a mailbox full of letters.  Thank you Meme and Gappy, Mamma Manning and Pappa Manning, and Nikki Geee!  It made my day that much better.

Little did I know, my roommates were executing a plan by no other than sneaky Pete.  Here is the perfectly executed in pictures.

[A box of chocolate was waiting for me when I got home from school]

[go to la cucina the kitchen]

[scherzo just kidding! Look in the bedroom]

[Sneaky Pete had the girls put 17 for the amount of months we've been together]

ciao bella

A Night at the Opera.

 

ciao ragazzi

Cooking Maniac.

Rachel Ray  Samantha Rae.

Step One: TasteSpot [yes, it is a verb] recipes.
Step Two: Work those recipes.
Step Three: Take artsy photos that make the food look better.
Step Four: Indulge.
Step Five: All homemade-bragging rights.

[go.]

[bruschetta]

[head o' lettuga]

[baked ziti]

[sauteed broccoli]

prego.

Firenze.

This past weekend, our food and culture class took a field trip to Florence to experience a true Renaissance meal.  A few of us took advantage of this trip and went up a day early.  We stayed in a hostel that was literally a five minute walk from the train station.  In all honesty, this trip has a limited photo bank to choose from, not because there was nothing to see [believe me, everything is gorgeous] but mainly because I couldn't feel my fingers enough to hold a camera.  Firenze was freezing and the wind did not help.

[ridiculously beautiful burger]

[filetto di mirtillo blueberry fillet mignon: pure genious/melted in my mouth]

[filetto di pepe peppercorn fillet mignon]

[Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore Florence Cathedral at night]

[[Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore Florence Cathedral at night]

[Sarah and I at the height of Firenze]

[LVC]

[Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore Florence Cathedral at day]

No worries though, I will be back and will have plenty of photos to show for it.

[ciao]

NEWSFLASH: Italy gets snow?

When deciding where to study abroad, I naturally gravitated towards warmer countries.  You know, Australia, New Zealand, Italy.  Well, I thought Italy was warm.  Humor me: what pops in your head when you think Italy?  Jersey Shore..  tan individuals.  So, I was wrong.  They do get snow and a lot of it.  Now they don't normally get tons of snow, but of course I couldn't miss out on a massive snow storm.  That just would have been great crazy.  

Oh and Italians don't know how to handle an excessive amount of snow.  One man was trying to sweep it away, while others were putting it in buckets.  Silly people.

By the way,  the recent lack of posting was because of my recent death  procrastination*.

[* more so the snow storm, lack of internet, and catching a cold...but we'll pawn it off on procrastination]

grazie mille per la tua pazienza

[thanks a million for your patience]

ciao.

Under-dressing.

After attempting to master my layering skills, the weather has finally lightened up and that means time to tone down the articles of clothing before I end up passed out from heat exhaustion.  Too far? Probably.  Basically my point is, it is gorgeous here and in the mid afternoon reaches fairly high 50s.  Perfecto.

[h&m sweater, zara jeans]

-ciao bella-