Jessica in Rome

Well they came! The official documents for Daniele’s transfer to Verona. Now all he has to do is go to Verona and take a class about working on the front lines. I guess I didn’t mention that he will have to go to Iraq and Afghanistan occasionally. So he has to take a week long class that retrains him on all the Geneva Convention stuff, rules of engagement, NATO rules and weapons training. Then we find out when we move, if it’s in June or September. I am crossing my fingers for June. I am so ready for a change.

I have only been to Verona once, but I loved what I saw. Here are some pics I took of places that will soon be all too familiar!

I have never, ever had luck with vending machines in Rome. I remember one particularly boiling hot day last summer, I was waiting in line to enter the Vatican museum (which I aborted due to the line length and heat) and HAD to get water or I would die. I had seen a nearby vending machine with 1 euro water and decided to chance it. It was better than spending 5 euros for a bottle from the bars surrounding the church. So off I went to gamble with my spare change and of course I lost the battle. I wagered 3 euro and the vending machine ate each one without giving me anything in return. And so the story continues.Today there are vending machines all over Italy that have eaten my money without giving me the chips, sodas or candies that I had paid for. Come to think of it, I doubt that I have ever encountered a machine that has worked.

When I was meandering around the Spanish Steps a few weeks ago I came across this little vending machine out side of the Roberto Cavalli store:

For only 50 euro this vending machine will give you a Cavalli T-shirt. Given my disdain for all things designed by Cavalli stemming from a horrible H&M line and the ugly silver suit a friend of D’s wore to our wedding, (I swear he is either drunk or blind, Cavalli not the friend. Well maybe the friend too) hell would have to freeze over before I would put 50 euro into an Italian vending machine. Especially this one.
What do you think? Would you make this bet?

This my be premature, but I am just too excited NOT to post this! It is with 99% certainty that D and I will be moving to Verona! Can you see it now: Jessica in Verona! (I am putting that on my list of things to do blog wise). We are basically waiting for the official signed documents from the Italian Air Force to come through. D has “friends” in the troop relocation office, of course, so that’s how we were able to find out before the official movement announcement came through. Red flags were also raised when the NATO base he had applied at requested info on yours truly to do a background check. I guess they wanted to rule out me being a spy or something-haha. However, we had long given up hope that he would get the job when we heard nothing for months. I was shocked when D came home last night and said that Verona was back on! I am so happy for him because he will be working on a NATO base which is a huge step up in his career. I am also happy for me as well (hee hee). I am dying to get out of Rome and live in civilization northern Italy. The work contract is only 4-5 years initially so we would have the option to return to Rome in the future (basically we can come home if it sucks). The move may take place in either June or September, we will know more info once we get the official documents. I hope that you, dear reader, will take this journey with me. From my extensive Googling there doesn’t seem to be a ton of Verona expat bloggers, especially a fabulous 24 year old female blogger like myself. I will keep everyone updated as we find out more in the coming weeks! This is such a blessing and could not come at a better time for us. D and I are so excited to experience a different place together and build a better life for ourselves.
Please let me know if you have any info or tips regarding Verona or life in the north.

… I think of it’s hometown Ariccia! In honor of my new blogging buddy Karla moving there in May, I decided to take a little trip and see what was on offer. When D and I usually head to Castelli Romani, we generally go to Nemi because it is one of my all time favorite places (mostly due to the desserts). Ariccia is now a very close second place! It is an adorable little town. The main site in the historical center is the beautiful Church dell’Assunta, that was made by Bernini and inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. I also loved seeing the various porchetta restaurants! I am shocked that there was once a time when I refused to eat pork. Well, Italy changed that really fast!

We found a cute little osteria complete with picnic tables, no menu, a paper table cloth and the best appetizer I’ve ever had. This “appetizer for 2″ was actually a full blown feast complete with prosciutto, several types of salami, porchetta, olives, the best cheese I have ever tasted, warm bread, and wine with no label (that was excellent). I was so full afterwards, there was no way I could have stuffed in a sandwich or anything else afterwards. We couldn’t even finish what was in front of us, though I really, really wanted to. This, the closest thing to an Italian “Old Country Buffet” came to only 25 euro.

You can’t lose when a town has great food, great views and a lovely street market featuring handmade chocolates! You’re a lucky gal Karla (I will be visiting you often)!

Click any photo to see them up close and in a slide show!

Welcome to my Ultimate Blog Party 2008 graciously hosed by 5 Minutes for Mom! This is my first time partying and I am happy to get my groove on.

A bit about me: My name is Jessica and I am an expatriate living in Rome, Italy. I have been living here since December 2006, when I moved to be with my husband Daniele. I grew up in Spokane, Washington and moved to Seattle where I lived for 5 years. I am married to a wonderful, funny and sweet Italian man and am a “mom” to a chinchilla named Olivia. I love painting, reading gossip websites, watching movies, blogging and traveling.

How it started: My love for Rome started when I happened to win plane tickets at my company’s Christmas party and that’s where it all began. I fell in love with the city on my vacation and promptly quit my job when I returned home. A few months later I was back in Rome without a plan. I just wanted to live life and not waste it inside a gray cubicle. That’s when out of nowhere I ended up meeting the love of my life in Saint Peter’s Square! You can read more about how I got to Rome and met my husband here on my bio page!

I started this blog as a way to keep track of all the important moments, strange new experiences and the endless frustrations of living in Italy. Being an expat has definitely tested me in every way imaginable! From struggling to learn the language, being scared of the mailman and learning to just slow down and absorb all that life here has to offer.
I feel extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to immerse in another culture. When we decide to have kids, I am happy that they will be raised in Italy. I hope that by reading my blog you can get better acquainted with Rome and with me! I would love to get to know YOU so please join the party and leave a comment!

Happy reading and see you at your party!

Jessica

Although I believe we should be celebrated and spoiled everyday of the year, it’s nice to have a day carved out just for us. Hope you have a fantastic Festa della Donna! I won’t go into detail about the origins of the day because Tui at Mental Mosaic and Michelle at Bleeding Espresso said it best.

A big thanks to everyone who commented and emailed me regarding my last post on my Italian struggles. It was one of those days where I just felt like my head would explode if I didn’t write about how I was really feeling. Your support means the world to me!

I admit there was once a time when learning Italian sounded fun and interesting. I had even investigated the Italian conversation classes at the local community college in Spokane. I figured it would be fun to say a few phrases to my long distance Italian boyfriend. Well, that all changed when we decided living on different continents sucked and we really wanted to be together. No more Italian conversation classes (probably taught in English, I’m guessing) to be learned at my leisure just for the fun of it. When I got off the 15 hour plane, Italian became a sink or swim necessity. The first few months I just listened hoping to absorb anything. When that didn’t work I signed up for the 2 week intensive course and the worst school ever. I was terrified and realized I only really knew how to say “ciao”. It was humiliating. The teacher was mean, and even though it was an “absolute beginner” class, I was the only one that wasn’t able to converse casually. I think this is probably where my attitude about learning Italian changed. I hated the school, hated feeling like the stupidest person on Earth and just wanted to crawl in bed and cry. I decided to at least switch schools, take an extensive course (only 2 days a week) and try to be positive. At the new school I loved my teacher, the secretary was friendly and all was conducive for me to learn this crazy language. That is…until I became the problem.
I don’t understand why I am still SO UNMOTIVATED to learn. After a year of twice a week courses (minus 2 months around the wedding and the summer when there are no classes) I can hold a conversation and am mostly comfortable talking to my in laws, but I am only at about a level 3 (of 9) or B1 (depending on which classification you are using). When I feel like I am making progress, a wrench is thrown into my confidence and my brain shuts off. Currently I am in pronomi hell. I kind of feel like I get it, but then I always mess up. I think I have a learning disorder when it comes to Italian. I took German in high school and I was the best in the class, even the German club president! I currently have a 3.9 in my (distance) college courses and am on the Dean’s list. What’s wrong with me? I have bought exercise book after exercise book and I attempt to fill in the blanks, only to get totally confused and frustrated. Then I give up, flip Sky Vivo to English and remember the good ole days where I was understood and witty in America.
Then about every 2 months I completely break down, sob for hours to Daniele about how I hate Italian, Rome and everything having to do with anything. I know “piano piano” and all that crap, but sometimes I feel like I will never learn. I will be a bumbling idiot forever.
I also hate it when I meet people in school who have been here for 3 months and can speak just as well as I can without ever taking lessons. It really drives home the fact that I completely suck at this.
I did however, buy more exercise books, one only for I Pronomi so hopefully it help rather than collect dust like the other ones I have bought.
*SIGH*

I think I am my own worst enemy.

I feel like a nerd writing about a trip to a fast food chain in Rome. But when you live so far away from things that used to be in your everyday life, experiencing them in your new one feels really…nice. I used to eat at Subway all the time, so finding this lonely store, on a random street corner when I wasn’t looking for it came as a pleasant surprise. I ate there three times last week! It was sooooo good. Maybe I am feeling a bit homesick? Or I am struggling with hammering out my “Italian self”. I don’t know, but for some reason a footlong sub (well, 3) made me feel better this week. As for the store, it was almost identical to the Subways in the states, but was cleaner and styled a little cuter. They carry all the normal sandwiches (Meatballs!) and the only differences I noticed was there weren’t as many breads to choose from, the soda is in cans, and they don’t toast the sandwiches. Everything else was the same, even the soups, cookies and the point cards. They even had Ranch dressing! It was also eerily quite inside. The staff was really nice, but on all 3 visits there was no one else inside. I think it is more of a lunch time place, as I went during the night around 9pm. Surprisingly it has been open for 2 years! I am glad found it, though I still think the Italian owned Orfeo: Re della Notte is the best sandwich shop in Rome (you can put mashed potatoes on your sandwich!) There are a few Subways scattered in Italy: Sicily, Naples, Vincenza, Milano, and a few other places.

Is there one near you? Does stumbling upon little reminders of your old life help you? Am I weird?

 I almost missed this completely, but looking up something caught my eye. Holy moly, it’s a horse in the Pantheon! One of the things I am begininning to love about Rome is all the unexpected surprises, no matter how big or small.

Looking at this horse up near the oculus, I remember all the balloons that have slipped out of my hands over the years, but never in a place as cool as the Pantheon.

Oli, an expat from South America, is learning the Italian art of relaxation:

Catching up on favorite blogs via Google Reader:

Her cage really is bigger than our car. We lovingly call it the Guest House.