Spring is in the air! The days are longer, and the weather is warmer. Perfect for hanging your laundry out to dry. Which is exactly how my neighbor’s underwear ended up in my rosemary. A truly Italian problem. Buon primo maggio! For me, that means having a random (lazy) Thursday off to go for a […]
26
Apr
Apr
After 6 years in Los Angeles, where looking at someone the wrong way could lead to trouble, moving to Rome was a relief. It felt safe. And Rome IS safe for the most part– but there is also so much petty crime, including break-ins and bike snatchings. Worst of all are the pickpockets in Rome. […]
20
Apr
Apr
As you might imagine, Easter is kind of a thing around here. I am giving anything church related wide-berth as Rome is inundated with pilgrims, arriving for this weekend’s ceremonies as well as the upcoming canonizations of two previous popes. But last year? Last year, I was climbing a volcano with my sister on Easter. […]
06
Apr
Apr
It was 78°F (25°C) today.It made me realize how much I have missed the sun. Until I stepped outside, I couldn’t really remember what it felt like to be warm. Winter is strange that way– that way it makes us forget. I suppose that is a round about way of trying to say: I am […]
01
Apr
Apr
March was a bit hectic. At one point, towards the end of the month, I found myself on three continents in 24 hours. This was thanks to a rather out-of-the-way (and painful) 10 hour overnight layover in Dubai. But I did it. I overcommitted myself, per usual. But I did it. As they say around […]
08
Mar
Mar
Happy International Women’s Day! A day celebrating the ladies, that is not widely practiced in the United States, but which wikipedia describes as a “mix of Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.” In Italy, you’ll see men selling mimosa sprigs on nearly every corner. The affordable yellow bloom is often given on this day, with daffodils gaining […]
04
Mar
Mar
The thrill and the tragedy of expat life are one in the same: you are not from here. The irresistible draw of “not-from-here” is what drives many to travel or settle abroad. When you are an expat, you can take pride in your not-from-here-ness. You wear it like a badge of honor. You revel in […]
22
Feb
Feb
Deep in the Trader Joe’s freezer section, between the vegetarian gyoza and marinated Mahi, you will find gnocchi alla sorrentina. When I was 22, the ink still drying on my bachelors degree, I moved to a new city and into a one bedroom apartment. All by myself, for the first time ever. Frozen gnocchi alla […]