wow, tonight has just been amazing. I spent all day inside...resting...which might not sound great, but when its cold and rainy out...while I am very sleep deprived, it is a gift from the angels.
Tonight, Caitlin, Chris, Ashley, and I went out for a simple night on the town. I wasnt looking forward so much to it as it was rainy but a soft drizzle and warm/chilled wind was pleasant...we were looking for a pizzeria...and first came upon a beautiful dessert bar cafe. We ordered our first Chocolatè with cakes. Thick gorgeous black chocolate in a white porcelain cup. The sitting room was lovely decorated with mirrors on all the walls and guild worked ceiling...finished with a simple cactus center piece. This fulfilled my long fantasy from the movie chocolatè. Then we walked and found a hole in the wall pizzeria, ordered a perfect pizza....and wow. I just cannot explain, the conversation was so simple and entertaining...the type of jokes that now we keep referring back to and laughing so hard about. On the walk home we passed a gelateria, and I got THEE best lemone/strawberry cono. My head was buzzed with bliss, I have never quite had this feeling...I was floating in contenment...but it was a tangible physical bliss buzz. My senses felt perfect. The head buzz went over my whole body and I couldnt stop laughing...until it was an embarressed cackle in the Italian streets....to the point of falling over onto the stone wall for support as I was floored for the first time in Italy. ...and for no real reason other than it was a brilliant evening.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Post Terra Madre: Farm Prospects and Update
oi vey
well....most of the farmers we met and talked with do not need help at this time during the season. Although we have info for next Aug and Sept, maybe we can make something happen for other students next year.
But we are still looking, and emailing people. We met really nice people from South West France who make cheese, and they are going through the birthing season, so we may go there. However, I would like to stay in Italy, so I am still trying to find places here.
We have not heard back from contacts yet, but hopefully soon.
Our prospects as of now:
I met a girl in the lunch line and she has a good fried who has an olive oil family farm, and she was going to contact me tomorrow Oct 29th about if they wanted any young help.
There is another man we need to contact who has an oil farm a little south of Milan. Who seems kind of open to the possibility.
France cheese farms were really enthusiastic about us joining them. They said for any amount of time! A week to a year!
I still have the possibility to call one farm in Greece that says they may want help.
Im trying to get ahold of Trish Spurino who is presently wwoofing in Sicily...and might have some ideas as she just left one farm....but my phone card is not working...
So yes...this is the update.
Some friend of ours just got connected with an agrofarm, bed and breakfast they are going to next week for a couple of weeks. Maybe through them we can find another place in Tuscany.
But as of now all 4 of us are traveling to Cinque Terre tonight, and enjoying a break from schedules and loads of people. Enjoying the hot springs...and relaxing...catching up on sleep...
It will be a nice few days while we sort out our plans.
Enjoying every day, living up the unsure openness of life, and how not being in control still perfectly works out.
Ciao.
well....most of the farmers we met and talked with do not need help at this time during the season. Although we have info for next Aug and Sept, maybe we can make something happen for other students next year.
But we are still looking, and emailing people. We met really nice people from South West France who make cheese, and they are going through the birthing season, so we may go there. However, I would like to stay in Italy, so I am still trying to find places here.
We have not heard back from contacts yet, but hopefully soon.
Our prospects as of now:
I met a girl in the lunch line and she has a good fried who has an olive oil family farm, and she was going to contact me tomorrow Oct 29th about if they wanted any young help.
There is another man we need to contact who has an oil farm a little south of Milan. Who seems kind of open to the possibility.
France cheese farms were really enthusiastic about us joining them. They said for any amount of time! A week to a year!
I still have the possibility to call one farm in Greece that says they may want help.
Im trying to get ahold of Trish Spurino who is presently wwoofing in Sicily...and might have some ideas as she just left one farm....but my phone card is not working...
So yes...this is the update.
Some friend of ours just got connected with an agrofarm, bed and breakfast they are going to next week for a couple of weeks. Maybe through them we can find another place in Tuscany.
But as of now all 4 of us are traveling to Cinque Terre tonight, and enjoying a break from schedules and loads of people. Enjoying the hot springs...and relaxing...catching up on sleep...
It will be a nice few days while we sort out our plans.
Enjoying every day, living up the unsure openness of life, and how not being in control still perfectly works out.
Ciao.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Smoke filled nostriles and universal laughter...
We made more contacts at the Conference today. Mainly Cheese people. This one farm in France were reallz interested and whipped out a photo album and chatted Caitlin up in French for awhile, while her French crepe and jam got cold.
We switched Coach Surfer tonight. We left the wonderful home in the northern part of the city, and after hours of wrong buses, since they didnt stop where the map said they would...we made it to the right apartment...but only after randomly running into 2 Terra Madre goers, of which one Caitlin knew from Middlebury 2 years ago...and we got them a place to stay with us as they just missed the last train to their hotel in the Alps. Tonight and tomorrow we stay with another girl...who has flat mates and as we entered the house there are many people in the kitchen...all welcoming smiles..saying CIAO CIAO CIAO!!! Our exhaustion melts away at the enthusiastic greetings. They fed us food, and by the end we had total 4 americans, one south american, 3 italians, 2 germans, and 1 french all exchanging the different languages but still sharing great humor and stories, over lots of wine, bread, nutella, and citgarettes. ...oh and chocolate covered termites and worms....What a great experience! They all just went out for parties...at midnight, and i decided to go to bed so i can actually exist tomorrow. What amazing people, all so full of life and enjoyment, all so beautiful.
What a life!
Ciao
We switched Coach Surfer tonight. We left the wonderful home in the northern part of the city, and after hours of wrong buses, since they didnt stop where the map said they would...we made it to the right apartment...but only after randomly running into 2 Terra Madre goers, of which one Caitlin knew from Middlebury 2 years ago...and we got them a place to stay with us as they just missed the last train to their hotel in the Alps. Tonight and tomorrow we stay with another girl...who has flat mates and as we entered the house there are many people in the kitchen...all welcoming smiles..saying CIAO CIAO CIAO!!! Our exhaustion melts away at the enthusiastic greetings. They fed us food, and by the end we had total 4 americans, one south american, 3 italians, 2 germans, and 1 french all exchanging the different languages but still sharing great humor and stories, over lots of wine, bread, nutella, and citgarettes. ...oh and chocolate covered termites and worms....What a great experience! They all just went out for parties...at midnight, and i decided to go to bed so i can actually exist tomorrow. What amazing people, all so full of life and enjoyment, all so beautiful.
What a life!
Ciao
Friday, October 24, 2008
Italy
We made it to Italy. We arrived Wednesday in Milan, planning to train up to Lake Como...but as we got off the plane we saw people with Terra Madre signs, and ended up getting a free bus ride to Turin. Since we arrived a day early to Turin, we had no place to go, but ended up staying for free through the conference in the mountains. I forget the name Bardoneccia...or something. Sooo exhausted and hard to enjoy and meet people. I havent heard the word farm more times in simultaneous conversations ever in my life....and as I get more sleep I am more interested in everything.
Yesterday was the opening ceremony. Super inspirational, Vanadava Shiva was brilliant as well as Sam Levin (the 15 year old, super cute, kid who started his school garden). As well as, ofcourse, Carlo Patrini. (I almost got a picture with him today, as he was right next to me, but I was too shy...and he was getting pictures with lots of other people, I didnt want to bother him...)
but anway! Today was awesome! They moved Terra Madre right next to Salone Del Gusto so we were able to experience and appreciate both. We went to the USA meeting and heard all about what is going on in the states, which was inspiring and awesome as I didnt know so much is happening for the slow movement! The crowds are large which is also exciting as the movement is growing.
I love seeing all the different faces, all alight with excitement and wonder as they too are experiencing new things. Even if they are from Italy, everyone seems to enjoying themselves immensely. I then walked around Salone, tasting foods and wines. I had more wine today then I have ever in my life...which is still not really any. hahaha
but wow they were amazing! and I donàt like wine! This one guy named Luigi...SUCH an Luigi! Big guy, red in the face, slighlty sweating with excitement, red hair talked me into my first taste (without actually speaking english). Its supposed to perfect a fish dish. But it was soooooo great alone. I dont know the words you are supposed to use, but it made me feel happy inside. So did the chocolate tastes, the jams, the olive oils...pestos....so amazing! My tongue is experiencing new tastes it didnt know it had.
Even watching all the meat was fun, and the showing was so beautiful. I was surprised that seeing legs of animals everywhere wasnàt a turn off, but instead interesting.
Caitlin and I are trying to network with people to work on their farms, (hence a longer conversations with Luigi), but not really any luck. Most of the wine and olive oil people seemed to be bigger productions and had lots of workers already. But one guy seemed interested, which was exciting as he was the first guy we asked.... We will see what happens tomorrow.
We are staying in a couples apartement which is gorrgeous! I woke up today to the pitter patter of children running around outside and their little Italian voices echoing across the street. We ate pizza tonight and the couple helped us understand the menus better so we wont order meat...hopefully. We order the chocolate torte with chestnuts on top in honor of our professor lonnie gamble. ;D And now Camilla is taking us out to a bar for a bit. Tomorrow we stay with someone else....as of now couch surfing has been an amazing experience. Homestays are always the best way to enjoy a new culture and this way its free, although we did buy them some nice pesto at Salone.
Being in a new country, not knowing the language or the way of things is amazingly humbling. It makes you appreciate everything like a child, slow and innocent, yet slightly distant as well, as we have to be on guard all the time and alert. I love it. Im soaking it up, and feeling more alive everyday that I get more sleep.
Going out on the town!
Enjoy.
Yesterday was the opening ceremony. Super inspirational, Vanadava Shiva was brilliant as well as Sam Levin (the 15 year old, super cute, kid who started his school garden). As well as, ofcourse, Carlo Patrini. (I almost got a picture with him today, as he was right next to me, but I was too shy...and he was getting pictures with lots of other people, I didnt want to bother him...)
but anway! Today was awesome! They moved Terra Madre right next to Salone Del Gusto so we were able to experience and appreciate both. We went to the USA meeting and heard all about what is going on in the states, which was inspiring and awesome as I didnt know so much is happening for the slow movement! The crowds are large which is also exciting as the movement is growing.
I love seeing all the different faces, all alight with excitement and wonder as they too are experiencing new things. Even if they are from Italy, everyone seems to enjoying themselves immensely. I then walked around Salone, tasting foods and wines. I had more wine today then I have ever in my life...which is still not really any. hahaha
but wow they were amazing! and I donàt like wine! This one guy named Luigi...SUCH an Luigi! Big guy, red in the face, slighlty sweating with excitement, red hair talked me into my first taste (without actually speaking english). Its supposed to perfect a fish dish. But it was soooooo great alone. I dont know the words you are supposed to use, but it made me feel happy inside. So did the chocolate tastes, the jams, the olive oils...pestos....so amazing! My tongue is experiencing new tastes it didnt know it had.
Even watching all the meat was fun, and the showing was so beautiful. I was surprised that seeing legs of animals everywhere wasnàt a turn off, but instead interesting.
Caitlin and I are trying to network with people to work on their farms, (hence a longer conversations with Luigi), but not really any luck. Most of the wine and olive oil people seemed to be bigger productions and had lots of workers already. But one guy seemed interested, which was exciting as he was the first guy we asked.... We will see what happens tomorrow.
We are staying in a couples apartement which is gorrgeous! I woke up today to the pitter patter of children running around outside and their little Italian voices echoing across the street. We ate pizza tonight and the couple helped us understand the menus better so we wont order meat...hopefully. We order the chocolate torte with chestnuts on top in honor of our professor lonnie gamble. ;D And now Camilla is taking us out to a bar for a bit. Tomorrow we stay with someone else....as of now couch surfing has been an amazing experience. Homestays are always the best way to enjoy a new culture and this way its free, although we did buy them some nice pesto at Salone.
Being in a new country, not knowing the language or the way of things is amazingly humbling. It makes you appreciate everything like a child, slow and innocent, yet slightly distant as well, as we have to be on guard all the time and alert. I love it. Im soaking it up, and feeling more alive everyday that I get more sleep.
Going out on the town!
Enjoy.
Dublin Oct 21
spent the day in dublin, super exhausted because i haven't slept...but the city is wonderful, full of people, and shops, cobble stones, beautiful buildings...busy! zooming cars and buses the accents are so fun to be around im already thinking in the irish accent the styles are so fun to check out, all the ladies, and the men...lots of blackthere was so much going on, but I felt so relaxed, there is this soft feeling in the atmosphere...and even tho I didn't really exchange with the people much, it wasn't a cold feeling, the people still felt warm.
Caitlin's friend Catherine is a mother of 3 boys and she's been taking the best care of us! driving us, cooking for us, folding our laundry, all without us knowing ofcourse. she surprised us by picking us up from the train station tonight...of which i had fallen asleep and barely stayed in my seat, im so exhausted but wanted to send my love to you all we fly to Milan tomorrow really earlyand plan to train to Lake Como for the day and stay the night...then the 23rd we train down to Turin for the Conference until the 27th. We'll see what's going on then!
all is well better than well, actually night!
Caitlin's friend Catherine is a mother of 3 boys and she's been taking the best care of us! driving us, cooking for us, folding our laundry, all without us knowing ofcourse. she surprised us by picking us up from the train station tonight...of which i had fallen asleep and barely stayed in my seat, im so exhausted but wanted to send my love to you all we fly to Milan tomorrow really earlyand plan to train to Lake Como for the day and stay the night...then the 23rd we train down to Turin for the Conference until the 27th. We'll see what's going on then!
all is well better than well, actually night!
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