Where There's a Will, There's a Way

Well, everyone, I found Jesus.

The Baby Jesus, actually.

"Gesu Bambino."

Literally.

Last week, I participated in a religious pilgrimage, 

of sorts.

It was quite the experience.

And I know you are just DYING to see the Baby Jesus, right?

Ok, well I won't keep him from you for any longer.

There he is.

The Baby Jesus.

For those of you who know me, you know that I am not exactly "religious".

I don't have any problems or judgements on those who are.

In fact, I have a lot of respect for people who have religious faith,

I just have never been one of them.

For me, religion is like football-

Something I have tried to understand time, and time again,

but I just can't get a clean grasp on it.
I just have never been able to connect with any religion in a strong way.

That being said,

I was miffed by this whole scenario.

Every day, THOUSANDS of people travel to this sanctuary,

located high in the mountains of Italy, virtually in the middle of nowhere.

Where they come to wait in line for HOURS,

to kneel and pray in front of the Baby Jesus.

Cristina says they are praying for miracles,

and that it is reported that they often happen.

(As in, somebody who is very ill and unable to walk can suddenly walk again.)

I'll give you a better idea of just how big of a deal this is...

This was very, very, interesting to me.

All of these people, coming together, and coming to this place,

all for the same reason.

Praying for a miracle.

You can't help but think that maybe, just maybe, they will find what they are looking for.

As foreign as this experience was to me,

this is the kind of thing I came here for.

To open my eyes to other people's culture, and lives.
Obviously, I knew that religion, Catholicism in particular,
is a very big part of Italian culture.
I was just unaware of how important it is to some people.
Cristina and I talked a little bit about it together,
and while she is of the Catholic faith,
she does not believe as strongly as most Italians.
Luckily, she is very accepting of me and my religion, or lack there of,
and asks me questions with an open mind about what I do, or don't believe.
It was surprising to me that she was unaware that in the U.S. religion is not taught in public schools.
Not everybody is so accepting of my indifferent attitude towards religion though, I am finding,
so it may just be in my own best interest to keep my mouth shut from here on out.

Needless to say,

though I am not entirely sure yet what I may have gained from this experience,

one thing I am certain of is that I will never, ever forget it.

That I am sure of.

Speaking of unforgettable moments, there is no doubt in my mind that this one will be in the top 10 of unforgettable life moments...

After a long day in Rome with Cristina, working out logistics for her new job,

walking, waiting...walking, waiting...and some more waiting...

she rewarded me with a trip to the Colosseum!

We took the metro to get there, and if there was a way I could have captured this moment for you, I would have. But it was simply one of those moments where words and pictures just don't do it justice.

As we exited the metro station, through the chaos of Italians going about their daily lives,

there it was. Impossible to miss.

Imagine walking out of the subway station, and being welcomed by this magnificent sight,

less than 50 yards from where we were standing. 

It literally stopped me in my tracks. 

Cristina looked at me, with my jaw dropped and smiled.

"Beautiful!" she said, "Even after seeing it 100 times, it's like every time is the first time."

So, we walked around the Colosseum for a while,

taking in it's beauty, and incredible history.

All the while trying to avoid the creepy half-naked "gladiators" trying to woo us into giving them money to have them tell us some hokey story.

No thanks, I have Wikipedia for that.

In the areas around the Colosseum there are many other amazing ruins, and museums, 

and breathtaking sights.

Reluctantly, I will share my corny thoughts with you-

The whole time we were exploring the area, I couldn't help but think of all the history,

the ancient Romans who stood where I was standing.

Ruling one of the most amazing empires to ever exist.

Corny, I know.

But you know that you would be thinking the same things...

it's hard not to.

There are beautiful horses all around Rome,

anxiously awaiting to take unassuming tourists on a horse and carriage ride around this beautiful city.

(Though I have yet to actually see one in action...)

Another exciting excursion from the past week-

Fabio's wild starfish hunt.

(Obviously you can see from the photo below that he was successful.)

The whole thing started with a regular trip to the harbor,
nothing out of the ordinary there.
We went just to pass the time, look at boats, and window shop...
that is, until Fabio spotted the all too appealing starfish in the water below.
Our leisurely trip to the harbor turned into a full blown starfish hunt.
He quickly decided that his aquarium would just not be complete without one.
For about 2 hours, wheels spun in Fabio's head about just how to catch one of these wild creatures.
A bucket and some rope, it was decided, would do the trick.
The water (and the starfish) was about 10 feet below the edge of the harbor's dock.
Carefully, and swiftly, after these items had been acquired, Fabio climbed down to the water,
(we found a ladder that reached the water's edge),
where low and behold, he caught this untamed, ferocious, starfish.
(Which now sits happily in his aquarium with other ferocious fish.)

OK, so I know what you are thinking now-
What about the food? I have yet to post anything about food in this novel of a post.
Well my friends, let me just say,
 that you have not actually tasted pasta until you have had homemade pasta.
HOMEMADE PASTA!?
I didn't even know there was such a thing!
But, there is. And it is, in fact, like any other homemade dish-
198943 times better than any store bought food.
(And this is only HALF of what we ate!)

Cristina's mother prepared a fettuccine lunch for us, and the rest of her family.

It was a beautiful lunch, and a beautiful day.

Cristina's sister and her baby, Gabrielle, were there, which made it all the more beautiful.

Beach Babies girls, I know you will appreciate this...

Look a that blue eyed beauty!

Doesn't that smile just make you melt!?

And so much personality for a little three month old!

Beautiful baby boy, I can't wait to watch him grow over the next few months! <3

Lastly, while I missed Thanksgiving in the states :( :( :( ,
Cristina and I have been preparing our own Thanksgiving here in Italia!
It was scheduled to be this past Saturday, but unfortunately we have had to postpone it for a week or two. Apparently getting a turkey in Italy is not as easy as going to the store and picking one up...haha.
Not to mention, their ovens are about half the size of our ovens back in the US...
not ideal for turkey cooking!
So, for our Thanksgiving day feast, we settled on the next best thing...nachos, burritos, and beer!!
Irish beer to be exact...which surprisingly complements mexican food quite well!

I was sure that mexican food would be hard to come by in Italy,

which is why I stuffed my face with it before I came here.

Only to find that they do in fact sell tortillas, and beans, and enough ingredients for me to make what you could, at least, call a pseudo-burrito.

Now, you may think I am crazy for passing up authentic Italian cuisine for a Mexican menu,

but don't you worry, Italian is of course, my preferred choice.

But there is something comforting about the idea that I can still make a bean and cheese burrito,

even when I am thousands of miles from home.

As I am nearing my third week of my journey,

if there is one thing I can say I have learned about Italians since I have been here,

is that they are a truly determined and ambitious crowd.

It seems as though they live by the saying:

"where there's a will, there's a way".

They are optimistic in every sense,

strong willed, and outspoken.
Lazy does not exist in their vocabulary.

From their strong religious beliefs, to Fabio's wild starfish hunt,
to Crisina's mother's homemade fettuccine...

it seems as though this is proving to be a common trait among all the people I meet.
Admirable, and I can only hope that it rubs off on me!!

This week, while it has been fun-filled, exciting, and adventurous,
I've had my first taste of homesickness.
I knew it wouldn't take long, and I know it's not going to get any easier.
I miss my family, and my friends, and my puppy,
so much.
But, I've also been overwhelmed with the feeling that I am exactly where I should be,
 at exactly the time I should be here.
While I am still not sure what I am going to find on this adventure,
I am already learning new things about myself.
I am already becoming aware of what is really important in life,
and how to better appreciate it.
I know that there is much, much, more to learn,
and that I have only just now embarked on the tip of the iceberg.
But, despite the already present homesickness,
I am filled with excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead.

Well, there's just a little peek into my soul for ya ;)

So my friends,
Until next time...

peace, love, and HOMEMADE Pasta!!!
Ciao!
<3

You can call me *Twinkletoes*

If there was one word I could use to describe the way I feel right now, it would be this:

*Twinkletoes*

It might look something like this...

only, imagine me clicking my heels...

that would really display my sparkling piggies.

That's right.

My tootsies, are a twinklin'...

not literally of course.

Although they might as well be, 

because the pedicure I got with my mom a few days before I left

 is still in PERFECT condition.

Only because my beautiful purple piggies have yet to see the light of day.

(Be advised: If you wear flip flops in Rome, or Italy for that matter, 

people will absolutely look at you like you are an alien. 

Not like I know from experience or anything.)

Back to my *twinkletoes*...

I am BEYOND ecstatic.

Today, at the Thursday market, I bought vegetables.

Vegetables? You ask.

Si, fruits and veggies. I say.

The freshest, most mouthwatering, most scrumptious fruits and veggies you could possibly imagine, 

which would have probably cost me about $75.00 in the US, 

for 10 Euro.

10 EURO!!!!!

That's only $13.48!!!!!!!

THIRTEEN DOLLARS AND FORTY EIGHT CENTS.

So, you understand my twinkletoes now?

And I bet you are just dying to know what I bought, right?

Well, my Nosey Nellies, here's what I bought:

Cucumbers, zucchini, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, more tomatoes, broccoli,

bell peppers, mushrooms, apples, bananas, oranges, and mandarins.

And I'm not talking just about "a few" of each...

I mean LARGE bags of each.

I have never felt better about spending money in my life!

Well, except for maybe on clothes, and shoes, and wine...

all very important investments. ;)

OK, enough about vegetables.

Let's talk about pasta. 

Did you know that in the supermarkets here they have a WHOLE entire aisle solely for pasta.

I have never seen so much pasta in my life.

And all different kinds. 

I had no idea it was so important for certain kinds of pasta to be cooked only with certain recipes.

To me, it's all the same.

Linguine, Fettuccine, Tortellini...

to me...

it's all Spaghetti.

But here, no way Jose.

Cristina doesn't even like Spaghetti!!!

In fact, she and her boyfriend, Fabio,

(yes, his name is actually Fabio...no, I did not make that up)

got into an argument last weekend while preparing dinner because they couldn't agree on what type of pasta to use! It's THAT important!!

Finally, they decided on Calamaretti pasta.

(Shaped like rings of calamari, and something I had never even seen before.)

To me, it's all good.

"Tutto bene", as you would say in Italian.

And here,

is where all the magic happens.

No!! Not that kind of magic you dirty birds...

get your mind out of the gutter!

The kitchen, my friends!!!

This is where all the magical, beautiful, cooking takes place.

Heavenly, right?

I'd say so.

That big window lets light in all day long, 

and overlooks Cristina's enormous yard and many fruit trees.

Speaking of heavenly, today Cristina showed me how to make real pesto pasta,

with real, homemade pesto.

My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

"Ciao!" to using store bought pesto for me.

From here on out,

only the real pesto will do.

I have indeed become a pesto snob.

Here's another little piece of heaven.

I just could not stop taking pictures of this magical Italian oasis. 

Beauuuuutiful vines with thousands of grapes growing from them.

 

I could have stayed there all day.

This was one of those moments where the pictures just don't do this justice.

Cristina told me that this place is something like a study hall, or lecture hall.

Where people can go to study, or read.

So, let's just say that those vines have not seen the last of me!

Later in the day, Cristina and I rode bikes down to the beach,

(about a 5 minute ride)

where we did our tutoring lesson for the day.

I taught Cristina all she needs to know:

what "pain in the ass" means.

She enjoys talking a lot, and listening to me talk,

so that she can practice correct pronunciation,

 and apply the correct grammar rules when she speaks.

Then, on the way back home, 

I told her that her extra bike I was borrowing was literally a pain in my ass...

(hahaha).

But seriously, I'm fairly certain that my butt is now black and blue.

When we got back from studying,

Cristina helped me prepare this beautiful Caprese dinner, 

using the tomatoes I bought today at the market.

YUUUUUUM.

Even if it's the same ingredients I would use at home to prepare this,

it without a doubt tastes 150% better!

Italian tomatoes,

Italian mozzerella,

Italian olive oil,

Italian oregano,

prepared by Italian hands.

Definitely can't find that in the good ol' U.S. of A.

Well friends, over and out.

I hear another episode of MTV's "Disaster Date" calling my name.

(It's the only show I can find on Italian TV that's in English...)

Until my next magical food encounter...

Peace, Love, and (Calamaretti) Pasta!

<3

CIAO!

The Richest Man in the World

Wow, where do I even begin??
I have only been here four days, and this is already one of the most amazing places I have ever seen!
Friday, my second day in Roma, I had the whole day to explore, and indulge. :)
I started my day off early (because I had been up most of the night...thanks to some serious jet lag),
and I found my way to a coffee shop around the corner from my hotel. They had many different types of pastries that all looked amazing, but I opted for the chocolate croissant...of course :).

After sitting and people watching for a while, I decided to venture to the Trevi Fountain.
I had a map, but it is very hard to read, and by hard to read, I mean that I am pretty terrible at reading maps.
So I went in the general direction of where I thought that it was located, and much to my surprise, before I saw the fountain, I heard the water! Believe me, I was shocked too.
When I actually saw the fountain, I was even more pleased.
It is SO beautiful.

There really are no words to describe how spectacular it is.
So, what else did I do, but sit.
And watch.
SOOO many people, from all over the world.
Speaking in languages I have never even heard of...
and so many fashions I have never seen...and hope do not make their way back to the states (one in particular). Picture this: patent leather, velcro, wedge heel sneakers.
 Mainly black, sometimes blue.
No, I'm not joking.
I can just see your faces now, it's like you saw a ghost. A huge, hot pink ghost.
Right?
Well, that's what my face looked like at least.
After sitting for a while, and pondering all the ways I could prevent this from making its way to a top trend in the US, I wandered some more.
I had planned to meet Cristina (the young woman I am tutoring) in the evening.
The problem was, (in my head) we hadn't really made concrete plans of when and where to meet.
(Which was giving me massive anxiety.)
But I had to try and push my anxiety away for the day, and simply enjoy the beauty of this fantastic city.

So around lunch time, I wandered my way into a restaurant I had read about in one of my Roma books. They had described it as a very traditional restaurant, where mainly Itanlianos dined.
From the street, it looked much different from the other restaurants, which all had table seating outside, and hosts trying to lure you in by seductively saying "Ciao!", and "Bonjourno."
This restaurant was just an old, glass paned door, no people outside, just a menu written only in Italian.
As I walked in, a woman asked me, "solo uno?", and I replied "si", and she pointed me over to a large table where there were people already sitting around, a communal table.
'Perfect!', I thought. This was just the kind of experience I was looking for.
So I sat down, and was greeted by "Ciao!", from the other table guests.
However, everybody seemed to be so consumed in their dining, that the table remained quiet.
So I ordered my meal, and quietly sat, observing the scene.
When my food came, I cannot even describe in words how incredibly amazing it was.
Pasta Carbonara. I had never had anything like it.
It was like a food bomb went off in my mouth.
Cheesy, bacon-y, creamy fireworks.
So, I sat, and ate, and ate, and ate, and I still couldn't finish the bowl.
As I sat, I watched the other guests eat their meals, and I was in awe of what I was witnessing.
These people ate dish, after dish, after dish, and they still didn't look full!
I knew Italianos loved food, but I had NO idea what I was in for.
These people can eat. They are like bottomless pits.
And yet, they are still so slim. It is truly a myth to me.
After I finished my pasta, I still sat for a while, just observing the scene.
A young man had come in, he looked about my age, and was talking with the waitress and the man overseeing the restaurant. I quickly deducted that he was the son of these two, and that they must be the owners. Not long after my meal, an older man came in, and was speaking loudly, and friendly to the staff. He sat down next to me, said something to me in Italian, and I shook my head, insinuating that I did not understand. He caught on, and started speaking in English to me.
He asked me questions, and I was responding, but I don't think he was completely able to understand me.
He was very friendly though, and as the woman brought me my check, he quickly snatched it from me, and said, "no, no, no, a woman never pays!! I am the richest man in the world! You do not pay!"
He looked at the check, and said, "My God, eat some more!!"
To which I replied, "NO, NO, NO! I am already so full!"
And he said, "Well then have a glass of wine! Have some cheese! Have something sweet!"
So I said, "Well, OK, I'll have a glass of wine then...",
Me? Turn down a glass of wine? Never.
So I sat and drank a glass of wine while he tried to speak to me in broken English, and I understood only about half of what he said.
What I did understand was this: he wanted me to email him (he wrote down his email for me).
The reason? I am not entirely sure. To teach him English maybe?
So I said, "OK...", and I was on my way.
(However, I have yet to email him...)
Cristina said that this type of man in Italy is called "Provolone", like the cheese...(hahahah).
I still have not decided whether to email him, or not.
In a way he seemed harmless, but in another way I was a liiiittle creeped out. Just the slightest bit.

After lunch, I still had about four hours of wandering ahead of me until I was set to meet Cristina, however I had still not been able to contact her to figure out where we were meeting.
So for the remainder of the day, I wandered around near my hotel, and back and forth between the Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain. Wandering into stores, down sidestreets, and dodging maniac Italian drivers.
I wandered past a market near my hotel, that I could smell before I could see.

The flowers and the fruit and vegetables were some of the freshest I had ever seen. You could literally smell them from a block away. Delicious.
I could not buy anything though, because I knew that if I did it would just be one more thing to lug around with my 51 lb. bag...not good....no bene.

Wander, wander, wander. All day long.
I passed this store...

I think they mean "Free Willy"?

And what a beautiful sight this was.
Sitting on the Spanish Steps (for the 394825 time that day), and watching the sun set on Roma.

This was like a breath of fresh air, after a long, exhausting, running on four hours of sleep, day in Rome. Right before this was when I finally made contact with Cristina. Can you see the relief on my face? Or maybe that's just tiredness...?
Either way, this was the perfect end to my day of exploring.
After this, I made my way to Termini Station, the Grand Central of Roma, where after just some more slight confusion, I finally found Cristina, with only three moments to spare before our train left for Nettuno.

After we arrived in Nettuno, Cristina offered me dinner, which her boyfriend had prepared, because oh yeah, did I forget to mention that her boyfriend is a CHEF!!!??
CHA-CHING!
Unfortunately for me, this means that I will not be going home with the same size jeans that I arrived with. But I am 100% OK with that.
On Saturday, Cristina, her mother, and I visited the local Saturday market (which has everything from those annoying yippy toy dogs that do flips, to huge hanging chunks of meat that make me never want to eat meat again, to majorly discounted clothing).
After the market, Cristina's mom cooked us fettuccine with mushrooms that was TO DIE FOR.
Never have I had fettuccine this good.
Then, Cristina and I walked into town, which is about 1 mile from her house.
The town center of Nettuno is right along the beach. There is a harbor with shops and restaurants right along the shoreline. It is much quieter than Rome, but in a good way.
She also showed me the next town over, Anzio, which is also very beautiful and quaint.

We watched the sunset over the ocean, and a familiar feeling came over me.

It's amazing how you can be so far from home, but still feel so close at the same time.

On Saturday night, Cristina and her friends cooked a huge fish dinner, with fresh fish (and octopus!) that her boyfriend had caught the day before.
It was quite a feast. Three courses, of course. Because one course in Italia just wont suffice.
OK, I know what you're thinking...me? Fish?
But, I have to say, it was quite delicious.
I still wouldn't consider myself a "fish person", per se, but hey, at least I tried it, right?
After dinner we all went out to a pub in Rome for a drink and some dancing.
It was a really fun night!...until 3:30 am when Cristina and I were on the way home from the pub and we ran out of gas.
Yup, that actually happened.
Luckily, we were about 100 yards from a gas station.
So, at 3:30 am, Cristina, wearing heels, in 45 degree weather, pushed her little car down the road, and I was the trusty captain, behind the steering wheel.
We made it to the gas station, 20 minutes later, and we were on our way.
Aaaaand...that was a first for me!

So here I am. Home for the next three months.

Cristina's house is incredible. I will take more pictures later so you all can see.

She has a huge plot of land in her back yard, where she has 10 or more different kinds of fruit trees, and spice plants (lavender, thyme, rosemary, and about 5 more), and geese!

Three geese, and one duck.

Molto bella!! It is like nothing you have ever seen.

Everyday I learn something new about Cristina, the way she lives, and the way Italians live.

Learning the culture through living it, and keeping my eyes open to every new experience.

A wise Aunty once told me, "And the time came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." (Anais Nin) ;)

Could not possibly be more true.

Until next time,

peace, love, and pasta!!!

Ciao!

Lesson #1: Read the menu before ordering...

I MADE IT! After 20 hours of traveling and three looooong flights, I'm here. In Roma. Sono qui.

And let me tell you, it was quite the journey. The sunrise leaving LAX on Wednesday was spectacular.

The flight? Not so much. I had a nice Argentinean couple next to me, who didn't speak a lick of English.

But they were trying to ask me questions, and apparently my Spanish is a liiiittle rusty, because they just nodded their heads and looked confusingly at each other. 

This was a little discouraging because I was hoping that my Spanish background would help me with learning Italian...but I guess that's out the window. 

Miami to NY was better. I met a new friend, Alex (who is probably reading this right now...hey Alex!). 

It was nice to pass the time chatting, while we circled JFK about 52 times waiting to land.

And finally JFK to ROME. That was a long and bumpy flight...'nuff said!

But the important thing, is that I made it to Rome. And so did my luggage. Wohoo! :)
When I got my bag and walked confusingly out of the baggage claim and onto the street, I was flagged down by a man asking me if I needed help. Hesitantly, I said..."Kinda", with every intention of running away as fast as I could if he so much as glanced at me the wrong way.
Instead, he was offering me a relatively good deal for shuttling me as well as about 7 others directly to our hotels. And my tired and confused self, said "OK!"
On the shuttle I met a girl, Stella, from Sweeden. She was very nice, and was just in town for the weekend. Must be nice, huh? To take a weekend trip to Rome, because you are only a 2 hour flight away. If only.

So, we continued chatting, and I wish I would have gotten her info, because she seemed like a really cool person! Very well traveled, and for some reason she reminded me of one of my good friends back home. (I'm talking about you Keansie!). She told me a funny story about American stereotypes, involving fanny packs, muffin tops, and white chocolate cheesecake.
Pretty hilariously self explanatory, right?
I thought so too.

So finally, I arrived at my hotel. And they were nice enough to check me in early. I think that they recognized the fact that I was about to keel over at any second from being so tired.
So I rested, and then went out for some pizza.
I guess I didn't rest quite long enough though, because after I found my pizza place, I grazed the menu, then frugally ordered the cheapest pizza and wine on the menu.

Looks good right?
Look again, near the top, where that massive pile of anchovies congregated. (More like I singly picked them off and put them in a pile).
For those of you who know me well, you know I am not particularly fond of fish.
But, guess what I did?
I choked down half of that pizza with my delicious Italian vino, and then politely asked for the check.
After all, I didn't want to be rude.

With the taste of anchovies still in my mouth, I bolted outta that place, and off I went.
I wandered around the streets near my hotel, which just so happens to be about 100 meters from the Spanish steps.

They are pretty amazing. Quite touristy though...and to avoid making myself an obvious target for  pickpocket, I didn't hang around there for very long.
So after wandering for a while, I found myself back in my hotel room, dozing in and out of writing this post actually, and watching Italian Glee to try to stay awake as long as possible.
But now, my tiredness is winning.

So, buena note from Roma!
Or, to all my friends and family on the West Coast, Buongiorno!
Peace, Love, and (hopefully never again anchovy) Pizza!

OH! And one more thing to add to my list of things I am expecting while living in Italy...to get hit by a car!!! They drive like MANIACS here!!!
Lets cross our fingers for that one not to come true though...

Arrivederci!!

Getting Ready

How am I ever going to leave this?

The past few days have been a whirlwind of errands, checklists, and tearful goodbyes. 

Leaving Beach Babies was much more difficult than I had anticipated. 

I didn't realize just how attached I had become to all my amazing coworkers and of course, all my darling babies! But, I am so incredibly thankful to have had the opportunity to see so many amazing little babies grow, learn, play, and love. I will truly miss each and every one of them!

While I still have NO idea what to expect to find in Italy, I am learning to trust myself. 

Here is what I am expecting, however.

I am expecting to struggle. 

I am expecting to cry. 

I am expecting that there will be days where I will feel incredibly lonely, and all I will want is a hug from my mama. 

I am expecting to make new friends. (Who will hug me when my mom cant.)

I am expecting to have experiences I will never forget.

I am expecting to get lost.

I am expecting to find clarity in some of the things I have been questioning.

I am expecting to be totally broke when I come home.

I am expecting the unexpected.

I want this journey to be something that truly gives me the strength and confidence that I sometimes feel like I am lacking. I want, and I need, to learn independence.

I just hope three months is enough time to do that!

Before I begin my journey, I wanted to say thank you to all the people that have helped me get here. Thank you to all the people in my life who have challenged me, pushed me, and told me that I am capable of much bigger things. Believing in myself is something that has never come easy to me, but I am now being forced to do just that.

Last but not least, I hope that somewhere along the way, I find the perfect plate of spaghetti! 

Because who doesn't love spaghetti?! 

Nobody. 

That's who.

Until next time...

Peace, Love, and Pasta,

Ciao!

-AT