Woke up this morning to a few bees in my kitchen and by a
few I mean a large amount that you do not want anywhere near yourself or your
kitchen especially African bees. I killed a bunch but they kept coming and this
morning was a lot of stress and calling bee people in town and my father back
in the USA (sorry about that – I woke them up around 11:45PM oops). I even put
a tray of honey right outside my window… nope would not touch it, put a mosquito
net over the window and vent no luck. So finally I stopped freaking out, cleared out of
the kitchen with my food, closed up the kitchen with the bees inside and just
went and did other things and waited for them to swarm with the Queen. Well, after about three
hours, for the most part they have left my kitchen, guess they did not like
being locked inside, there are one or two left which will most likely meet the
bottom of my shoe after I post this but not my idea of starting the morning off
and all I wanted was a cup of tea.
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Friday, January 9, 2015
Oh Roma!
Well thankfully a couple days ago after I finished taking a nap, I woke up with the excitement that I am going back to Africa! My experience here in Rome has been amazing and it has been a dream/bucket list come true for me to finally have travel to Europe. I've learned so much over the last couple weeks but to be honest, I am ready to head back and hit the ground running and get back to my life in Uganda (mainly because its cold here in Rome - I don't do well in the cold) but also I have a lot to do in Uganda with my org, Peace Corps and I want to go back. However, I will be coming back to Rome and Italy in general over the years. I want to plan a motorcycle trip up and down Italy's coast (both coasts) in the near future (after COS) or even when I have my honeymoon (my future husband has to go where I say - hehe). There is so much history and so many amazing places to visit that it would take years and years to know everything and see everything. Just walking down on one side of the street then coming back up on the other side opens a whole new view of the city. It is amazing.
The family I have been staying with have been wonderful and have taken me in like one of their own and thankfully have given me some time on my own to explore Rome and I got to see Naples. The two girls have been wonderful and also fun and crazy. It has given me a great idea of what having children will be like. Still a couple years down the road I think (sorry mom and dad).
I do wish I spoke Italian, I absolutely love the language (inserting request for Rosetta Stone Italian) the girls have taught me some but I speak English with them all the time as they need the practice. Goal for the coming year and a half before COS to learn Italian. I've also learned a lot from just interacting with people. It is funny when you ask people if they speak English they go "No, I do not speak English." in perfect English. They also love to give you directions in Italian even though you just told them you don't speak any Italian. Everyone is so shy to speak English with you and when they do its great. The schools don't speak it at all. That has been the most challenging for me during my time here. Well time to hit the Italian language books.
Favorite places so far have been the Pantheon, Ancient Rome, Tearo di Marcello, walking the different streets in the former Jewish Getto, also any street that are not full of tourists, Castel Sant' Angelo, and the top of St. Peter's Basilica, Mon. Vittorio Emanuelle II, Musei Capitolini, seeing the pope give his weekly address, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums, and really everywhere I have been. I have found being the first person in line right at 9AM is awesome as by the time you are finishing up the crowds are showing up. Since it is winter go out when the weather is pooo no one is out. Only down side of being here in winter other then it being cold is that a lot of the sites are under renovation. Trevi Fountain was all covered in scaffolding and a part of Musei Capitolini and the Vatican Museums were being set up for a new exhibition.
I have not done a ton of eating out because the family has given me free range to their kitchen and I have been wanting to save my euros but I have gone to a couple places. Antico Forno Rosciali is amazing...I went on a Sunday and it was packed so I went in and turned around and went right back out and found another Pizza placce which had a signed photo of Silvester Stallone on it so I knew it was good. But I went back to Antico Forno Rosciali for lunch today and I think the guy thought I was ordering for two which was fine because he gave my twice as much pizza and I got these amazing chocolate filled things started with an "N" which had a pastry outside covered in hazelnut and they were amazing and pure heaven. Ate for two this afternoon and not ashamed of it. Really I've just picked random places away from tourist sites and done really well. The only food I did not like at all was Pizza in Naples (I think the place we ate at was yucky in general - have to go back and try a better place - come on Pizza in Naples it has to be amazing). I've just tried about everything that has been placed in front of me. I hate cheese and I've tried some random crazy cheeses and I can still tell you I hate cheese (minus on Pizza). I didn't drink but now I can't say that any more because I've drank so much wine more than I have ever had in my life and it has been amazing wine. Gelato is just amazing. The cakes they make here are to die for. Italian food why why do you have to be amazing?!
Rome is well worth the trip.
So back to Uganda I go. I will be leaving on Sunday around 1:30PM and will arrive on Monday around 3:15AM in Uganda then a five hour bus ride back to Fort Portal and jump right into work.
The family I have been staying with have been wonderful and have taken me in like one of their own and thankfully have given me some time on my own to explore Rome and I got to see Naples. The two girls have been wonderful and also fun and crazy. It has given me a great idea of what having children will be like. Still a couple years down the road I think (sorry mom and dad).
I do wish I spoke Italian, I absolutely love the language (inserting request for Rosetta Stone Italian) the girls have taught me some but I speak English with them all the time as they need the practice. Goal for the coming year and a half before COS to learn Italian. I've also learned a lot from just interacting with people. It is funny when you ask people if they speak English they go "No, I do not speak English." in perfect English. They also love to give you directions in Italian even though you just told them you don't speak any Italian. Everyone is so shy to speak English with you and when they do its great. The schools don't speak it at all. That has been the most challenging for me during my time here. Well time to hit the Italian language books.
Favorite places so far have been the Pantheon, Ancient Rome, Tearo di Marcello, walking the different streets in the former Jewish Getto, also any street that are not full of tourists, Castel Sant' Angelo, and the top of St. Peter's Basilica, Mon. Vittorio Emanuelle II, Musei Capitolini, seeing the pope give his weekly address, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums, and really everywhere I have been. I have found being the first person in line right at 9AM is awesome as by the time you are finishing up the crowds are showing up. Since it is winter go out when the weather is pooo no one is out. Only down side of being here in winter other then it being cold is that a lot of the sites are under renovation. Trevi Fountain was all covered in scaffolding and a part of Musei Capitolini and the Vatican Museums were being set up for a new exhibition.
I have not done a ton of eating out because the family has given me free range to their kitchen and I have been wanting to save my euros but I have gone to a couple places. Antico Forno Rosciali is amazing...I went on a Sunday and it was packed so I went in and turned around and went right back out and found another Pizza placce which had a signed photo of Silvester Stallone on it so I knew it was good. But I went back to Antico Forno Rosciali for lunch today and I think the guy thought I was ordering for two which was fine because he gave my twice as much pizza and I got these amazing chocolate filled things started with an "N" which had a pastry outside covered in hazelnut and they were amazing and pure heaven. Ate for two this afternoon and not ashamed of it. Really I've just picked random places away from tourist sites and done really well. The only food I did not like at all was Pizza in Naples (I think the place we ate at was yucky in general - have to go back and try a better place - come on Pizza in Naples it has to be amazing). I've just tried about everything that has been placed in front of me. I hate cheese and I've tried some random crazy cheeses and I can still tell you I hate cheese (minus on Pizza). I didn't drink but now I can't say that any more because I've drank so much wine more than I have ever had in my life and it has been amazing wine. Gelato is just amazing. The cakes they make here are to die for. Italian food why why do you have to be amazing?!
Rome is well worth the trip.
So back to Uganda I go. I will be leaving on Sunday around 1:30PM and will arrive on Monday around 3:15AM in Uganda then a five hour bus ride back to Fort Portal and jump right into work.
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