Italian Recipe

Mario, who has been serving with the team in Salerno for the past two years, recently posted this recipe on FaceBook and so I thought I'd pass it along to all of you. Scarpariello is a classic local dish. Most of the restaurants in town have some version of it. I've never been a huge "spaghetti" fan (I know, ironic, since I moved to Italy) but this sauce is different. With all of the chessy goodness in it, I think it helps to balance out some of the acidity of the tomatoes. While I haven't used this exact recipe yet, I know that Mario is a great cook, so I'm sure it's delish! So enjoy, and while you're enjoying say a little pray for the people of Salerno.

Scarpariello for 5 people:

Ingredients:
3-4 lb of cherry tomatoes the size of golf balls
1 1/2 sticks of butter, could use less if you feel like losing some flavor for less fat.
fresh basil
500gr parmigiana cheese.
500gr penne pasta.
peperoncini

**Notice how parm and pasta are equal. this is very important to achieve the thick creamy sauce.

1) In a huge pot, put stick of butter and all the tomatoes in and cover over med high heat until they are all popped, about 12 min.
2) Then uncover and turn to med heat, now you can stir a little, and remove the skins if you like to. You also want to add some basil, and peperoncini. Let simmer for 30min to 1hr, depending on the quality of the tomatoes. it should start to look think.
3) Oil water and start cooking pasta, 10 min before sauce is done.
4) When you drain the pasta keep 1 cup of that water to add to the sauce in a min.

5) Now add and mix all the remaining butter, the sauce, the pasta, and the parmigiana together. add around 1 cup of left over water slowly while mixing.

6) Serve immediately, garnish with fresh basil leafs.

Sto Studiando Italiano

We celebrated July 4th with some Italians. Below is Ilaria, Amanda, and I making the colors of the American flag.  Ilaria was a person we talked about on a newsletter from the Fall about her coming to know the Lord.  She was one of the people that got baptized at the baptism from the last newsletter.

Peppe and I have became good friends.  In Italy, nicknames are taken from the end of names unlike in the U.S. where it is the beginning so a nickname for Giuseppe (Joseph) is Peppe.  I like the way Peppe is not afraid to ask questions or talk about anything.  He tells it like he sees it and his honesty has allowed our friendship to grow really fast.  His uncle owns a school in Nocera where students from the U.S. come to study abroad.  Peppe has learned English because he has been the guide for the American students getting them whatever they need.  We joke that he is their "babysitter" because of how he has to attend so many times to their drunken habits.  In Italy, we discuss, that people drink one or two always or have some wine with dinner, but these Americans come and get drunk every night.  Last Friday, Peppe and I spent some time going around his town and eating lunch and talking about deep topics to shallow things like stupid American movies.  He has told me that he wants to learn more about Christianity since, from studying the Bible with our group, he is still learning about who Jesus really is.  I enjoy spending time with Peppe. This evening we will go with the Crawford's to a big mall called Volcano Buono(Good Volcano) which is next to the bad Volcano, Vesuvius :)

I have also spent an evening with another Giuseppe.  It was a really good time and helped both of in our English and Italian skills.  He speaks just a little more English than I do Italian.  Giuseppe has a cool story of how his friends lead him to Christ a few years ago.  His parents are Catholic and they do not agree with the Evangelical way.  Stuff sometimes is very hard for him because when people here when they become "Evangelical" which for them is just actively pursuing their relationship with Jesus Christ they can excommunicated slightly from their families and friends. He explains it is very difficult to talk about this new fresh relationship with Jesus because no one wants to listen to him. A lot of times Catholicism hear is nominal just as Christianity in the U.S. is very nominal.  I hope to meet more with Giuseppe to discuss the Bible since he has not ever really been "discipled" only attending church on a regular basis.  On the way home, we listened to some Michael W. Smith and Third Day in his car, which was cool for me to see he listens to Christian artists in America!  Below is a picture of me and Giuseppe.

Andrea has agreed to tutor me in Italian this summer.  He is a language major and knows English very well.  We talked for about 3 hours this Friday and I learned about many things, but most importantly the difference of using -ando onto a verb in Italian is like putting an -ing in English but in Italian it is always in the present.  If you want to say "I am studying tonight", it's: "Studio stasera" because you are not currently doing it, but "I am studying now" is: "Sto studiando adesso.  Andrea has really been challenged by our group in the last year to have more of a relationship with God and Jesus Christ.  Andrea has been a practicing Catholic, still being active in the church unlike many young Italians, but has now understood the gospel and that it is only by Christ's good works that we are saved.  Below is a picture of Andrea and I.

Please continue to pray for me to learn Italian and not get frustrated and my time here and my relationships with my friends that the Lord would use those relationships.

Trash in Salerno

You might be wondering why I am writing about trash.  A lot of students are taking exams and busy for the summer, so many of them cannot hang out.  They do not go to campus as much, which means we do not also.  As they finish their exams, more and more of them are becoming free as they days go on in July.  It has been good to have some free time to get stuff set up around the apartment as well as recover from the summer project's pace.  We have been reading and studying the language. 

The other thing has been taking up our time is trying to figure out what the new trash schedule is.  The trash in Naples and I believe some other areas of the region used to be (and still could be) controlled by the mafia so it always gets taken care of, capische? :) A little Godfather for ya. The way trash is taken care of in Salerno is changing and they are trying to recycle more, no big deal, right?  Wrong!  The Valiquettes, the Crawfords, and us have not gotten the necessary trash cans, schedule and bags. One night I even tried to get rid of the trash in a pile by some businesses and I was yelled at in Italian.  I responded,"Quale giorno, vetro? No lo so. Quale giorno, organico? No lo so.  Quale giorno, carta? No lo so.  (Which day, glass? I don't know.  Which day, organic? I don't know.  Which day, paper? I don't know.) They got the picture and left me alone. Check out this fun schedule........Yea click on it and zoom in real close.  I found it at my neighbors, took a picture and translated it so I knew how to get rid of our every growing, smelly trash in our apartment.  I think we figured it out, even the part of the trash man coming between 8pm and 4am, meaning that day is actually that night. One of the great things we have grown accustomed to in becoming acclimated with the new culture.

It's a boy!

As some of you may have already heard, we just recently found out that our first child is a boy.  We are both very excited (not that we wouldn't have been excited about a girl) but it's just so much more real to know the gender.  Just during the past few days I have really been able to feel a lot more connected to the baby, just by knowing that it's a little boy in there.

We have also recently decided to come back to the United States for the birth.  After seeking lots of advice and really praying through all of the options, we both really feel like this is what's best for our family.  Obviously, our parents are ecstatic to have us coming back for a few months.  For us, this decision is a little more bittersweet.  Just when we were hoping to be settling into a routine here in Salerno, we will be leaving.  Of course there are many pros to coming back to the US for us too.  It will be a huge blessing to be surrounded by family and friends as we welcome our first child.  It is also a comfort to me to know that I'll be able to stock up on tons of American baby products before we leave and have to rely on the adventure that Italian products can be.  

Lots of people have been asking me how it's been to be pregnant and living in Italy.  

Overall, it's been great.  The slower pace of life here gives me the complete freedom to nap in the afternoon if I need to (all the stores are closed then anyway).  Several times people have given my their seats on the bus.  I'm definitely getting plenty of exercise as so much of daily living here involves walking to the grocery store, walking to the bus stop, walking to our friends' apartments, walking, walking, walking.  I joke that with all of the walking that I have done, that I better have the easiest delivery ever.  (I know, there are no guarantees, but it's a nice thought, right?)

One of the challenges have been that I feel like people are staring at me all the time.  Culturally, there doesn't seem to be a stigma attached to staring (no one tries to pretend that they are not really staring if they are) and so as some of the few Americans in Salerno, it's not uncommon for any of us to get some strange looks.  However, when you couple that with getting used to the fact that I'm much bigger now than I'm used to be, it's been a little challenging.  It's much better now that, at least in my mind, I clearly look pregnant.  But there was a phase when I was convinced that I didn't look pregnant but just fat, my clothes stopped fitting right and I just felt awkward all the time.

The other biggest challenge has been my seemingly unquenchable hunger.  Some days I literally feel like I could eat constantly.  Within an hour of finishing a meal, I'm ready for a snack!  I was joking with Rodney the other day that I can eat groceries as fast as we can buy them.  It's a little harder to buy food in bulk when you have to carry it back without a car.  The other challenge in this area is that so many things are closed in the afternoon and then dinner restaurants don't open until 8pm.  Needlessly to say, if we're out and about and I've failed to bring some snacks in my purse, Rodney can have an unhappy, very hungry pregnant lady on his hands.

Culture Differences and Our Trip to IKEA

First, I just wanted to say this post is just to some things about Italian culture that are just different than ours. (The pictures all have to do with alcohol, but that was not really intended to happen). The second part of it was about our trip to IKEA in Naples to get some items for our apartment in Salerno.

These pictures were all taken at an Italian mall.  As you can see the drink in the bottom left is a Virgin Mary not a Bloody Mary

This is a Burger King meal.  Yes they have beer on tap at Burger King, I had to get it because of how ridiculous it is.

This is a bar/restaurant but in the back of the picture is the playplace that you would find at McDonalds or Burger King.  They had plenty of room in the restaurant but decided to put it there.

In Salerno, it is not common to see some public displays of affection.  I did not attach any pictures because I feel that would cross the line :)  In the U.S. people would get so many stares and it is so culturally insensitive it would not happen too much.  It is just people hugging and kissing on the sidewalk or on a bench.  If you are not Italian it will surprise you every time.

In the U.S., Sunday night is a night of getting stuff together for your week, relaxing, resting before the week starts.  In Salerno, Sunday night is one of the busiest nights to go out.  You will see people the most people walking around at 1am or 2am.  I think for this reason Monday morning many stores are closed and do not follow there normal hours.

This brings me to my next point.  Stores close at all different hours here.  Sometimes stores are closed and the hours on their door say otherwise.  These are not just "mom and pop" stores in the city but chain stores outside of downtown.  When you travel to the store, be prepared.  You could travel 30 minutes and the store could be closed and have no sign of opening soon.

The culture here is so laid back.  Servers at restaurants are extremely slow.  Not in a bad way of course:) but in the way that they want you to enjoy your experience.  After a 2 to 3 hour meal, they will ask if there is anything you need.  You say, "No I am done", then you sit there for about 10 minutes, and you are like where's the check, I do not want anything else?  You have to ask, its not assumed you want to leave.

Coffee is a short shot of expresso not a relaxing drink to sit down and enjoy.  It is meant to help with digestion, give you a pick me up for the day, or give you a chance to do something with a friend.

Driving is absolutely crazy. There are no real lines in the road in the city. So even though there is enough room for two lanes of traffic, people weave in and out in cars and mopeds. This brings us to the story of us driving to IKEA to get some small furniture and things for our already furnished place.  We rented a car to go about an hour north to Naples where the IKEA is.  So after praying a prayer of safety, we started on our way.  For all the guys out there, driving here is driving how you always wanted to in the U.S. but never had the ability to.  Its like have 5 of the most aggressive drivers you have ever experienced on all sides of you at all times including the weaving moped component. We only had one person back up on the highway because he missed his exit :) Once we reached the area that the IKEA was at in Naples getting to it was another story.  There were a series of signs that look like the one below and there was no continuity between signs so you follow a few of them for a while taking turns off what looks like interstate off-ramps and then after like 5 IKEA signs you stop seeing them for the next few off-ramps.  These off-ramps are coming every 1000 feet so its rapid fire signage.  Lets just say it took 20 minutes to get to the IKEA we could see from the interstate :)

   

We finished and headed home.  The road names are small and only the to and from cities are listed.  When you traveling in a small area, two roads could go to the same place but just take a different route, so it made it difficult but we made it. I pulled into the small streets of the historic center of Salerno where we live and unloaded the stuff as quick as possible so that I would block anyone because I was double parked.  

I went uphill to get the car out of this area which was a bad idea.  I should have just gone the wrong way one-way (which I have seen Italians do so many times).  There are two cars behind me as I go uphill with mopeds coming at me with about one foot of space on each side and I had to pull the emergency brake, rev it up, and drop it to risk from stalling out and going backwards down this 60 degree incline.  I spun out a little since the street was wet from rain in front of a store with about 5 Italians watching me on the street.  This by far is expert driving, beating my advanced driving I learned in Miami a few months prior.  I do not want to do this for a very long time!

Below are some pics of the car filled to the brim of stuff we needed from IKEA and Carrefour (the Italian version of Wal-Mart).