I picked up my visa from the Italian embassy yesterday! It's a big sticker in my passport... Since I had a Nulla Osta already, the paperwork I needed was relatively easy to obtain... Copies of the Nulla Osta and passport, the visa application form, a flight reservation, a letter from my current job and a copy of my health insurance card (both not required, but nice to have), and of course the money for the application! In exact change...
The most irritating is that they want you to have a flight before you have the visa... but what if you then have a problem getting the visa? Isn't that unnecessary?
The turn around was exactly a week, and I am all set with my visa now.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
The Future (Tense)!
This post may be dull to most people... I am pretty unlucky when it comes to Italian class. I was unable to be in the Polimi Italian class last semester, due to administrative difficulties. Those got worked out, so I was supposed to be taking it this semester, but I am here in the US for the first few weeks of the class. I went to the first session of the class, then got on a plane the next day! While I am here in the US, there's a tutorial run at MIT once a week that is for people who have taken Italian 1 and want to practice more. I went last week, and it was pretty cool. We chatted a little (which is exactly the sort of practice I need) and watched a video in Italian, then reviewed the script and discussed it a bit. It was a pretty good experience. Unfortunately, this week there is no class since it's spring break... But I will get to go one more time next week. We asked for homework, and Walter (the prof) suggested doing some studying on the simple future tense. I spent some time yesterday and today doing some research into the simple future and writing up a short sheet on it, including a few exercises I found on about.com (a surprisingly good resource for basic language study) and a paragraph set in the simple future. This technical stuff is not so hard for me... it's the speaking I fear!
Anyway, the future tense is relatively simple. Not as simple as the basic past tense, but hey, what can you do. It's a tense where you create a stem and add endings. The stem typically looks like the original verb minus the trailing -e. So for correre, correr-. Then you tack on the endings:
Io correrò
Tu correrai
Lei/Lui correrà
Noi correremo
Voi correrete
Loro correranno
All the irregularities come in forming stems, so it could be a lot worse...
Anyway, the future tense is relatively simple. Not as simple as the basic past tense, but hey, what can you do. It's a tense where you create a stem and add endings. The stem typically looks like the original verb minus the trailing -e. So for correre, correr-. Then you tack on the endings:
Io correrò
Tu correrai
Lei/Lui correrà
Noi correremo
Voi correrete
Loro correranno
All the irregularities come in forming stems, so it could be a lot worse...
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Still in Boston!
Well, things worked out that I should just stay in Boston for a few weeks, so I haven't been posting since I don't have too much new Italian stuff to talk about... But things are starting to ramp up so I figured I would start to post again!
Before I left to come here was of course packed with running errands, but also with hanging out and shopping with my friend Dariush. Down in the Duomo area we saw this street performer, who reminded me of the "Horse Outside" video from Rubberbandits.
We also saw some lovely looking Easter chocolates at a fancy boutique in the San Babila area. They were lovely, but it seemed impractical to buy one to take home on the plane... And besides, they were about $100 each, maybe more.
Before I left to come here was of course packed with running errands, but also with hanging out and shopping with my friend Dariush. Down in the Duomo area we saw this street performer, who reminded me of the "Horse Outside" video from Rubberbandits.
We also saw some lovely looking Easter chocolates at a fancy boutique in the San Babila area. They were lovely, but it seemed impractical to buy one to take home on the plane... And besides, they were about $100 each, maybe more.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Lies
This thermometer lies! When I first saw it on the window in my kitchen, I thought that perhaps it read the outside temperature. Then I noticed that it was on the inside of the window, and thought it was the temperature in the kitchen. However, since it gets some direct sun, the temperature it gives is just the temperature inside the thermometer... It was definitely not 40 C this weekend. 40 C is sweating-while-wearing-shorts-and-a-tanktop hot... I think it peaked outside at 15 C or so, a pleasant temperature.
As a side note, I am on my way to the states tomorrow... I will probably not be posting for the next few days as I find my footing in the time zone...
As a side note, I am on my way to the states tomorrow... I will probably not be posting for the next few days as I find my footing in the time zone...
Monday, March 12, 2012
Groceries...
This weekend I loaded up on groceries... A lot of it snack foods to bring back to the US as treats for family and friends. I think I bought more fresh pasta than I need until I leave, but I can stick it in the freezer.
You can see some of my favorites in there. The fractal cauliflower! And my current favorite flavor of yogurt, the peach-passion fruit...
I can't help it, It's just a lot of fun to take pictures of the fractal cauliflower. And it's really my favorite in terms of cooking too, over the plain and the purple...
You can see some of my favorites in there. The fractal cauliflower! And my current favorite flavor of yogurt, the peach-passion fruit...
I can't help it, It's just a lot of fun to take pictures of the fractal cauliflower. And it's really my favorite in terms of cooking too, over the plain and the purple...
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Mickey Mouse
My apartment has a lot of different kitchen things that I have never tried, or in some cases never noticed! Recently I pulled out the toaster, which I had never noticed was a Mickey Mouse toaster. As my toast popped up, I wondered for a split second where the "ding" was, then it started to hoot the Mickey Mouse Club theme song!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Handouts
I don't know if it's just that I travel to more major train stations and intersections, or that this stuff is just more common in Italy, but I get handed a lot of stuff on the street. A lot of it is fliers. I graciously take fliers because the people here handing them out are polite about handing them out. The fliers are always for local businesses, mostly restaurants. I did get one from the local gym chain. Their current campaign slogan is hilarious. "l'attivita fisica migliora l'attivita sessuale" (physical activity improves sexual activity) I like that in Italy this is a little cheeky but OK to put on a billboard.
I do get handed food from time to time, too. The people doing the food handouts are quite happy to give you 2 or even 3 of whatever they are passing out. When Ross was here, we got handed 4 boxes of Fitness Chocolate cereal samples, and these were decent-size samples, larger than those kiddie size cereal boxes.
This week, they were passing out Tuc crackers. I ended up with 5 packs, in three different flavors. I admit that this was two passes through the handout gauntlet, not just one, but it wasn't my intent, I swear! Again, these are decent snack sizes, stuff I would have to spend 50 eurocents on in the snack machine...
To the free food, I say bring it on!
I do get handed food from time to time, too. The people doing the food handouts are quite happy to give you 2 or even 3 of whatever they are passing out. When Ross was here, we got handed 4 boxes of Fitness Chocolate cereal samples, and these were decent-size samples, larger than those kiddie size cereal boxes.
This week, they were passing out Tuc crackers. I ended up with 5 packs, in three different flavors. I admit that this was two passes through the handout gauntlet, not just one, but it wasn't my intent, I swear! Again, these are decent snack sizes, stuff I would have to spend 50 eurocents on in the snack machine...
To the free food, I say bring it on!
Friday, March 9, 2012
Melanzane (Eggplants)
I went to the Persian restaurant again Wednesday. As I said, the only main dishes there that work for me are the eggplant dishes. While they are both very good, it doesn't help that I have been having a lot of eggplant at home lately too!
I've been roasting them in the oven recently. The first time I salted it to get out some liquid, but I didn't realize how much the eggplant would absorb the salt, so the roast slices ended up quite salty. However, the salty slices were delicious in sandwiches. And thanks to all the olive oil, they were incredibly soft.
This week I cut them into thinner slices and fried them until they were a little crispy.
Also good, but the oven roasting has really been the winner!
I've been roasting them in the oven recently. The first time I salted it to get out some liquid, but I didn't realize how much the eggplant would absorb the salt, so the roast slices ended up quite salty. However, the salty slices were delicious in sandwiches. And thanks to all the olive oil, they were incredibly soft.
This week I cut them into thinner slices and fried them until they were a little crispy.
Also good, but the oven roasting has really been the winner!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Duomo Diretta
On Tuesday, I watched the second of the big Quaresima masses on TV. (Channel 14 Telenova!) It's a fascinating concept to show these big masses on TV. You can see the Duomo Diretta logo on the TV here!
When I was at the mass last week, you could see all the cameras around the cathedral shooting for the TV broadcast. They have a variety of views, at least three cameras, maybe more? This long shot is clearly from the back of the cathedral.
Seeing the close-ups of the readers and the choir was actually very nice. I didn't realize that the choir was full of boy sopranos when I saw them in person, and I really had a decent seat, a quarter of the way from the front!
The main readers were the same as from the last mass, and they are all picked for their great voices. In the TV version, there was also a commentator! So whenever there was no talking or singing, she was narrating. I think most of it was descriptions and explanations of the actions happening, including naming the pieces read or sung and their writers, and occasionally actual commenting, for example, praising one of the readers for giving a stirring rendition of one of Maria's speeches.
I would have been a little lost without the program booklet I picked up at the first mass last week. The booklet is beautifully produced, and it also provided the channel and time info for me!
When I was at the mass last week, you could see all the cameras around the cathedral shooting for the TV broadcast. They have a variety of views, at least three cameras, maybe more? This long shot is clearly from the back of the cathedral.
Seeing the close-ups of the readers and the choir was actually very nice. I didn't realize that the choir was full of boy sopranos when I saw them in person, and I really had a decent seat, a quarter of the way from the front!
The main readers were the same as from the last mass, and they are all picked for their great voices. In the TV version, there was also a commentator! So whenever there was no talking or singing, she was narrating. I think most of it was descriptions and explanations of the actions happening, including naming the pieces read or sung and their writers, and occasionally actual commenting, for example, praising one of the readers for giving a stirring rendition of one of Maria's speeches.
I would have been a little lost without the program booklet I picked up at the first mass last week. The booklet is beautifully produced, and it also provided the channel and time info for me!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Darcin
The big news around my office is the new Persian restaurant that's opened up on the little street of restaurants that specialize in serving lunch to Polimi students. The place is called Darcin.
One of my students is nuts for it, he's had lunch there every weekday since it opened on Monday the 27th of February. (Marcello actually has a lot of Iranian students, so it's no surprise that Darcin has been the talk of the town.) I went this week, and the food was good. The vegetarian selections are slim but good. I had eggplant two ways (stewed with tomatoes and scrambled eggs, and roasted and blended) and rice flavored with dried fruits and saffron, with cucumber yoghurt and pita. I don't think that I will have much in the way of main dish choices beyond that, but there are other sides and types of rice. The meaty dishes have a much larger selection, and my student says they change. Another cool thing about the restaurant is that most of the guys who run it are graduate students! Apparently they just missed getting Persian food.
One of my students is nuts for it, he's had lunch there every weekday since it opened on Monday the 27th of February. (Marcello actually has a lot of Iranian students, so it's no surprise that Darcin has been the talk of the town.) I went this week, and the food was good. The vegetarian selections are slim but good. I had eggplant two ways (stewed with tomatoes and scrambled eggs, and roasted and blended) and rice flavored with dried fruits and saffron, with cucumber yoghurt and pita. I don't think that I will have much in the way of main dish choices beyond that, but there are other sides and types of rice. The meaty dishes have a much larger selection, and my student says they change. Another cool thing about the restaurant is that most of the guys who run it are graduate students! Apparently they just missed getting Persian food.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Smart
In the last few days I've been seeing a Smart Roadster driving around my neighborhood. I haven't snapped a picture yet as it's just been driving! But it looks a lot like this one in the Smart promotional photo below. Same color scheme and everything. I haven't seen it with the top off, but it's not exactly convertible weather at this point.
Anyway, it's a cute little car, and fits in here in the land of tiny vehicles.
Anyway, it's a cute little car, and fits in here in the land of tiny vehicles.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Ethiopia
On Friday I went out to dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant here in Milan, Adulis, for a friend's going away party. The food was good. I feel like it's very similar to the Ethiopian I've had in Boston.
The food was served in big family style platters, covered on their way out to the table.
This was the meat eater platters.
Mine was an individual platter as I was the only vegetarian!
The food was served in big family style platters, covered on their way out to the table.
This was the meat eater platters.
Mine was an individual platter as I was the only vegetarian!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Vanity
I'm trying to decide which of these three pictures of me at La Fenice I should rework into a profile photo. I'm wearing my new Venetian mask from La Bauta in all of these.
This one I think could be made into a great Facebook cover page thing, perhaps.
These second two might be better for a profile pic.
The flash makes the colors a little brighter, but maybe it's a little too harsh.
Well, what do you think? I'd love some input!
This one I think could be made into a great Facebook cover page thing, perhaps.
These second two might be better for a profile pic.
The flash makes the colors a little brighter, but maybe it's a little too harsh.
Well, what do you think? I'd love some input!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Venice, Day Two
Sunday the 19th was a full day in Venice for us. We decided to walk the city. We walked up through the Ghetto Ebraico and along the north coast of the city, through Castello, to Arsenale, where we had lunch.
The usual fun of Venice is looking at the architecture and the details. This was an awesome door pull we passed.
Costumed folks were already out on the streets in the morning, we saw a lot on our strolls.
There are a few hospitals in Venice, and one of them is on the north coast. They have ambulance boats... since nothing else would make sense in Venice, really.
Every little piazza had a few costumed characters in it.
Our evening was spent at La Fenice, seeing Cosi fan Tutte. Wow, it's really beautiful on the inside. The boxes are beautiful!
Here's Ross in ours. Each box has four chairs, two in front, two in back. Hooks for the coats, a mirror for getting beautiful. The theater was rebuilt recently, you can tell by the installation of the fire equipment!
And of course, the famous sign.
The opera was a lot of fun. Having a private box does make it more pleasant!
On our walk home, we went over the Rialto bridge. This was another great costume we saw on the way home.
And this glass art really cracked up both me and Ross!
We had dinner at a pizza place that was really tasty, and got to bed at a decent hour!
The usual fun of Venice is looking at the architecture and the details. This was an awesome door pull we passed.
Costumed folks were already out on the streets in the morning, we saw a lot on our strolls.
There are a few hospitals in Venice, and one of them is on the north coast. They have ambulance boats... since nothing else would make sense in Venice, really.
Every little piazza had a few costumed characters in it.
Our evening was spent at La Fenice, seeing Cosi fan Tutte. Wow, it's really beautiful on the inside. The boxes are beautiful!
Here's Ross in ours. Each box has four chairs, two in front, two in back. Hooks for the coats, a mirror for getting beautiful. The theater was rebuilt recently, you can tell by the installation of the fire equipment!
And of course, the famous sign.
The opera was a lot of fun. Having a private box does make it more pleasant!
On our walk home, we went over the Rialto bridge. This was another great costume we saw on the way home.
And this glass art really cracked up both me and Ross!
We had dinner at a pizza place that was really tasty, and got to bed at a decent hour!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Our First Day In Venice
Ross and I spent two nights in Venice at the end of his visit. To get there, we took the train from Milan, which takes just over two and a half hours. It's not too bad. It's not too hard to get to the station from my house, as Centrale is on the M3 line. And they have this cool thing where you can buy the tickets online and just take the code to the train. Actually, even better, the will send you a free text with all your train information and the code that you just show to the conductor. It even works on dumb phones!
Anyway, in Venice it was Carnival, and it was awesome! We spent a lot of time just wandering the streets. Venice is just a gorgeous city. If I could live anywhere in Italy, I think it would be Venice. I have trouble thinking of a city that is more beautiful. During this trip, I took more photos of people than the city, but there are a few cool ones, like this photo of the erosion of the bricks in one of the canals.
We walked out through Dorsoduro neighborhood. There were people in costume wandering the streets.
We made it all the way out to Santa Maria della Salute, where costumed revelers were posing for photographers.
These two were posing on the Ponte dell'Accademia.
Piazza San Marco was packed with people. The square has a big temporary stage set up for carnival, and we arrived while one of the rounds of the costume contest was happening. This guy was just hanging around in the square
This male Medusa was pretty awesome, too.
Between the rounds of the contest, they let some folks into the pen with the contestants, I got some great pictures with them! Here's a beautiful French lady.
This group is from San Francisco, dressed as the landmarks of Venice, the Ducal Palace on the left, Santa Maria on the right, and in the middle, the Bridge of Sighs.
There were lots of cool groups!
We walked all the way back to our hotel on Lista de Spagna, taking pictures and taking in the sights. This guy was by our hotel doing street percussion.
We went out to dinner near our hotel.
Anyway, in Venice it was Carnival, and it was awesome! We spent a lot of time just wandering the streets. Venice is just a gorgeous city. If I could live anywhere in Italy, I think it would be Venice. I have trouble thinking of a city that is more beautiful. During this trip, I took more photos of people than the city, but there are a few cool ones, like this photo of the erosion of the bricks in one of the canals.
We walked out through Dorsoduro neighborhood. There were people in costume wandering the streets.
We made it all the way out to Santa Maria della Salute, where costumed revelers were posing for photographers.
These two were posing on the Ponte dell'Accademia.
Piazza San Marco was packed with people. The square has a big temporary stage set up for carnival, and we arrived while one of the rounds of the costume contest was happening. This guy was just hanging around in the square
This male Medusa was pretty awesome, too.
Between the rounds of the contest, they let some folks into the pen with the contestants, I got some great pictures with them! Here's a beautiful French lady.
This group is from San Francisco, dressed as the landmarks of Venice, the Ducal Palace on the left, Santa Maria on the right, and in the middle, the Bridge of Sighs.
There were lots of cool groups!
We walked all the way back to our hotel on Lista de Spagna, taking pictures and taking in the sights. This guy was by our hotel doing street percussion.
We went out to dinner near our hotel.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Fashion (turn to the left)
Fashion (turn to the right)...
Women's winter fashion week was last week, the 22nd through the 28th. (There's two fashion weeks a year, the other is in... September or October?)
Getting tickets for fashion week is really challenging, so I did not attend any shows. Bummer. I just went down to get the lay of the land on Sunday. They put out a black and pink carpet on Via Mercanti.
They have a few little booths, including the news coverage hosting. They had a few cool booths where you could get hair and makeup consultations. I didn't quite have time to wait in line, but next fashion week, I'd go for it.
I walked around to check out the different venues and do some people watching. They had one of the major stages inside the courtyard of the Castello Sforzesco!
And this was my fashion week look. I think I rocked it!
Women's winter fashion week was last week, the 22nd through the 28th. (There's two fashion weeks a year, the other is in... September or October?)
Getting tickets for fashion week is really challenging, so I did not attend any shows. Bummer. I just went down to get the lay of the land on Sunday. They put out a black and pink carpet on Via Mercanti.
They have a few little booths, including the news coverage hosting. They had a few cool booths where you could get hair and makeup consultations. I didn't quite have time to wait in line, but next fashion week, I'd go for it.
I walked around to check out the different venues and do some people watching. They had one of the major stages inside the courtyard of the Castello Sforzesco!
And this was my fashion week look. I think I rocked it!
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