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Thursday, March 18, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Latest News
2 comments
Last week I spent a day at the Consulate General talking with the wonderful Lucia about my options for studying in Italy. I was informed that I can only apply to one University, but before I apply there were a few more steps I had to take.
First, I had to acquire my transcripts from the registrar's office of each of my schools including high school, have the registrar physically sign them and have them stamped by a notary. Afterward, I must go to Austin to Secretary of State office and have each document stamped with an Apostille from S.O.S.
Did I mention that I have to have the registrar write a letter stating my full name and birthday and that per their records that I graduated from said school in date/year?
Yeah its a lot of work my friend but work I am willing to put time into.
At the moment I am studying for my Comps Exam to graduate this semester from my University here in Houston and come May I will be applying to the University of Catania and graduating from the University of Houston.
Universitá degli studi di Catania
I have already been in contact with the Chair of Foreign Affairs at the University of Catania and it seems that I have a good chance of being accepted into the program. Once accepted I have decided to move to Italy in July once my lease is up here so that I can get used to the Italian language and begin to practice it so that I am not completely loss once I begin classes in September.
I decided on the University of Catania because I used to be stationed at the Navy Base near by and as a veteran I have a good chance of acquiring a job there part time. Also, I have a wonderful Sicilian friend of 15 years that has offered to share her apartment and help me find a place to live after I get a job.
It is also inexpensive in Sicily compared to Italy. I can find a two bedroom apartment for 300 Euros which is the equivalent of $450 a month.
I also find that Sicilians are friendlier, open to foreigners and very social. Its a beautiful island and I will definitely have a second chance at happiness there. I can't wait to go to Taormina and walk on the black sand beaches. Go to the restaurant on the side of Mt. Etna where the mother hand makes the noodles. And eat at the Panini Ristorante on the road between Nas I and Nas II in Sigonella.
On an even better note, a good friend of mine is planning to study in France this Fall and Brianna may be going to Spain instead of Italy. I will keep you posted as things develope.
Buona fortuna a tutti!
Trinacria, the symbol of Sicily
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Lost in Translation
1 commentsI am so excited. I am sitting here in my room listening to my roommate sing and make her CD while chatting with my friend F* who is planning to go study in Paris this year. I am waiting on my transcripts to finish being translated so that I can start applying for schools in Italy and my soul is filled with this hope that I am making the right move.
There comes a point in one life where you stand at a crossroad. One way is to an ordinary life of simplicity. A life already mapped out, a path already taken all you have to do is follow. And the other path leads to a potentially extraordinary life of adventure, purpose. A life where you take a compass, a torch, an umbrella and some sneaks. The path is unknown, its a path you must make for yourself.
Right now I feel as if me and a few of my friends are at that crossroad and believe me I am taking that second path. I love adventure. Yes its scary, I don't know what I am doing, but that's the wonder of it. Because I believe that when I reach my destination, all the scrapes, bruises, days of hunger and tears will be worth it all.
Yes I am excited, yes I know more hardships lie ahead, but I am willing and ready to face them. Bring it on, nothing and no one will stop me. Because in the end, I will find joy, because I lived my life on my terms..
YF637KHFVJZM
Friday, December 18, 2009
Bed and Breakfast in Positano
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Positano is one city that I have yet to visit on my extensive travels to Italy, but I plan to go one of these days. While fantasizing about my ideal trip there, I found this cute little B & B called Hotel La Rosa dei Venti the other day with great on and off season rates. Enjoy and I hope one of you guys will go there and tell us all about it.
Shula
Summer risotto recipe
0 commentsI want to thank Herbivoracious for this fantastic recipe. Enjoy
Welcome fellow Stumbler! I hope you like this recipe. If so, please give it a Thumbs Up and check out my other most popular posts.
Summery risotto with corn, zucchini, and tomato oil
One of the great things about risotto is that it is a blank canvas on which you can paint the produce of any place and season. Restaurants tend to make the same stereotyped combinations over and over again, but don't let that limit your options!
I needed a light entree for a hot day, and I wanted something a little festive since it was for a birthday celebration, so I made a basic risotto with fresh corn and zucchini, and dressed it up with a bit of tomato-flavored olive oil.
For a more concentrated tomato oil, I would oven dry the fruits first to evaporate most of the moisture. This one I did with raw cherry tomatoes. The water emulsified the oil, so it actually was more like a tomato dressing. It still had a lot of flavor intensity and has the virtue of coming together in 2 minutes. Dipping bread in the leftovers was pretty incredible. You should only keep leftover home-flavored oils for a few days because there is a risk of anaerobic bacteria.
The broth for a risotto should be mildly flavored, because it is greatly reduced and concentrated in the cooking process. If you started with a strong broth it would be overpowering when finished. For this risotto, I add the corn cobs to the broth while it is simmering to bring up the corn flavor.
Summery Risotto With Corn, Zucchini and Cherry Tomato Oil
Serves 6
Vegetarian and gluten-free; vegan if you omit the cheese
For the tomato oil:
* 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* handful of flavorful cherry tomatoes (or 1/4 cup diced ripe tomato)
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
1. Puree all ingredients in a mini-food processor.
2. Allow to steep for half an hour if possible.
3. Strain first through a fine mesh sieve and refrigerate if not using soon.
For the risotto:
* 6 cups mildly flavored vegetable broth (Seitenbacher broth powder works well)
* 4 tablespoon olive oil
* 1/4 cup minced onion
* 2 cups arborio, carnaroli or other risotto-approved rice
* 1/2 cup dry white wine
* 2 teaspoons salt
* corn kernels from 1 and 1/2 ears, reserve the cobs
* 2 small zucchini, fine dice
* 1/2 cup or more grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese plus more for serving
1. Bring the broth to a simmer, and add the corn cobs.
2. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy pot. Saute the onion for a couple of minutes until softened but not browned. Add the rice and saute for a minute or two until it turns slightly translucent.
3. Add the wine and salt stir until absorbed.
4. Add the broth, one ladle at a time, stirring very frequently. Continuously isn't necessary. When the rice begins to dry out, add another ladle.
5. After 16 minutes, begin to check a grain every minute. When there is a slight white pinhead that is a bit tough inside, add the vegetables. If you have used up all of the broth, you can start using water. Add more salt if needed.
6. Within 3-10 minutes, the rice should be tender but with just a hint of toothsomeness to it, and it should be surrounded with creamy, starchy goodness. Take it off of the heat right away and stir in the cheese.
7. Serve in individual bowls. Add a good squeeze of the tomato oil around the edge, and top with more cheese. Or truffles if you happened to have some.
Il prossimo passo
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Well the next step in the chain moving me closer to Italy is getting my transcripts translated in Italian. I found a lady willing to do it for a little less than the consulate so I am using her.
I will be spending the holidays studying for the Italian grammar test that I must take in order to attend school as well as studying for my graduate school comps test that I must take in April. I have already decided on the schools I will applying to. The program that I wish to study is "Lingue moderne per la comunicazione e la cooperazione internazionale." Basically, Modern Languages for communications and international corporations. I will be studying Italian, French and Portuguese. I am very excited.
I have also decided on the schools that I wish to apply to, hopefully I will get a scholarship and fellowship at one of them. This is a very exciting time. In the future I will be writing the notes in Italian and English, just so that I can practice writing.
Until then i miei amici, have a great holiday.
Shulamit
Site to find schools:
http://www.study-in-italy.it/cerca.html
La scuola a Milano:
http://www.lincom.unimi.it/
La scuola a Roma:
http://www.uniroma3.it/schedaCds08.php?cds=107664&facolta=107
La scuola a Bologna:
http://www.facli.unibo.it/Lingue/Didattica/LaureeMagistrali/2009/PaginaCorso20090982
Lingue Straniere per la Comunicazione Internazionale
La scuola a Torino:
http://tarm.dm.unito.it/dbl/DBL_ViewPage.asp?ParmsFld=0017
La scuola a Catania:
http://www.flingue.unict.it/
http://www.study-in-italy.it/php4/scheda_corso.php?ambiente=study&anno=2009&corso=79095
I will be spending the holidays studying for the Italian grammar test that I must take in order to attend school as well as studying for my graduate school comps test that I must take in April. I have already decided on the schools I will applying to. The program that I wish to study is "Lingue moderne per la comunicazione e la cooperazione internazionale." Basically, Modern Languages for communications and international corporations. I will be studying Italian, French and Portuguese. I am very excited.
I have also decided on the schools that I wish to apply to, hopefully I will get a scholarship and fellowship at one of them. This is a very exciting time. In the future I will be writing the notes in Italian and English, just so that I can practice writing.
Until then i miei amici, have a great holiday.
Shulamit
Site to find schools:
http://www.study-in-italy.
La scuola a Milano:
http://www.lincom.unimi.it
La scuola a Roma:
http://www.uniroma3.it/sch
La scuola a Bologna:
http://www.facli.unibo.it/
Lingue Straniere per la Comunicazione Internazionale
La scuola a Torino:
http://tarm.dm.unito.it/db
La scuola a Catania:
http://www.flingue.unict.i
http://www.study-in-italy.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Expenses, Expenses
1 comments
Boy are we wracking up the expenses. I finally got an estimate back for how much it will cost me to have my 6 page transcript translated from English to Italian by the Italy America Chamber of Commerce. Don't pass out when I give you the quote, $300. $300 bloody dollars.. I couldn't believe it but when you want to leave the country to have an international experience than you have to pay for it.
Mind you my Master's degree transcripts are longer I so don't want to see that quote. Bri on the other hand has a shorter transcript so she's lucky.
All I am saying folks is be prepared to drop a lot of dough in the onset of your trip abroad, especially if you planned to study.
However, we here and B & S are very excited and we are looking forward to our trip broad. Check out the links below if you wish to study Italian in Houston. The Italian Center is an amazing source of info.
Ciao
Shula
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