Midway Marker

I have officially made it halfway. Today marks the end of midterms and the halfway point of my time here in Italy. It’s shocking, time really has moved pretty quickly. Last Thursday I had my first midterm and this Thursday I am finally finished! Being a history major I usually escape taking actual tests in lieu of writing papers. Not this term, five classes--five midterms. I can say that my classes here are very different than Stonehill. My days of discussions and interaction with the teacher are currently on hold. Classes are more structured as lectures and the assigned readings are really not a must, which I guess is nice. But I’m used to having a voice, being able to share my thoughts and opinions and engage in friendly debate while in class. Needless to say it has taken me a while to get used to this style of teaching. But now that we are halfway through the semester and I have finished midterms I feel good. I really don’t like tests, but none of my midterms were too horrible. I think I should pass them all with flying colors.

As this week winds downs I’m about to jet off to fabulous places, I know I’ve kept yall in suspense about where I’m headed over break but you’re going to have to wait just a little longer, I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise right before I leave.

One thing I will share with you is an ongoing project I have undertaken since I arrived here. GELATO! I think you will be hard pressed to find anyone who loves ice cream as much as I do. I could and would eat it by the gallon if people would let me. Unfortunately Europe does not share the same love for ice cream, instead for them it is gelato. I decided that the best way to immerse myself in this part of the culture would be to try as many gelato flavors as possible before I leave. Now this is no easy undertaking as the flavors vary from stand to stand and place to place. There is no way to be sure just how many flavors there are actually to try. This of course also makes it hard to decide which to try each time…what if I never see the flavor again…worse yet, what if I don’t like it?!?! Of course I like to be prepared for dilemmas such as these so I devised a plan to make sure I cover an as many flavors as possible while still enjoying my favorites. Easy enough I just get a scoop of each, one new and one old favorite. I have to say half way through the semester I have tried quite the array of flavors. Of course there is chocolate (no need to even try vanilla) and surprisingly pistachio is an old faithful favorite as well. Then you have your more fruity sorbets of which lemon rains supreme, strawberry and the apple I tried in Cinque Terri follow close behind. Kiwi however should remain in unfrozen juice form! Not a favorite! Mixed fruit or fruit de bosco as the call it here is also only good if you don’t mind picking seeds out of your teeth for hours later. In my professional opinion, gelato is really about the thick and creamy flavors. Not just the tried and true basics, but tiramisu, vanilla with cherries, after eight (mint), strachinella (chocolate chip), caffe, caramel, and my favorite and shop specialty—Crème de Grom!! I first discovered Grom while visiting Florence. Kristen and Kait along with their roommates told us about the best gelato place in Florence, called Grom. The first time we visited they told me about Crème de Grom. The best way to describe this incredible flavor is as chocolate chip cookies goodness. They told me the only place I could get it was there in Florence so I am not proud to say I probably tried it at least 4 times during the weekend. Upon returning to Perugia I was telling a friend about the amazing flavor discovery and Grom. She smiled and told me that there was a Grom right here in Perugia! Needless to say I was ecstatic. As if that wasn’t good enough Grom in Perugia is cheaper than in Florence so I don’t even feel bad getting a coppa medio!
Needless to say as this week of midterm’s winds down Grom and I have become even closer than before and my list of flavors left to try and shrunk dramatically. Although as the weather continually gets colder I know my days of gelato are numbered…at least there is still hot cocoa to look forward to!
Ciao!