Adia Around the World

The Egyptian Museum in Torino Italy is the 2nd largest collection of artifacts in the world, the largest outside of Egypt and truly spectacular. I was lucky to get there early in the morning and there was almost no one there except a few school groups. My nerd was showing when I put on those headphones and started my extended version of the translated tour. I must admit one of my favorite exhibits was the mummified cats and one was damaged, or maybe opened, enough for you to see the rib cage hiding underneath the wrapping. Really was so cool! Two hours later I emerge in awe. It was frustrating though, knowing that even if I dedicate my whole life to study everything I just walked by I would never fully comprehend the importance of these figures and appreciate them how they deserve I guess. I mean that all of this stuff was such a big deal, these people were so important and powerful. I got stuck in a thought spiral for a bit thinking about time and culture and how everyt...

Living so close to Torino has made it easy for me to visit a lot of its biggest attractions.  Torino really is a hidden gem, and if you are a lover of museums Torino is the place for you. About a week ago I headed to the   Mole Antonelliana.  It is  named after its architect,   Alessandro Antonelli . I tried doing some research and I do think it is related, however small, to the term mole in chemistry. In case you were wondering.  Its construction began in 1863, after Italian unification, but wasn't finished until  1889, after the architect's death. Originally created to become a Jewish synagogue , it now houses the  Museo Nazionale del Cinema. I do believe it is the tallest museum in the world and it is  on a side of the Italian  2 cent euro coin . I really enjoyed it and I don't consider myself a cinema enthusiast or anything close. I'm a passionate Rom Com girl and that's about it. But seriously the first bit ...

The look most servers give me when I order cioccolata calda is that of confusion. I know they are thinking why on earth would someone want anything other than coffee? This country runs on coffee and I'd be scared to see what would happen to it if for some reason it disappeared. Literal chaos would destroy this beautiful country. People running mad through the streets, buildings on fire, the end of the world probably. But I have a confession. I have had all the coffee. Yes, sinful little Mormon girl tried it all. Cappuccino, macchiato, espresso, and I'm here to say literally I think its the most disgusting thing I've ever had. Honestly, I physically cannot stop my face from that nasty frown face when you have something bitter when I drink it. Yes, I kept trying different kinds of coffee to see if there was one that wasn't so awful, but I have yet to discover it. Literally, I think my personal hell would be me stuck in a dark room where someone has me chaine...

I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier. So here is some information on the program I'm here in Italy with.  T he program is called Romae Abroad. You can find them on Instagram, Facebook or just Google them. You apply and interview and if you get accepted and then you'll hooked up with a host family. The majority of the families are located here in Italy but they do have some in Australia and China now. Cool right! Once you get hooked up with your host family you'll make a contract for 8 to 12 weeks, depending on what you're available for. These contracts will also include conditions such as your family being responsible for giving you food and boarding and other things seen fit by the family. Your responsibility will be to work on English with the families kids or sometimes the parents. Some families are looking for more of a babysitter figure, just depending on what they need. You will have to pay a service fee to the program which is about $450 and t...

I have been set up to go twice a week to a language class in Alba, another town near to Canale. I walk 20 minutes in the bitter morning chill from where I get dropped off and stumble around with the map until I find the building. I get there and the teacher doesn't speak English and neither to any of the students. I was quite seriously almost in tears. It was kind of scary and I was so desperately hoping that this class would be something I could look forward to and be good at. In the middle of this mild panic attack, I remembered that A) This is not a graded class, therefore doesn't need to be taken so deathly serious B) Not just anyone gets to move to Italy for 3 months and get taught Italian for virtually no expense C) There is a very cute worker in the Caffe down the street and if I can manage to survive the next two and a half hours I can go order hot chocolate from him. I made it through that first class and got my hot chocolate. I did walk around and find the city Duomo...

Yes I'm being serious. Saturday I went with my host mother to swim at the pool in Alba. We go in the locker room, change and head out. Understanding each other is still difficult so we kind of just guess what the other one is saying all the time. What I was gathering from her, is that there are a bunch of lanes, some are for fast swimmers, medium and slow. As I approach the pool I see the majestic creatures on the other side, moving slowly as not to startle them. 3 splendidly gorgeous dark curly hair Italian men in animal pattern speedos are shaking the water out of their hair. Now I know they don't notice me at all, they aren't stunned by the beauty of my well-fed physique and rubber cap, so at this point I'm just finding the best places to watch them ( not in a stalker way, in an appreciative way) Me being the dum dum I decided I don't wanna look like a loser getting in the slow lane, but know I can't manage a fast lane swim. I find the medium lane with two ol...

Lucky for me I have been able to discover first hand that the people of beautiful Italia live life with the intent to never stop eating. Seriously, I don't know how they do it. The Italian diet is an incredible phenomenon. They have coffee for breakfast, maybe some frutta for lunch, and for Cena you eat bread and cheese and pasta until you want to die. I'm not even joking. I never finish a full plate. And right before bed, which you would think would lead to excessive weight gain. Yet, not one person I have seen here is obese. The majority of citizens, old and young, have a quite athletic build. If I had to guess I would say it is due to the fact that nothing is processed. No sodas, chips, or artificially sweetened treats (Yes, I am sad to go without takis for these few months, but their treats make up for that loss). You can taste the difference in the natural sweetness of the yogurts and pastries here versus the modified stuff back home. Don't get me wrong, they dr...