Cookies and Drinks with the GBU

About a month or two ago Paul introduced us to the GBU. GBU is a campus ministry group that I think is all over the world. They have groups on other campuses in Italy, and here in Naples the group is really small. But they are seeking to change the hearts of students on campus. A couple of weeks ago we went to the campus and distributed some bibles with them. I got to spend some time with a couple of the girls involved in the ministry and hear a little about how the became believers. We spent some time with Francesco, the leader of the group, over "cafe", and discussed having the GBU bible study at our apartment. We live right near the campus, and right now there is really no place for the group to meet. So our apartment will be a great, central place near campus to have the bible study at. We're exciting about getting to work with them and see how they do ministry here.

Today we went to the campus in Paul and MacKenzie's neighborhood to do some surveys. We had free cookies and drinks to offer to anyone doing the survey. Not many people came to the table to eat the cookies, so we ate most of them in the end. But a lot of people did do the surveys. And again it was a great chance for us to work alongside GBU and get to know them a little more. Here are some pictures from our morning...

American cookies made by MacKenzie (in the back container)

Italian cookies made by I don't know who

Francesco surveying some University students

Us with the GBU group

Crazy things...that happen to me...and that I do to me.

So, Naples is Naples. That being said, I have accustomed myself to having this mentality. When unexpected, random things happen I just say oh well, it's Naples. These things happen often. Sometimes they happen to me, as in someone else does a random act that causes me to say this. But occasionally, I do these things myself. I shall explain with two examples.

Example 1:

I often speak of my old, falling apart body even though I am only 24. Usually, no one believes me and they think I'm silly. WELL, yesterday morning I went to the gym. It was pretty quiet, not many ladies in there since it was around 9:30. I'm minding my own business, watching Italian TV on the elliptical(how do you spell this) machine. Next thing I know, my trainer is laying on the floor next to the machine. Then he calls the owner over and he does the same thing. Then they both look up at me with this weird look on their face. They were on the floor because they heard a weird noise. They thought it was the machine. Nope, it was my knee. Then they laughed because my knees sound so bad. I'm too young to have knee problems they told me. My responses.... 1) see I told you my body was old.... 2) oh well, it's Naples.

Example 2:

I have a burning desire to be studying music right now. But I am here doing what I'm doing. Which, honestly I wouldn't trade, but it wouldn't be so bad if I could do both at the same time. Though I won't, I just like to think that. Anyway, I have been passing by the music conservatory here in Naples, reading flyers posted on the wall and hoping to run into music students that I can make friends with. Last week, I spoke with a man who worked there. I just wanted to know some information and maybe see if I could try to meet some students. He told me to come back next week and speak with the director. I did that yesterday, which ended up in the gate keeper telling me to come back today to speak with the percussion professor. So, today I went to speak with the percussion professor. I basically walked into "Berkley" or "Juilliard", with barely any experience and barely able to speak the language. I spoke with the professor for a little while and then when I left I said..... Oh well, it's Naples. I'm not really sure how they let me in, haha. Maybe because I'm a poor innocent american.

The moral of these stories is... Oh well, it's Naples!

How to Make Italian Dinner....According to Kala

So what was for dinner last night....

Pasta Zucchini

Normally I don't cook dinner every night because I don't like to eat leftovers, and if there aren't enough people to cook a whole meal for, then I don't want to cook. But I love to cook when there are people to eat the food. So since we live in Italy, we've decided to try cooking lots of Italian/Naples dishes. So last night I made Pasta Zucchini. I would love to tell you the steps of cooking this dish, BUT it is much more fun to explain it Kala's way.

STEP 1 : Decide on a vegetable and buy it

STEP 2 : Cook the mess out of it

STEP 3 : Add pasta... and you're done!

the table spread

was Kala happy???

Ellie's thoughts...

There are lots of pasta dishes that I love here and could eat everyday. And most of them follow Kala's recipe. Cook the vegetable into mush and then add pasta. The results are very very yummy.

Other people's blogs make me laugh

So I just read Kala and Ellie's blogs, both of which somewhat include me in the latest post. I just thought I would blog about how I laughed out loud as I read their blogs tonight. I enjoy laughter, a little too much at times, but it makes my day go better. I sometimes laugh at things that are not funny to anyone else or just not funny at all. But I'm convinced that laughter is good for the soul, so I shall continue to laugh. Especially at Kala and Ellie!

I was planning on blogging about one of two things tonight. 1 - the lunch experience I had on Tuesday or 2 - my coffee likings. Well Kala and Ellie covered both of those this week. So therefore I will add on to both of those.

First : Read Ellie's blog, and you'll know we ate lunch Tuesday at this hole in the wall place. Quite possibly the best pasta fagioli on the planet, but, still a hole in the wall. Ellie's blog will tell of the whole experience ( see my side bar of other blog sites ), but I will side track to the man who ate alone. You see, as I was stuffed on a plate of antipasta and a bowl of pasta fagioli, two courses did not suffice for the man who ate alone. His lunch..... Antipasta plate, huge plate of pasta pomodori, huge plate of frutti di mare, huge plate of salad, then top it off with three oranges. All washed down with a Pepsi. HOW? I never have a desire to eat that much food. Not even if I didn't eat for a week. That my friends, is the Italian way to eat. So don't question my weight gainings since I've been in this country!

Second : Read Kala's blog, and you shall read about my favorite coffee bar also. I enjoy a good expresso, especially since they are cheap, but my preferred choice of coffee would be the cappuccino. Specifically from the coffee bar next to language school.

In this bar exists the best cappuccino in Napoli. I love it. It looks like this...

The problem is that I live 1 minute from this bar. It is a problem because if I drink these everyday I will 1- be poor and 2 - have even more weight gainings than I already have. Somehow I have been able to resist and I do not frequent this bar every day. In fact, I don't even go every week. I go on occasion and for special events. But I went today! I had a good and eventful morning, so I rewarded myself with my favorite.

But that was also after I drank three cups of coffee at my house earlier this morning. :) Kala only thought she had a problem....

I went from rice everyday, to pasta everyday

If you know me, then you know I grew up in south Louisiana. If you really know me, then you know I ate rice almost everyday growing up, as do most people from Cajun Country. If you really really know me, as in lived with me as a child know me, then you know I also enjoy making rice patties with my rice and gravy. But anyway, I grew up in a culture and house that had rice for almost every meal. I like rice, a lot. But now it seems that I have moved from one habit eating culture to another. I came from rice eating country to pasta eating country. I really like me some pasta. BUT on occasion I feel the need to make some rice patties on my plate. (yes I am aware that 1) you may not know what my rice patties are and 2) it is unacceptable to play with your food, but I enjoy it)

So in the event that I miss rice and gravy, I COOK SOME HERE!

So I cooked chicken and corn and green beans...

and of course rice. AND I made good rice without a rice pot!

My belly was sure happy after my meal but my fingers were not...

It made be hard to see, so let me explain. In short, I picked up a piece on my stove top that had been in the gas fire for an hour. A little burn never hurt anyone... except I had to lead worship the next morning. Guitars and finger tip burns don't mix very well. But I survived and I endured the pain. Good thing like I like pain. :)

My weekend....

I did too much to write, but I will attempt.

Friday we had our monthly team meeting, which was the start of a busy weekend. After the meeting I took the thirty minute metro trip back home to wait for the painter to come. He didn't come though. SO, I took the thirty minute metro trip back to Kala and Ellie's apartment. That night we attempted to make pasta genovese. This was our first attempt at cooking an Italian meal from scratch. In the end..... the meat was dry but we liked the pasta. Sorry I don't have pictures....

We ended the night with a little Pride and Prejudice.

Saturday we got up and at the last minute I was convinced into going to Caserta with them. There is a huge palace out there, so we took a little drive with Jason and Emily. It was a nice day, but cold. But again we saw grass and loved it.

Saturday night, Paul, Grace, and I went with some people from the church to an event that a campus ministry was having. It was an encouraging night. Great to hear national believers sharing their testimonies and seeing the heart and passion to reach the lost in this city. This Thursday we will meet this group on campus to hand out some bibles. I'm really looking forward to that, except I'm pretty sure it is supposed to rain all day. Great!

Sunday I woke up early and took a quick trip to Rome. Spent some time in a park, with grass, again! Grass two days in a row!

I came back to Naples in time for a girls night out. Today, March 8th, is "Women's Day" in Italy. So some of the girls on the team went out to a pub to eat burgers and then got gelato after. It was a fun night.

And that leads me to today.......

I brought Kala and Ellie to language school today for their first day, met with some students at the University, went to language school for myself, then Worthy night.

Now, do you see why I'm tired.

Goodnight!!!

Paestum

Well, yesterday we took a little adventure. On Saturday Shannon and the HandsOn girls had a tea party for the mom's of Micah's classmates. After the tea party a friend of Charlie and Shannon's came over to the house for lunch. She brought lots of goodies from the base, which we all indulged in. But during lunch we made plans (myself and the HandsOn girls) to go to Paestum with this new friend, Lynn. Paestum is a little city that has some ancient Greek ruins that are beautiful and well preserved. Lynn is a 60 year old lady who travels and does counseling work on military bases. Let's say that Naples has been an interesting experience for her, and she wanted/needed a little company to get out to these ruins. So yesterday we accompanied her. Now, there are many details I can tell of this day and adventure, but I will choose to say few words. It was interesting. We made it alive. In the end, we may get American goodies. You can make up the rest of the story if you'd like. But here is the important part....

This is what we saw...

Pretty isn't it???

But even more important...

THERE WAS GRASS!!!!

We had such a great day just being outside and enjoying nature itself. It was such a pretty day. Blue skies and green grass are two of my favorite things. Living in the city doesn't provide many opportunities to enjoy those two things. I had almost forgotten how much I've missed grass. There were mountains in the background too. We just walked the ruins and enjoyed being outside on such a great day. and to top it off... WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WEAR JACKETS! Amazing. Great start to the week