Making friends at school

Do you find it easy or difficult to make friends? When there is a language barrier do you let that stop you or do you try even harder. For me it is the latter. I am pleased to reach out of my comfort zone knowing that the reward is worth the effort.

Some fellow students with My favorite teacher Beatrice

In Perugia, like in Rome, I have gone out of my way to make friends. Being a photographer and writer makes it much easier. I present my card and tell people what I am about. Sometimes it’s to keep in touch with people, sometimes to network, sometimes to get an interview, but the intention is always the same - to connect. 




Since I arrived in Perugia I have made so many friends, mostly local Italians, but also a few fellow students. This is another one of those times when I just took the bull by the horns and went for it. I saw the value in pushing myself beyond what is comfortable. And, as my time in Perugia comes to a close, I am reaping the rewards of my investment.

One of the great joys of attending the university involves the wonderful teachers and students I have met. I find it amazing the number of countries represented in our class; Kenya, Mexico, Russia, Poland, Albania, Brazil, China, Turkey, and the USA (I am sure I even missed a few countries). We are not only learning about Italy but about the world. Everyone is there for different reasons. We have young college kids, professors, actors, artists, singers, medical personnel, conductors - and even a priest. The variety within the group makes this the most interesting ensemble I have ever been a part of.

It's odd think that when I arrived I vowed to only hang out with my Italian friends, and not the students, but that was pretty closed-minded and arrogant of me. I have received as much from my fellow students as I have from my dear Italian friends. I am very humbled and grateful. This is again another place where my learning experience far surpasses just the language and culture of Italy. This is helping to define me more completely as a person and a man. It is a profound awakening which will be carried with me until the end of my days.

There is a saying that I have quoted many times for many years to others in my life: 

“People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime”.

Bernardo-The man with the golden smile

I don’t believe that many of my fellow students will be for a lifetime, but for now I want to drink in this moment, this period of life that is but a moment in time, as short as the blink of an eye. It is bittersweet to be here just one month in the sense that I could not be more grateful, but also sad it is only a month. I have been here a little more than three weeks and already I feel like the time is almost up.

There are a few people worth telling you about. The first is a man who is a kindred spirit named Bernardo. Most of you know that feeling when you have met someone and it feels as if you have known them your entire life.

Bernardo is a priest studying the language so he can live in Rome to study theology for a few years. One of the most endearing qualities he has is an infectious smile and a genuine laugh. Bernardo is a wonderful human being who is interested always in what you have to say. Though we are all human, I have yet to hear him say one mean thing of anyone. He does not complain or lament, he does everything gladly and with a pure heart. This is a man that inspires me to be the best me and makes me believe that I am already LivingLifesBest. I hope he is a person that stays in my life longer than a season, but if that is all the time I spend with him I will never forget who he has been to me.

The other person that has made a huge impression on me is one of my teachers, Beatrice. What a lovely, classy, beautiful woman. I admit I have a big crush on her. Today, I told her if I was to move to Perugia I would implore her to be my friend, to which she responded we already are friends.

I was lucky enough to spend some time with Beatrice at the jazz festival one night when we ran into one another. I introduced my friends and she introduced hers. We had a wonderful conversation that lasted almost a half hour, but felt like only a few minutes.

After eight years of attending various Italian language courses with many instructors, I can guarantee that she is one of two teachers that I feel endeared to; Roberta Tauriello Torgerson from Seattle and now Beatrice.

My dear friend Dr. Rebecca Wheeler

Like Roberta, Beatrice is the cream of the crop, as it is said, when it comes to quality instructors. This experience would have been so different if I had not been placed in her class. 

The most unlikely friendship but most rewarding has been with Dr. Rebecca Wheeler. A linguist by profession, Dr. Wheeler has a command of the English language that I will always envy. It seems appropriate she would travel abroad to study yet another language.

Dr. Wheeler is a kindred spirit with me. We both love words and picking them apart. Making sure we understand their meaning and that we use them as accurately as possible. We both love food, deep discussions, travel, art, and LivingLifesBest. I feel lucky and blessed to have met such a lovely person to share my experiences with.

Though Dr. Wheeler and I feel a connection in many ways, we are also polar opposites in other ways. She takes beautiful notes in class and is very organized and I make chicken scratch and am always in disaray. She plans things out and is very in control while I am flying by the seat of my pants and usually out of control. At the end of the day, that makes for a good match and for a friendship I am thankful to have experienced her friendship in Perugia. 

I have learned so much here at school and it goes so far beyond the language. We study and I get better everyday with my grammar. I speak better and remember more everyday. But it is the connections that have so changed me and helped me to rise to be a better me. 

The master of street food

Matteo - The master of Panini

Since 1916 four generations have prepared oven roasted pork has been on the menu at a little stand in Piazza Matteotti called Antica Salumeria Granieri Amato. Cooked in a Wood fired oven the pork develops a wonderfully crispy skin that is contrasted by  moist herb stuffed meat. Matteo carefully carves the pork with a sharp knife before placing it on a hard Italian roll.
Like most businesses in Italy there is more than just food being served. There are relationships involved. 

I have seen several Porchetta stands in different places around Italy, but for whatever reason I had never tried one of these delicious Panini sandwiches.

During the Umbria Jazz Festival there were a few days when I was waiting on some money to come in and was eating as economically as I could. After passing this Panini stand about the fourth time I noticed to price posted 2.80 euro.

Well, I was ready for this sandwich I had desired for too long. I waited patiently in line while regulars got caught up with the man cutting the beautiful pork sandwiches. I watched as he used a combination of dark meat, light meat, and always a piece of the crispy skin.

When it was my turn I started a conversation with the young man running the stand by himself. His name was Matteo and his smile was as large as smiles get. He is one of those guys whose expressions tell all - surprise, joy, concern are all very evident when he is dealing with both new customers and old.

I was curious about how they prepared the porchetta and about the business, so I started asking questions. Matteo was the man helping me and he told me that for four generations the family had been making Porchetta, and as young as Matteo is I doubt he is going anywhere. I think he has found his post for now.

A hard Italian roll, roasted pork, herbs and crispy skin- Che Buono

The porchetta stand is at the end of my street so I have been getting a sandwich every day or two from Matteo, and even when I am only passing by we always smile and greet one another.

One thing I see in him is I am not the only one LivingLifesBest. Indeed, though life is up and down for everyone, Matteo has found a place in the world where he can please many people, locals and tourists alike. He knows how to enjoy and develop relationships. I have just a week left in Perugia and already I have moments of sadness at the thought of leaving behind so many friends. I am glad that the other day I tried another stand for one of these Panini, because it became clear after one bite that Matteo knows what he is doing but others do not.

The people of Perugia are special. Sometimes it can be tough to get to know locals if you are a tourist in Italy, but in Perugia I find it to be easier than any place I have been in Italy. I can see why Seattle and Perugia are sister cities. We both have proud, kind people who are ready to share food, culture, life and their hearts. If or when you come to Perugia make sure and do more than just greet Matteo and the people of this city. Ask questions and connect as it will be worth the effort. I know that I will eat a few more Panini before I leave for Rome in a week. And once I am gone, I will long for the day when I can return to see my friend and ask for a Panini. 

The experiences keep getting more interesting.

It's not as bad as it looks

My love for cheese has given me one of the more interesting experiences of this voyage to Perugia. I love cheese so much that often I find myself sneaking pieces of it around midnight, especially parmaggiano reggiano and grana padano. Well, being here in Italy I just can’t seem to stay away from it and find myself opening the refrigerator and pulling the block of cheese out two or three times a night to have a small piece. This is what initiated my adventure.

While cutting off a piece of Parmaggiano late Friday night the knife slipped and I cut myself pretty deep on my left hand. It was a bit of a shock, and it took me a few minutes to come to terms with the fact I needed stitches - and a band aid was not going to cut it (pun intended).

I am sure this might gross a few of you out so be warned. I cleaned the wound with disinfectant and sterilized a needle before stupidly trying to stitch it up myself. I did get one stitch done before realizing I was going to need to go to the hospital.

I was more freaked out by the idea of going to a hospital in a foreign country than trying to stitch up my own hand. I was not sure where the hospital was located nor how in the world I was going to get there.


Actually, there was very little pain and not a lot of blood, just a disgusting hole in my hand. I emailed a friend and received a response almost immediately and was bummed to find out he was out of town. So I contacted a couple who I have been hanging out with and thankfully they also responded immediately. They said they would be at my apartment in a few minutes, and indeed before I had even finished dressing they were waiting outside my door.

It was already past midnight and thankfully the hospital emergency room was empty. There was one person being seen by the staff and within a few minutes of my arrival I was being treated.

The doctor, nurses and assistants were all very kind. They smiled and joked with me and made me feel very at ease. Within 30 minutes after my arrival I was walking out the door with four stitches, a story, and friends that I felt much more endeared to.

Matteo e Roberto - True friends indeed

I have recounted this adventure several times already to a variety of people and strangely it has actually made the experience something I do not regret happening.

The cut hurts, but not much more than a sliver or hang nail. I must keep the dressings clean, but of course that is no problem. So what is the takeaway with all of this?

Even at the hospital in Perugia I felt as though I was LivingLifesBest. I am meeting the best people, developing the best friendships and receiving the best care.  I want to thank the people of Perugia, the doctors and nurses at the hospital, but most of all I want to thank my dear friends Roberto e Matteo who came to my rescue in the middle of the night without hesitation. They have proven to me that investing in people makes you rich, not money. 

And the band plays on.....

Last night I made plans to return to a restaurant called "Antica Trattoria delle Volte" that is located at the end of Piazza Matteotti on Via Volte della Pace. I have been there twice already, and thankfully,
I developed a strong connection with the family from the first moment. The menu has typical Umbrian fare as well as some Sicilian dishes, proving that Sicilians are always proud to be Sicilian.

Carmello Messina

Since I had already established a relationship with everyone, the family encouraged me to come on a Thursday night to hear the son (who is one of the waiters) sing live. 

Mamma, like all Italian mothers, is very proud of her son and shot many photos and videos throughout the performance. When I said she must be very proud of her son, she of course smiled from ear to ear - and made it known that he had studied for many years in school to arrive at this point.

The evening was very warm, but we sat outside in the best seats for the performance. We ate, we listened, and sang along as Carmello put on a splendid performance. And what a showman he was. He sang with heart and passion for several hours.

With me at the restaurant were two friends from school. One woman is from Albania and other from the USA. We had a marvelous time, and in fact, it was one of the better evenings I have had so far in Perugia.

The jazz festival might be over but the music never stops. This is a wonderfully alive city overflowing with talent and kindness. Everyday I seem to make new friends and connections. Perugia is a special place and Antica Trattoria delle Volte is one of its shining examples of the people that call this city home.

 I would not be surprised if a few of you out there are jealous that I am here and you are not, however, this can change. I am obviously LivingLifesBest in Perugia but I encourage you to find a way to come and live what I am living, here in this very special place.

I am returning today to interview the family so I can prepare a article about the food here in Perugia and Umbria. It's true that the jazz festival is over, but the band plays on.

Taking the bull by the horns

courtesy of wallpost

When you go out the door in the morning are you searching for opportunity? Are you looking at the ground or are your eyes pointing toward heaven. Are you stewing in your own thoughts or ready to ask questions and find new things? These are some of the things I am asking myself as I am on this learning experience. I realize that this is the opportunity of a lifetime. I saw the value when I applied for the scholarship. And now more than ever I realize I cannot allow any opportunity to escape me again.

I found the Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association (SPSCA) by chance. A friend and I had been attending a conversation table sponsored by our language school (SLA, Seattle Language Academy) at Café Umbria in downtown Seattle that was every other Sunday.

The group we started fizzled as the school did when the economy went bust, and yet we did not know it had done so. It seems that another conversation group was also meeting on Sundays and neither group knew of the other. After a few months it was clear we now were attending a conversation table sponsored by a different group that just happened to be SPSCA. The group invited us to events and shortly thereafter I joined the association. This was one of the best things I have done in years. I became so connected to the Italian community in Seattle and all kinds of new doors opened for me, which brings me to this point.

SPSCA gives away several scholarships every year to attend the University here in Perugia. I knew I wanted this opportunity and sent in my application. My application was reviewed and I was interviewed. I waited as patiently as I could for the response. When I found out I had indeed been awarded one of the scholarships, I was thrilled.

courtesy of Amitt Pastel Designs 

And now here I am. Deeply indebted to SPSCA and to all who have helped me get here. To all the members, and to my sponsors that helped me pay for the things SPSCA could not pay for, I must say thank you. I am grateful to friends and associates that have given me information for this trip, helped set up meetings and given me advice.

I am here and living a life that so many wish they could - and I see that. I will not lord it over anyone but I will say this. If you have yet to grab your life by the horns please do so. If you must network, step out of your comfort zone. or stretch yourself further than you expected…..then do it. Live your best life. Find your path. Live your dreams, but do it with intention knowing you cannot arrive at some place without putting the work in to get there. I am here because of others, but had I not tried, sought and worked, I would not have been able to utilize what others offered. LivingLifesBest is work and it involves sacrifice. LivingLifesBest is not about sappy feel good moments as those are only a result. LivingLifesBest is about searching for the best you and giving the most back you can. Its about loving yourself and life enough challenge the status quo and step out of your comfort zone. So take the bull by the horns and make your life happen.  

The biggest lesson so far......

Patience is a Virtue……

The confusing maps....

What can I say about school. Its’s a little complicated to say the least. The bureaucratic red tape one must get through is much more challenging than what you experience at home in the United States.

If  you have ever waited in a line in Italy, perhaps taken a number or been told to wait a moment at a business, in school, or at the bank, I cannot imagine you would complain much after you returned home. The culture certainly is different. Very different! Waiting in Italy and waiting at home can be two extremely different experiences.

Having lived in Rome, I have learned patience and how to live in the moment without judgment or anger. Once you resolve yourself to the differences everything is much easier to deal with. This is not what one expects “La Dolce Vita” to be.  But in all things, it is best to just be patient.

To begin classes at the University, one is first required to check into one office where they then send you to another office, then you must go to yet another office just to get registered (even after pre-registering before I left for Perugia).

In between your office visits, you must take your placement entrance exam. The exam comprises written and oral tests. When you take the written test you must then wait several hours before you can take the oral exam, then again you must return for the results before pushing on to the next building for the next set of hoops. Then there was the three day chase from one building to another across town in which I lost my first five pounds (while eating plenty of pizza, pasta, and gelato) - and that was just to get my wifi code that doesn’t even work. It is all very confusing and trust me when I say even the most patient people find themselves grinding their teeth and taking many deep breaths.

Having jumped through what I thought were all the hoops, I found myself registered in the 2^nd level intermediate courses. I felt pretty comfortable in my class, and in true Ian fashion, I became quite popular within two days. My big personality is one that the younger students find fascinating. Still I had problems getting to classroom on my first full day of courses because I had mistakenly taken four lamictal pills instead of my normal two….WOW, what an incredibly strange experience that was.

Most of you know I study maps and know where I am most all of the time and rarely get lost. In a small town with a business district no larger than my own West Seattle neighborhood, it seems odd I would be so lost for so long but the pills made me as medically drunk as I could have imagined. I was seeing two and three of everything. After two hours of wandering the streets of Perugia I somehow managed to find the building and tried to concentrate for the remaining few hours of class time.


So here's the humorous irony. Because I was so drunk on meds when I left class that day, I forgot to pay attention to where I had been and could not find my classes the next day, but was lost for only an hour. I know not to make that mistake again.

With all that behind me I settled into my classes for the next week.

As this second week came to a close, I was called into the main office which is located on the other side of town. I worked my way up hill. then down hill, to get from one building to the other. When I arrived and found the right office (another story too long to tell), I found out I had yet to get some paperwork filed (REALLY?).

I was in need of my "Codice Fiscale." This is a necessary paper for my Borsa or scholarship that proves I am in the country - and here legally. I was a bit surprised to find out how far it was to the next office and was given another one of the same terrible unreadable maps from the office. Thankfully I could use my googlemaps phone app or I would have again wandered for hours.

Well, the office I was expected to go to was at the bottom of the valley. That may not sound like much but I was at the top of the city and now needed to go to the bottom. I walked down for 45 minutes… much of it stairs. I was lucky I made it in time as I was the last person taken for the day.

I got my paperwork done and then began my climb back up hill. It was the hottest part of the day; 95 degrees and the most humidity I had felt since I arrived. I began a conversation with God…..”Hey Lord….Really?”  “Lord I am confused as to why I seem to be running into more problems than the other students…what is that all about”?

In typical God fashion, He said to me clearly, deep in my spirit: “Ian….you are not here to learn Italian, you are here to learn patience”! I laughed out loud and the woman walking next to me just gave me an incredibly intense glance of disapproval. It was at that moment I began looking at everything that was good . I was in Italy, I had made great friends, I was eating good food everyday, I was learning about new cultures of my classmates, I was connecting with the school staff because of how many problems I had, I was in warm weather that was far from the grey of Seattle, and I was getting a workout that meant I could eat plenty of pizza and gelato without consequences. I was truly grateful in that moment, even though I was sweating, panting, and ready to physically die.

I arrived back at the main office from where I had started an hour before the cutoff time for turning in my paperwork. When I entered the office they were all gone to lunch. Again, I laughed took a deep breath and walked uphill to my apartment to quickly to take a cold shower before returning to drop off my paper work.

The entire ordeal took six hours in total. Though hot and tired, I felt very relaxed and happy. I realized my reward was not getting upset; my reward was not letting it get to me. I was still happy for the gift of being here and felt incredibly blessed I had not let it all get to me.  

I have a few more paperwork red tape issues that will come up in a few days, and I have no idea if that will go as planned or become another adventure. Yet I am ready for the challenge and understand that my reward is in LivingLifesBest when everything seems to be going so wrong. Like God told me, I was not here to learn the language, that is just secondary to learning patience. This is a lesson I will cherish more than any second language I could learn. 

It comes to an end

Crowds filling the piazza at the main-stage

I was actually a bit sad when this last Sunday night the Umbria Jazz Festival came to an end. I had become accustomed to going out every night to experience one big party only 5 minutes uphill from my apartment.

I wish I could remember her name-she was great!!

My street is quiet for the most part and it was not until I arrived at the top of the hill that I would hear the music filling the main piazza.

There were two stages at either end of the historic center and several groups playing on the street that runs between. The crowds always waited with anticipation for the groups to hit the stage, and it seemed every night became more electric as the somewhat conservative Italians became more relaxed and seemed to dance more and more with growing enthusiasm as the week progressed.  

A clown keeps the attention of young ones

One of the surprising cultural differences that made me cock my head to side like a confused puppy was the number of strollers making their way up and down the main street with small children late into the night. And the parents having less fear than an American parent ever would have when it came to the sheer number of people crowding around the stroller. It was refreshing to know that there was no cultural judgement for this very family- oriented way of doing things, but also disturbing as I felt the children were a bit unsafe in these crowds so late into the night.

The crowd's favorite "Funk Off"

Several groups really impressed me during the week of the festival. The group that made the most lasting impression was "Funk Off," one that I mentioned before. They were insanely fun to watch as the jumped and danced with choreographed moves that sent unbridled energy into the stratosphere. Every time they took the stage the crowd went insane (by Italian standards). In fact, on the last night of the festival they were the final group to take the stage in the main piazza and for the first time I was able to see their entire performance. I was smiling from ear to ear and rocking back and forth with the group as they did moves reminiscent of a gospel choir.

Another great street performer

Then there was KJ Denhert. Wow this lady had some serious soul. I have a short clip of her so take a look at our YouTube page, LivingLifesBest.


http://youtu.be/CKCllV6YSkQ

Another highlight for me was the Roosevelt High School Jazz Band. I was so proud to see our hometown kids wow the crowds with their outstanding performance. Please take a look at them on LivingLifesBest YouTube page at:

http://youtube.com/7VhtWHxgtSs

East Park Reggae Collective

Though I could not get tickets to the sold out Sting concert, I did head down with some friends to the stadium and we caught a few songs looking on from afar before making our way back up the hill to end the night with a performance by a all white reggae group that blew us away.

Denis Montgomery III and the Berklee Choir

They call themselves the "East Park Reggae Collective" and with the cool sounds and relaxed delivery, we danced until we needed plenty of water. I can guarantee that if you had seen the smile on my face after the long closing evening of the festival you would have seen that I was LivingLifesBest.

Its not a party without balloons

I hope I can return one day to attend the festival again, but if I don't I will always remember this week as being one of the most enjoyable and musically fullfilling weeks of my life.

Street artists

One of the wonderful things about any festival is the street artists. Adiversity of street performers are here in Perugia for Umbria Jazz 12. From performance art to music, painters to craft specialists, they are all inspiring and make up the canvas of this festival. All week I have enjoyed the vast array of art offered from one end of town to the next.

Musically there has been big band jazz to funk. Performers from dance, to Kung Fu, clowns to street painting. Craft specialists from puppet makers to jewelry makers.This festival is so interesting that even though I am not usually one for crowds, I would return to Perugia again just for this festival.

It truly is one big party and all of Umbria seems to embrace it and feed the energy. This festival is not great just because of the performers but because the Umbrians return to the artists the same energy given. They are so responsive and appreciative that the feeling is more electric than any other festival I have been to in my life. 

Just a walk down my street

My days have been much more filled with activities than I expected. I have not yet left Perugia, having thought by now I would have been all over Umbria. School, homework, photos, writing, spending time with friends, eating and eating and eating have all been taking up my time.

I also should say that the heat has been intense. It has hovered between 95-100 F everyday. With no air conditioning in my place, or at the university, I am feeling pretty drained much of the time and my body will not allow me to do all that I want.

I am not complaining. In fact, I could not be more happy LivingLifesBest here...I am just feeling a bit slowed down and satiated. This weekend I plan on taking a lot of photos as I have not yet had the chance to get into the groove. I want to concentrate on doing my photo study of the city. 

This weekend will bring to a close the L'Umbria Jazz Festival and I have yet to share with you how great it is. For those of you who have been to Bumbershoot in Seattle, let me tell you this is waaaaaay better. 

Just a note to let you all know who I have enjoyed the most and plan on seeing again tonight. They call themselves "Funk Off."  They are some bad ass brass playing Italians that somehow have a soul that is not what you expect to find in the pasta capitol of the world. Here is a short link of these guys in action. I hope to post something of them later.....

http://youtu.be/9NRbdG9Vgks

Here are some photos from the other day....I will post more tomorrow. I miss you all.....

 

The light is so intense it makes the colors pop

Tucked in secret passages you can find the best food

It's all in the details

Just walking down my street there is so much to see....

It’s always nice to make connections in the most unexpected places. And it makes it all the more special when the connection comes out of a problem that you have encountered.

In my apartment, the owner put in a brand new washing machine just before I arrived. In fact it had never been used before. 


I should have known better than to leave after putting a load in, because you guessed it, I came home to a big problem. First, I could not open the bathroom door because it was blocked by the new washing machine. The machine had moved during the spin cycle blocking the door from opening. There were a few minutes of panic; how was I going to fix this problem? Lord knows I needed the washing machine and the bathroom. 


Well, I took a couple of deep breaths and with some patience and maneuvering I was able to get the door unblocked. That was, however, not the real problem. There was the water all over the floor, and lots of it. The hose on the back of the machine had come loose and disconnected from the wall. I cleaned up everything and washed the unfinished clothes by hand.

Obviously I had to call the landlord. I was a bit nervous as she is just a little uptight with all the new items she has bought for this place, yet thankfully she called the plumber right away. We set up a time for the following day and I went about my business.

When the plumbers arrived I was a bit intimidated by the indifferent looks on their face. Wow, they certainly looked like the stereo typical Italian workers in sleeveless shirts and dirty jeans - with calloused hands and the distinct appearance of hard working men. When they started to fix the machine I tried to stay out of the way, but I was barraged with questions.

In their incredibly thick accents they began asking a lot of questions; where are you from, what do you do, why are you here, how long will you stay… and so on.

They were much more interested in me then their faces led me to believe.

When the head plumber put a load of laundry in and started it there was some time where we just had to wait to see if the hose indeed was secure. That was when the surprise came. He asked me to take a photo of his co-worker.

I certainly was neither expecting that nor what followed. I think when they asked me for a photo they had the impression I was going to take a photo in the hall leading to the bathroom, but now I was the boss and on my own territory.

I took the lead and told the plumber where to stand. I popped off a few photos and since he was photogenic I only needed to shoot four photos before I said…got it (in Italian of course). Still knowing this was my game I told the head plumber to get over to the window so I could take a picture of him. I don’t know why he was reluctant since it was his idea to begin with, but it didn’t take much coaxing to get him smiling and posing.

From that moment on they had lost that intimidating look and now had large smiles on their faces and laughed with me as they watched me work on the photos in Photoshop. We laughed some more and they asked more questions before they cleaned up and got ready to go. In incredibly typical Italian fashion they did not finish the job; evidently they needed one more part to complete everything. We made plans to meet up the following day so they could finish.  

Out of a frustrating situation I made a very nice connection will the locals and had another moment where I was LivingLifesBest. I look forward to laughing with them tomorrow and give them a copy of their photos. I do hope that I do not have anymore surprises that involve broken things, but if I do I now have faith that I might make another connection with someone in the most unlikely situation. 

A few photos

There is just beautiful architecture everywhere

Mike James recommended this place to me and ohhh was he right. Buono!!!!I will have more photos to share soon but I wanted to post a few that I took yesterday at the Jazz festival. 

I captured a video of the Roosevelt High School Jazz Band from Seattle and tried to post it, but I can't seem to upload it yet. As soon as I do, those of you from Seattle can have some pride in our kids that have traveled so far and played so well. Bravi Kids....Well done!

And  a message to Mike James, who is one of several people who helped me get here. I just want to say thanks. I went to Il Bacio and had a truffel pizza.....wowowowow!! Che buona!!

Off to school, so I will post more later. 

Another one of the great groups and bands

She was just so cute

The festivities went from morn to night

My life and my room with a view

The Spello valley, Assisi and Mont. Subasio from my bedroom.

A room with a view always stirs our souls. We find moments of grace looking out over a city or water, or in my case today the Spello Valley and Assisi (the home of Saint Francis). The apartment I have rented in Perugia for my stay has an incredible view, but not just any view. From my bed in the morning or evening I see the very spot where God spoke to me and told this ole Pentecostal to become a Catholic. 

My friends know I am very spiritual, and my close friends know I am more spiritual than most people you meet on a day to day basis, however, I do not wear it on my sleeve as others, yet I believe it has no less impact, in fact I think it has more. So it was no surprise to anyone when I departed for my journey to Assisi on vacation and a spiritual pilgrimage. The surprise indeed was not in going, it was in what happened. Allow me to share a brief story….

The street behind my apartment

On my first visit to Italy my friend and I had an arugument in the car driving just below Assisi. There came a point when we were not making any progress with our verbal sparing match so we both shut our mouths.

He drove while I looked out the window scowling. In the silence, God spoke to me in a soft but very resonant voice. He said “what are you so angry about, you are in Italy”? I literally started laughing out loud and told my friend what God had said. Well, he was not as impressed as I was, but then again when someone says God just spoke to you they are not often quick to believe or listen to what you’re saying.

As we continued down hill away from Assisi we stopped at the Basilica Santa Maria Degli Angelli in the town below the old walled city. It is a giant basilica built to house the original chapel of Saint Francis.

I was standing in front of the Basilica popping off a few photos when I heard the voice of God more clearly than I had in the car, as clear as ever in my life….Ian, I want you to become a Catholic. Well the short version is that I did. I was obedient and as a result I am making a difference in my community regardless of the politics of the church that do not reflect who I know God to be.

View at night

Now everyday from my room I have a view of that spot. Seeing the space that so drastically changed me clears my mind, pleases the eyes, and inspires me - but most of all it reminds me of who I am, whose I am, and where I am going. Being an artist, I always try to get a room with a view for inspiration and a type of meditation. A view in which the rest of the world disappears; a view where one can stop and be in the moment. For me, there has never been a more beautiful view seen through these eyes than this one I am visualizing as I write to you all. The hills of Umbria, its roofs, its green valleys - but I also I see me, my past and my future. I am thankful that this setting is much more than just a view to me; it represents the moment that drastically changed my life and its direction. It was a turning point of my life where my quest in LivingLifesBest began.

What view inspires you? What view calms you or most impresses you?

I hope...no, I pray that the views you see in your life will give you something you didn’t expect. At this moment the church bells ring and I am off to Sunday morning mass. and I pray that the views you see will inspire you and will help you to live your life’s best.

Happy travels - and don’t forget to stop and take in the view!

Piazza XIV Novembre

Piazza XIV Novembre
The meeting place of the city

Though most of you know this is not my best photo, I sure wanted to share it with you all in hopes you will feel the inspiration to travel and see beautiful places on your own. LivingLifesBest means sometimes you challenge yourself to make things happen. If it's been too long since you have seen Italy then come. If you never have been then come. Learn a little bit about La Dolce Vita.... And have some darn good pizza, gelato, wine and pasta while you're at it.

Pizzeria Mediterranea

Carmine, Salvatore 

After writing about Pizza the other day, it seems my obsession has returned after a three year absence in Italy. Being in the USA you just can’t get pizza like this no matter where you go. It can be close, but never is the real deal. For me I am so happy and content with Pizzeria Mediterranea that I have been there almost every night for pizza. When I find a place that is as good as this often I just stick with it and have a hard time trying to find something as good. Though I want to eat the same pizza I tried on the second visit over and over (Pizza Cosacca- 3.70 euro), I have decided to try at least 5- 10 more of their different offerings during my stay here.

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Margret, Tania, Laura

I visited the pizzeria the other day and asked them some questions about the place and chatted with the entire staff who was as kind as could be with smiles to go around. I always feel so welcome.

Q; How many years has the pizzeria been open?

A; 12-13 years in the same location.

Q; Why did you open the pizzeria?

A; The owner is from Napoli the home of the pizza, so why not?

Q; Why call it Pizzeria Mediterranea when it’s located so far inland.

A; Again it’s because the owner is from that region of Italy.

Q; What is the best selling and most loved pizza?

A; Well, the house specialty of course, Pizza Mediterranea (6 euro)

Delphine

The wood burning oven is beautiful and cooks the pizzas in record time. I usually have my pizza in front of me within 5-7 minutes. It’s fun to watch the staff preparing and stretching the dough and throwing pizza after pizza. The place is always busy and stays open till 11pm. Last night I tried Pizza Boscaiolo (6.00 euro). Oh my goodness it was delicious. The crust was perfectly crispy with the wood oven flavor, eggplant, peppers, tomato’s, mushrooms, artichokes, mozzarella and pecorino cheeses. The cheese was so rich that the vegetables balanced the richness. Ok, my mouth is watering and it is lunch time. I think I know where I am headed….buon appetito!

My Pizza Obsession

Even the best Pizza in America can’t quite capture the flavors of what you find in Italy. Before my arrival my mouth would water when I thought of Italian Pizza in Italy. My idea of the best pizza has an almost burnt crust with bubbles. It’s crispy and chewy without having an over abundance of toppings. It’s not overly cheesed or sauced; it has just the right balance.

Fungi e Prosciutto at Pizza Mediteranea

The first night I arrived in Perugia it was late and I had had nothing to eat for most of the day as I was traveling.

I had heard that even on a Sunday night there was a Pizzeria close to my apartment called Pizzeria Mediteranea and that was open until midnight. Exhausted and hot, I climbed one of the steep hills of Perugia to the main piazza for this famous pizza. And for me it did not disappoint. The pizza was 5 euros and a quarter carafe of wine 2 euros (can you believe it? I just love Italy)!  

I was telling my friend Marco who lives here how much I enjoyed their pizza, and in typical Italian fashion he tells me its not very good and that there is a better Pizzeria called “Pompei”. Well now my curiosity is getting the best of me. Is there actually pizza that is better than the one I had already tried? I have decided I must go to both pizzerias and do a comparison taste test right? Poor me, I will suffer trying to decide who has the best pizza in town…but don’t feel sorry for me, I am just LivingLifesBest, and when I make a decision, I will let you know!

Buon apetito!

PS: If you live in Seattle like me, the closest pizza to true Italian pizza is Via Tribunali. I prefer the one on Capitol Hill, but there are several around town. 

Arriving in Perugia

Piazza IV Novembre

I arrived in Perugia on the hottest day of the year to the sounds of air horns blaring. The height of the day's temperature hit 100 F and I was carrying three pieces of luggage up the hill of an ancient hilltop town to my apartment for the month. As hot and sweaty as I was, there was still a sense of awe as I entered the old city.

Soccer fans fill the piazzas

The cause of this noise breaking through the beauty of this special place was clearly the joy of Italy's participation in the World Cup. You see, if you do not follow soccer you would not have known that Italy was in the World Cup Soccer finals with Spain...and Italy could not have been more proud to be there.

Men and woman draped in flags made their way uphill to the center of town. All the piazzas and restaurants from one end of town to the other were filled with thousands of Italians celebrating together with pride for mother Italy and her boys that made it to the finals. The Superbowl of soccer was about to start and there was an anticipation and excitement in the air that made my arrival very special.

So as I settled into my apartment, I continued to hear loud voices yelling and horns combined with the odors of home cooked Italian food from every house near and far. Not only was this the World Cup, it was also Sunday which in Italy is not only sacred as a day of rest and church, but also because its the family meal day where everyone gathers at the table for a nice long supper.

View from my room in Perugia

I was hungry for my first pizza and headed uphill to join the dedicated fans. If you have never been to Italy for pizza you can't know what real pizza is.

I had read that Pizzaria Mediteranea was the best in town and they were open late which is important in a small town. I ordered a mushroom pizza for 5 euros and a small carafe of red wine for 2 euros and ended up having my best meal in months.

The crust was perfectly doughy, crispy and brown with little burn bubbles on it. The cheese was flavorful and rich, the basil very, very sweet, and the mushrooms fresh. I was in heaven  - and all for a mere 7 euros. God is sooooooo good to me! I truly had planned on saving half my pizza for breakfast, but that idea went out the door after my first bite. In Italian we say La pizza e` buonissima.....The pizza is incredible. I was glad to have read and heard about this place. A superb choice to be sure!!! 

Well, as you might already know Italy lost the game and some pride. The crowd's  shoulders dropped in sadness yet they laughed and ate some gelato. So I did too.....Melone, pistacchio and banana... mmmmmmmm.  My favorite thing in the entire world is gelato so I consoled myself with it.

So thats it....I am finally here and ready for this adventure. In a city this old a lost game will not stop time from moving forward nor stop Italians from making and eating great pizza , or enjoying a passeggiata with a cone or cup of Gelato.

As I continue livinglifesbest, tomorrow I anticipate going to Lake Trasimeno with a new friend from school. So I am sure there will be lots to tell......

Starting the trip in Amsterdam

Prinsengracht canal

 I have said over the years many times that visiting Amsterdam feels the same as going to a favorite Aunt’s house. I feel like I am settling into a favorite chair or eating a bowl of oatmeal on a cold day. It’s just that comfortable and that down to earth. If I were to compare it to an American city I would say it feels like San Francisco in the sense that it’s both classy and bawdy, stylish and gritty. Still Amsterdam is much more than its stereotypes and its showy indulgences.

One of the great joys of traveling is meeting the local people and finding out how they live. Though often the trials and tribulations they face are no different than ours. there are those cultural differences that can inspire us to change and teach us different ways of doing things.

Central Square

I am always happy to greet Amsterdam like an old friend. I don’t need to go to museums here (though they are amazing) as I have seen them. I don’t need to go to the many touristy places or do touristy things. I have no need to gawk at the ladies of the evening lining the streets with red lights above the door. Instead, I seek to meet the Dutch people. So kind and accommodating with a sense of humor that can take one off guard, they will surprise you with their genuine interest in you and their desire to help when ever possible.

This trip started out like most others I have taken to Europe. I have had a multitude of small problems from getting on the right tram to using phones. And since my arrival yesterday, I have had to call on the kindness of the Dutch. They have impressed me again with their willingness to go overboard to help little ole me. I will always come back to this city with a sigh of relief knowing I will enjoy the people and the culture.

The Cheese Factory-Incredible store for high end cheeses, spreads and food items

The Dutch love life and their life is built around the café as much as any French person. Many of their gathering places are called “Brown Bars” - called that because of all the smoke over the years.

These places have a lot of history serving as a second living room for the Amsterdamians. The bars are a place to socialize, decompress, sing and be merry. I was in one last night where the patrons, waiters, waitresses and bartenders were singing along with some Dutch song that everyone in the bar but me new by heart. Everyone was smiling, singing, dancing and just enjoying the moment without pretense.

With such a lively communal celebration, I understand why the Dutch smile more than some others. They have the same troubles but don’t take it all as seriously as we do. They understand there is a time to forget your troubles and laugh, visit, smile and enjoy your friends, family and community.

The Cheese Factory cheese

I am writing these words as I fly to Milan. And though I am now in Italy (my second home), I am already looking forward to my return to Amsterdam….”my favorite aunt’s house” …….Now off to Perugia…..