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The Italian "Mac 'n Cheese"

American college kids don't always have time for cooking. Between studying, exams, and enjoying the "college experience," the normal weeknight meal is two minutes in the microwave.

That's a little hard if you live in a country where KRAFT Macaroni and Cheese doesn't exist, and microwaves are not common. Pizza gets old after the first two weeks and the Chinese take-out can start to burn a hole in your pocket.

So, what's for dinner?

Cacio e Pepe. It's quick, it's easy, and it's the closest thing that you're going to get to good old mac and cheese in Italy.

Made from the Roman staples (pasta, olive oil, pecorino cheese, parmigiano cheese, salt and pepper), it is the best dish for those days when you have "nothing in the house." Most Roman kitchens are over-stocked with these ingredients; going hungry is not accepted in Italy.

How to make it:
Bring a pot of water to a boil and add a healthy amount of salt to the water. Drop in the pasta (spaghetti, rigatoni, whatever). When the pasta is al dente, drain the water and return the pasta to the pot. Add a few big dollops of olive oil, the grated cheese and pepper. Stir. If it comes out chunky, you have to add more oil (or a spoonful of the pasta water).

Posted by Kelsea at 4:50 AM | Comments (1)

White Night

Every year on a Saturday in September, Rome celebrates La Notte Bianca ("White Night"). Stores stay open all night, restaurants serve for 24 hours straight and the streets of the city center are flooded with pedestrians.

While many choose to take advantage of the bars being open until six a.m., the real charm of White Night is the variety of concerts, theatrical performances and art exhibitions that can be found all over Rome. Museums open their doors for a cheap fare, and even some private collections can be viewed. Dancers perform in piazzas and jazz musicians play outdoor concerts.

Being a poor student, I had to work my waitress job on Saturday night. I did, however, get released around one a.m. -- which is better than two years ago when I had just moved here and had to work until seven a.m. ...completely unaware of what Notte Bianca was.

Exiting the restaurant, I stepped immediately into the mob of drunken chaos. After a long night of carrying trays and translating menus into English for pushy customers, the last thing I wanted to do was to be stuck in a crowd. I elbowed my way through the center and across the Tiber River. As I was frantically looking for a bus to get me safely home and into bed, I noticed a bright green light coming from the church up on the Janiculum Hill. Curious, I decided to climb the stairs and see what was going on.

I found that the Tempietto had been flooded with green lights and taken over with video screens. On each screen was a film of a person's face looking at the camera -- portrait style. Eerie tango music echoed around the stone structure. While the city pulsed below me, I stood up on the hill in front of High Renaissance architecture housing modern art; something one can only find in Rome.

Posted by Kelsea at 4:50 AM | Comments (2)

Back to School

Summer is over -- at least for us students here in Rome. No more long days spent on the beaches of Sardegna or exploring parks. Arrivederci (goodbye) to afternoons spent in piazzas, sipping cappuccinos and people-watching. Farewell to warm nights and taking an after-dinner stroll to the geleteria. Now it's back to school: Early morning classes, lunches on the run and late-night studying. The fun has ended.

But has it? Being a college student has its ups and downs; but being a college student abroad is an exciting experience. Sure, all students have to study, but I know kids who take their books to the Villa Borghese and read in the shade of the trees. Art students sit in piazzas and sketch the pedestrians. Language students sit in coffee shops and try to eavesdrop on conversations to learn Italian. And where do they take their breaks? In the Vatican Museums, touring the Coliseum or just wandering aimlessly around the city, losing themselves in the beauty of it all.

Looking back on nearly a year’s worth of blog entries, I realized that I have never been really clear about why I am in Rome for such an extended period of time. Many fortunate students get the chance to study abroad for a semester or year, but few are aware that there are many American schools in foreign countries that students can attend for all four years (or more).

I will admit: It’s not easy. Going four years straight (not counting the trips back home for Christmas) without Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, mom’s home-cooking, bagels, or a decent public transportation system is considered impossible by some. Personally, I find the experience of living abroad for an extended period of time a priceless opportunity.

So here I am, a junior studying communications at the American University of Rome. It's just like any other university, but a better location. Google search “American university of” in front of any major city and something is bound to pop up. To anyone who is considering undergraduate education, my best advice is to check out universities abroad. Not only will you have an amazing experience, but it’s a great excuse for your friends and family to go on vacation and visit you!

Posted by Kelsea at 3:19 PM | Comments (0)