I actually do work here...

Though it may not seem like it from my previous blog posts, I actually do have a full time job in Rome.  I just finished my 4th week of work at the UN World Food Programme Headquarters and I absolutely love it!

We just released the new version of the Students and Teachers section of WFP.org and each one of you should definitely check it out.  The new site offers lots of great resources for teachers, like our classroom activities that are cross-curricular in scope and easily fit to attain existing curriculum goals.  There are educational news feeds, stories of interest, sites providing interactive games for students, and there is even a blog where we post daily.

So, go to www.wfp.org/students-and-teachers and see what I have been up to!

An Adventure in Tuscany

Simonetta invited Angela, my mom and I to her country home in Tuscany for the weekend. We were simply to get on the train to Orbatello, where she would pick us up and then drive us to her home. Well...we bought the right tickets, but got on the wrong train! Please note that Orte is not short for Orbatello. After a 2 hour train ride, we got off and realized we were in the wrong place. We called Simonetta and worked out a solution, we would take another train to Vitterbo which was out of her way, but would get us closer than we were. Since the train wasn't for another hour and a half we decided to make the best of it and drink a bottle of wine and laugh about the situation.

Once we made it to Vitterbo, Simonetta picked us up and off we went. We stopped in the town of Toscania, a quaint little medieval village, and had a wonderful dinner at a no-named restaurant run by two old Italian ladies. There was no menu and only 3 options for each course. I had gnocchi al cacio e pepe, and I have to say it was the best cacio e pepe I have had! After indulging in 2 courses, plus bread, we all decided we should walk around the ancient city. Needless to say we got very lost, and ended up walking for about an hour, asking every Italian we saw "Dov'e Via Roma?" With each Italian giving us a different response. Eventually we found the car, and off we went to Simonetta's country home about 3km from the beautiful Tuscan coast.

After a good night's rest, we woke up and got ready to soak up the Tuscan sun. Simonetta

needed to finish up some things around her property, so she got one of her local friends to take us to the beach. Carino, chef/handyman/musician, picked us up and off we went to the beach. It really was like a scene from a movie. Two Americans, a Colombian and a crazy old Italian man speeding along the the winding Tuscan roads in a tiny little blue car listening to the traditional music of Abruzzo. We spent the rest of the morning relaxing in the sun, enjoying life.

It was a humerous weekend which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Mio compleanno a Roma

So Wednesday was my birthday, and I have to say it was one of the best I have had.

When I got to work in the morning there was a beautiful bouquet of flowers, pink gerbera daisies and yellow roses, waiting at my desk from my co-workers. Following that they surprised me with a beautiful pair of earrings. Then, my mom, who is spending the week in Roma, flew in and met me at WFP HQ around 10:00am and spent the whole day with me. For dinner that night my mom, Angela, Simonetta, and myself enjoyed a fabulous dinner at AnticaPesa, followed by gelato - combo you can never go wrong with!

Villa Pamphili - A Slice of Italian Paradise

I spent today - a beautiful Sunday, not a cloud in the sky - strolling around Villa Pamphili with Simonetta, the amazing lady I am renting a room from. We packed a picnic of insalata, pane, fragole (fresh from her country estate), ricotta forno, e vino bianco. Of course, the only way to have a proper picnic in Roma is with wine! We walked about 4km, stopped and ate our delicious lunch, then walked a little further to a little coffee shop in the middle of the park to have un caffe. After walking a little bit more we decided to find a nice piece of grass to lay down on and take a quick nap. Refreshed and ready to walk 4km more we headed back down to Trastevere.

Today was a relaxing, much needed break from the fast paced, tourist crowded streets.

The International World of Coca-cola

Why is it that Cokes in the U.S. are made with high fructose corn syrup while abroad they are made with 100% pure cane sugar?  The taste of an international can of Coca-cola is far superior than that of the corn-enriched American version.

If anyone goes to the World of Coke in Atlanta will you please bring up this perplexing issue.

Work, work, work...

So, Monday was my first official day at the UN World Food Programme Headquarters.  Laura rode the train with me to help me find my way and to be there to capture every Kodak moment.

Note:  Do not try to take a picture outside of HQ at the WFP sign. Security will stop you and it will be embarrasing!

After that fiasco, I finally made it to my desk.  Yes, that's right, my very own desk with a telephone that says my name and a computer that, well, kind of works.  Apparently my computer has a history of not working properly and taking days to sort out.  Due to the technical difficulty I spent most of my first day sitting and staring at blank, blue screen, alternating with the lovely view of McDonald's that is right outside my window.

Day 2:  Still no working computer, but excited nonetheless to be a member of the WFP Youth Outreach Team, currently consisting only of myself and Graham, the Youth Outreach Coordinator.  Computer or not, I was busy working on lots of projects to meet our Friday deadline to have all the content for the new version of the "Students & Teachers" section of the WFP website.

By the third day I am finally in the swing of things and fully functioning with a working computer! 

I absolutely LOVE my job!

Roma's Best

Here is a list of the best places I've found in Roma:

Roma's Best Gelato:

Giorgiagel's
Via S. Francesco a Ripa 130
00153 Roma, Italia

This tiny little store about a block from my apartment has the best and cheapest gelato in town! Un piccolo cono for 1,50 euro is the perfect way to end a day. They make their gelato fresh every morning and Giorgiagel is there every day and insists that you get panna (whipped cream) every time. Thanks Julie and Jennifer for introducing me to this amazing place!


Roma's Best Pizza:

La Boccaccia - Pizza e Focaccia
Via Santa Dorotea 2
00153 Roma, Italia

This is the perfect place to grab a quick bite to eat after walking around Trastevere. The pizza is delicious and cheap, for 2-3 euro you can get a slice and a coke.


Roma's Best Organic Grocery Store:

Trastevere Bio
Via Santa Dorotea 11
00153 Roma, Italia

This store offers a wide variety of fresh organic pastas, fruits and veggies, snacks and more.


Roma's Best Restaurant:

AnticaPesa
Via Garibaldi 18
00153 Roma, Italia

For an elegant dining experience this ristorante is the perfect choice. It has been tempting palates since 1922 and is one of those places you just don't want to leave. Thanks again Julie and Jennifer for introducing me!


Roma's Best Clothing Store:

(ethic)
Via del Pantheon 46/47
00186 Roma, Italia

Here you can find unique, made in Italy designs that use natural fibers and dyes, avoiding anything synthetic. Only small quantities of each design are made so you won't find people all over the world wearing the same thing.


Rome's Best Secret View:

Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta

In this piazza in the beautiful Aventine area of Roma you can see a minature view of St. Peter's framed by a tree-lined avenue by looking through the bronze keyhole in the doorway to the Priory of the Knights of Malta. This makes a wonderful late afternoon walk on the way to dinner.


Rome's Best Bird's Eye View:

Dome of St. Peter's Basilica

You have to wait in line for about 1.5 hours, then climb 551 steps, but it is well worth the effort. On a clear day you can see the mountains in the distance, as well as every part of the city. You can also see the amazing symmetry of Bernini's colonnade in the Piazza San Pietro.