Rigatoni with Zucchini & Saffron and Asparagus with Balsamic, Garlic, & Tomato Reduction

Church Bells

This weekend Giulio and I attended his cousin's wedding in his hometown. Everything was perfect. We began the day with a morning run on narrow roads through the country. The traditional Catholic ceremony began around 11am and was followed by a beautiful lunch in the house next door to Giulio's parents' home. The food was incredible and everything was perfectly arranged. After dining for nearly 5 hours, we returned home for a siesta in effort to prepare ourselves for the country-themed red lipstick/mustache party (opting to penetrate social standards with a decided role-reversal). We spent the night drinking, eating, dancing, and even bobbing for apples- it was a beautiful affair and a sensational party.

The following morning, Giulio and I enjoyed breakfast outside, after which I excused myself to the restroom for 5 minutes, to find him upon my return, standing against the courtyard doors with a massive gun aimed at the passing pigeons.

Sausage, Tomato, and Arugula Fettuccine

1 9-ounce package fettuccine or linguine
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, chopped
6 ounces Italian turkey sausage (i actually doubled this)
2 teaspoons minced garlic (though I love garlic and would have double to tripled this)
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
3 cups baby arugula leaves
parmesan to your heart's desire
Preparation

• 1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain in a colander over a bowl, reserving 2/3 cup cooking liquid.
• 2. While pasta cooks, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook for 3-5 minutes, until "glassy". Remove casings from sausage. Break sausage into bite-sized pieces and add to pan; cook 3 minutes or until browned, stirring frequently to crumble. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add tomatoes and pepper; cover and cook 2 minutes. Mash tomatoes with the back of a wooden spoon to break them up. Cover pan; reduce heat to low, and cook 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Add pasta, reserved 2/3 cup cooking liquid, and arugula; toss well. Sprinkle with pecorino Romano.

Mozzarella Burgers

Mozzarella Burgers- buon appetito! 

This recipe is quick and easy but presents rather impressively. I even managed to woo Giulio's bestie Tommaso who is well known for being the preeminent chef (and economist) of his peers.

• Start with a large tomato (preferably heirloom and ripe) and cut it in half. Place the halves on top of a foil-lined pan and drizzle with olive oil and a tiny bit of balsamic vinegar. Slice a few garlic cloves and put them on top, then sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

• Bake at 425 for roughly 15 minutes.

• Immediately place a few slices of mozzarella in between two halves. Garnish with basil and let it melt in your mouth! 

Sono Arrivata

It's Tuesday and I've officially been a Milanese expat for 40 hours.

As the sliding glass doors at the Malpensa airport slid open, I immediately caught Giulio's eye and ran to him. We rushed to the least crowded area of the airport and enjoyed a stereotypically long and romantic embrace- bags went flying and we went spinning, our hearts recklessly beating.

I had been so locked onto Giulio that I didn't even notice the huge (HUGE) sign he had posted over the guardrail: "WE DID IT". It's a special phrase we use with each other whenever he/I/we kick serious ass. Once we made it (slowly, feeble-knee'd) to the car, the romance continued. Giulio had brought me a bouquet of magnolias and roses from his parent's garden- paying a careful homage to my olfactory bulb. He then presented me with a small brown box and gently asked me to open it, revealing my very own set of shiny news keys to our apartment. Also on the dashboard lay a white paper bag which I quickly unrolled to find a collection of beautiful handmade sweets and pastries. Smells. 

We drove into the city, smiling uncontrollably as if we were abusing a cocktail of illicit drugs. Opting to first unload my suitcases and then head out for a bite,  I walked into our bedroom (our!!) to find a beautiful arrangement of orchids as well as a stack of pedantically wrapped gift boxes embossed with hand-painted hearts. (another beautiful dress, perfect to wear to the San Raffaele University party on Wednesday night). Melt.

I quickly changed and then Giulio grabbed my hand, whisking me out of our place and into Non Solo Lesso- (the same place he took me for lunch the first time I came to Milan, thus confirming it as my favorite restaurant in the city). We polished off a bottle of Prosecco, shared a plate of pasta medditerreano and mixed vegetables (cotti e crudi), as well as a table of small plates including cheese rolled in prosciutto, rabbit, lard, and pork (tartare?). The wait staff knows Giulio and remembered me from our last rendezvous, once again presenting themselves as overly kind, complimentary, and generous with us. 

The following morning, Giulio and I went to the bar across the street for a typical Italian breakfast- cornetto e cappuccino. It was heavenly sitting in the warm sun, staring into my love's big brown eyes, and enjoying such palatable perfection. We lingered for a while over breakfast and then Giulio scurried off for his day of work at the hospital. 

our breakfast nook

the balcony in our apartment looking over the park

I returned home, opting to study Italian for several hours before letting the jetlag get the best of me. Mid-afternoon I went for a long walk through the city, attempting to get lost and orient my internal compass. Milan is bustling, filled with beautiful people and beautiful shops. Every cafe, restaurant, and gelateria is absolutely enticing; my senses are aglow.

il duomo

the city center

'

In the early evening, Giulio returned home with a single, long-stemmed calla lily, hugged and kissed me sweetly, and then took me out for an apertivo (negroni spagliato) at a posh bar down the road. Afterward, we stopped by the supermarket to pick up fresh tomatoes, onions, linguine, anchovies, parmesan, and a bottle of red wine which Giulio effortlessly whipped up into the most delicious meal EVER. We passed out almost immediately.

breakfast in bed

(And as if this dream couldn't already get any better, this is what I woke up to this morning- coffee and his hand-made torta di rose).

Everything is in it's right place...

Bella Italia!

The Changes Occurred

On May 24, 2008 I began this blog as a way to document my adventures teaching in Seoul. It seems that after three years, I'm back where I started.

proof that sorcery does actually exist

This Saturday I am moving to Italy. The transition was inspired by love (I bought my one-way ticket last December), but it worked out beautifully that earlier this month I was accepted to medical school in Milan.


I find it quite amusing that people are curious about what goes into one's suitcase during a transition abroad. My answer is consistently simple and perhaps slightly blasé: "nothing".  I'm actually eager to leave my stuff as I reckon the accumulation of nostalgia-based knick knacks solemnly unhealthy. Still, I am somewhat disappointed to be leaving behind so many great pairs of shoes that could very well assume their own suitcase.  

Two summer trips back to California are in store- one for some gnarly bureaucracy/visa administration, and another for Vince and Elyse's Wedding. For this reason, I intend to immigrate slowly, gradually expanding my closet with an additional 1/10 of my clothing collection upon each return to Italy.  


School starts in October and the summer is brimming with calendered activities, so stay eager as I stay posted. 

Arrivaderci!

bin Laden is dead, FOX News fails again, Chelsea Handler is genius.

he doesn't send flowers...

... he sends dresses

at last, i'm going to be a doctor

Although this is in fact the abridged version, I couldn't totally marginalize the sequence of events that have occurred during the past eight months by divulging only the basics of where and when I will be matriculating to medical school.

The lab that I joined in February of 2010 grew very quickly between the months of April and August. We acquired two scientists, two postdocs, and a last-year medical student from Italy, named Giulio, who came for a three month stint to complete his thesis requirement for graduation. Though I vehemently disliked him for the first month of his stay, once I realized he was actually rather impressive, I (we) also realized very quickly that we wanted to spend our lives together. He returned to University in Italy at the end of October and we considered the best ways to make it work- either him pursuing residency here or me applying to medical school abroad. Merging our lives was the true priority.

There are three international (english taught) MD programs in Milan. The first is Giulio's school- the prestigious and private Vita Salute San Raffaele, the second, Milan State/Humanitas (public and also highly esteemed), and the third, University of Pavia (my current boss' alma mater). Entry to these schools is based only on the results of the entrance exam- the top 20 or 30 get in, and the rest go home. There is only one opportunity each year to sit for the exam.

I decided in December that I was going to move to Italy no matter what. Probabilistically, it would be easier for Giulio and I to pursue our lives hand in hand if he aimed for a residency in Milan and I aimed for an adjacent university. I felt a sense of serenity and confidence making this decision- knowing that I would eventually find a way to get into medical school, but that I would never again meet someone so perfect for me as Giulio. So, I took what some might consider a gamble, and bought a one-way ticket for Milan for the spring of 2011.

I have spent the past three months studying (after work and on the weekends) for the entrance exam for San Raffaele- the school Giulio will be receiving his MD from this summer. It was my first choice for many reasons ranging from its reputation, to its curriculum, and to its full integration of USMLEs into the program, thus allowing for the unparalleled option to eventually attend a US or European residency.

Last week I flew to New York City to take the exam. I was terrified, but well prepared. On Tuesday the results were posted, highlighting my name in bright yellow on the number 7 position of the ranking. I'm still in a euphoric haze and in need of ironing out some serious bureaucracy, but I do know that I will be matriculating in early October, and that as the glitterous haze begins to settle, I can see that everything has fallen perfectly into its right place.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me in any way, big or small, along the way. It's been quite a challenging and bitter journey at times, but the juxtaposition with this hard fought battle highlights the sweet taste of earned victory.