A New Fall

If I were home in Canada right now, my life would look like this... I'd be wearing jeans and a comfy sweater, studying, drinking hot chocolate and eating pumpkin muffins from Tim Hortons, and getting prepared for Thanksgiving. This is my favourite holiday because it's genuine, and one of the few that hasn't been commercialized. I get to spend time with my family as we're all sitting around my big dining room table (my mother always hosts Thanksgiving) with a huge feast set in front of us. Carrots, peas, corn, mashed potatoes, a big fat turkey (I'm a vegetarian, so I admire the bird from afar) and best of all - PUMPKIN PIE. I'd be going for walks and looking at how beautiful the trees are with it's multi coloured leaves of bright reds, oranges and golds. I'd be helping my mom put up the scarecrow, the fall decorations, carving pumpkins with my sister, and eating candy apples at Hallow's Pumpkin Farm. My sister, Nicole, and I are constantly coming up with ways to make each other laugh, and last year she bought this book called 'Cake Wrecks'. My favourite was a Thanksgiving cake with a giant turkey on it with what I can only assume is flaming wings. 

But... I am here in Rome. Where the weather, even in October, is still hot enough to wear shorts and a T-shirt. Instead of colourful trees I am surrounded by palm trees and pavement, without a pumpkin pie in sight. I know this because I checked out countless bakeries and asked in my broken Italian if they sold torta di zucca. Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not complaining about being in Italy. I just wish I could have a delicious Thanksgiving dinner while wearing a pair of jeans.

Yesterday I met downtown with another au pair from France named Marine. I was really excited to meet her because a) she's from France and b) she's close friends with Shayna. We ate lunch together at this white mod restaurant that was filled with handsome waiters. We both ate incredible pasta with the best tomato sauce I've ever had, and were sharing stories about our families. She is so funny and easy to talk to. At one point, I think water almost came out of my nose from laughing so hard. I also tried a canoli, which was like a piece of heaven in my mouth. Unfortunately she had to go back to work at 5, which left me alone to wander the city. I found an English bookstore and could not resist going in.