Yes, from July 21st I’m back here in Colorado and I didn’t write any post, what a shame! Anyway better late than never, don’t you think? My sister came with me in July for two weeks of vacation and we had a very good time together. We spent few days in Broomfiled, showing her my “american daily life” (even if I didn’t go to work those days 
) and then we rent a car and leave for a wonderful trip discovering the Rocky Mountains.
I guess the better way to say what we have done is through a bunch of pictures and comments, so let’s start:
This is a mixed of what we have done before starting our trip: I obviously brought my sister biking to the office, then we enjoyed resting at the neighborhood swimming pool and we went hiking here nearby with some family friends (look we were only girls!). But the last picture is my favorite; we were in an animal shop and we saw how they sell dog food, like in a self-service restaurant! Crazy americans? Mah!
Then, another day we went to Downtown Denver with Natalie, my “new little sister”. After a Colombian breakfast consisting of “arepas con cheso” (yummy small and flat corn balls filled with a very mild and milky cheese) we took a bus and went straight to Downtown. We visit the center, the main street, the college campus and we spent some time at the Denver Art Museum, learning about the old Indians history. We also had a good Italian gelato but unfortunately we didn’t visit the library, my sister would have been so happy if we could, look at her face … then we discovered it was closed!
Filed under: Fun on September 15th, 2008 | No Comments »
It’s time to leave and I can not hide I’m exited to go home but at the same time I’m sure I’ll look forward to come back here! I spent a wonderful time, with nice people and learning the job I like. Thanks to who gives me this great opportunity and to who shared it with me. Elie’s family whose hospitality was welcome and warm like their heart and all “work colleagues” to make me feel part of their group.
Thanks to all!
PS: I’d like to underline that because of my thoughtlessness Briant is not in the picture, so please with your imagination add a very tall smiling boy!
Filed under: Travels on June 9th, 2008 | No Comments »
I did so many things I do not know where to start from! Well, let’s start from Eldorado canyon!
It’s a state park not far from here and we went hiking there on Saturday morning. It was a wonderful sunny day, little windy, but because of this we saw nice clear landscapes. It was a little strange to walk in a wood between pines and see cactus too, but that’s Colorado! The walk wasn’t long and by lunch time we were all sit in front of a pizza. I thought it was uneatable here in the States but it wasn’t bad and in conclusion I liked it! After this we went home painting the wood fence we started few days before and then … the most amazing part of the day … I went shooting with Elie’s friends to the ranch! Wow, it was fantastic!
I shot with this Beretta PT 92!!! I was so exited (and scared too) that all my body was in tension and full of adrenaline! At the beginning I thought I couldn’t afford it, the noise is so loud and the force that pulls you back after the shot so big!! Then I took some practice and at the end I was no more scared but anyway not relaxed!
The day couldn’t end without a BBQ and in fact we spent the evening eating burgers and sausages, drinking Arak (a Lebanese grapple) and playing poker! Well, I think the best way to say goodbye to this wonderful experience!
Filed under: Fun on June 9th, 2008 | No Comments »
What’s typical American you have to taste once in your life? I add: once and never again!
- Fried chicken Best if it comes from a drive-trough fast-food. (6$ for 12 pieces!)
- Jelly A three layers gelatine dessert that you can not miss: first pure jelly, second jelly mixed cream, third pure cream. The global taste is like a Big Bubble.
- Salad dressing Till now I don’t understand exactly what’s inside, surely garlic and something like mayonnaise …
Filed under: Travels on May 28th, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Party=barbecue with friends. This is the basic equation and in these last weekends I verified it in person more than one time.
Last Saturday I enjoyed a college students barbecue at Briant’s house. Wow, finally people of my age, I was so excited! I didn’t expect to meet such young people since Briant is one of my work colleagues, but his wife studies veterinary at college and they gave a party for the end of the academic year. One of the great aspects was the place in which they live: big open spaces, white fences, horses … in short like in American movies! When it came dark we made a fire an the atmosphere was evocative! We also play darts and another funny game: horseshoes. In summary you have to throw an horseshoe trying to hang it on a stick; it was a little heavy for me but I enjoyed! I also tasted the typical Colorado beer: Fat Tire! I’m not an expert but I really liked it! They told me Colorado is quite famous for this beer, perhaps one of you know about it! Talking about food, as I said, we had a barbecue with very thick hamburgers (american size, 5cm!), sausages (pork or chicken made) and wursts! All this was served with obviously all that food without which american people can not live: chips, ketchup sauces, strange dressed veggies, strange dressed pasta too and all that stuff … These things came from guests since they were asked to bring some side dishes and this was my contribute: apple cake (because I like it very much and this was an excuse to eat it), obviously some pasta (what’s Italy without pasta?) and some fruit stickies (the kitchen was so colored while preparing them!)
This weekend I had not all that fun but anyway I enjoyed a BBQ party. It was at one of Elie’s friends house, in detail mexican wife and lebanese husband; you can guess how food was! (Obviously american style influenced both). There were families with children and we did not play any funny game but it was a nice occasion to speak English and meet new people! This was a long weekend for me since today I was off from work for Memorial Day; I could go to the swimming pool and rest a little. Tomorrow a new working week begins, but I’m quite happy because now I’m very interested in what I’m doing, no more geometry control but construction analysis!
Filed under: Fun on May 27th, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Before this week I hadn’t a clear idea about it, I guessed it was like a spiritual practice, focused on the energy that surrounds all human beings … Then last Sunday I enjoyed my first yoga class …
Here nearby there’s a yoga center that offers a Sunday free lesson for beginners: I was alone at home, I had nothing special to do, so with not many expectations I tried it! I entered barefoot in this room heated at 80°F, there were about ten people around thirties, sitting on the floor with crossed knees. I sit that way too and before the teacher came I was already sweat! Fortunately I didn’t understand all that she said but it was something about the intentions for the forthcoming lesson (…) After this introduction I would come back home! Then the lesson actually started and it was simply a good hour of strong stretching! I say strong because it’s not easy to stay in the postures they assumed; they engage all mussels, really all, from shoulders to toes, and we also had some core exercises. I was like a wood compared to other people but at the and I felt very good end I was satisfied! This week I went three times and I’d like to continue!
Probably most of you already know all these things, for me they were completely new and I was really surprised that I liked it so much!
Filed under: Fun on May 19th, 2008 | 3 Comments »
… so whenever I can I cook Italian food! I miss it so much!
This is my first “pasta, pomodoro e basilico con un pizzico di peperoncino” since I’m here! Look at the expression, there are lots of small stars coming out from my eyes! Mmmm, delicious! In truth, pasta was definitely not one of the best (an unknown american brand, but that was in the cupboard!) and tomatoes seemed genetically modified, anyway I found it delicious!
Filed under: Travels on May 11th, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Why American no-exit streets are width like an highway?
Why American fire places have artificial wood and work with gas?
Why there’s an American channel that repeats all day long the same weather forecasts?
Why American houses are wood made even if this is likely the most windy place in the world?
I think I’ll probably add some more questions to this list …
Filed under: Travels on May 6th, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I do love weekends! It’s when I can rest a little, visit Denver neighborhoods and meet some friends.
This is me at Red Rocks, a huge park not far from Denver in which wind has shaped these red rocks forming a natural anphitheatre. They say it has a wonderful acoustic so most of the famous singers have or have had concerts here. This summer, on July 22th, Police are coming! ( What a strange coincidence, Amos?!?!?! )
Boulder is another place that needs to be visited. It’s a funny ”student city” full of pubs and places to meet people. I’ve spent there a nice evening with some friends last week, eating a typical American burger and drinking an american beer too. These are two girls I have met that day.
Filed under: Fun on May 5th, 2008 | 2 Comments »
This is Nelson Drive and I live just at the end of the street.
It’s a residential area that surrounds lots of golf parks. This is what we see from the living room windows!
My little and pretty bedroom has a big mirror as clothes-closet shutters, so I usually fall asleep looking at me in my bed!
Filed under: Travels on May 5th, 2008 | 2 Comments »
