Meeting my Host Mom

Day 2 of orientation was filled with free time and waiting in line. I waited in line for two hours to set up my wireless internet! If they only knew what a computer guru I was, I could have helped the process go so much faster! Haha. It was good to stand in line for such a long time because we learned about our roommate and host family at noon and I didn’t want to get more anxious.

Noon finally arrived and…I’m with Mama Fiama! Mama Fiama is who I requested. She lives alone—although her 28 year old son visits often (he even has his own room). She is a chef who teaches cooking lessons on the weekends. She lives in a art studio apartment that is a short five minute walk to campus! She also has two lovely cats. My roommates name is Melissa—who I have never met.

I met Mama Fiama and my roommate Melissa about three hours later! They are both absolutely lovely! I was surprised that my Mama was blonde…I guess that is one of the stereotypes I had in my head of raven haired, dark eyed Italians. Even though she lives two blocks away, she picked us up in her little Fiat so we could take our luggage to her apartment. She said we didn’t have THAT much luggage because many people come with three HUGE bags—I asked her if my friend Amy (who suggested her) was one of them—and she laughed and said yes. Anyway, the apartment is AMAZING! I have never seen so much art on the wall. Fiama’s late husband and son are both artists and her walls are filled with beautiful oil paintings of scenery and people. She has whole walls filled with this artwork and canvas set up that her son Cosimo is currently working on. I always asked why Italy was filled with such talented artists in the past and not now, little did I know it is still filled with wonderful artists! Fiama is great and speaks beautiful English and puts up with my barely broken Italian. She has written an Italian cook book translated in both English and Japanese. She also loves listening to Billie Holiday.

The first thing we did together was go through a thorough bilingual food list of what we liked, didn’t like, or hated. Melissa and Fiama would ask me about each food and I was like yes, I eat that, yes I like that too. I mean, I am a Claxton, of course I liked everything! Melissa is a little picky with vegetables but has a really good attitude about trying new things. The only “no” foods we ended up with were beets, onions, red pepper spice, and chicken/pork liver. At first, I wanted to say no on the veal too because it would be hard to go from not eating red meat for eight years to eating veal! But, my stomach prevailed and veal stayed on the menu.

Melissa is also wonderful! She is from San Diego and goes to Santa Clara. She knows one of my friends from high school Andy as she took him to her Delta Gamma formal dance. Yes, I am living with a DG. But the rivalry must end (temporarily) in Florence, haha. Melissa speaks fluent Spanish and has been taking Italian for a year which just amazes me. Sounds like a helpful roommate! She also requested Mama Fiama after a suggestion by a friend of a friend. Mama Fiama also speaks Spanish and French as well as Italian and English. Our room is upstairs (with the two other bedrooms and a bathroom) and consists of two small beds, a closet, and a dresser. We remarkably fit all our clothes in this little space and have a beautiful view as well.

My fifth meal in Italy was…DELICIOUS! For our first course, we had caprese—fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and olive oil. It reminded me of my mom’s cooking back home. The second course was pasta pomodora—basically pasta in tomato sauce. The pasta was so basic yet so delicious and fresh. We then had chicken with lemon and “french fries”. The chicken was moist and savory as she heated it up in oil was we were finishing our pasta course. She also fried the french fries with the chicken. It hard to call these french fries because they were fried potatoes yet quite soft inside and a little tart instead of salty. Oh, and my favorite was the “healthy herbs”. I don’t believe for one second these could be healthy. They were like a more buttery, processed, oiled version of collared greens. I had about three helpings especially since Melissa didn’t care for them. For dessert, we had peaches marinated in white wine and sugar. Simple and tasty. Finally, a home cooked meal! I was so lucky to have my bad meal rut broken—I was almost beginning to lose hope. Fiama has a dishwasher and refused to let us help her clean up—I could get used to that.

Melissa’s parents are coming in two weeks and Mama Fiama already invited them over for dinner. I am sure she will make even a more extravagant meal when we have guests. This is a hint to my mom, Aunt Susan, and Aunt Aimee to come visit me so my wonderful, authentic, Italian host mom can cook for you too!

Melissa and I are both so exhausted from the day that we are staying in and nursing our many bug bites. I have thirteen on my left leg—which is really what I deserve for making fun of my roommate using bug spray.