Italy in New York: The Feast of San Gennaro

We all know how mad I am about Italian food––and Italy, in general––so it is probably obvious that the Feast of San Gennaro is one of my favourite happenings in New York during the fall. Although I would have liked to go earlier––and have a proper Italian meal there––I didn't make the time to go until last Sunday in the afternoon, which was also the last day of the festival.

I spent a few hours walking around Little Italy, eating cannoli and gelato, and listening to the live performance that was going on. It was a sweet afternoon, and more than a perfect break from all the studying/work I had to do last week!

Love,
  Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

Travelling Opens Your Eyes (Or Why I Went To Italy)

I was asked while I was in Italy what was the purpose of my trip. Although I did go to overstuff myself with pasta and pizza, the official reason for my Italian adventures was that I was participating as a Director in the Italian Model UN Conference.

What is Model UN?

For those of you who don't know what that means, I'll try to explain it as simply as I can. It's a conference where people (delegates) pretend to be diplomats at the UN and change the world. More formally, I would say it's an experience of education though simulation, in which students –in this case high school students– represent a nation in a specific UN committee, and discuss solutions to real-life current issues, such as human trafficking, environmental refugees, and women's empowerment.

But the educational experience is not just for the delegates. As a director, I was meant to guide the delegates through the debate process, and act as a moderator. But I learned from them in the process. And I reunited with my old self, which was the most important part.

My love for helping others

Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I was meant to help people around the world. My mum still tells me how I always tried to defend children who were being bullied during elementary school. Then came Social Service in High School, when I refused to stay at the library and clean books, and wanted to always go out and have some real contact with people. Kindergarten visits were probably my favourite part of Social Services. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to work as a riding instructor in a Summer Camp, where I was in charge––among other things––of doing special horse rides for people with disabilities. This was a life-changing experience, and I will certainly never forget it!

However, with all the economic models and crises I've been studying in the past couple of years, I must confess I had forgotten what all of this was about. To me, people had been reduced to the rational individual you find in any economics textbook.

But going to Italy made me get back in touch with my old self, the helper. Seeing the joy in the eyes of the delegates when their good performance as negotiators and peace keepers was recognised, the happiness of those who were given scholarships to attend other Model UN Conferences, and the ideas––sometimes a little out of the box––they came up with reminded me of how much I can do for the world.

Then came Jen's story. Even if I probably won't be able to change the world by myself, it does count if I do my best.

If I hadn't gone to Italy, I might have never found myself again. Or maybe I would have, but it would have been too late. Or maybe not. Who knows.

The truth is that I'm absolutely grateful because I was chosen to go to Italy. This experience changed me, and shaped the person I am now. It would probably be too extreme to say there was a pre-Italy Laura and a post-Italy one, but I am certainly different, in a way. And hopefully it will take me on a path where I can help the people around the world, especially those who really need a hand.

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

Travel Diaries: Bye, Bye, Italy!

Being in Italy was definitely one of the best life experiences I've ever had. I met one of my best friends yesterday and when she asked about my trip, I was speechless... And not exactly because I had a bad time!

After trying to come up with some words to describe my trip, I could only say that it was a truly magical one and that I hope the people I was there with will be my friends for life. We usually express all the love that we have for each other and I will do it even in public: I love them with all my heart and this time they gave me the most amazing two weeks I could ever have!

Sadly, I'm back home, sitting in my desk and trying to concentrate on homework... But seeing the pictures of our last supper are definitely much more interesting than whatever theories about syndicalism or environmental economics have to say!

I spent half of my last day in Italy in Naples, where we had the final sessions of the conferences. We then had lunch at Ciro a Medina––again, yes! My choice was a pizza margherita con bufala, a little more elaborated than the day before, and lemon sherbet for dessert.

We arrived in Rome in the afternoon, where we had our last supper. We went to a beautiful place called Ristorante Alla Rampa, in Trastevere. I was very full from all the pasta and pizza from the past few days, so I just ordered some Carpaccio di manzo con rughola e parmigiano. However, I did manage to steal some calamari from one of my friends––and they were absolutely delicious! I ended with a panna cotta with caramel, one of my favourite Italian desserts.

After dinner, we had our traditional midnight walk around Rome––the last one, sadly!––before going to bed. All of us departed early in the morning, when a beautiful, sunny Rome greeted us, inviting us to come back soon!

I probably won't have pizza or pasta at least for a couple of weeks. But I must confess I still feel like dying when seeing all the pictures of food I took during the trip and not being able to taste all of the wonderful dishes I ate.

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

Travel Diaries: Naples, Day 2

Our second day in Naples was fantastic, although very cold! After freezing all morning in our conferences, we ran to have lunch at my friends' favourite restaurant in the city: Ciro a Medina. They love it because it has the best mozzarella di bufala in the whole world––which is actually true––although it's also got some great pizzas and dessert.

Each one of us had a mozzarella, and then we ordered pizza. I chose a traditional margherita, which was huge and delicious! Although it might have also been a little too oily... For dessert, Hannah ordered a ricotta & pear pie––I was so full I couldn't eat one by myself––and it was truly amazing! I loved it!

We went back for the conferences, and after they finished, my friend Bonnie and I decided to go walking around town and do some jewellery shopping. We were particularly interested in buying coral, which is very important in Naples.

After our wonderful walk, we met the rest of the group and went for dinner at Da Ettore. We had mixed antipasti (eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms and calamari) for starters, and then I decided to eat the signature dish of the restaurant: pasta with potatoes and provolone cheese. I was a little skeptic because it looked more or less like mac & cheese, but I fell in love with it when I tried it. Potatoes and pasta definitely make a great combination and I loved it from beginning to end!

After such a huge dinner, we naturally needed to walk a little more and help our body digest all that pasta. So we went to the pier. Unfortunately, it was very windy and cold... But that doesn't mean Naples isn't a truly magical place. For some reason, I fell as if I'd been taken into a paradise where I'd love to be forever––I'd maybe just change the weather!

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio