Today Zorah and I are going to a small town in Italy to visit a town of Calvinists. It should be exciting to learn about a different religion. I don't know much about Calvinism, but I know its very strict. I also know it was founded by John Calvin. The town was about 30 mins out of Florence, the trip felt short, probably because I slept the whole time. I woke up about 5 mins out of town, my nerves started to kick in I was nervous/excited.
We arrived to the town at 11:30AM. Things were busy, but not lively. No one seemed to cheery. Zorah and I were extremely hyper from the car trip, so we skipped about humming to our favorite song, Justin Bieber Boyfriend, of course. We were shunned, we learned, the hard way, no Calvinists are allowed to sing or dance. We were given weird looks and snickers fell upon everyone's faces.
"Tough crowd" I whispered to Zorah. She flashed a smile these people wouldn't phase us. We headed to the house we would be staying in. It was a quaint homey looking place. I was excited to stay here. On the inside it was lit-tin by candles, bibles everywhere. These people put the bible over every thing. Our neighbors were on the porch reading their bibles, and every one was named after a biblical figure. All of a sudden everyone started walking outside, the were walking down the road, Zorah and I joined in. We were headed to church.
The WHOLE town was in the one church. Everyone was crammed in, the scuffling of feet slowly quieted down as the priest walked out. The service lasted for 2 hours! We got back to our house and got unpacked, by that time it was 3PM. We had lunch with some kids in the neighborhood there names were Rachel, John, Mark, David, Mary, and another Mary. They were all very kind, later, at 4 there was another 2 hour service.
After the service, we headed down to the main part of the town. No one was there, it was only 6. On our way back home we saw families, on their porches, reading the bible. This is true dedication. By 9 everyone was in bed, Zorah was out like a light I stayed up in out house, baking, cooking, and putting my skills to the test.
In the morning at 8AM we had our last church service, we were actually glad to leave. Everyone hated us.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Florance!
As our plane touched down in Florance the sun started to rise. Rue and I have come to the heart of the Renaissance, Florance, Italy. I was so excited! The weather was perfect and we were going to be learning about food. I was excited to leard about food because Zorah has been complaning about how she does all the cooking and I dont do anything, so I'm looking forward to it.
Right now we are going to a small bakery to learn about making bread and other baked goods and pastries. The air was cool and crisp. Stepping out it sent shivers down my spine. The aroma of the bakery filled the streets smelling of fresh sweet bread and pastries. Inside the bakery was warm and lit by many candles. A tall middle aged man stepped forward, his name was Cosimo and he was the head baker.
We traded our coats for aprons and got to work. I started by making bread, I took all the ingredients including yeast, eggs, water, and flour. I mixed them all together, so dough was formed. I sprinkled flour on a large wooden table and laid the dough out. I kneaded the dough just a little bit to add air, then I put it in the pan and set that on the wooden fire. Next Cosimo taught me how to make pasta! We used dough Cosimo had already made and cut it into thin strips. Next we rolled them into long cylindrical shapes and made noodles. Cosimo let them harden and then put them in boiling water.
Last we made pastries, the recipe was sent from Cosimos' wife's cousin who was a baker in France. It was a recipe for a tart, and a Latin torta. We made the tart with fresh fruit and a cream-tart filling. The tart has sweet dough, it was like making bread but we added less yeast and brown and regular sugar. When it was out of the oven we added a nice glaze. The torta was a piece of crisp bread with sugar and other flavoring.
When everything was done we had a feast! I was excited to go home to my despot sister and show her what I learned! I was no longer bankrupt in cooking knowledge. It was a sad goodbye, but I look forward to what the future holds.
Right now we are going to a small bakery to learn about making bread and other baked goods and pastries. The air was cool and crisp. Stepping out it sent shivers down my spine. The aroma of the bakery filled the streets smelling of fresh sweet bread and pastries. Inside the bakery was warm and lit by many candles. A tall middle aged man stepped forward, his name was Cosimo and he was the head baker.
We traded our coats for aprons and got to work. I started by making bread, I took all the ingredients including yeast, eggs, water, and flour. I mixed them all together, so dough was formed. I sprinkled flour on a large wooden table and laid the dough out. I kneaded the dough just a little bit to add air, then I put it in the pan and set that on the wooden fire. Next Cosimo taught me how to make pasta! We used dough Cosimo had already made and cut it into thin strips. Next we rolled them into long cylindrical shapes and made noodles. Cosimo let them harden and then put them in boiling water.
Last we made pastries, the recipe was sent from Cosimos' wife's cousin who was a baker in France. It was a recipe for a tart, and a Latin torta. We made the tart with fresh fruit and a cream-tart filling. The tart has sweet dough, it was like making bread but we added less yeast and brown and regular sugar. When it was out of the oven we added a nice glaze. The torta was a piece of crisp bread with sugar and other flavoring.
When everything was done we had a feast! I was excited to go home to my despot sister and show her what I learned! I was no longer bankrupt in cooking knowledge. It was a sad goodbye, but I look forward to what the future holds.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
The Medicis help with The Florance Cathrdral
From popes to kings
A rich family
Having hope all would see
A great building, meant to be
Built by Brunelleschi and Cosimo
This was what all Florance would know
Built from brick making a dome
A place for prayer like a home
The work was harmonious a legitimate building
On the inside, fresco's on the ceiling
It was complete after all this time
The Florance Cathedral started to rise.
Medici Haikus!
A strong family
The Renaissance godfathers
Genorations of good
From art to money
Renaissance people through out
Great family life
Strengted in many
Like art and architecture
Leaders of Florance
Some were the haters
Leading people day by day
In the none Medici way
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
M10:Samurai School
Today me and my best friend Rue flashed into a gory war! Pools of blood surrounded us. Our heads spinning we rush to safety. A man came up to us and told us we should learn to become samurais, women samurais are highly respected! We were under a tent as the blood bursting war went on. People killing others as dark clouds rolled in, even people committing suicide. I was interested and we went to a near by pagoda where we meet many samurai students. Our master was a buff young man with a short buzz cut. HE WAS SMOKIN! I was very excited to find my inner samurai.
The pagoda was very peaceful people meditating and soft music playing. We got in to a typical samurai outfit, many layers of robes and thick woven armor and many swords. One sword was short for cutting off heads or suicide, the other was long for combat from afar. We had to be physically and mentally prepared for battle. We went to another pagoda to train, we learned to have our opponent make the first move, fight in close quarters and how to dodge the swords of others. We also were mentally prepared, our minds had to be at peace and we had to know when, if we had to, when to kill OURSELVES. After a long hard day of battle we were ready to fight with vengeance.
The next morning I was scared, I knew to be dynamic and at peace, but I couldn't help but FREAK OUT!!!! I slowly put on my armor, and ate breakfast. Rue didn't seem to be fazed, the emotional training really got to her.Se was cool calm and collected as we headed out the door, we meet up with out trainer and the rest of the samurai students. The trainers had a short speech and then we were on out way, I could see the students fear and the family's tears trickled down their face in hope their kids would return.
At the war scene we were hidden from battle. A middle aged man came to us and we followed him to our tent. On a count of three all of us ran out of the tent. Rue sliced a man's head off! I was scared I didn't want to kill, but didn't want to be killed. I only defended my self. A man on the other side came up to me, he was going for the kill. I got a good grip on my long sword and stabbed him in the leg, he collapsed. The blood poured out I ran and left the man. I felt like Cato stabbing Peeta from the hunger games. I didn't intended to hurt anyone coming into this! I went back to the tent tears welling, how could I do this?!
My inner samurai sure did come out, I was shaken up from the stab and seeing people killed. Heads in pools of blood with their body's nowhere is a hard image to get out of your head! It was hard the next days after the war, but things started getting better after. I learned alot of self defense and that I didn't kill that man. One of the other samurais did. The saw him laying wounded and took his head. To hear this I was sad for the dead man, but happy I didn't kill him.
The pagoda was very peaceful people meditating and soft music playing. We got in to a typical samurai outfit, many layers of robes and thick woven armor and many swords. One sword was short for cutting off heads or suicide, the other was long for combat from afar. We had to be physically and mentally prepared for battle. We went to another pagoda to train, we learned to have our opponent make the first move, fight in close quarters and how to dodge the swords of others. We also were mentally prepared, our minds had to be at peace and we had to know when, if we had to, when to kill OURSELVES. After a long hard day of battle we were ready to fight with vengeance.
The next morning I was scared, I knew to be dynamic and at peace, but I couldn't help but FREAK OUT!!!! I slowly put on my armor, and ate breakfast. Rue didn't seem to be fazed, the emotional training really got to her.Se was cool calm and collected as we headed out the door, we meet up with out trainer and the rest of the samurai students. The trainers had a short speech and then we were on out way, I could see the students fear and the family's tears trickled down their face in hope their kids would return.
At the war scene we were hidden from battle. A middle aged man came to us and we followed him to our tent. On a count of three all of us ran out of the tent. Rue sliced a man's head off! I was scared I didn't want to kill, but didn't want to be killed. I only defended my self. A man on the other side came up to me, he was going for the kill. I got a good grip on my long sword and stabbed him in the leg, he collapsed. The blood poured out I ran and left the man. I felt like Cato stabbing Peeta from the hunger games. I didn't intended to hurt anyone coming into this! I went back to the tent tears welling, how could I do this?!
My inner samurai sure did come out, I was shaken up from the stab and seeing people killed. Heads in pools of blood with their body's nowhere is a hard image to get out of your head! It was hard the next days after the war, but things started getting better after. I learned alot of self defense and that I didn't kill that man. One of the other samurais did. The saw him laying wounded and took his head. To hear this I was sad for the dead man, but happy I didn't kill him.
Friday, March 23, 2012
M:9 Beauty in the Heian Period
Today Zorah and I are going to a Japanese aristocrats house! We are going to spend the whole day at primping and doing our hair and makeup to go to a dinner party. I'm really excited because I'm a freshman in cosmetology school for hair and makeup and it will be good for me to learn about makeup and hair's past!
I started out by browsing through the makeup supplies then powdered my face completely white. I blended in with paper, white as snow! I then put on my first layer of robes, just plain white. It was made from silk and very pretty. Next I added a little bit more white powder. I then put on a long black wig. The hair longer than me...it looked real! I let the long hair hang over my shoulders cascading down. Long, and beautiful.
Next started plucking out my eyebrows. I'm in medieval time so by the time I'm back in the real world they will be back....no problems...hopefully it was kind of frustrating. It took me about 15 mins to take off one eyebrow! I'm actually pretty fast. It hurt so bad! A sharp pain and after they were out I had to use MORE white powder to cover up the red marks. It felt like a BAD sunburn....OUCH!
I was finishing up with the makeup, still in my first robe I went to get paints. I got red, and black paint. First I used a thin small brush and painted on eyebrows with the black paint. The I used my fingers and added a very small amount of red paint to both of my cheeks. I took another small brush and with the red paint i painted on small lips......I for got one thing black teeth.....I don't think I'm going to do that one.
I layered on 12 more robes made of silk and brightly colored! I was excited for a wonderful night! I got to spend time with my sister, while learning alot about ancient hair and makeup I'm excited to go back to school and use my knowledge!
I started out by browsing through the makeup supplies then powdered my face completely white. I blended in with paper, white as snow! I then put on my first layer of robes, just plain white. It was made from silk and very pretty. Next I added a little bit more white powder. I then put on a long black wig. The hair longer than me...it looked real! I let the long hair hang over my shoulders cascading down. Long, and beautiful.
Next started plucking out my eyebrows. I'm in medieval time so by the time I'm back in the real world they will be back....no problems...hopefully it was kind of frustrating. It took me about 15 mins to take off one eyebrow! I'm actually pretty fast. It hurt so bad! A sharp pain and after they were out I had to use MORE white powder to cover up the red marks. It felt like a BAD sunburn....OUCH!
I was finishing up with the makeup, still in my first robe I went to get paints. I got red, and black paint. First I used a thin small brush and painted on eyebrows with the black paint. The I used my fingers and added a very small amount of red paint to both of my cheeks. I took another small brush and with the red paint i painted on small lips......I for got one thing black teeth.....I don't think I'm going to do that one.
I layered on 12 more robes made of silk and brightly colored! I was excited for a wonderful night! I got to spend time with my sister, while learning alot about ancient hair and makeup I'm excited to go back to school and use my knowledge!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
M6:I'm a Griot!
Today I am going to be a griot and tell a story to a tribe along the coast of Cameroon. Yes, I am back in medieval times and am looking forward to telling my story about how the ocean came to be. There is one problem...I have MAJOR stage fright. I'm normally very talkative and love to be around people but getting up in front of people is difficult for me.
On the way to my story telling I stopped on the coast line. I went swimming and went in the trees and just enjoyed the radiant sun and had some time to relax. I had lots of things going through my mind on the beach. Home sickness, nerves for my speech, but most of all I miss Zorah and Ella. They are my sisters and I never travel alone. Its hard.
Finally I collected myself and got back in my car to go to the storytelling. The car rattled as it slowly went down the dirt and grass path. My favorite song was on, the radio was loud, I was at peace. I knew I needed to come back here. I felt very grimy from the water and the sand but that wasn't my worst fear. My speech was coming up.
I arrived at the tribes location right on time. The leader guided my to a stage area with some men women and children all gathered around. A couple people dressed in tribal gear were on the stage with instruments. My stomach flipped I was sweating, the audience silent.....I began.
" Today I will be talking about how the ocean came to be... One day long, long ago there was a boy his name was Azizi, he was very brave. One day his parents sold him for food, they knew his two sisters wouldn't survive with out them. Azizi had a special gift, he wouldn't know until he was older. On Azizi's 16th birthday there was a storm. He was working in the Field and water started coming from the sky. It was pooring knocking plants EVERYWHERE. It had to be stopped, Azizi went out to the middle of the Field, and he felt a force building up inside him. He began to sing, Water water water get out you are ruining the plants and killing all the flowerssss go away but not to fare, for we need you. Then he did a dance moving his arms all over! The water condensed into a BIG ball and flew away to the coast. It then dropend creating an ocean!" I was done! I did it!! Everyone loved my story. I was very proud and I learned have a little faith and you can overcome our fears!
On the way to my story telling I stopped on the coast line. I went swimming and went in the trees and just enjoyed the radiant sun and had some time to relax. I had lots of things going through my mind on the beach. Home sickness, nerves for my speech, but most of all I miss Zorah and Ella. They are my sisters and I never travel alone. Its hard.
Finally I collected myself and got back in my car to go to the storytelling. The car rattled as it slowly went down the dirt and grass path. My favorite song was on, the radio was loud, I was at peace. I knew I needed to come back here. I felt very grimy from the water and the sand but that wasn't my worst fear. My speech was coming up.
I arrived at the tribes location right on time. The leader guided my to a stage area with some men women and children all gathered around. A couple people dressed in tribal gear were on the stage with instruments. My stomach flipped I was sweating, the audience silent.....I began.
" Today I will be talking about how the ocean came to be... One day long, long ago there was a boy his name was Azizi, he was very brave. One day his parents sold him for food, they knew his two sisters wouldn't survive with out them. Azizi had a special gift, he wouldn't know until he was older. On Azizi's 16th birthday there was a storm. He was working in the Field and water started coming from the sky. It was pooring knocking plants EVERYWHERE. It had to be stopped, Azizi went out to the middle of the Field, and he felt a force building up inside him. He began to sing, Water water water get out you are ruining the plants and killing all the flowerssss go away but not to fare, for we need you. Then he did a dance moving his arms all over! The water condensed into a BIG ball and flew away to the coast. It then dropend creating an ocean!" I was done! I did it!! Everyone loved my story. I was very proud and I learned have a little faith and you can overcome our fears!
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