One day, when we first moved here, I was walking to an English student's house...and the google maps car was driving around...
Talk about making your mark!
Friday, 13 April 2012
Saturday, 7 April 2012
Ethical Consumerism
Last year, while teaching my sweet 7 and 8 year olds, we did an inquiry into the choices that we make as consumers. While researching the unit and the topic, I came across facts, news and images that made me cry. Factory farming practices- in other words the way that the meat that most people eat gets to their table- are horrific. A quick search on youtube will find you (if you have sense) with tears in your eyes. Both for the animals that are treated so horribly and maybe even for us as a civilisation. When and how did it become so acceptable to treat animals for consumption so cruelly? Or is it just that we don't know and don't care to know where our food is coming from?
Maybe the next step in this line of thinking would be vegetarianism or veganism. Give it up. If you don't like how animals are treated and that they are killed to feed you, just stop eating them.
Well...it's complicated. For me, who loves to eat meat and who is truly grateful for every morsel I put in my tiny (ha) belly. Instead, for the moment, Marco and I have decided that if and when we eat meat, we will know where it comes from and what practices lead up to our consumption of it. Meaning no factory meat. No more giving money for meat that doesn't taste or look like it was ever an animal and no longer supporting its 'production'. Because really, it is production. Instead of rearing (growing) or raising. It's like the making of something inanimate, out of something artificial. How else could living things be treated the way they are. Seriously, Google factory farming.
This translates into Marco and I eating meat much less often than I ever did while living in Canada. Probably twice a week- the rest of the time we eat legumes, grains, and sometimes eggs.
So now comes the part where I tell you about our bike ride on Friday. Marco heard from a friend about a farm in the area. We've already been going to a farm to get our meat and it's already a huge improvement over the places that probably supply meat to the local supermarkets. Clean, animals in open air, with space and clean water... But the place we visited Friday was unbelievable. I literally had tears in my eyes and not the sad ones.
The place is called Casina Casello and it's owned and operated by a woman from South Africa. The animals are not only treated humanely, it seems like a paradise. Some might argue that the final fate of the animals (consumption) negates it being a paradise, but that's for another discussion. We were so happy to find the place, looking forward to not only eating excellent meat but also supporting a business that is ethical and responsible.
Curious hens...thought we came with food I guess...
Bow-legged duck of some type...it was hissing. Weird.
What a rooster....regal. Excellent posture.
Angus beef cows napping in the shade of the trees...
The grazing area for the cows...
Molting horse rolling in the mud...looks like fun!
The baby cows are kept with their moms! They are all able to wander a giant space...
Maybe the next step in this line of thinking would be vegetarianism or veganism. Give it up. If you don't like how animals are treated and that they are killed to feed you, just stop eating them.
Well...it's complicated. For me, who loves to eat meat and who is truly grateful for every morsel I put in my tiny (ha) belly. Instead, for the moment, Marco and I have decided that if and when we eat meat, we will know where it comes from and what practices lead up to our consumption of it. Meaning no factory meat. No more giving money for meat that doesn't taste or look like it was ever an animal and no longer supporting its 'production'. Because really, it is production. Instead of rearing (growing) or raising. It's like the making of something inanimate, out of something artificial. How else could living things be treated the way they are. Seriously, Google factory farming.
This translates into Marco and I eating meat much less often than I ever did while living in Canada. Probably twice a week- the rest of the time we eat legumes, grains, and sometimes eggs.
So now comes the part where I tell you about our bike ride on Friday. Marco heard from a friend about a farm in the area. We've already been going to a farm to get our meat and it's already a huge improvement over the places that probably supply meat to the local supermarkets. Clean, animals in open air, with space and clean water... But the place we visited Friday was unbelievable. I literally had tears in my eyes and not the sad ones.
The place is called Casina Casello and it's owned and operated by a woman from South Africa. The animals are not only treated humanely, it seems like a paradise. Some might argue that the final fate of the animals (consumption) negates it being a paradise, but that's for another discussion. We were so happy to find the place, looking forward to not only eating excellent meat but also supporting a business that is ethical and responsible.
Weekends- Part 2
This weekend, Easter weekend, we decided to make the most of the beautiful day and ride our bikes to a local farm/ agriturismo/ butcher to grab some meat for our celebration meals. More on the farm later. We rode from Angera to Capronno then on to Osmate... and along the way stopped at a bar-restaurant for a beer and sandwich. We weren't the only ones with the idea...
The beautiful blue skies have since been replaced with grey clouds, heavy with hail...but we loved every second of our day out...
Weekends- Part 1
We've been home the past two weekends and it's been a treat after months of travel and visitors to have time for just us, without going anywhere unless we want to. We've been married more than eight months and after recently 'checking-in' on the health of our relationship during a casual discussion, we realised that both of us were really yearning for time together, at home, without any plans other than to enjoy each other.
And we've done it. The past two weekends we've really enjoyed our time together and have still gotten out to do stuff, enjoy the beauty around us...Here are some picks of what there is to do in the local area.
We went for a 40 km bike ride (involuntarily! got lost a bit...oy) on Saturday from Sesto Calende to Vizzola Ticino. What a view.
Then on Sunday, we took our 5 Euro barbecue to the lake front in Angera. We shared the beach (which was 'gifted' to the residents of Angera by the king of Spain a few centuries ago!) with a couple of swans.
And we've done it. The past two weekends we've really enjoyed our time together and have still gotten out to do stuff, enjoy the beauty around us...Here are some picks of what there is to do in the local area.
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Get low
So it's a low day.
A day which, without reason, seems endless and at the same time speeds by without me being productive in any way.
I sit on the computer...randomly searching for:
-campsites
-business plans
-tree wall murals
-how to crochet a granny square
-recipes for cookies/ bars/ breads
-expats in italy
-other random and equally unrelated searches that I won't share
Days like today are fewer and farther between lately, but they still happen. Routine is so important, and I've broken mine. Stopped driving lessons (with intentions of driving with Marco), changed lesson dates with one of my students... silly really. But it does make a difference.
Wonder if I'll actually do anything today...it really is a complete unknown at this point in the day.
A day which, without reason, seems endless and at the same time speeds by without me being productive in any way.
I sit on the computer...randomly searching for:
-campsites
-business plans
-tree wall murals
-how to crochet a granny square
-recipes for cookies/ bars/ breads
-expats in italy
-other random and equally unrelated searches that I won't share
Days like today are fewer and farther between lately, but they still happen. Routine is so important, and I've broken mine. Stopped driving lessons (with intentions of driving with Marco), changed lesson dates with one of my students... silly really. But it does make a difference.
Wonder if I'll actually do anything today...it really is a complete unknown at this point in the day.
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Change
One of the wonderful things about change is that it releases us from hard, uncomfortable, painful situations. While bad situations or circumstances may feel never-ending or unbearable, one thing can be of comfort. That is that all things, good and bad, will eventually end...change is inevitable.
While it is really difficult to remember, whether I find myself in a happy place, or a place of sadness and hopelessness, it is true.
Several years ago I joined a Vipassana meditation retreat and spent 10 days in complete silence, observing the ever changing nature of my emotions, physical sensations and circumstances. Developing 'mindfulness', which is the awareness of the present as it changes, moment to moment....all the while using my breath as a reference.
With an inhale a thought or emotion can arise, with an exhale it can leave. With an inhale an itch so strong you might go mad can develop on your nose, and with an exhale it can disappear. The objective of the training was to be able to stay in the present moment and rather than react to each and every sensation, stimuli, or situation that comes your way (resulting, in my case in hysterical worrying, anxiety and stress or in good situations, addiction and obsession) and observe that everything is constantly changing and not everything requires a reaction or response.
It's been more than 5 years since I went to the retreat and almost as long since I have meditated. I don't feel bad about that. I have learned something so important that even if I'm not always stoic in my application of it in hard times, it has carried me through some of the toughest (and calmed me during some of the best) times I have had since. I know that everything changes. Good and bad. Moments of ecstasy are equally impermanent to moments of grief. Some moments last longer than others, but they are just moments. Seasons of change. Waves. Whatever. Think of anything you want, but the point remains the same.
And what is more- there is no point in attaching to the idea of anything. While broad concepts of love and hope can be used as a framework within which to live, not one thing about me or my life has been 'permanent', neither my role in my family, my profession, my personality, my goals. So just like everything, I am changing and my life is changing. Constantly.
When I first arrived here, I was in shock. It was difficult to remember the impermanence of everything and I had many, many sad days. It seemed as though I was stuck, forever, in a world without purpose, meaning, direction. Truly mourning the loss of my old life and self. But those days have been replaced (to a large extent) by contented days. Even happy, productive, joyful ones. I was a teacher last year. A stressed one, but a "doing my best" one...and now I teach adults English and occupy my time with arts and crafts. Next year around this time, Marco and I will be somewhere else. Who and what will I be? Who knows.
This post is a long one. An all-over-the-place one. But an important one for me. I hope that I look back on this when everything is in flux all over again...
While it is really difficult to remember, whether I find myself in a happy place, or a place of sadness and hopelessness, it is true.
Several years ago I joined a Vipassana meditation retreat and spent 10 days in complete silence, observing the ever changing nature of my emotions, physical sensations and circumstances. Developing 'mindfulness', which is the awareness of the present as it changes, moment to moment....all the while using my breath as a reference.
With an inhale a thought or emotion can arise, with an exhale it can leave. With an inhale an itch so strong you might go mad can develop on your nose, and with an exhale it can disappear. The objective of the training was to be able to stay in the present moment and rather than react to each and every sensation, stimuli, or situation that comes your way (resulting, in my case in hysterical worrying, anxiety and stress or in good situations, addiction and obsession) and observe that everything is constantly changing and not everything requires a reaction or response.
It's been more than 5 years since I went to the retreat and almost as long since I have meditated. I don't feel bad about that. I have learned something so important that even if I'm not always stoic in my application of it in hard times, it has carried me through some of the toughest (and calmed me during some of the best) times I have had since. I know that everything changes. Good and bad. Moments of ecstasy are equally impermanent to moments of grief. Some moments last longer than others, but they are just moments. Seasons of change. Waves. Whatever. Think of anything you want, but the point remains the same.
And what is more- there is no point in attaching to the idea of anything. While broad concepts of love and hope can be used as a framework within which to live, not one thing about me or my life has been 'permanent', neither my role in my family, my profession, my personality, my goals. So just like everything, I am changing and my life is changing. Constantly.
When I first arrived here, I was in shock. It was difficult to remember the impermanence of everything and I had many, many sad days. It seemed as though I was stuck, forever, in a world without purpose, meaning, direction. Truly mourning the loss of my old life and self. But those days have been replaced (to a large extent) by contented days. Even happy, productive, joyful ones. I was a teacher last year. A stressed one, but a "doing my best" one...and now I teach adults English and occupy my time with arts and crafts. Next year around this time, Marco and I will be somewhere else. Who and what will I be? Who knows.
This post is a long one. An all-over-the-place one. But an important one for me. I hope that I look back on this when everything is in flux all over again...
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