by Tina Ferrari

Yes, yes, I know.  I live in Paradise, the land of the best pasta, coffee, wine, ice cream, etc. in the world, so why would I ever crave any other food?

Well, as much as I love the variety here, sometimes I miss things that I would eat at home in the States.  When I was living in Argentina, a good friend of mine, Joli, found a great recipe for flour tortillas.  Since there isn’t much variety in the food down there, it was a delight to be a guest in her house and be able to eat things such as fajitas or tacos. Things you just don’t find in Buenos Aires, and things you certainly don’t find in Lecce, Italy.

This week I am visiting a friend in Bari, which is just a couple hours north of Lecce, and I decided I wanted to prepare a meal as a sign of gratitude.  Well, we all know how Italians are when it comes to tasting other people’s cooking.  I’m always afraid to make traditional dishes here because on top of the “buono, buono!” I have to listen to “It needs more salt”, and “You make a good sauce, for an American”…  I seem to have the most luck when I prepare things that are not Italian.  My Italian friends rave about my international cooking and I find that they are always open and interested in trying new things.  Since I’m the straniera, foreigner, it’s probably more exciting and fun if I bring something new to the table.

Today I prepared fajitas, using the recipe Joli uses for tortillas.  You can find it here, and you’ll see that it’s quite easy.  For filling, I cut up small slices of beef, a couple of bell peppers, an onion, and since this is Southern Italy, a peperoncino, chili pepper, for spice.  I sauteed those together.  You can’t get sour cream in Italy, at least not here in the south, so I used Fage Total yogurt as it makes the best substitute for sour cream.

My friend and his daughter had fun putting the fajitas together, and I enjoyed sharing something new with them.

What are some recipes you simply can’t do without in your adopted country?

Tina Ferrari is a tango dancer, translator and writer currently based in Lecce, Italy. She writes atAffordableCallingCards.net as well as on her own blog,Tina Tangos. Comments are always welcome!

Pic : Lakshmi Sharath

There is more to India than just the Taj Mahal. You will probably meet an ancient monument in almost every corner of the country. Temples, churches, monasteries, forts, mosques, palaces, museums,tombs mausoleums, rock cut caves, monolith sculptures jostle for space in every remote town. While it is difficult to choose just five of them,  my recommendations are based largely on the diversity , the uniqueness and the richness of the architecture.

1. The Shore temple at Mahabalipuram – It is believed that there were seven such temples located on the shore of the Coromandel Coast , but only one survives today. A World Heritage site, it was built in the 7th century by the Pallavas , an ancient dynasty who ruled over Southern India. An ancient lighthouse here indicates that this was probably a port of the Pallavas.

As you enter this coastal town, you see several carved rock cut cave temples and monolith sculptures strewn around. Soak in the beach, try some sea food , shop in the markets and take home a sculpture if you like. The closest city is Chennai, one of the four metros and capital of Tamil Nadu.

2. The ruins of Vijaynagar in Hampi – Often compared to Rome, Hampi is one of the destinations that one should not miss .A World Heritage site, the ruins of the 15th century dynasty is still preserved in the many sculptures ,pillars,  step-wells, temple complexes , palaces  and stables that are strewn around the city.

You would need at least a couple of days to explore Hampi and its monuments . Go for a coracle ride in the Tungabhadra river, shop in the local market, do some birding and wildlife at Daroji and watch the sunset from the rocks. There is a magic in Hampi that one cannot explain . Bangalore , the capital of Karnataka is one of the closest hubs to Hampi.

3. Ajanta and Ellora caves – These World Heritage sites are located near Aurangabad in Maharashtra and are some of the most ancient monuments excavated in India. Ajanta , with 31 rock cut caves carved with sculptures and paintings are typical of Buddhist art , built between the 2nd century BC to 7th century AD.

Ellora , with 34 caves built during the 5th-10th century is a representation of Buddhist , Jain and Hindu art and architecture .You would need at least 3-4 days to explore both Ajanta and Ellora caves and the surroundings around Aurangabad.

4. Forts of Rajasthan – It is tough to choose any one fort of Rajasthan. Almost every city here houses one or more forts and several palaces. Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kumbalgarh, Chittorgarh, Jaisalmer, Bundi are just some of the destinations that tourists throng to see the forts. My personal favourites are Kumbalgarh and Chittorgarh which are closer to Udaipur, the city of palaces.

You would need an eternity to see the whole of Rajasthan. Jokes apart, it is difficult to see the state in a few days. Spend as much time as you can when you plan a trip here. There is more to Rajasthan than the forts – visit the palaces, soak in the culture, shop for local artefacts and let the colours dazzle you

5.Agra – Yes, you have to visit Taj Mahal in Agra and the Agra Fort of course, but I would recommend that you dont miss Fatehpur Sikri at any cost. Built by Moghul emperor Akbar in the 15th century, the town was abandoned after serving as his capital for about 15 years. A World Heritage site, it is now a ghost town. Built in red sandstone, do not miss the courts, palaces, the ponds, the door ways and the tombs around here. Keep Delhi as your hub and plan your trip to Agra

And finally, the Taj Mahal ! One of the wonders of the world, this mausoleum is  built  in sheer marble . Built by Moghul emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz, on the banks of the river Yamuna it is the epitome of romance. No one ever leaves India without seeing the Taj !

Lakshmi is a travel writer and blogger from India and she blogs at A Travel Blog of an Indian . This post was written for Affordable Calling cards which offers international cheap phone cards to India.

By: Cherrye Moore

Earlier this week I noted some tips and hints for adjusting to life when you are married to a foreigner, and many of my expat friends weighed in with their own experiences. While adjusting to your new life and learning to merge your cultures is always a good thing, getting to that point might not be easy.

No, I’m not talking about falling in love and the inevitable, if only temporary, long-distance relationship, I’m talking about the practical side of marrying someone from another country.

While the rules and regulations vary widely depending on each person’s nationality, where you get married and where you decide to live, the following sites should get you started. Note: I am an American woman married to an Italian man, therefore, most of the following examples are based on my experiences with these countries.

1. Websites

Official (and well-researched unofficial) websites are a prime source of information for people wishing to marry an Italian. Here are few sites you might find helpful.

UK in Italy

US Department of State Naples: Marriage of a US Citizen

Travel.State.Gov: Marriage in Italy

ItaliaAmerica.org: Italian Dual Citizenship

ImmiGroup.com: Marrying and Sponsoring an Italian

2. Forums

While official websites are a great source of logistical information, forums are usually visited by people who’ve been there and offer a great combination of practical know-how and useful tips. Some helpful forums and topics include:

Expat Forum: Marrying an Italian

Expat Forum: Marrying an American

Immigration Boards.com: Marrying an Italian

Expats in Italy: Getting Married Forum

Expats in Italy: Atto Notorio

3. Blogs

While many bloggers visit forums and talk about their experiences marrying a foreigner there, they also write blog posts and articles on their sites. Some particularly helpful expats I’ve come across include:

Ms. Adventures in Italy (My personal go-to expat when I was marrying my own Italian in 2007.)

From Australia to Italy (My Calabria-based counterpart who is chronicling  her marriage to an Italian.)

ReallyRome (A Really great resource on, among other things, marrying an Italian.)

Moving2Italy2 (Extensive resource on moving to Italy, with a section on marrying an Italian.)

It is important to note that each case is unique and there is no one size fits all when it comes to marrying someone from another country. Additionally, laws can change from year to year and Italian consulates, at least in the US, seem to have varying procedures, as well. It is always important to contact your local embassy or consulate before proceeding and get a detailed list of what you need to do before the Big Day. As in most cases when dealing with bureaucratic situations, it is a good idea to allow yourself plenty of time and an even better opportunity for you to practice your patience.

In bocca al lupo!

Do you know any other useful sites, forums or blogs for people wanting to marry a foreigner? If so, please leave them in the comments!

Cherrye Moore is an American freelance writer and Calabria tour consultant living in southern Italy. You can read more about living and traveling in Calabria at her site, My Bella Vita or visit her in person at her B&B in Catanzaro, Italy.

Photo: Life 123

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By Chantal Panozzo

The Alpabzug in Urnaesch/Photo: Chantal Panozzo

Big bells. Flower headdresses. Men in yellow knickers. What’s not to love? One of my favorite parts of fall in Switzerland is an event known as the Alpabzug. What exactly is that? It’s a big festival that involves dressing up cows and sending them down from the mountains for the winter. There are several of these cow parades going on in Switzerland in September:

Descent of the Alpine cattle in Brigels/Breil

September 11, 2010

Descent of the Alpine sheep in Leukerbad

September 12, 2010

Sichlete Descent of the Alpine Cattle in Bern

September 13, 2010

Descent of the Alpine cattle in Flims (this is a beautiful area of Switzerland and the cows here wear flowers headdresses)

September 18, 2010

Descent of the Alpine cattle and farmer’s market in Urnaesch (this is the traditional cow march with yodeling, alpine cheese, and Appenzeller fashions—i.e. yellow knickers. See One Big Yodel for more information. However, the cows here do not wear flowers, they wear big bells.)

September 18, 2010

Alpine Festival with descent of the Alpine cattle in Charmey

September 25, 2010

Procession of the Alpine cattle in Weggis

September 25, 2010

Procession of the Cows in Crans-Montana

September 25, 2010

Descent of cows from mountain pasture Moiry

September 25, 2010

Don’t forget to bring your camera. And don’t just stand there, why not follow the procession yourself? I did this last year and ended up back at a farmer’s home near Urnaesch where the family yodeled together, like it was just something normal you do. And for them, it was. It was definitely something to see.

What’s your favorite cow parade in Switzerland?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer in Switzerland who has written for a variety of publications on two continents. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland and moving abroad, and also discusses living abroad as a freelancer at Writer Abroad.

By Chantal Panozzo

Bikers take over the roads at a SlowUp event in Switzerland

The police in Switzerland will do anything to keep their jobs. Crime rates are low, so things that would never be considered criminal in other countries get top priority here: trash procedures must be strictly observed or you may face a CFH 250 fine just for putting your bag out early, people flushing toilets after 10 p.m. may be investigated, and then there are those equally crazy people riding bikes.

A few weeks ago in Zurich, police had nothing better to do than to stop every biker and check to see if they had their “velovignette” sticker. These are registration stickers (yes, you must register your bike), available at the Migros customer service desk as well as at many sports stores and the post office. The stickers must be purchased yearly if you ride a bike in Switzerland. They only cost five francs, but if you don’t have one, the mistake could end up costing you a lot more: 40 francs.

The velovignette sticker provides the rider with liability insurance in case of a crash. It’s also supposed to make finding and returning stolen bicycles easier.  The sticker system has been in place for fifty years but for many expats, it’s a new concept.

Besides a little sticker shock, Switzerland is a great country for bikers. Most roads have marked bike paths, hundreds of mountain trails beg for attention, and from April to September, numerous SlowUp events are held throughout the country.

I’m particularly partial to SlowUp events because they allow me to see parts of the country I otherwise wouldn’t see. Every other week or so, about 30-60 kilometers of roads are closed to motor vehicles on a Sunday. Taking over the roads instead, bikers and inline skaters form a giant street party and free granola bars and apple juice are typically offered along the route.

If you’re a biker in Switzerland, where do you like to ride?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer in Switzerland who has written for a variety of publications on two continents. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland and moving abroad, and also discusses living abroad as a freelancer at Writer Abroad.

By Chantal Panozzo

Flying home isn't always a solution

One of the hardest parts about living abroad is being far from friends and family. Mothers moan that they’ll never see their grandkids (never mind if they don’t even have grandkids). Fathers say that your mother misses you (after all, they would never admit missing you themselves). And you can barely keep up with all your family members, not to mention maintain your old friendships. So what’s an expat to do? Here are ways of keeping in touch that have worked for me.

One: Keep a blog

Many expats (i.e. moi) start blogs because they can no longer keep up with their email. A blog can be a great way to let friends and family know what you are up to. And if you don’t want the rest of the world to know it as well, it’s easy to password-protect your blog so only your intended audience reads it. To set up a blog, visit blogger.com or wordpress.com.

Two: Make time to talk

I try to call my family regularly. While we don’t set up actual times and dates, we usually talk about the same time each week. Often, local phone companies don’t offer competitive rates to foreign countries, but other methods, such as using calling cards or Skype, can make calling an affordable option for staying in touch. For calling cards, you’re already on the right site, For Skype, visit skype.com.

Three: Join a networking site

This goes without saying, since millions of people are already on Facebook. But if you want to know what your friends and family are up to and vice versa, Facebook can be a powerful tool. Just don’t expect it to take the place of personal visits, calls, and emails. Sometimes I find that being friends with someone on Facebook means I’ll actually forgo the personal updates for something much more generic.

Another way to stay in touch is to create your own custom social network by using Ning. www.facebook.com or www.ning.com.

How do you stay in touch while living abroad?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer in Switzerland who has written for a variety of publications on two continents. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland and moving abroad, and also discusses living abroad as a freelancer at Writer Abroad.

By Kristi Remick

Milestones are identifiable points in our lives that represent something epic: college graduation day, the birth of  a child, the first time one lays eyes on Johnny Depp, etc.  For me, August 19th marked a new one – I survived one full year as an Expat.  Since I prefer to sit back and let change seek me out like a heat-seeking missile, no one was more surprised than me when I told me husband “let’s do it…let’s live out our dream and move to Europe”.  Who was this person?  Why in the world would I say this phrase if I knew it would only be followed by months of hand wringing, hours spent on the internet searching for affirmations and the very real possibility I would require psychotropic drugs at some point during the planning process?

While the hand wringing resulted in premature osteoarthritis of my right index finger and the hours spent on the internet left me with more questions than answers, I knew I had to do it.   I had to sell the house that I loved, leave my career behind and say goodbye to friends and family.  The planning process was only the beginning of my emotional journey and I knew the real test would come when we actually set foot in Zurich.  As a result, I dusted off the old mental straitjacket and packed it along side all of my other jackets: the “get a grip”  jacket, the “holy crap, am I really doing this? ” jacket and of course my rain jacket…no, a real rain jacket.  It rains a lot here.

I wish I could lie to you and say I didn’t need my straitjacket the first year in Zurich.  I know a lot of you who read these Expat blogs are considering a move abroad and if you are anything like me, you are only looking for butterfly and lollipop laced stories of success.  Living in a new country is amazing but the fact of the matter is, you will be presented with unique challenges that will test your resolve. The white walls in your flat may start to dimple and resemble padded walls.  The straitjacket may get so tight it suffocates you but then something clicks…it is like Houdini himself unbuckled the first buckle for you and whispered “see, it isn’t so bad…just bend the strap back and release the tension…now go get ‘em tiger”.

It took about a year but I finally unbuckled the last buckle on my straitjacket.  As I fold it up in preparation to store it, I am overcome with immense gratitude.  Gratitude that my straitjacket kept me firmly in place and incapable of running away.

When I am not busy stuffing my face with chocolate, you can find me over at From A to Z blogging about my life in Zurich Switzerland.

I am in the forests of South India , gazing at the banks of the river Kabini . The river wedges the forests , Nagarhole and Bandipur and the banks are known to attract elephants.While Kabini is filled with wildlife enthusiasts and tourists narrating their escapades and encounters with tigers and tuskers , I am happy with my lot of birds .For an amateur birder like me, Kabini is full of surprises. While the elusive leopard or tiger may always be difficult to sight, the feathered species never disappoint. There are raptors, migratory birds, water birds, waders, forest birds and every time , the forests and the river greets me with a new story.

Pic : Lakshmi Sharath

I saw my first peregrine falcon here in Kabini during winter , when it showed me what speed was all about. It was perched for a moment on one of the dry branches sticking out of the waters and the next moment, it shot right across the river. During one boat ride, I was lucky enough to see four different species of the kingfisher, starting from the uncommon common kingfisher, the regular white breasted kingfisher , the stork billed variety and the black and white pied kingfisher looking for their next meal in the waters.

I saw more Malabar pied hornbills than cormorants as they created a racket while flying into the forest.. Keeping the cormorants company was a darter , posing for me with his wings spread out. The painted storks created pretty picture , looking at their reflections in the water. They were surrounded by the w asian openbills, Eurasian spoonbills and the woolly necked stork among several water birds.

Pic : Lakshmi Sharath

The crested serpent eagle is a regular bird in these forests, but the drama that accompanied me during the sighting was not all that regular. A drongo and an Indian roller were together chasing the eagle away until it flew away into the trees. We chanced upon a peacock trying to impress a peahen with his dance, but she just walked away as we saw the spectacle. Meanwhile, a scarlet minivet seemed to enjoy his moment , as the female yellow bird followed him into the foliage of the trees.
Everyday there is drama in these forests and while most of it is lost within the verdant greenery, it is up to us to look a little deeper and enjoy these moments.

This post is written by Indian backpacker for AffordableCallingCards.net, which offers different long distance calling cards, such as cheap phone cards to India

by Chantal Panozzo

As a writer abroad, I like to read books written by other expats because I find they usually share a unique perspective on the world. I’m a big fan of memoir, but lately there have also been some good works of fiction written by Americans abroad, particularly by expats living in Paris. An inspiring location? Perhaps.

A few months back, I wrote Great Books to Read as an Expat but if you’re like me and devour about a book a week thanks to plentiful train rides, you’ve already read them all. So here are a few more you might want to consider adding to your collection.

Moonlight in Odessa by Janet Skeslien Charles. Charles’ funny debut novel is set in the Eastern European country of Ukraine and explores the wonderful world of mail-order brides. The main character, Daria, is particularly endearing, especially when she goes to live in the United States as a mail-order bride herself. Daria defines the U.S. as crazy place where the people are rich but dress like they’re poor—a statement only an expat author could probably allow her character to come up with. Bonus—the book comes out in paperback in the United States on September 1.

Kitchen Chinese by Ann Mah. What happens when an American girl (who happens to have Chinese heritage) goes to live in China to find herself? She can’t. She has trouble fitting in—perhaps because she looks Chinese but isn’t. Kitchen Chinese is an interesting debut novel that explores both identity and culture, from a writer who has experienced the complexities of both.

Kabul Beauty School by Deborah Rodriguez. When an American woman goes to Afghanistan to open a beauty school, she is quickly in demand from both Westerners looking for a perm and also from local Afghan women, who want to learn how to open their own beauty salons, one of the few businesses acceptable for women to run in this middle-eastern nation. The book explores love, friendship, freedom, and what they could possibly have in common with a good haircut.

Have you read any great books lately?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer in Switzerland who has written for a variety of publications on two continents. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland and moving abroad, and also discusses living abroad as a freelancer at Writer Abroad.

by Tina Ferrari

A common summer view in Italy

While the rest of the world carries on with its business, in the month of August, Italy shuts down, and lights up.  By mid-August half the country is on vacation, offices and stores are closed, and those running shops and restaurants in tourist locations become very, very busy.

Calici di Stelle - Lecce turns into one big wine tasting.

Lecce has been completely on fire with Italian and European tourism.  Recently we had an event called Calici di Stelle, which is a wine tasting event that coincides with the meteor shower on the night of San Lorenzo.  The idea is that you buy a glass for ten Euros, and then wander about Lecce’s historical center, stopping at the various tasting stations, and eventually happening upon the observatory where you can watch the sky and hope to see a shooting star.  At the same time, local artist Alessandra Bray was exhibiting, and I was giving her a hand (between tastings, of course).  I have never seen Lecce so crowded – it was impossible to move!  While the idea of the historic center turning into one big wine tasting is a nice idea (and who doesn’t love Southern Italian wine?), it’s hard to really appreciate what you’re tasting when you are too busy dodging people.

I’ve managed to squeeze in some visits to the beach, and the difference between August and a couple months ago is huge.  In June, I could rent an umbrella with two lounge chairs and there would always be something available.  In August, if you don’t rent in advance you are out of luck.  So during the month of August, you can find me on the “spiaggia libera”, public beach, where none of the umbrellas match.  I don’t mind – I just feel lucky to live so close to the sea.

When I first heard about August vacations, I imagined a relaxing month – but I’m finding that it’s quite the opposite!  So much to do!  And if you really need to get something important done, best to wait until September when everyone is open again.  Even the local cinema was closed for a week!

What is August like where you live?

Tina Ferrari is a tango dancer, translator and writer currently based in Lecce, Italy. She writes at AffordableCallingCards.net as well as on her own blog, Tina Tangos. Comments are always welcome!