The Army

 

Today has been an eventful day. This morning I finished writing an article, which will soon be published on the Swedish Military Defence website. It’s something I’ve been putting together to raise awareness of the CULAD, or Cultural Advisor position at work.

I also passed a test in the Psychology university course I am taking. I did it over the Internet and scored 100%!

I’ve been studying at every spare opportunity in Italy, so tonight I will celebrate... In a couple of hours I’m off for Spritz with an Italian girlfriend, and then we’re meeting up with everyone at a pizza restaurant. Pizza is never served at lunchtime in Italy, since it’s a typical social dish that you’re meant to share with many friends over dinner.

Lunch on the other hand always consist of a primi and secondi piatto with wine. The primi plate is a pasta dish with Parmigiano. The secondi dish is bread, meat and vegetables with a salad afterwards, plus fruit for dessert – at least at the regiment’s 'mensa truppa'.

I didn’t even like pasta before moving to Italy. Now lunch doesn’t seem complete without it.

I also find it very difficult to resist a cup of coffee here. My favourite start of the day is a cappuccino or small latte macchiato at a coffee bar on standing foot with something sweet on the side. The porridge will have to wait until I am back in Sweden! :-)