After four years of living in Rome, I’ve learned a bit about dating, especially as a Black woman. In this video, I offer up my thoughts on possible dating experiences that Black women may meet while living abroad, the (ir)relevance of beauty standards, and reasons for travelling abroad, including cultural expectations.
Hope you enjoy it! If you do, please “like” (thumbs up) the video. Thanks!
Video accompaniment to the recent Mercatino Giapponese post. Hope you enjoy watching it! 😉
Took the metro line B to Termini, then grabbed the 105 to Grotte Celoni, hoping that I would figure out the exact location of the Mercatino Giapponese (Via Casilina 713).
I came to this event two years before, and back then it seemed like a cross between a neighbourhood yard sale and a cosplay convention. This year, it was more or less the same, except for the cosplay, which was the part I had been looking forward to seeing.
It’s the kind of event where everyone knows everyone. It’s less about selling stuff than having a reunion with old friends. I didn’t mind it.
Still, it was more of a manga-meets-anime convention that just happened to be in a dancehall that casts several shades of shady upon entering it: stacks of comics and posters everywhere, Japanese dolls and anime/manga characters lined up, handcrafted jewelry and used clothes that reminded me of my goth days, and random Italian pop music playing.
It didn’t phase me when I saw the telltale Italian cornetti (croissants) and espresso at the bar. After all, I’m in Rome. Still, I was hoping to find something more…Japanese.
Only a handful of vendors were selling things other than anime/manga items. There were kimonos, Japanese socks, bookmarkers and, of course, food…but that’s a whole other tale. In the meanwhile, enjoy the photos. 😉
D.
Vegamisu, Universo Vegano. Click to visit their website. Image by D. Blake.
So, I took myself out for Valentine’s Day. Watch what happens. 🙂
So, I finally put together my first natural hair video. 🙂 Product line featured: KeraCare.
Specifically, I used the KeraCare Leave In Conditioner, Essential Oils and Twist & Define Cream to do single strand twist Bantu knots. The result was soft curls, and even softer hair.
I’ll be upfront and you’ll see in the video, the only product that I bought was the Leave In Conditioner, which I consider to be expensive (I tend to be really frugal)–but I decided that I really needed a leave-in.
The total cost of the Leave In Conditioner was 18.90€. The rest of the products were samples that I received from the store–Lucky!! 🙂
I tend not to buy commercial styling products. Hair cleansing products, such as shampoo and conditioner, I go with Garnier Fructis line (price range: 2-3€).
Otherwise, I buy my oils (price range: 3-6€): extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, argan oil (tends to be expensive); and create a little mix with that.
Also, I tend to leave my hair alone, i.e. I don’t style it often to manipulate the natural curls I have. As the title states, I have 4c hair, which is delicate and is best not to over manipulate. So, generally, I keep it in a protective style and call it a day. 😉
KeraCare in Rome:
Astri Beauty Shop & Salon,Via Giovanni Giolitti 93/95
KeraCare Online:
Although, due to policy changes, there are fewer musicians these days, Rome continues to have a very vibrant street music culture. Every now and again, I come across some a musician playing an uncommon instrument, e.g. didgeridoo or (in this case) the hang drum.
Alessio playing the Hang drum on the streets of Vatican City. (Image by D. Blake)
Take a moment to listen to this wonderful instrument being played by Alessio, a young musician I came across while hanging out in Vatican City.
We’ve been having extremely rainy days in Rome lately. The sky is grey, everything is wet, and I feel permanently cold. As a result of all this, I’ve found myself under the weather more often than not. In other words, it’s winter. So, I’ve been on the hunt for natural ways to improve my immune system.
Zipporah G. Image from http://www.shedoesliving.com. Click to visit.
The other day I stumbled upon YouTube travel vlogger Zipporah G, a Londoner who is now living in Bangkok. She also has a blog: http://www.shedoesliving.com (and you can find her on twitter and Instagram @shedoesliving).
Beyond the awesome footage that she shares about her travels, she also focuses on healthy foods, and provides recipes. The video below is just one of those recipes that can give you a big pick me up when you are feeling down. It’s yummy!
Thanks, Zipporah!
Travel and fibromyalgia–from everything I heard and knew before I moved to Italy, travelling was something that I probably wouldn’t be doing a lot of because of the potential negative impact it could have on my body.
Still, I decided to do it. 😉
In these videos, I talk about my decision to move to Italy, how I prepared and what I have experienced while living in Rome and dealing with my fibromyalgia symptoms.
Thank you for watching! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me! 🙂
Until Tomorrow?
D.
Part 1: Why I did it | How I did it.
Part 2: What I Learned | What I suggest.
Image by Linda Kuniyama. Click to visit read article about her on John Cabot University website.
It took 4 years, but finally I found out where there is a real second-hand store in Rome…and it happens to be in my backyard. 😉
Before I left the US, I was pretty much hooked on spending part of my weekend in the local Goodwill or Salvation Army. I have a thing for anything vintage and I am ridiculously cheap frugal, so shopping second-hand leaves me in bliss.
When I first moved to Rome, the “vintage” stores here left me thinking Oh, Hell No!
Seriously, the prices were (still are) enough to induce cardiac arrest.
Luckily, my friend Sammy introduced me to Ex-Novo on Saturday. Although the prices are still considerably high in my book, they are still significantly lower than the vintage stores that you will find in Rome’s historic center.
So, if you’re in Rome, or planning to travel here, and love vintage, check out Ex-Novo in the San Paolo Basilica area. It’s just a few steps from the metro.
Via Corinto 12, Rome
(San Paolo Basilica Metro)
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