5 Things to Eat Before You Die

Indah tagged me for this meme and I am more than glad to participate. It was very, very difficult to choose only 5 things to eat before you die but I think I made a pretty truthful list.

1. Dim Sum
Dim sum means "a little bit of heart". A proper dim sum is made up of many, many Chinese dishes, usually served in small portions. Some famous examples are sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves, black bean spare ribs, roasted BBQ pork, shrimp dumplings, chicken feet, crab dumplings and much more. Often there are over 50 dishes to choose from. I have loved dim sum since I was a little kid (although it was hard to find on Guam) and have traveled far and wide to sample all the different varieties (Vancouver, B.C., Chicago, New York, Hong Kong, San Fran, Seattle, London and one of the best, Richmond, B.C. (labeled the new "Hong Kong" by my aunt and uncle.) Being Cantonese, I have my favorites but have no idea what they are called in English. When I see the steaming carts roll by my table, I just point and eat!

2. Sushi and sashimi
When I first watched the movie "Cast Away" with Tom Hanks and saw him catching fish with a spear, I thought, "I've gone spear fishing." When he bit into the fish he had caught, I thought "Yuck, that looks terrible." Then I remembered that I love raw fish. Most of the time they are sliced thinly and accompanied by rice, wasabi and soy sauce but I love raw fish nevertheless and the fresher the better. I have to admit though that the only sushi or sashimi I cannot stomach are natto, uni and ikura. I have tried them repeatedly and still, they have no appeal whatsoever.

3. Porcini Mushrooms
I must say that I love these mushrooms above all others. They have a distinctive meaty taste that is much more recognizable than crimini, oyster, chanterelle, shitake and portobellos. Again I must admit I do not have much experience with morels which I hear are also fantastic. I can honestly say that I do not think I could live without porcinis as in my humble opinion they are tastier than even the famed white truffle from Alba.

4. Pho
The world famous Vietnamese Noodle Soup can be bought for 55 US cents in Vietnam and about $5.95 a bowl at my dad's and step-mom's restaurant but the taste and the aromas just can't be beat. Imagine cinnamon, anise, cloves (sometimes), ginger, onion, Thai basil, green onions, cilantro, and my favorite sawtooth herb, all mingled together into a fragrant and intoxicating soup. If I say this soup on a menu in Torino, I think I would cry.


5. I am going to cheat on this last one and list several fruits that I just could not live without and think that everyone must try at least once in their lifetimes.

a. fresh lychees-Nothing beats a fresh, plump, juicy lychee. The flesh is white and succulent with a light, crisp and very juicy taste. Lychees are often an aroma in fine white wines such as Rieslings.
b. a pomegranate-This is a fruit of myths and legends. Thousands of years old, they are a common subject in Roman mosaics with delicious, sweet and succulent seeds.
c. a Philippine mango-Probably the most luscious, creamy and delicious mango variety of them all.
d. jackfruit or jakfruit-A giant amoung the fruit world, the heady and pungent yet sweet taste and aroma are so prized that back on Guam it is not uncommon to see dogs chained to the tree trunks of jackfruit trees to prevent thievery.
e. alpine strawberries -my first taste was in Rome and these little gems are so jam packed with strawberry flavor that a normal berry doesn't hold a candle to them.

See more great lists here.

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Deep Thoughts?

I was reading a thread on the Expats in Italy site about a mom in Rome with a new infant. She is missing the US, her friends and is frustrated about not meeting other mommies with babies and getting around town with her baby.

Here in Torino, I have few friends but they are all great. Two moved back to the US, one is leaving to Beijing in December, I have just met two new expats, one with a baby and one with two older children and I am also planning to leave to Rome in the spring of 2007. I was hoping and praying to start some kind of playgroup in the future and when our baby is old enough to socialize. When I was a nanny in Seattle, I never found a lack of things to do with children.

In the summer time, we went on bike rides, went on hikes, went to the berry farm to pick our own berries, went on picnics, rented a canoe for the day and ate lunch under weeping willows while watching ducks and their ducklings, went swimming at the outdoor pool, took ferry rides, went to the park to fly kites, most of these activities were made even more enjoyable by inviting other children along with us and their nannies too. A few nannies and I became friends and still keep in touch today. One of them has a two year old!

When the weather was no-so-great and cloudy there were still an abundance of things to do: have coffee and a bagel with friends, have a play date at their place or ours, paint ceramics at the ceramics studio, go to the community center and for $1 have free access to the gym and all the kiddy toys you could possibly imagine, go to the library for story time (they also had this at Barnes and Noble and other bookstores), go to the Science Center, the Children’s’ Museum and much, much more.

Italy is a great place for kids; kids are cherished here and doted on intensively. Demetrio loves the fact you can take kids to almost any restaurant in Italy with no problem. They might not have a high chair, straws, plastic cups, crayons or kiddy placemats but he says this helps kids to become more integrated into society instead of being treated like a special part of the population. I liked having all those conveniences for kids in the States. I liked having nanny friends I could call on a dime and meet at the park for some adult conversation while we were playing hide and seek, hot lava monster or just pushing the kids on the swings. When the time comes, I hope to find a playgroup not only to enrich my child but also to save my sanity.

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Just Strange

This is how one of my goldfish has been sleeping for about a week now. I hope its not sick.

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Antica Trattoria Costone

Put this restaurant on the list as another one that I have eaten at but forgot to take my camera to. I am sorry that I do not have any first hand photos but luckily, they have a nice website. (It’s in Italian but the photos and map are all you need.)

Our friend Roberto flew into Italy to take care of some business and of course when friends are in town, we go out to eat. He picked this restaurant, which happens to be in “The Guides” (Slow Food and The Gambero Rosso) too and recommended it to us.

The atmosphere was very sophisticated. The tables were set impeccably, the silverware was elegant, the wine glasses were Riedel and I was impressed. Most of the times when I eat at so-called “sophisticated” restaurants the prices are high, the staff snobby and the food only “so-so” but in this case, I was totally taken by surprise. This restaurant was very down to earth. The chef came out many times to talk to his guests and commented on how he thought my baby was a boy. When we told him we were from Torino and that we were late because we got a bit lost, he prepared an extra dish for us. He was a very nice guy and a very talented chef.

Both Deme and Roberto chose the “Surprise” tasting menu while I ordered alla carte. I had a terrine of duck liver (room temp.) that was accompanied by wonderful homemade bread, Neapolitan tortellone filled with burrata and made with tomatoes from Mt. Vesuvius and for the main course a 44 hour baby pork roast that was mouth meltingly tender yet had the most delightfully crispy skin.

The men enjoyed 8 dishes, too many for me, that were all wonderful. The highlights were the branzino (aka Mediterranean sea bass) tartar with lime sorbet, the fresh basil pasta with saffron sauce and a sweet pumpkin gnochetti with mussels. All the dishes were small but ample, creatively plated and delicious. The caviar, shrimp, fish and seafood were all fresh, what more could one ask for. The tasting menu was reasonable at 70 Euros. I cannot wait to go back. This time after the baby is born so I can really indulge.

Antica Trattoria Costone
Via IV Novembre, 10
21020 Galliate Lombardo (Varese)
Tel. or Fax +39 0332 947 104

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Turin Marathon 2006

He's done it again. Deme completed his third marathon today. A full 26.2 miles and 42 kilometers. I did not think he was going to go through with this one since he has had only 6 weeks to really get ready. With the baby coming we have been busying ourselves with organizing and preparing the house and the baby's things. But he proved me wrong and finished it this morning. Not in record time but still he finished. Best time is still the Florence Marathon 2005 which he plans to run again in two months. The baby will be here and so will my mother so maybe he can take off for the weekend without us. I do not think I will be ready to travel, we'll see.

A side note: I think him quitting smoking will help him with future marathons but he still is not convinced it has had much of an effect on his breathing and lung capacity. I guess only time will tell. I am extremely proud of him and not many people can say they have completed three marathons in their lifetimes but my hubby can. Go Demetrio!


Demetrio runs towards the finish line.


He gets this third medal for his third marathon.


He does look tired doesn't he?


This is a post marathon ritual, a nice long soak. Yes, the rubber duckies are included.

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Ristorante La Betulla

I ate at this great little restaurant last weekend and forgot to write about it. By the way, the Slow Food Osteria Guide is a great way to find "hole-in-the-wall" places that usually do not disappoint. (Marco was in town and we always go out to eat when we have friends in town.) As a matter a fact, I only write about 10 percent of the restaurants I DO eat at. Lately I have gotten lazy and often forget to put my little camera in my purse or I begin eating my meal and forget about the photo.

At La Betulla, just 20 minutes outside of Torino, I ate three courses before I remember to take my camera out for dessert.

We had a great meal there. The two tasting menus were priced at 28 and 38 Euros with 4-5 dishes and a dessert of your choice. I was surprised at how reasonably the menu was and the uniqueness of the dishes. For a starter I had three small filets of red snapper grilled with orange zest, then I had a bit of Demetrio's pasta which was ravioli filled with peas and mint, and for my main course I had a great piece of cod on a bed of mashed potatoes. I was saving room for dessert and had a new take on traditional panna cotta, which was delicious. See photo below.

I definitely want to go back again to try the tasting menus after the baby is born, maybe with my mom too. I know she will love the freshness of the seafood.

A pistachio panna cotta made with almond milk instead of cream and topped with fresh berries. Perfect for my diet.

La Betulla
Chef: Franco Giacomino
Strada Giaveno, 29
(TO) Piemonte, Italy
Tel: +39 011 933 106
Closed on Mondays

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Counting Dog Poop?

This is something Italy needs to do.

Shrimp, Grapefruit and Pomegranate Salad

We had some dinner guests over last night and I was craving shrimp. This super simple salad hit the spot.

Shrimp, Grapefruit and Pomegranate Salad
-Serves 4 as a starter

1 large red grapefruit, cut into sections, and the juiced (save the juice)
1/2 pomegranate, (pick out seeds and set aside)
1/2 an avocado (thinly sliced)
About 5 med.-large shrimps per person
juice and rind of 1 lime
slivers of mint
honey to taste
bit of grated ginger

1. Clean and prepare shrimp, season with salt, pepper, a few drops of chili oil, a 1/2 t. grated ginger, a bit of lime juice and set aside.

2. To make the sauce for the shrimp, combine lime and grapefruit juice in a small saucepan and reduce by half. Add honey to taste, when the sauce has a nice balance of sour and sweet, add a bit of grated ginger, 1/2 of the pomegranate seeds and the lime rind. Reduce to a thick syrup, like honey and then set aside.

3. Now prepare the plates with slivers of avocado and grapefruit. Sear the shrimp on high heat in a grill pan for just 30-60 seconds per side and place on plate. Gently spoon the sauce in a thin line over the shrimp and the avocado/grapefruit.

4. Serve with garnishes of poppy seeds, slivered mint/cilantro, the rest of the pomegranate seeds and lime wedges. I think I am going to make this again next week.



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Douja D'Or (Do-Yah-Door)

The Douja D'Or means "golden cup" and is a wine tasting festival in Asti. Yesterday we were invited to meet up with a friend, Marco, to see the city and taste some wine. We were up for it and very glad we had a bit of a break from the rain that has been falling on and off for four days. Since it was my first time at the Douja D'or, I won't claim to be a seasoned attendee. You can read more about it here, here and here.

After a quick stroll through the small open market; we headed for the wine tasting. The first thing we did was grab a catalog, there were 373 wines waiting to be swirled and savored. The men opted to taste 4 reds and I opted for 2 whites. Most of the tastes cost 1.50 Euros but a few choice winners cost 2.50 a taste. With glasses in hand we began the tasting. Being 8 months along, I opted to walk around, sample local cheese, honey and breads while the men discussed their wines at length. Of the four wines they tasted, they picked Barbera d'Asti Superiore 2004 Riva and I picked Moscato di Cagliari 2003 Donna Jolanda as my favorite. I also tasted a Gewurztraminer from Alto Adige but did not like it. (I am a sucker for sweeter wines.) What I loved best about the whole experience was being able to taste a wide variety of wines then heading off to the cantina to buy the exact ones you tasted and liked. (I think if we had a trolley, we would have ended up with more bottles.)



Some of the wines waiting to be sampled.


Marco and Deme scour the catalog for wines they want to taste.


We end up buying 6 bottles and taking them home. (4 for Deme and 2 for me.)

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My Weight Re-Visited

Yesterday I went back to the gynecologist for another exam and to see if my progesterone shots were doing the job of making sure my baby stayed put. We are happy to report, all is well and I am doing fine with excellent blood pressure I might add. For the past two weeks, the baby has been in a head down position and it looks like he/she is ready to make his/her appearance soon.

I was a bit anxious as I sat in the Doctor’s office yesterday. I wanted to tell him that I thought the dietician was full of sh*t and I did not want to follow her advice (she is a colleague of his) but I instead listed my objections:

1. I felt her analysis of my “ideal weight” 58-60 kilos was unrealistic for my body type.

2. I do not agree with taking pills instead of eating healthy, real food.

3. Her restriction on diary products seemed extreme and just plain wrong.

4. Her goal of having me lose 5 kilos, or 10 pounds during my 8th month of pregnancy seemed impossible and pretty crazy.

He listened to me, and then said the following:

1. Since I began pregnancy I have gained 12 kilos, 26 pounds and he feels that is plenty.

2. He agrees that losing 5 kilos at this stage is hard and I should not try to do it.

3. He thinks taking a calcium pill instead of having some dairy is fine.

4. He hopes that I maintain my weight for the next 8 weeks and not gain any more. I feel guilty about this and do not want to disappoint him but know that is unrealistic for me. (When I hopped on the scale, I had lost .5 kilos or 1 pound from 2 weeks ago.)

Although I like this gynecologist a lot I cannot believe some of the cultural differences Italians and Americans have concerning weight. I know America is fat; it is a fat country. Italy on the other hand is a very visual country but asking healthy pregnant women to gain a maximum of 10 kilos or 20 pounds during the entire course of their pregnancies seems unrealistic. 5-10 pounds here or there does not seem like a big deal to me but in Italy, it is. A friend of mine said her boss gained only 6 kilos during her pregnancy, which is 12 pounds. She is of medium height and medium build, Yikes!

I just re-watched “Super Size Me” last night and was grossed out by the fast food lifestyle. Having said that I feel I make wonderful choices, I do not eat fast food, junk food and I do not drink soda, at all. I cook whole foods, a large variety of many fruits, vegetables and grains. I feel healthy which is what matters to me.

Part of me wishes I were back in the US where I would be praised by my friends, family and doctors for being active, looking healthy and eating right. Here I am chastised, critized and made to feel like I am harming my body and my baby.

***NOTE: I want to thank everyone for their supportive comments. It is hard when everyone around you thinks differently than you do and you do not receive much support. I knew I could count on my expat friends and blog friends to lend a helpful ear.

***NOTE #2: I do not understand why drinking 3-5 espresso shots a day, tanning until you look like an expensive alligator purse, driving without seatbelts/car seats (esp. for kids), riding a bike without a helmet are all okay. However, if you gain 5-10 pounds extra during your pregnancy, you are a thought of as a criminal.

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A Pregnancy Diet???

I am upset, as a matter a fact I am fuming right now. Today I went to the dietician, on the recommendation of my gynecologist. He was concerned about me gaining too much weight during my pregnancy. (So far, at 32 weeks, I have gained 12 kilos or 26 pounds.)

Most pregnant women in Italy will tell you that their gynecologists recommend they gain 10 kilos, 22 pounds throughout their pregnancy, regardless of body size, height and bone structure. (I am 170 cm or 5’7”.) This is a major difference from what pregnant women are told in America. If you are of an average weight when you begin your pregnancy, then gaining 25-35 pounds is the norm.

I told her that I had a mild case of gestational diabetes and with a home monitor; I have my blood sugar under excellent control. Sparing you the details of the visit today I will summarized the highlights:

She recommended: (and I WAS comfortable with)

-more fish
-less salt
-less sweets
-less fried foods
-less bivalves
-no dried fruits
-no white bread or pasta, whole wheat only
-no cured meats, salami, proscuitto etc…
-no extra sugar, I should use aspartame instead of real sugar
-only 2 servings of fruit a day

What I was NOT comfortable with was the following:

-no cheese
-no milk or yogurt whatsoever, but soy and rice milk were okay and then she recommend a calcium pill in lieu of the milk.
-no nuts, I know nuts have good oils in them
-no oil or butter at all

I understand that controlling my blood sugar is a necessity and that is not a problem for me. What was a problem was that fact she insinuated I was obese.

When the visit began, she looked at my wrists and held them in her hands. She then told me I had very delicate bone structure and for my height, I should weight between 58-60 kilos, 127 and 132 pounds. (I have to mention that in the 8th grade, I weighed 118 pounds and as a senior in high school, I weighed 135 pounds. I was a skinny and lanky.) About my delicate bone structure, I neglected to tell her that a favorite past time of mine as a kid was jumping off the roof of my house with an umbrella or large plastic garbage bag as a parachute.

The worst thing of all was that she asked me to come back in 4 weeks and by that time; I should have lost 5 kilos or 10 pounds. I left the office shocked.

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House Calls

When I think of a doctor that makes house calls, I think of Doc Baker from the Little House on the Prairie (one of my favorite TV series when I was a kid). He used to ride out to his patients’ homes in his carriage to deliver babies, give out medicine and do check-ups.

When I think of how nice it would be to have milk delivered to your door, fresh everyday. I think of Frank McCourt’s book Angela’s Ashes in which little Frankie used to swipe bottles of fresh milk, thick with cream on top, from the homes of some of his neighbors.

Having grown up on Guam the only things we ever had delivered were giant tanks of butane for our gas burners, we had no oven, and the daily newspaper.

Here living in Italy, I have had three “house call occasions/opportunities”.

While I was in Sicily on vacation this past August, I left my ailing cat with the woman that takes care of my apartment building. I agonized and agonized over leaving him but felt much better when the vet offered to pay the cat a home visit while I was away. He then sent me a text message to let me know all was fine. I have yet to receive a bill but he is a very reasonable man and I do not expect to pay much more than the 29 Euros he charges for an office visit. (Vets do make house calls in the Seattle too. In Seattle, I have a friend with four cats and a dog. She often gets her vet to come to her home for once-a-year vaccinations and has even had one of her cats euthanized at home. The cost is about double of what it costs here in Italy though.)

My corner grocery store is a great place for me to stock up on the basics: milk, bread, yogurt, cheese, fruits and veggies. About a month ago, I explained to the store’s proprietor that my mom would be arriving soon and she would probably come in with a small list. Since my mother speaks no Italian, this seemed like a very practical solution to me. The storeowner then gave me his business card and said I could also call in my order and he would have it ready; all I had to do was tell him what brands I wanted. Then he offered to deliver my groceries to my apartment building if for some reason I had some type of difficulty. Part of me knew this was not part of his regular service but I very much appreciated the proposal. (This is a small storeowner, which I am happy to support. I have used Albertsons.com and Webgrocer.com in the States too, mostly for heavy and bulky items.)

This week I have another dilemma. Demetrio is in Rome for a week and not here to give me my second progesterone injection. I surely do not know how to give myself an intramuscular injection and found out from my pharmacy that I can call a nurse to come to my home. I gave her a call, she came over, swabbed
my leg with alcohol and gave me the shot. 5 Euros was the cost and after it was over, she gave me her card and left. It was quick, painless, almost pleasant. Now that’s what I call service.

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September 11th

Being an American, it's hard to let this day pass without paying tribute to all those who lost their lives.

My 5th sister got married on September 9th and by the 10th I was back home in Seattle. The very next morning my best friend tried frantically to reach me on my cell phone. When I answered she was in tears and told me to turn the television on. I knew no one in New York and for the first half of the day, the gravity of the events really did not sink in. Later that day as my BF and I sat glued to the news, I realized America was never going to be the same again.

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Hospital Tours Part 1

***This is a duplicate post from our other blog but has a lot of relevance to my life in Italy. There is an interesting thread being discussed on the Expats Site about this very thing, Pregnancy and Childbirth. Come of the stories are hair raising and some are wonderful.

Today we toured two private hospitals. Our private gynecologist, Dr. R, works at both these hospitals and like Bill Cosby, we call him when my water breaks and I start feeling contractions. He then tells me when to head to the hospital for the birth. I like Dr. R so much I want him to deliver my baby but what I want is not always guaranteed.

The two private hospitals we saw today were wonderful. Clean, not crowded, with many amenities that a public hospital might not have. (Note: I have only been to one public hospital in Torino, when Sharon had her baby.) There were bathrooms in your private room, a sofa bed for the father, a TV monitor that allowed you to see your baby in the nursery, modern hospital beds and plenty of supplies/toiletries. Everything was very private, with the cost being 3500 Euros for 3-4 days for a natural birth and 5500 Euros for 4-5 days for a Cesarean birth. These prices do not include the individual costs of the pediatrician, anesthesiologist, gynecologist and obstetric nurse. (She is quite an important person as she was the one who gave us the tours today, answered all our questions and will visit the baby and me 2 times a day after the birth. She is also a lactation consultant and one of the people I call then the time comes.) The total bill for a birth in Torino at the two top private hospitals is around 7000-10,000 Euros. The only downsides to the whole private hospital picture are these: 1. The baby must sleep in the nursery at night and not in your room. 2. If you go into labor before 36 weeks the private hospitals will not even take you, you have to go to a public hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit.

We plan to make one more hospital visit, to the famed Santa Ana hospital. It is a teaching hospital and when you have a problem; it is the place to go. They have the best equipment in the city. I am wary about public hospitals because the quality of care really varies from place to place. I have heard some horror stories from other Expats on this thread. Dr. R, will not be able to delivery my baby in a public hospital and that scares me a lot. A total stranger will end up delivering my baby. Still if I go into labor before 36 weeks, I will have no choice and that lack of choice is quite frustrating. The scariest thing of all is that some public hospitals do not offer epidurals although Santa Ana does; even the thought of not having adequate pain management frightens the living daylights out of me. We have two more months to go and much more research needs to be done.

Note: **I should also say many Expats and my SIL, Valeria have had good experiences in public hospitals. It is all case-by-case I guess.

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Curried Lentil Soup

Curried Lentil Soup
-Serves 4 as a starter

A great way to add spice to your menu, can be served room temp. as well as hot.

3 carrots, diced
1 apple, diced
1 onion, diced
1 garlic clove minced
chicken broth or water
1 sm. can coconut milk
½ t. ground cumin, coriander, chili/paprika
1 T. curry powder, or more to taste
1 T. apple cider vinegar
1 ½ -2 C. dried red lentils, rinsed and picked over. (You can pre-soak them or not.)
salt and pepper

1. Sauté the onions, garlic carrots and apples in a bit of good olive oil until the onions are translucent. Add the vinegar, reduce the heat and continue to cook until the carrots are soft, about 10 minutes.

2. Add the chili, cumin, coriander, and curry powder to the vegetables and sauté until fragrant about 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Now add all the lentils at once. Cover the lentils with the liquid (water or chicken broth) and let simmer for 45-60 minutes. Make sure to add more liquid of too much evaporates. (The consistency of the lentil soup should be that of thick oatmeal, since it will thin out when you add the coconut milk.)

3. Taste the lentils after 45-60 minutes, they should be tender. Add the coconut milk to the soup and stir to combine. Now I like to use a stick blender to puree the soup. You can also puree the soup in a regular blender and pass it through a fine sieve for a finer and smoother consistency. Taste for salt and spices and serve warm with a garnish of slivered mint or chopped cilantro.

This soup is not only delicious but healthy and easy.



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White Bean and Tuna Salad

It's been a long time since I have made a food post but with my new diet, I am trying to make as many "low carb" foods and I can. I remember having this salad a few times this summer in Tuscany, in Orvieto and in Florence. It's a simple 5 ingredient or so salad that really tastes great. It it also a great topping for crostini. Try it before the summer is over.

White Bean Salad-Serves 2 as a starter

2 C. cooked white beans, you can also use borlotti beans or garbanzo beans
1/2 an onion, red, white or yellow, thinly sliced
2-4 T. chopped parsley
4 oz.good quality tuna
1-2 diced plum tomatoes

1. Gently fold all the ingredients together.

2. Season with salt, pepper and dress with lemon juice and good olive oil.

Serve in bibb lettuce cups, on top of a bed of arugula, with bread, grissini or crostini. Other tasty additions include diced celery, green onions, and chopped herbs.



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Comparison Dental Shopping

Yesterday I went to my first Italian dentist. The office was a private one and very, very modern, lots of glass and steel everywhere with a minimalist feel. Of course, I could not help but compare this dentist with the two I had in Seattle.

In the U.S.

1. I walk into the dental office, check-in and wait in the waiting area/room for about 10-20 minutes before someone calls me for my appointment. There are usually a slew of magazines for patients to read. Namely, Family Circle, Time, Newsweek, Dental Health etc...

2. I filled out a two-page form about my medical and dental history. I DO NOT need translation help.

3. I am left in the dental chair for about 10 minutes before the dentist comes in to see me.

4. A dentist examines my mouth and makes scribbles on a chart about the condition of my teeth and gums.

5. I am left alone for another 5-10 minutes before the hygienist comes in to clean my teeth.

6. A hygienist comes in and cleans my teeth.

7. I usually get my teeth cleaned every 6 months in the States, they send you a reminder postcard.

8. My visit is billed partly to the insurance or I end up paying for the whole thing. Usually a cleaning is 96 USD and a filling about 100 USD if it is not a complicated or large one.

9. **A short note: One of my dentists in the States always chats with me about the condition of my mouth and makes helpful recommendations. In addition, when I am getting shots for a filling, he always asks me about the pain level of the shots and to rate them on a scale of 1 to 10.


In Italy

1. I walk into the dental office, check-in and wait in the waiting area/room for about 10-20 minutes before someone calls me for my appointment. There are a slew of magazines for patients to read. I noticed there were mostly gossip, fashion, auto and travel magazines.

2. I filled out a two-page form about my medical and dental history. I DO need translation help as I accidentally marked that I DO take recreational drugs. Opps!

3. I am left in the dental chair for about 10 minutes before the dentist comes in to see me.

4. A dentist examines my mouth and makes scribbles on a chart about the condition of my teeth and gums. He then makes small talk and asks me how long I have lived in Italy and how great my Italian is. Also, he congratulates me on my pregnancy and asks me if I know if I am expecting a boy or a girl. Everyone in the office does this, I am asked about 6 times.

5. I am left alone for another 5-10 minutes before another dentist comes in to clean my teeth.

6. A dentist comes in and cleans my teeth. She asks me the same questions as the first dentist, about the baby that is. She then proceeds to clean my teeth. But before she begins, she explains to me that if I should feel any pain or discomfort, I should raise my left hand and she will stop right away to resolve the problem. I am loving this!

7. It's been a year-and-a-half since I moved here and this is my first dental visit, I feel like an oral hygiene sinner.

8. My visit is billed to me and I have to seek re-imbursement from the insurance company myself. The cleaning and the visit were 196 Euros.

9. ***Another small note: I need to have three old fillings replaced and in Italy, they are almost 2.5 times the price of the States. I am thinking I may just have the dental work done when I head back to Seattle in the spring. Overall, I had a wonderful experience; this clinic was clean, professional, courteous, thoughtful and very, very organized. I cannot wait for my next cleaning!

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