Ok I'm really really sorry it's taken me so long to write. I'm so bad at keeping you guys updated but it's been really hard without steady internet. As far as what's been happening recently alot of you probably know that I had the great opportunity to go to Rome and Bologna with the 10 other AFS kids from Palermo not to long ago. We had the time of our lives. It was really really great to be all together, to see the city and to be able to come back whenever we wanted too late at night ;) Then this past weekend I was in a hotel on the beach near another city in Sicily called Catania with all the AFS kids in Sicily for our end of year orientation. One of the activities we did in our groups was to write a "journal." The volunteers gave us 4 dates spaced throughout the year and we wrote about our corresponding feelings and experiences near that date. It was a really great exercise to help me realized how far I've come and how much I've learned so I thought I'd translate it into english and share it with you guys.
December 23, 2007
It's strange to be here and to imagine Mom, Dad, Jesse and Will at home with all our family decorations and traditions but without me. I miss our Christmas music, baking Christmas cookies with Mom and friends and our advent wreath and services. But I've fallen in love with Via Libertà at night and Teatro Massimo all lit up. I like how much I feel at home here when I come downstairs and turn on the lights of our tree just like I would do at my house in Florida. Everything is going well with the family. I'm always with Martina and Mamma is always so nice and affectionate. I don't hang out with Federico that much... it's not that I don't like him - he's really nice, but I think the age difference makes it different than it is for Marti and I. He's 13 and is more interested in his own friends and computer games but just the same he's my brother here and I would really like to get closer with him. I cried a bit at Thanksgiving. It was the first day I wished that I could just be back in the US. Only for that one day. Here it's not celebrated and for me it's such a special day. Will I cry tommorow on Christmas Eve or Christmas day? I don't know but I don't think so. There are some things I miss about Christmas as normal: some traditions ad some feelings, but this for me is like a completely different holiday. There are alot of new things to learn and traditions to enjoy that have a different value. I know that I'll always remember my Christmas in Palermo.
March 15, 2008
So much is changed since December. In January Marti and I talked about her come to visit me in Florida this summer! It would be so nice... Then in the middle of February I went skiing with the family up near Torino. It was so so great but just like happens in almost every family vacation there was some bickering, whining and fighting between other members of the family that had nothing to do with me but I felt a little bit bad just the same. No family is perfect and I was starting to see that side of mine, which I see as a positive thing because I was certainly no longer treated as a guest. When we came back to Palermo I had some colder periods with the Martina on her part. I didn't understand why - she said nothing was wrong and that she wasn't mad but really there were just some misunderstandings that we got cleared up. I had a few blips con Mamma too - nothing grave, just periods in which we hadn't understood each other well. In the end we got everything talked out and I grew alot through that. We're all alot closer as a result as well. Living with a family is so hard. I feel like I always have to be perfect... I'm afraid of making mistakes but every mistake is certainly a learning experience. it means learning to share a life and to make sacrifices. To realize that this experience is as much about them as it is about me and to share my culture as I learn theirs. It may be the hardest thing of the experience but it's also the most rewarding :)
May 22, 2008
Why does everything have to come to an end? I don't feel at all ready to finish this experience, but when I have to tell my classmates and friends that this weekend I'm going to the end of stay camp, it seems like it's all finishing! Just 2 weeks ago all of us Palermitan AFSers were in Rome and it seems like yesterday. The day after we got back Mari came over to my house and we were talking about time and how's there not enough of it. We are committed to living this experience to the very last second and it's been and will be amazing. The most beautiful moments of these days are are at Mondello...swimming in crystal clear water that sparkles with the mid-day sun becuase we're skipping school. And the fact that Mamma justifies my absence to do it :) The fact that we're 4 kids at home. They are the things I realize becuase there's not much time left. Getting to know the people in my gym and playing my violin in piazza with Paola. Thursday night Bible study. I don't want to leave this but I know that my life has to go forward. I can't say that this will always be the best year of my life and remain depressed because nothing else will ever measure up. I have so many experiences still to live. I'm deciding now that I will make this rest of my life this spectacular. I love God, I love my family, I love Italy, I LOVE LIFE.
The last entry was September 20... about a month and a half after we get back. I'm not going to write my entry here as I have still to live it...
I hope I gave you guys a bit of a glimpse of my thoughts and feelings and life here this year. I'm sorry I've been so bad at writing! I love you all!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
finally posting again :)
It’s just about a week away from my 5 month point here and about 4 months since I wrote last here. We’ve had internet for around 2 weeks now but I’ve really been putting off writing here for lack of knowing what to write. I say that not in the sense that I have nothing to write about, but instead, too much. How do I sum up 4 months that have been the best of my life? Haha well now I’ll find out.
I’ll start with my family. I think probably almost all of you know that I switched families back in October. There were some problems with my first family that just couldn’t be resolved so AFS switched me. I ended up at the house of one of my classmates, Martina who is now my Italian sister J We get along really really well, which I’m so glad of. We call each other sorè which is like the Sicilian slang form of sorella (sister) and always go out together etc. etc. I also have a brother – Federico, 13, though her seems a lot older…most of the time haha. Though most of the time he’s with his friends and I’m with Martina we like to play cards together, talk etc. Then there’s Mamma, my Italian mom who I just absolutely love. She’s really an amazing woman, a single mom who owns 2 stores in the city, a pharmacy and a jewelry shop and manages them both herself. And even after working so hard every day she comes home and makes sure we eat enough haha. Sheis so affectionate with her kids, including me, always calling me gioia (it means joy, but here it’s used as a term of endearment like sweetie or dear), figlia addottiva (adopted daughter) and Annuccia (Ann-u-chuh). I really feel loved here just like I do by my American family.
My school is called Liceo Classico Giovanni Meli, and it’s a public high school with 5 grades, starting at age 13 and finishing at 18. Here there are 3 main types of high school, Classical, Scientific or Artistic and then others like Economic, Psycologic… and mine is classical. Now that I can understand almost all every day conversation I actively participate in the 6 subjects I’ve chosen to study here: Math (Trig, Analytic Geometry and Goniometry) History, Philosophy, Italian, Art History and PE. For these materials I take the tests and sometimes am interrogated (like oral exams). I think I’m doing well…at least my teachers seem to be pleased and I really enjoy studying in this setting without all the pressure of grades and GPA. Theoretically I could totally blow off all my classes here and not do anything but I prefer to participate and actually learn something if I have to be at school all day anyway J
I have learned that I am a city girl at heart. Or maybe I’m just a Palermo girl. I’ve never lived in the city before so I’m not sure if it’s all cities that I love or just this one, but it’s for sure that I’m in love. There are 10 of us here in Palermo with AFS and they are definitely some of my best friends here! I love my German, Danish, Norweign, Latvian, Finnish, Austrian and Austrailian foreigners and I seriously think we’re the luckiest of all, we all get along so well and go out together in the city center a lot. I don’t live in the city city, but more on the outskirts and up the side of a mountain a little bit, but I love my house, it’s huge and gorgeous and I can see the city and the sea from my bedroom balcony. But for school of course I go into the city every morning with my mom or my sister which is about a 10 minute drive and then come back with them at lunch. If I want I can go back in with Mamma at 5 and come back at 8 or if Martina goes into the city in the afternoon for a little bit I can go then too. When I have Italian or dance after school though I usually stay in the city and go by bus. Now the bus is my friend. I only had one other incident where I got really lost, but now I know the city pretty well, and can get just about anywhere on my own. It’s a really different kind of independence.
Here I’ve really been learning about the usage of free time as I have a lot more of it. I’ve learned from experience that boredom is really a choice, and that here in Palermo I have absolutely no excuses to be bored. Sure Martina and I do a lot of things together, but she has to study a lot. I go out with other friends too but the reality is that I’m probably half as busy here as I was in my old life (can say that? I guess it’s better than other life which I almost wrote). Really, in just this last month I’ve been learning to us my free time in a way that really makes me happy – exploring the city.
Hours between school and Italian class, or when I get a ride with Mamma into the city and when dance starts I fill with walking. Taking the bus to the center or another part I’ve never been to and just exploring has become a favorite activity. I think one of the things I really love about the city is the movement. The busyness of cars, people rushing, life passing by, is appealing to me, and right in the heart of the city where this life-traffic is the thickest I like to sit and observe. Where the rushed feeling diminishes and is replaced by semi-quiet streets with cars that don’t honk and little shops and bars surrounded by tall apartment buildings I like to walk and feel like a part of it all. And in the old city, close to casa mia, where people cross the street more than cars and old churches ring their bells I like to become the movement and run, stoping when I want to admire a church, a group of kids playing or the sea when I arrive.
Today for the first time here I took a bike ride. The bike really doesn’t work that well but Mamma said we’ll take it in to get fixed now. I didn’t have anything to do in the afternoon so I decided too try to make it to Mondello, the most gorgeous beach I’ve ever seen. I’ve only ever gone before by car but I looked on the map and it wasn’t more than twice the distance I ran Monday. It’s really neat to go by bike because Mondello area is really out of the city center and so the streets are pretty quiet. The bike was a pain because the gears are broken but it was totally worth it when after about 30 minutes I collapsed into the sun drenched sand, a mountain on my right, jutting out into the clear, rich blue sea.
Ahh enough for now. I’m sick of writing in English and I just wrote a ridiculous amount. Now that I’ve caught you all up I’ll update more with info about the culture, details etc. Leave comments if you have questions and I’ll do my best to answer them. Love you all…vi voglio bene!
Annuccia
I’ll start with my family. I think probably almost all of you know that I switched families back in October. There were some problems with my first family that just couldn’t be resolved so AFS switched me. I ended up at the house of one of my classmates, Martina who is now my Italian sister J We get along really really well, which I’m so glad of. We call each other sorè which is like the Sicilian slang form of sorella (sister) and always go out together etc. etc. I also have a brother – Federico, 13, though her seems a lot older…most of the time haha. Though most of the time he’s with his friends and I’m with Martina we like to play cards together, talk etc. Then there’s Mamma, my Italian mom who I just absolutely love. She’s really an amazing woman, a single mom who owns 2 stores in the city, a pharmacy and a jewelry shop and manages them both herself. And even after working so hard every day she comes home and makes sure we eat enough haha. Sheis so affectionate with her kids, including me, always calling me gioia (it means joy, but here it’s used as a term of endearment like sweetie or dear), figlia addottiva (adopted daughter) and Annuccia (Ann-u-chuh). I really feel loved here just like I do by my American family.
My school is called Liceo Classico Giovanni Meli, and it’s a public high school with 5 grades, starting at age 13 and finishing at 18. Here there are 3 main types of high school, Classical, Scientific or Artistic and then others like Economic, Psycologic… and mine is classical. Now that I can understand almost all every day conversation I actively participate in the 6 subjects I’ve chosen to study here: Math (Trig, Analytic Geometry and Goniometry) History, Philosophy, Italian, Art History and PE. For these materials I take the tests and sometimes am interrogated (like oral exams). I think I’m doing well…at least my teachers seem to be pleased and I really enjoy studying in this setting without all the pressure of grades and GPA. Theoretically I could totally blow off all my classes here and not do anything but I prefer to participate and actually learn something if I have to be at school all day anyway J
I have learned that I am a city girl at heart. Or maybe I’m just a Palermo girl. I’ve never lived in the city before so I’m not sure if it’s all cities that I love or just this one, but it’s for sure that I’m in love. There are 10 of us here in Palermo with AFS and they are definitely some of my best friends here! I love my German, Danish, Norweign, Latvian, Finnish, Austrian and Austrailian foreigners and I seriously think we’re the luckiest of all, we all get along so well and go out together in the city center a lot. I don’t live in the city city, but more on the outskirts and up the side of a mountain a little bit, but I love my house, it’s huge and gorgeous and I can see the city and the sea from my bedroom balcony. But for school of course I go into the city every morning with my mom or my sister which is about a 10 minute drive and then come back with them at lunch. If I want I can go back in with Mamma at 5 and come back at 8 or if Martina goes into the city in the afternoon for a little bit I can go then too. When I have Italian or dance after school though I usually stay in the city and go by bus. Now the bus is my friend. I only had one other incident where I got really lost, but now I know the city pretty well, and can get just about anywhere on my own. It’s a really different kind of independence.
Here I’ve really been learning about the usage of free time as I have a lot more of it. I’ve learned from experience that boredom is really a choice, and that here in Palermo I have absolutely no excuses to be bored. Sure Martina and I do a lot of things together, but she has to study a lot. I go out with other friends too but the reality is that I’m probably half as busy here as I was in my old life (can say that? I guess it’s better than other life which I almost wrote). Really, in just this last month I’ve been learning to us my free time in a way that really makes me happy – exploring the city.
Hours between school and Italian class, or when I get a ride with Mamma into the city and when dance starts I fill with walking. Taking the bus to the center or another part I’ve never been to and just exploring has become a favorite activity. I think one of the things I really love about the city is the movement. The busyness of cars, people rushing, life passing by, is appealing to me, and right in the heart of the city where this life-traffic is the thickest I like to sit and observe. Where the rushed feeling diminishes and is replaced by semi-quiet streets with cars that don’t honk and little shops and bars surrounded by tall apartment buildings I like to walk and feel like a part of it all. And in the old city, close to casa mia, where people cross the street more than cars and old churches ring their bells I like to become the movement and run, stoping when I want to admire a church, a group of kids playing or the sea when I arrive.
Today for the first time here I took a bike ride. The bike really doesn’t work that well but Mamma said we’ll take it in to get fixed now. I didn’t have anything to do in the afternoon so I decided too try to make it to Mondello, the most gorgeous beach I’ve ever seen. I’ve only ever gone before by car but I looked on the map and it wasn’t more than twice the distance I ran Monday. It’s really neat to go by bike because Mondello area is really out of the city center and so the streets are pretty quiet. The bike was a pain because the gears are broken but it was totally worth it when after about 30 minutes I collapsed into the sun drenched sand, a mountain on my right, jutting out into the clear, rich blue sea.
Ahh enough for now. I’m sick of writing in English and I just wrote a ridiculous amount. Now that I’ve caught you all up I’ll update more with info about the culture, details etc. Leave comments if you have questions and I’ll do my best to answer them. Love you all…vi voglio bene!
Annuccia
Friday, October 12, 2007
YIKES it's been a long time since I've written. A good 2 or 3 weeks. I wasn't allowed to get on the internet before and now there's so much to tell and no way I can write it all. I guess I'll just get straight to the point. I had to change host families...I left the Parisi's house just yesterday. There's no way I could explain why things didn't work out here...it's too complicated. There were mistakes on their side and mine, and the end we just ended up not being compatible. It's so weird, becuase I thought I would never have to change host families, and it's definately not a pretty situation, but now that all this has happened, I can see it's definately better and changing families isn't the end of the world.
Right now I'm with a temporary host family, and they're great they live in the same building as the host coordinater Laura (who is also awesome) and there are 3 kids (Enricco, 5; Elvira, 8; and Elena, 10). I feel so much more at ease here, and not afraid that everything I do could be something wrong. They have hosted before and so the kids are great with me, talking slowly when they need to and teaching me new words...yesterday we played games all afternoon.
There's a girl in my class, Martina, who's family is interested in hosting me permanantly, and if it works out I think it will be absolutely wonderful. I think Laura and I will go to talk with them tomorrow. Actually about 10 people in myclass offered to host me yesterday when one girl asked me how I was and I totally lost it. Seriously almost everyone in the class was gathered around me hugging me and saying, don't worry, you can stay with us. Martina's mom had already expressed interest in hosting before all this and I think there's a good chance I'll stay with them :D I'll update when I know more.
For now just pray that my new family would be a really good match for me, and don't send anything to my old address (mom I got your letter already, thanks)
I'll try to write again soon!
ciaooo
Right now I'm with a temporary host family, and they're great they live in the same building as the host coordinater Laura (who is also awesome) and there are 3 kids (Enricco, 5; Elvira, 8; and Elena, 10). I feel so much more at ease here, and not afraid that everything I do could be something wrong. They have hosted before and so the kids are great with me, talking slowly when they need to and teaching me new words...yesterday we played games all afternoon.
There's a girl in my class, Martina, who's family is interested in hosting me permanantly, and if it works out I think it will be absolutely wonderful. I think Laura and I will go to talk with them tomorrow. Actually about 10 people in myclass offered to host me yesterday when one girl asked me how I was and I totally lost it. Seriously almost everyone in the class was gathered around me hugging me and saying, don't worry, you can stay with us. Martina's mom had already expressed interest in hosting before all this and I think there's a good chance I'll stay with them :D I'll update when I know more.
For now just pray that my new family would be a really good match for me, and don't send anything to my old address (mom I got your letter already, thanks)
I'll try to write again soon!
ciaooo
Thursday, September 27, 2007
I hate the autobus.
So I haven't been up to much since Sunday...just school, a little bit of homework, a lot of chatting with school friends online after school and some confusion. Of course. Not much new in school. Alot of Greek and Latin, during which it's impossible for me to understand anything. They have all been studying for 4 years already and are translating complicated text in both. The first Latin class I tried to follow along by recognizing words I knew (like 1 or 2 haha) and words that were similar to english, but it was impossible. So I took to reading through my Italian dictionary haha. I wanted to at least look like I was doing something. Greek was even more impossible, because I couldn't even begin to follow due to the different alphabet. I got all the way through the A's and B's writing down words I thought would be important to know during the first few classes. I knew I had Greek for 2 hours today and I thought it would be useful to at least learn something..even thought I probably won't stay in the classroom for that subject in the future, but I printed out the names and symbols of the Greek alphabet and learned them today in class. I thought it was pretty tricky, but I was pretty proud that I learned it all :D Not that it helped me in class any, but at least I had something to do.
The other classes are good, and I understand some things in certain subjects, especially when it's wrtten on the board, but I haven't had much else to do and so was excited for the Intercultura meeting yesterday, to meet my "assistente" Carla, and see all the other students and how they're doing. I was actaully supposed to take the autobus home from school yesterday as well, but I was with some friends and said where I was going, I got offered 3 or 4 rides. One girl drives right by my house so she took me. The bus system is a little complicated to get to Daniela's house (where the meeting was) so Mamma came home from work to drive me there and show me how to come home. It was a little tricky because I had to walk a little ways from one bus stop to the place to catch the other, but I thought I understood.
The meeting was great. It was so fun to see everyone again and hear how they're doing. AFS gave us a paper aobut how to get a bus pass that they will pay for, so we all exchanged phone numbers and made plans to hang out soon. It sounds like things are going pretty well for everyone here, but there was also a girl who had just arrived on Thurday from China because of Passport problems, and she spoke barely ANY English OR Italain. I felt so bad for her becuase it was almost impossible for her to communicate with anyone and I don't think she understood much of the meeting at all. I communicate ALOT in Italian, even though mine is not so great, but SO many people speak English here, that I can always get help or clarification if I need it. I can't imagine how confusing and frustrating it must be for her! Anyways, after the meeting was over I had sort of forgotten where the first bus stop was, so the host brother of one of the AFSers offered to walk me there. Many of the students lived really close so a bunch of us walked together and got brioches (the ice cream in a bun) before we left at about 6. YUM.
When the first bus came, it was PACKED. I just barely squeezed in and they didn't even check tickets...really, there was no way they could. Let's just say it was not the most pleasant experience. It was really hot, and slow and squashed and it stank. Since I could barely see out the windows I ended up getting off at the wrong piazza...to early. But I didn't exactly realize that at first...so I started walking in what I thought was the right direction abnd eventually realized I didn't really know where I was. But I kept walking for awhile untill I came to a place where there were tons of people and vendors everywhere. It was a complete zoo. I asked a couple vendors how to get to my bus stop and got pointed in the right direction...I finally arrived at the piazza where I meant to get off (probably about 1 mile away from where I got off) and where the crown was even thicker. I finally remembered that Gabriele had told me he was going to a partita de calcio (soccer match) that night which explained why it was so zooey and there were so many people selling Palermo scarves and shirts haha. So I waited at a bus stop where several people told me I could take 628, but when it still hadn't come after 15 minutes or so I asked a nice-looking man who had been waiting there also (and by nice looking I mean fatherly, friendly...buisnesslike..not scary haha) if I was in the right place. He said yes, and he WAS really nice and we talked for a few minutes about the match that night and where I was from (obviously he could tell I wasn't Italian) before he got tired of waiting for the bus and left. Another 10 minutes and it still hadn't come so I asked ANOTHER vendor, and he said the correct stop was across the piazza. So I went to that one and waited another 30 or 40 minutes finally came. I got really good at asking where I could wait for bus 628 last night haha. I finally arrived home at around 8. 2 HOURS after I left Daniela's house..oh and it was a 10 minute drive at most haha. But I was glad that I actually made it.
I took the bus home from school today as well...I'm sure I could have gotten a ride if I wanted to, but I wanted to make a successful trip without getting lost. It turns out it was just as hot and crowded, but there was a guy from my class, Manuele, who I don't usually talk to, but is really nice, riding it too so we talked some which was nice. When I got home I was talking online with friends from school and telling Gabriele my bus story form yesterday and improved effort from today. It was really funny, becuase he got kind of mad at me...he was one of the people who offered me rides yesterday, and was like "WHY didn't you tell me! I would have taken you home!" He totally didn't get it when I told him it wasn't a problem, and I wanted to have a better experience with the bus haha. I love how nice everyone is. And it really is everyone...they're all so helpful and warm. I love it..per addesso, la vita è bella :D
The other classes are good, and I understand some things in certain subjects, especially when it's wrtten on the board, but I haven't had much else to do and so was excited for the Intercultura meeting yesterday, to meet my "assistente" Carla, and see all the other students and how they're doing. I was actaully supposed to take the autobus home from school yesterday as well, but I was with some friends and said where I was going, I got offered 3 or 4 rides. One girl drives right by my house so she took me. The bus system is a little complicated to get to Daniela's house (where the meeting was) so Mamma came home from work to drive me there and show me how to come home. It was a little tricky because I had to walk a little ways from one bus stop to the place to catch the other, but I thought I understood.
The meeting was great. It was so fun to see everyone again and hear how they're doing. AFS gave us a paper aobut how to get a bus pass that they will pay for, so we all exchanged phone numbers and made plans to hang out soon. It sounds like things are going pretty well for everyone here, but there was also a girl who had just arrived on Thurday from China because of Passport problems, and she spoke barely ANY English OR Italain. I felt so bad for her becuase it was almost impossible for her to communicate with anyone and I don't think she understood much of the meeting at all. I communicate ALOT in Italian, even though mine is not so great, but SO many people speak English here, that I can always get help or clarification if I need it. I can't imagine how confusing and frustrating it must be for her! Anyways, after the meeting was over I had sort of forgotten where the first bus stop was, so the host brother of one of the AFSers offered to walk me there. Many of the students lived really close so a bunch of us walked together and got brioches (the ice cream in a bun) before we left at about 6. YUM.
When the first bus came, it was PACKED. I just barely squeezed in and they didn't even check tickets...really, there was no way they could. Let's just say it was not the most pleasant experience. It was really hot, and slow and squashed and it stank. Since I could barely see out the windows I ended up getting off at the wrong piazza...to early. But I didn't exactly realize that at first...so I started walking in what I thought was the right direction abnd eventually realized I didn't really know where I was. But I kept walking for awhile untill I came to a place where there were tons of people and vendors everywhere. It was a complete zoo. I asked a couple vendors how to get to my bus stop and got pointed in the right direction...I finally arrived at the piazza where I meant to get off (probably about 1 mile away from where I got off) and where the crown was even thicker. I finally remembered that Gabriele had told me he was going to a partita de calcio (soccer match) that night which explained why it was so zooey and there were so many people selling Palermo scarves and shirts haha. So I waited at a bus stop where several people told me I could take 628, but when it still hadn't come after 15 minutes or so I asked a nice-looking man who had been waiting there also (and by nice looking I mean fatherly, friendly...buisnesslike..not scary haha) if I was in the right place. He said yes, and he WAS really nice and we talked for a few minutes about the match that night and where I was from (obviously he could tell I wasn't Italian) before he got tired of waiting for the bus and left. Another 10 minutes and it still hadn't come so I asked ANOTHER vendor, and he said the correct stop was across the piazza. So I went to that one and waited another 30 or 40 minutes finally came. I got really good at asking where I could wait for bus 628 last night haha. I finally arrived home at around 8. 2 HOURS after I left Daniela's house..oh and it was a 10 minute drive at most haha. But I was glad that I actually made it.
I took the bus home from school today as well...I'm sure I could have gotten a ride if I wanted to, but I wanted to make a successful trip without getting lost. It turns out it was just as hot and crowded, but there was a guy from my class, Manuele, who I don't usually talk to, but is really nice, riding it too so we talked some which was nice. When I got home I was talking online with friends from school and telling Gabriele my bus story form yesterday and improved effort from today. It was really funny, becuase he got kind of mad at me...he was one of the people who offered me rides yesterday, and was like "WHY didn't you tell me! I would have taken you home!" He totally didn't get it when I told him it wasn't a problem, and I wanted to have a better experience with the bus haha. I love how nice everyone is. And it really is everyone...they're all so helpful and warm. I love it..per addesso, la vita è bella :D
Sunday, September 23, 2007
domenica (sunday)
I just got back from the Catholica Messa (Catholic Mass) at the chiesa (church) down the street, which I really enjoyed, but I'll update the last few days first.
The second and third days of school were pretty similar to the first...teachers came at their hour to our classroom, and mostly explained what the course would be like this year. If they had taught the class before, they realized I was knew and came over to say hi to me, so smiled confusedly ant me, and I went over to meet them. And if they were new, my compagni (classmates) took really good care of me, and made sure they knew I was an exchange student, and they translated for me when needed :) I don't think I've had one teacher so far who hasn't made an effort during class to make sure I understand, or not told me I can always ask them for help after class. But we really haven't started actually "class" yet. Mostly just talking to the teachers, and finding out the expectations for the year. But on we've had 3 actual lessons so far. Italian, which I basically understood none of, but Giu let me copy her notes, and I translated them later, Math on Saturday morning (yes school on Saturday UGH) which I am pleased to say I understood just aobut ALL of, becuase we were just doing equation formulas and I had done it all before, and Art History that afternoon, which was hard to un
derstand becuae we were talking about the use of light and shadows in art, and not the actual aftwork itself, but the teacher stopped a few times to make sure I understood and another really nice girl in the class offered to translate her notes into english and bring them on Monday.
I also recieved 3 other invitations, one to go out Friday afternoon with some girls from my class, one to go to the beach with them Saturday after School, and one to a birthday party of a classmate of Manu's I know. I only ended up going to the birthday party becuase I had things to do the other times, but it's really nice theat my classmates are taking the initiative to get to know me.
The party last night was so much fun. It was a different group of kids than was at Alessia's, mostly form Manu's calss this time. I like all of her classmates alot, and they're all really nice to me. There was also another boy from Intercultura (AFS) there and he's really great as well. One thing that I really like here is that everyone seems friendly with everyone else. For example, when a person came or went from the party, the walked around the whole room and said ciao and kissed everyone, not just he people they knew or their friends. And everyone talks to everyone too...it's not like they break off in groups and only talk to certain people. It's a very excahnge student friendly culture :D I also have really come to love all the gesturing and arm waving and loud talking. Most of the time, the talk so fast I can't understand a thing, but I'm always laughing at the funny faces and gestures they make.
So today I got up around 9. Mamma and Papa had already told me that I was welcome to go to church whenever I want, and I told them I would probably want to go this morning, so they showed me the way when we drove by. They said they thought the Mass was at 10, so this morning I checked just to be sure it was ok and walked over at about quarter of. There was pretty much no one there when I arrived, and I thought maybe there wasn't a service today, but after walking around for 5 or 10 minutes the church bells started to ring. It was absolutely beautiful, and I walked out to the front to see if I could see them, and there was a man out front posting something on an information board out front. I asked (or attempted to) if there was mass today, and he said yes, but at 10:30. Apparantly the bells ring at 10, 10:15 and 10:30. I think he works at the church or something, because he was one of the people who took the offering,and beofre the service he came over to hexplain to me that I could take communion if I wanted to, and what to do. At least I hope that's what he was saying, haha, becuase that's what I did. Almost the entire service was written in the program, so it wasn't to hard to follow along.
I was suprised at the number of people that showed up by 10:30. The church was pretty full, and there were probably almost 100 people. I was also pleased to see alot of families and several teenagers my age. I didn't really meet anyone today, except for the one man, and a woman that was there early as well, but everyone seemed very nice and I'm sure I will meet some people if I continue to go there regularly, which I would like to :) But this afternoon, I was talking to Gabriele, who I found out also goes to church every week, and I think I will go to his church with him and his family next week or sometime soon, becuase I'm interested to see some other churches as well and they also had mass OUTSIDE in the summer! Isn't that cool? We also made plans to go to the Cathedral one week. I've seen the outside and it is AMAZING. He said the inside is even more magnificant, so I'm excited about that.
As far as things with the family, everything is going really well. The hardest thing for me to get used to is that in this house, everything is done in a very precise way. Everything has a place, and an order, which is a challenge for me to get used to coming from such a laid back family. We always wear flip flops in the house, and it seems like every time I forget I get caught haha. The shoes go in the shoe cabinet, the hairbrush in the hairbrush cup thingie, and the cabinets in my room stay closed, unless I am getting something out of them. When I returned home from the party last night, I found sticky notes from Mamma on these 3 things that I had left out of order saying, "cabinet closed please," "brush at post please" etc. I felt kind of bad that the stuff wasn't where it should be, but I think that's just Mamma's way of helping me adjust to the family's lifestyle without nagging me. And it's good becuase at least I'm not treated like a guest :)
I added pictures of the house and palermo and some from the party last night, so go look!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Annie
The second and third days of school were pretty similar to the first...teachers came at their hour to our classroom, and mostly explained what the course would be like this year. If they had taught the class before, they realized I was knew and came over to say hi to me, so smiled confusedly ant me, and I went over to meet them. And if they were new, my compagni (classmates) took really good care of me, and made sure they knew I was an exchange student, and they translated for me when needed :) I don't think I've had one teacher so far who hasn't made an effort during class to make sure I understand, or not told me I can always ask them for help after class. But we really haven't started actually "class" yet. Mostly just talking to the teachers, and finding out the expectations for the year. But on we've had 3 actual lessons so far. Italian, which I basically understood none of, but Giu let me copy her notes, and I translated them later, Math on Saturday morning (yes school on Saturday UGH) which I am pleased to say I understood just aobut ALL of, becuase we were just doing equation formulas and I had done it all before, and Art History that afternoon, which was hard to un
derstand becuae we were talking about the use of light and shadows in art, and not the actual aftwork itself, but the teacher stopped a few times to make sure I understood and another really nice girl in the class offered to translate her notes into english and bring them on Monday. I also recieved 3 other invitations, one to go out Friday afternoon with some girls from my class, one to go to the beach with them Saturday after School, and one to a birthday party of a classmate of Manu's I know. I only ended up going to the birthday party becuase I had things to do the other times, but it's really nice theat my classmates are taking the initiative to get to know me.
The party last night was so much fun. It was a different group of kids than was at Alessia's, mostly form Manu's calss this time. I like all of her classmates alot, and they're all really nice to me. There was also another boy from Intercultura (AFS) there and he's really great as well. One thing that I really like here is that everyone seems friendly with everyone else. For example, when a person came or went from the party, the walked around the whole room and said ciao and kissed everyone, not just he people they knew or their friends. And everyone talks to everyone too...it's not like they break off in groups and only talk to certain people. It's a very excahnge student friendly culture :D I also have really come to love all the gesturing and arm waving and loud talking. Most of the time, the talk so fast I can't understand a thing, but I'm always laughing at the funny faces and gestures they make.
So today I got up around 9. Mamma and Papa had already told me that I was welcome to go to church whenever I want, and I told them I would probably want to go this morning, so they showed me the way when we drove by. They said they thought the Mass was at 10, so this morning I checked just to be sure it was ok and walked over at about quarter of. There was pretty much no one there when I arrived, and I thought maybe there wasn't a service today, but after walking around for 5 or 10 minutes the church bells started to ring. It was absolutely beautiful, and I walked out to the front to see if I could see them, and there was a man out front posting something on an information board out front. I asked (or attempted to) if there was mass today, and he said yes, but at 10:30. Apparantly the bells ring at 10, 10:15 and 10:30. I think he works at the church or something, because he was one of the people who took the offering,and beofre the service he came over to hexplain to me that I could take communion if I wanted to, and what to do. At least I hope that's what he was saying, haha, becuase that's what I did. Almost the entire service was written in the program, so it wasn't to hard to follow along.
I was suprised at the number of people that showed up by 10:30. The church was pretty full, and there were probably almost 100 people. I was also pleased to see alot of families and several teenagers my age. I didn't really meet anyone today, except for the one man, and a woman that was there early as well, but everyone seemed very nice and I'm sure I will meet some people if I continue to go there regularly, which I would like to :) But this afternoon, I was talking to Gabriele, who I found out also goes to church every week, and I think I will go to his church with him and his family next week or sometime soon, becuase I'm interested to see some other churches as well and they also had mass OUTSIDE in the summer! Isn't that cool? We also made plans to go to the Cathedral one week. I've seen the outside and it is AMAZING. He said the inside is even more magnificant, so I'm excited about that.
As far as things with the family, everything is going really well. The hardest thing for me to get used to is that in this house, everything is done in a very precise way. Everything has a place, and an order, which is a challenge for me to get used to coming from such a laid back family. We always wear flip flops in the house, and it seems like every time I forget I get caught haha. The shoes go in the shoe cabinet, the hairbrush in the hairbrush cup thingie, and the cabinets in my room stay closed, unless I am getting something out of them. When I returned home from the party last night, I found sticky notes from Mamma on these 3 things that I had left out of order saying, "cabinet closed please," "brush at post please" etc. I felt kind of bad that the stuff wasn't where it should be, but I think that's just Mamma's way of helping me adjust to the family's lifestyle without nagging me. And it's good becuase at least I'm not treated like a guest :)
I added pictures of the house and palermo and some from the party last night, so go look!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Annie
Thursday, September 20, 2007
scoula
So I just got back from my first day of scoula superiore (italian high school). Suprisingly, I woke up BEFORE my alarm at 6:25. Amazing, I know. We left the house at about 7:15, and got to school probably around 7:30. At any other time it would only take 5 minutes to get to the school, but in the morning there's a bunch of school and work traffic.
Driving is exciting in Italy...the cars are all little, especially ours (we have a "smart" car...that tiny car from the davinci code...along with 2 other more normal sized ones and a vespa) and there aren't really and lanes. There's just the right side of the road and the left and everything else is fair game. But the Italian drivers seem pretty conditioned to this, and are pretty skilled at weaving in and out of each other with just inches to spare.
But anyways, once we arrived at school Manu and I went to her classroom first so she could pick her spot haha, she described it as a "war for the places" and I met Gabriele (a friend of hers I've talked to online) and saw Peppe and Cesco again as well. I also met a bunch of other people from her class, but I barely remember any of the names I learned today, because there were so many. Then we went to my class, where Manu has a few friends that I met right away. One girl, Giulia (Julia), who is molto simpatica (really nice) led me over to the desk she was sitting at and said I could share it with her (all the desks are for 2 people, and the person you share it with is your deskmate). She was so helpful throughout the whole day, translating when needed for me, and telling me which books I need/don't need etc.
After I put my stuff down, I think I met all, or almost all of the other people in my class...the total number is 25 or 26 I think? And they are THE classmates. In Italy, we don't change classrooms and have classes with different kids With a handshake and a kiss on each cheek for everyone (the common greeting for everyone of every age and gender) that equals about 25 handshakes and 50 kisses. NOT including all of Manu's friends I met as well. When the bell rang, everyone kind of meandered to their desks, still talking and laughing, and when the teacher came in, everyone stood up and clapped. The standing up is customary, the clapping no, but this was the Greco/Latino (Greek/Latin) teacher that has taught the class for 4 years, and as Julia explained, is like a second mother. I realized with pleasure, throughout the day that the things the intercultura volunteers told us about italian teachers (theyr'e boring, they don't really care aobut you, and they're just there to teach) don't apply a Liceo Classico G. Meli (my school) all of the 3 teachers we had today were wonderful, and made a real effort to meet me and help me with whatever they could and seemed very interesting, although I couldn't exactly understand what they were talking about.
During breaks between classes, many students came over to where Giulia and I were sitting to ask me some questions, and I showed them the book I made about FL, my life etc. Everyone is really nice and friendly which is great. It was the birthday of one othe girls sitting by Giulia and I, Alessia, and she actually invited me to come to her party tonight. I wasn't really planning on going, but I was talking with Giulia on messenger just now, and she offered to take me and bring me home, and I figured it's a good way to get to know my classmates better :) After school Gabriele, Cesco, Manu, Enea and I went to a gelateria (ice cream store) to wait for our rides. Gabriele introduced me to a typical sicilian treat, a brioche (BREE-osh) which is gelato in a sweet bun and is amazing. I'm so happy to be surrounded by so many great people here. So far, it hasn't been hard at all to get acclimated, and I love all the differences I have observed about Italy. I'll write more about these next time but ciao for now!
Baci (kisses)
Driving is exciting in Italy...the cars are all little, especially ours (we have a "smart" car...that tiny car from the davinci code...along with 2 other more normal sized ones and a vespa) and there aren't really and lanes. There's just the right side of the road and the left and everything else is fair game. But the Italian drivers seem pretty conditioned to this, and are pretty skilled at weaving in and out of each other with just inches to spare.
But anyways, once we arrived at school Manu and I went to her classroom first so she could pick her spot haha, she described it as a "war for the places" and I met Gabriele (a friend of hers I've talked to online) and saw Peppe and Cesco again as well. I also met a bunch of other people from her class, but I barely remember any of the names I learned today, because there were so many. Then we went to my class, where Manu has a few friends that I met right away. One girl, Giulia (Julia), who is molto simpatica (really nice) led me over to the desk she was sitting at and said I could share it with her (all the desks are for 2 people, and the person you share it with is your deskmate). She was so helpful throughout the whole day, translating when needed for me, and telling me which books I need/don't need etc.
After I put my stuff down, I think I met all, or almost all of the other people in my class...the total number is 25 or 26 I think? And they are THE classmates. In Italy, we don't change classrooms and have classes with different kids With a handshake and a kiss on each cheek for everyone (the common greeting for everyone of every age and gender) that equals about 25 handshakes and 50 kisses. NOT including all of Manu's friends I met as well. When the bell rang, everyone kind of meandered to their desks, still talking and laughing, and when the teacher came in, everyone stood up and clapped. The standing up is customary, the clapping no, but this was the Greco/Latino (Greek/Latin) teacher that has taught the class for 4 years, and as Julia explained, is like a second mother. I realized with pleasure, throughout the day that the things the intercultura volunteers told us about italian teachers (theyr'e boring, they don't really care aobut you, and they're just there to teach) don't apply a Liceo Classico G. Meli (my school) all of the 3 teachers we had today were wonderful, and made a real effort to meet me and help me with whatever they could and seemed very interesting, although I couldn't exactly understand what they were talking about.
During breaks between classes, many students came over to where Giulia and I were sitting to ask me some questions, and I showed them the book I made about FL, my life etc. Everyone is really nice and friendly which is great. It was the birthday of one othe girls sitting by Giulia and I, Alessia, and she actually invited me to come to her party tonight. I wasn't really planning on going, but I was talking with Giulia on messenger just now, and she offered to take me and bring me home, and I figured it's a good way to get to know my classmates better :) After school Gabriele, Cesco, Manu, Enea and I went to a gelateria (ice cream store) to wait for our rides. Gabriele introduced me to a typical sicilian treat, a brioche (BREE-osh) which is gelato in a sweet bun and is amazing. I'm so happy to be surrounded by so many great people here. So far, it hasn't been hard at all to get acclimated, and I love all the differences I have observed about Italy. I'll write more about these next time but ciao for now!
Baci (kisses)
Monday, September 17, 2007
a casa
Ahh at home. Finalmente. Things have been GO GO GO since I got here, but also wonderful. We just returned from our wonderful trip around Italy in the camper, and I'm really suprised at how much this little house feels like home, even though I've only slept here one night so far. So we started out the evening of the 10th and stopped in Messina for pizza at Zia's (Mamma's sister) house at about 10 pm. But thats how it goes here :) And the food is GOOD. yeah, REALLY good. Then we drove alot more...pretty much the whole next day. Manu taught me to play Briscola, a Sicilian card game, which, for my family...is a little like 500, but with Sicilian cards...and no partners haha. I absolutely LOVED just looking out the window the whole way. Mountains everywhere and, little villas, and those tall skinny trees that you always see in pictures of Tuscany. Absolutely gorgeous.
We got to Modena probably at about 9, and had dinner probably 1 hour later with Fabio (my host brother at University in Modena) and his roommate. He's really nice, like everyone, and we had a good time. I totally thought all the hand waving and talking loudly was a little bit exaggerated stereotype of the Italians. Turns out I was wrong...haha but alot of the time the hand motions clue me in on what the conversation is about, so I'm not complaining. Alot people have asked me how my italian is coming...but it's kind of hard to explain. I think I'm better now that a week ago...I've certainly learned new words and phrases, but my comprehension is probably about the same. I recognize alot of the words being said, but it usually takes me too long to recall the meanings to understand a conversation. If someone speaks slowly and directly to me, I can usually get a handle on the intent of the words. I'm getting pretty used to not knowing what going on, but it's still annoying.
Anyways, the next morning we left early for Venezia, and arrived there just after lunchtime. If I described in detail every place we visited, it would take me all year to write this blog. I'll just give a brief overview here and email me @ godsgrl4eva@gmail.com if you want to know specifics about anything. Pictures of the trip at http://picasaweb.google.com/AnnieItaly. Venice is gorgeous. Definately one of my favorite places in the world now. My absolutely favorite things there were Piazza S. Marco (and yeah, as you can see in the pics I totally did the pigeon thing, and it was great :D) and seeing the Ospedale della Pietà (the conservatory/orphanage where Antonio Vivaldi taught for 10 years. I really love how everything is so old in Europe. I love imagining who has walked the places I visited hundreds of years before me. And for that reason, I also adored the next city we visited, Padova. In the pictures, there are 3 or 4 of the piazza Prato delle Vale, with lots of white statues and water, and a fountain...it was beautiful. But the best part was seeing the Scrovegni Chapel, which was painted, floor to ceiling by Giotto in about 1305. It was absolutely gorgeous, so old and fragile that they only let in 25 people at a time for 15 minutes, becuase they want to control the amount of harmful air that could enter. Then we went on to Pistonia, Lucca, Pisa and finally Firenzie (Florence). Wouldn't you know that the 2 days we chose to visit Florence the Ufizzi and L'academia (the must-see museums) were closed for strike. STRIKE. It actually exists? Apparently YES. But I still got to see so many amazing works of art and CHURCHES. By the way, I love churches inb Europe. They're just gorgeous. I saw the tombs of Michaelangelo and Galileo which was pretty amazing. We also saw all the outside sights too which were beautiful, and I'm really not so bummed about not seeing the museums because my family is planning to come over next year, and I know we can see them then.
Originally, we had planned to do Rome as well, but we likes some of the places so much we stayed longer in them, and Manu and I decided we needed a day to recouperate before school. Maybe I'll pick Rome for my region for exchange week in March when we get to stay with a family in another part of Italy...but I'll know I'll see it eventually. I do have all year :)
So basically, now I'm home and we start school the day after tomorrow. I'm kind of nervous but also really excited. Also, I really am HAPPY. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to take this trip with my famigila and get to know them better. I seriously think I have the best family! I just love being in italy and everything about it. But I haven't forgotten you all and am still thinking of and praying for you too! Sometime soon I'll try to take some pics of the house and put them up.
Amore a TUTTI
We got to Modena probably at about 9, and had dinner probably 1 hour later with Fabio (my host brother at University in Modena) and his roommate. He's really nice, like everyone, and we had a good time. I totally thought all the hand waving and talking loudly was a little bit exaggerated stereotype of the Italians. Turns out I was wrong...haha but alot of the time the hand motions clue me in on what the conversation is about, so I'm not complaining. Alot people have asked me how my italian is coming...but it's kind of hard to explain. I think I'm better now that a week ago...I've certainly learned new words and phrases, but my comprehension is probably about the same. I recognize alot of the words being said, but it usually takes me too long to recall the meanings to understand a conversation. If someone speaks slowly and directly to me, I can usually get a handle on the intent of the words. I'm getting pretty used to not knowing what going on, but it's still annoying.
Anyways, the next morning we left early for Venezia, and arrived there just after lunchtime. If I described in detail every place we visited, it would take me all year to write this blog. I'll just give a brief overview here and email me @ godsgrl4eva@gmail.com if you want to know specifics about anything. Pictures of the trip at http://picasaweb.google.com/AnnieItaly. Venice is gorgeous. Definately one of my favorite places in the world now. My absolutely favorite things there were Piazza S. Marco (and yeah, as you can see in the pics I totally did the pigeon thing, and it was great :D) and seeing the Ospedale della Pietà (the conservatory/orphanage where Antonio Vivaldi taught for 10 years. I really love how everything is so old in Europe. I love imagining who has walked the places I visited hundreds of years before me. And for that reason, I also adored the next city we visited, Padova. In the pictures, there are 3 or 4 of the piazza Prato delle Vale, with lots of white statues and water, and a fountain...it was beautiful. But the best part was seeing the Scrovegni Chapel, which was painted, floor to ceiling by Giotto in about 1305. It was absolutely gorgeous, so old and fragile that they only let in 25 people at a time for 15 minutes, becuase they want to control the amount of harmful air that could enter. Then we went on to Pistonia, Lucca, Pisa and finally Firenzie (Florence). Wouldn't you know that the 2 days we chose to visit Florence the Ufizzi and L'academia (the must-see museums) were closed for strike. STRIKE. It actually exists? Apparently YES. But I still got to see so many amazing works of art and CHURCHES. By the way, I love churches inb Europe. They're just gorgeous. I saw the tombs of Michaelangelo and Galileo which was pretty amazing. We also saw all the outside sights too which were beautiful, and I'm really not so bummed about not seeing the museums because my family is planning to come over next year, and I know we can see them then.
Originally, we had planned to do Rome as well, but we likes some of the places so much we stayed longer in them, and Manu and I decided we needed a day to recouperate before school. Maybe I'll pick Rome for my region for exchange week in March when we get to stay with a family in another part of Italy...but I'll know I'll see it eventually. I do have all year :)
So basically, now I'm home and we start school the day after tomorrow. I'm kind of nervous but also really excited. Also, I really am HAPPY. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to take this trip with my famigila and get to know them better. I seriously think I have the best family! I just love being in italy and everything about it. But I haven't forgotten you all and am still thinking of and praying for you too! Sometime soon I'll try to take some pics of the house and put them up.
Amore a TUTTI
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