so i only have a little more than 2 weeks left
its really sad
i got a haircut!! its not too different, just a lot more layered
also school finished, so that was nice.. so now its officially summer
i have a lot of new friends because of my new host sister, but its nice and i really like them..
i had a class dinner a while back and all of my classmates said they would host me if i stayed in italy for more so i felt loved.. but it makes it harder to leave
i've been doing a lot of swimming, sitting in the sun, and going to the beach
today my sister got a minicar so i'm excited because now we dont have to walk so much since she can drive us around to places that arent too far away
these past few nights every evening i've been going to piazza eschilo, a piazza near my house, because most of my school hangs out there at night. we get gelato and just stand around and talk.. its not that fun, but at least i get gelato!
monday i went into rome with maria (one of the australian girls). we did some tourist shopping
then yesterday one of my classmates, Lisa, took me on a mini tour of some things in rome.. we went to Basilica S. Paolo, Circo Massimo, Santa Maria in Cosmedin which has the Bucco della Verita, Piazza Campidoglio, S. Clemente, and S. Giovanni in Laterrno. There were a lot of churches and they were all gorgeous, but it was a really really exhausting day and by the time i got home my feet were sooo sore..
this friday, one of the other american exchange students, Brittany, who was my good friend at the first AFS camp, is coming here and staying with us.. she'll be here for friday, saturday, sunday, and monday morning..
i'm excited.. and she lives near Napoli so maybe after i'll go stay with her for 3 days too..
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
hi.. so i havent posted in forever..
at first it was because i changed host families, so i was a bit distracted and didnt have the energy to post about it
then i became lazy and just never got around to it
then i completely forgot
anyways, tons has happened since then
i changed families, which is wonderful because my new family has a pool, 6 cats, 3 dogs, a 13 year old brother, and a sister my age who i get along with really well
and the parents are such sweethearts. also its within walking distance of my school, and of some of my friends houses plus theres 2 pianos :)
in other news, theres only 6 weeks left before i return home..
i can't even believe it. its gone way way to fast..
at the beginning it felt like it was forever until i returned home, now i really dont want to. i love it here, and i'm finally feeling at home here, especially with my new family
i just got back today from a 4 day camp in the countryside in Lazio (the region rome is in) with 35 other students of Lazio, Abruzza, and Umbria (all regions of italy)
it was so much fun, we just hung around, talked, ate, danced, and reflected on our experiences here..
but it was really sad because its called the "End of Stay" camp because theres so little time until we return home and everyone did a bit of crying
anyways, now that i've remembered again, i'll try to post more often :)
at first it was because i changed host families, so i was a bit distracted and didnt have the energy to post about it
then i became lazy and just never got around to it
then i completely forgot
anyways, tons has happened since then
i changed families, which is wonderful because my new family has a pool, 6 cats, 3 dogs, a 13 year old brother, and a sister my age who i get along with really well
and the parents are such sweethearts. also its within walking distance of my school, and of some of my friends houses plus theres 2 pianos :)
in other news, theres only 6 weeks left before i return home..
i can't even believe it. its gone way way to fast..
at the beginning it felt like it was forever until i returned home, now i really dont want to. i love it here, and i'm finally feeling at home here, especially with my new family
i just got back today from a 4 day camp in the countryside in Lazio (the region rome is in) with 35 other students of Lazio, Abruzza, and Umbria (all regions of italy)
it was so much fun, we just hung around, talked, ate, danced, and reflected on our experiences here..
but it was really sad because its called the "End of Stay" camp because theres so little time until we return home and everyone did a bit of crying
anyways, now that i've remembered again, i'll try to post more often :)
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Umbria was wonderful.
simply wonderful.
we got there thursday and moved our stuff into the house. it was a country house surrounded only by TONSSS of nature and beautiful views. there were 2 houses right next to it, but they were abandoned. and other than that, no one.
after we unpacked the 5 of us exchange students went to this big grassy field/hill/meadow and ran around and talked and frolicked until really late.
then friday we went on this long drive to this big valley and had a wonderful picnic.
after aron and i stayed at the car and compared music while the others went horseback riding. then we went around this little town.
after dinner we all sat and talked for a really long time which was nice.
saturday we went to perugia. it was a bit miserable because we did a lot of walking and it was fairly hot and up and down. then we went to this family's house for lunch. IT WAS AMAZING. the most gorgeous house i've seen since i've gotten here, and the lunch was delicious.
after we went to Assisi.. it was cute but wayyyy too touristy and we were all a bit miserable and tired.
after dinner we sat outside and joked and talked until really late which was also fun.
then sunday we packed up all our stuff and left and on our way out we stopped in the town nearby, called Visso. it was adorable and i really really liked it.
overall, umbria was amazing and scenic and the 5 of us exchange students got a lot closer.
then today after school i went into Rome and met up with my mom's [american moms] friend who's in rome to visit her daughter. we had a really nice late lunch and it was really nice to see a familiar face. but it made me really homesick.
this friday my class is leaving for milan for 2 days for a geography competition(because they're really smart and won for all of Rome and the areas nearby) but i dont get to go because theres a thing for AFS, and afs is prioritized over school.. so instead i get to stay home and sleep :)
simply wonderful.
we got there thursday and moved our stuff into the house. it was a country house surrounded only by TONSSS of nature and beautiful views. there were 2 houses right next to it, but they were abandoned. and other than that, no one.
after we unpacked the 5 of us exchange students went to this big grassy field/hill/meadow and ran around and talked and frolicked until really late.
then friday we went on this long drive to this big valley and had a wonderful picnic.
after aron and i stayed at the car and compared music while the others went horseback riding. then we went around this little town.
after dinner we all sat and talked for a really long time which was nice.
saturday we went to perugia. it was a bit miserable because we did a lot of walking and it was fairly hot and up and down. then we went to this family's house for lunch. IT WAS AMAZING. the most gorgeous house i've seen since i've gotten here, and the lunch was delicious.
after we went to Assisi.. it was cute but wayyyy too touristy and we were all a bit miserable and tired.
after dinner we sat outside and joked and talked until really late which was also fun.
then sunday we packed up all our stuff and left and on our way out we stopped in the town nearby, called Visso. it was adorable and i really really liked it.
overall, umbria was amazing and scenic and the 5 of us exchange students got a lot closer.
then today after school i went into Rome and met up with my mom's [american moms] friend who's in rome to visit her daughter. we had a really nice late lunch and it was really nice to see a familiar face. but it made me really homesick.
this friday my class is leaving for milan for 2 days for a geography competition(because they're really smart and won for all of Rome and the areas nearby) but i dont get to go because theres a thing for AFS, and afs is prioritized over school.. so instead i get to stay home and sleep :)
Thursday, April 29, 2010
so today i'm leaving with the 4 other exchange students, 2 volunteers, and one of the volunteers daughters to go to Umbria. another area of italy. its fairly close to Lazio (where rome is)
we'll spend 4 days visiting the cities around there, including Perugia, which is supposed to be nice and fun.
sadly the house we're staying at doesnt have TV, Internet, or cell phone service.. but i'm sure we'll have fun anyways :P
on tuesday i whimsically got my ears pierced again, so now i have 3 piercings on each side.
then yesterday i went out to dinner with one of the other exchange students. it was really fun, dinner was delicious (and very unitalian). the entire menu and restaurant was in english, and the food was very ethnic. it kinda reminded me of California pizza kitchen [cpk].
other than that everythings same old same old. :)
we'll spend 4 days visiting the cities around there, including Perugia, which is supposed to be nice and fun.
sadly the house we're staying at doesnt have TV, Internet, or cell phone service.. but i'm sure we'll have fun anyways :P
on tuesday i whimsically got my ears pierced again, so now i have 3 piercings on each side.
then yesterday i went out to dinner with one of the other exchange students. it was really fun, dinner was delicious (and very unitalian). the entire menu and restaurant was in english, and the food was very ethnic. it kinda reminded me of California pizza kitchen [cpk].
other than that everythings same old same old. :)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
the girl from turkey was nice :) it was nice to meet more people from other countries and she was a really sweet girl
monday there was the meeting at the senate that we got to miss school for. it wasnt worth it. i would've rather gone to school. it was so incredibly boring and i learned nothing and we did nothing and there was a lot of pointless walking.
the only fun part was getting to meet other exchange students staying in the areas around here (Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, etc.)
there were a ton of americans and i only knew two of them so it was nice to speak a lot of american english after so much italian. plus they were the first americans i've met since i've gotten here so that was nice too.
school was really really tiring last week. and it felt like it went on forever even though it was actually shorter than normal since monday i wasnt at school but at the senate thing.
then yesterday i went out to dinner with shu [the chinese boy], renata and daniele [two of the volunteers here], and 8 finnish volunteers who are here on a vacation. it was a tad bit boring, but they were nice and they taught me the number 1-10 in swedish and finnish. so now i can say them in 9 languages (english, italian, spanish, french, siciliano, portugese, chinese, finnish, and swedish).. its become my hobby.
then i spent the night at shu and renatas house because then this morning we woke up really early and drove (with a girl who wants to be an exchange student next year and her mom) up to Florence to spend the day.
it was miserable. Florence was so hot, stick and humid and we did tons and tons of walking.
it reminded me exactly of how i remember Florence from 6 years ago. and i didnt like florence then so everyone was determined to change my mind, but it was just as bad this time, so my mind is still set on disliking it there.
and then we just returned a couple of hours
so now i'm exhausted and off to bed.. ciao!
monday there was the meeting at the senate that we got to miss school for. it wasnt worth it. i would've rather gone to school. it was so incredibly boring and i learned nothing and we did nothing and there was a lot of pointless walking.
the only fun part was getting to meet other exchange students staying in the areas around here (Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, etc.)
there were a ton of americans and i only knew two of them so it was nice to speak a lot of american english after so much italian. plus they were the first americans i've met since i've gotten here so that was nice too.
school was really really tiring last week. and it felt like it went on forever even though it was actually shorter than normal since monday i wasnt at school but at the senate thing.
then yesterday i went out to dinner with shu [the chinese boy], renata and daniele [two of the volunteers here], and 8 finnish volunteers who are here on a vacation. it was a tad bit boring, but they were nice and they taught me the number 1-10 in swedish and finnish. so now i can say them in 9 languages (english, italian, spanish, french, siciliano, portugese, chinese, finnish, and swedish).. its become my hobby.
then i spent the night at shu and renatas house because then this morning we woke up really early and drove (with a girl who wants to be an exchange student next year and her mom) up to Florence to spend the day.
it was miserable. Florence was so hot, stick and humid and we did tons and tons of walking.
it reminded me exactly of how i remember Florence from 6 years ago. and i didnt like florence then so everyone was determined to change my mind, but it was just as bad this time, so my mind is still set on disliking it there.
and then we just returned a couple of hours
so now i'm exhausted and off to bed.. ciao!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
ciao ciaoo
nothing all that eventful lately..
last tuesday there was no school because of some assembly thing so i hung out with 3 of my classmates who seem to be turning out to be my closest friends
that was really nice :]
last weekend was also very fun.. although i didnt necesarily see or do anything new
tomorrow, a girl from turkey is arriving to stay with our family for a week. because when Fede went on a week trip to Istanbul with her school it was an exchange, so then the turkish girl comes with her school for a week. i'm a bit nervous though, because Fede didn't have the best things to say about her when she returned from Istanbul..
then on monday all of the exchange students from Tuscany, Umbria, Pescara, and Lazio (which includes Rome) are going to Parliament for the day. and we have to dress very conservatively and formally. i don't understand what we're doing there though..
but there will be 2 of the american semester students who i came here with so that will be nice to FINALLY see another american [plus i was pretty good friends with one of them on the trip here].. because even though i meet people who speak english, they all speak different english, even the australians.
ok, arrivederci!
nothing all that eventful lately..
last tuesday there was no school because of some assembly thing so i hung out with 3 of my classmates who seem to be turning out to be my closest friends
that was really nice :]
last weekend was also very fun.. although i didnt necesarily see or do anything new
tomorrow, a girl from turkey is arriving to stay with our family for a week. because when Fede went on a week trip to Istanbul with her school it was an exchange, so then the turkish girl comes with her school for a week. i'm a bit nervous though, because Fede didn't have the best things to say about her when she returned from Istanbul..
then on monday all of the exchange students from Tuscany, Umbria, Pescara, and Lazio (which includes Rome) are going to Parliament for the day. and we have to dress very conservatively and formally. i don't understand what we're doing there though..
but there will be 2 of the american semester students who i came here with so that will be nice to FINALLY see another american [plus i was pretty good friends with one of them on the trip here].. because even though i meet people who speak english, they all speak different english, even the australians.
ok, arrivederci!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
so i haven't posted in a while. but thats a good thing :] because it means that i had an extremeley fun and eventful week and didn't even have time!
haha. well so this last week was spring break (vacanze di pasqua)
Tuesday i went to Elsha's house with 2 other exchange students for lunch, then the 4 of us went into central rome. we rented a rickshaw (those touristy pedal car things) and went all around rome
it was really really fun and also really funny. i think i burned off all of that days calories from laughing. in the evening i went bowling with Shu, the chinese exchange student, and that was fun and reminded me of home :)
Wednesday was just a nice stay at home day
Thursday i went to Euroma2, the mall kindof close to my house, with Elsha and we did some shopping and spent a lot of time talking. She's really enjoyable to be around so it was nice to spend some one on one time with her.
Friday, four of us exchange students (they're my closest friends) went to the beach because its been sunny lately. It was a little chilly despite being sunny, so only Shu actually went swimming. It was really beautiful and there was a big jellyfish on the beach. After we got gelato and pizza so that was deliciousss
Saturday was my big day. I woke up super early and took the metro into Rome and met my friend Henrique from Brazil(who went on the exchange week in Sicily with me) at the train station because he took the train from Parma[where he lives] into Rome for a day. Midway through the day we met up with Simone and SeeKay, two other girls who i was with in Sicily, because they were in Rome for the break with their families. We had a Sicily reunion and i showed them a bit around Rome, although i was more like a tourist because its such a big city that i stilll don't know where anything is. We did TONS [and i mean tons] of walking and we saw the majority of the main sights in Rome, then Simone left to be with her family, and the rest of us met up with Shu, who came into downtown to meet up with his friend. At 7, i took Henrique back to the train station and SeeKay left for her hotel.. it was really sat to split up again, but i really hope to visit them in their cities. Then Shu and I met up with 2 other exchange students and didnt get home until late.. so i ended up spending 13 hours walking around in downtown ROme... it was EXHAUSTING.. but suchh a fun day.
Sunday was Easter [Pasqua]. My family went to mass, but because i was so exhausted from the previous day (and the fact that my sisters told me easter mass was extra long and boring) and i am still recovering from a cold, i was allowed to stay home. After that, we went to a giant family lunch. it was really overwhelming, and there was SO MUCH food.
monday was another stay at home and relax day..
then today i "hosted a luncheon" :]
the 4 other exchange students in the area came over for lunch and my older sister made them pasta and then after i tried my hand at making everyone crepes. it was kindof a disaster because they were very messy.. but they tasted delicious :)
so that was fun
but then we took the metro to italian school and on the metro there was a kindof crazy man and he was upset with some teenage guys goofing off so he lifted up his shirt and tucked under it was a gun. he made sure they saw and then retucked in his shirt. it was so extremeley scary and the 5 of us immediately got off at the next stop... i guess thats the bad side of italy for you..
anyways it was nothing to worry about, just the first time i've ever seen a gun in real life..
but we were all fine and it wasnt too big of a deal.
today was the last day of break, so tomorrow its back to school :(
oh well.. at least its sunny now!
ciaooo
haha. well so this last week was spring break (vacanze di pasqua)
Tuesday i went to Elsha's house with 2 other exchange students for lunch, then the 4 of us went into central rome. we rented a rickshaw (those touristy pedal car things) and went all around rome
it was really really fun and also really funny. i think i burned off all of that days calories from laughing. in the evening i went bowling with Shu, the chinese exchange student, and that was fun and reminded me of home :)
Wednesday was just a nice stay at home day
Thursday i went to Euroma2, the mall kindof close to my house, with Elsha and we did some shopping and spent a lot of time talking. She's really enjoyable to be around so it was nice to spend some one on one time with her.
Friday, four of us exchange students (they're my closest friends) went to the beach because its been sunny lately. It was a little chilly despite being sunny, so only Shu actually went swimming. It was really beautiful and there was a big jellyfish on the beach. After we got gelato and pizza so that was deliciousss
Saturday was my big day. I woke up super early and took the metro into Rome and met my friend Henrique from Brazil(who went on the exchange week in Sicily with me) at the train station because he took the train from Parma[where he lives] into Rome for a day. Midway through the day we met up with Simone and SeeKay, two other girls who i was with in Sicily, because they were in Rome for the break with their families. We had a Sicily reunion and i showed them a bit around Rome, although i was more like a tourist because its such a big city that i stilll don't know where anything is. We did TONS [and i mean tons] of walking and we saw the majority of the main sights in Rome, then Simone left to be with her family, and the rest of us met up with Shu, who came into downtown to meet up with his friend. At 7, i took Henrique back to the train station and SeeKay left for her hotel.. it was really sat to split up again, but i really hope to visit them in their cities. Then Shu and I met up with 2 other exchange students and didnt get home until late.. so i ended up spending 13 hours walking around in downtown ROme... it was EXHAUSTING.. but suchh a fun day.
Sunday was Easter [Pasqua]. My family went to mass, but because i was so exhausted from the previous day (and the fact that my sisters told me easter mass was extra long and boring) and i am still recovering from a cold, i was allowed to stay home. After that, we went to a giant family lunch. it was really overwhelming, and there was SO MUCH food.
monday was another stay at home and relax day..
then today i "hosted a luncheon" :]
the 4 other exchange students in the area came over for lunch and my older sister made them pasta and then after i tried my hand at making everyone crepes. it was kindof a disaster because they were very messy.. but they tasted delicious :)
so that was fun
but then we took the metro to italian school and on the metro there was a kindof crazy man and he was upset with some teenage guys goofing off so he lifted up his shirt and tucked under it was a gun. he made sure they saw and then retucked in his shirt. it was so extremeley scary and the 5 of us immediately got off at the next stop... i guess thats the bad side of italy for you..
anyways it was nothing to worry about, just the first time i've ever seen a gun in real life..
but we were all fine and it wasnt too big of a deal.
today was the last day of break, so tomorrow its back to school :(
oh well.. at least its sunny now!
ciaooo
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