Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate Christmas!!! If you don't no worries, I hope your day was a good one. Christmas for me was really different and new. As I have mentioned before it didn't feel like Christmas, not even on Christmas Day, or opening presents or anything. Well it didn't feel like Christmas normally does for me, but for everyone else here it felt like Christmas. As you know we finally came back from Milan Christmas Eve morning, about 2am, from then we slept and got up around 11. I ate a small breakfast and later was lunch, pesto, one of my favorites. After lunch I was able to talk with my mom and then I took a nap. I woke up around 7 and then it was time to get ready and go to Nonna's house for Christmas Eve Dinner.
Before the first main dish there was this broccoli salad, then there was about 5 different types of seafood. There were two other types of broccoli salads, artichokes, shrimp (two kinds) fried, breaded meat, and something else to help digest all the food. And of yes there was bread and wine, I stuck to Coca Cola. After everyone finished eating we just sat around the table and watched a movie, Benvenuti al Sud. (I had seen this in the theatre when it first came out and talked more about it in another post) After dinner and the movie it was time for dessert. We had the classic Christmas cakes and there was another type of wine to go along with it.
Around 11:50pm, Christmas Eve we went back to the house to open presents. The tradition is to wait until midnight to open them. While we were waiting for midnight to come I went online and Skyped with my mom at my Aunts house so I got to see some of my family then. We talked for a few minutes, but then it was time to open presents. My host mom and dad were tired so they went to bed earlier so it was my host brother and sister, and my host sister's boyfriend. They had already opened their gifts because I was talking online with my parents. I passed out the presents I bought for them and opened the gifts from them. From my host family I received two purses, an Italia soccer jersey, an Italia hat, a box of my favorite pens :D and then from my host sisters boyfriend he gave me this little Vespa which had a snow globe on it of the Colosseum. From my host Nonna she gave all the grandkids a Chocolate Santa. From one host aunt and uncle perfume, and from another a mug with a cute little guy on it. My host sister's friend's family came over and gave us each presents too, mine was a pink backpack.
Once we were done with presents I taught my host siblings to play a card game I play with my cousins back in New York. When we had enough of that and they were eating I called back home to show everyone my gifts and just to talk some more. I finally got to bed around 3am and then we woke up around 9am to go to mass. When we got up we ate breakfast and just hung around the house, didn't get to mass. I then gave my host parents the gifts I bought for them and I am glad they liked them. We went out to see my other host nonna. From there we drove around for a little while and returned around 12 to go to my host nonna's for Christmas lunch. We ate with the family and I played cards with my host cousins. Around 5pm I went back to the house to Skype with my Aunt and Uncle for about two hours. When I was finishing up talking with them, my other Aunt came on skype. I called her and talked to the rest of my family; cousins, aunt, uncle, Grammie, Poppie, Grandma, brother, mom, dad, brother's girlfriend, I even got to see my cousin's cat Lucy. It was nice talking to them all and seeing everyone.
After this Skype session with my family I went back over to my host nonna's house where everyone was playing cards. The game was called In Morto and it used Napoletano cards, which are different then your average cards. They have different symbols and different values. I point of the game was to not have the lowest card so you didn't have to pay into the pot. If you made it to the end of all the rounds and still had money, you one the pot. After playing we went back home and I called home to talk for a few more minutes and then it was off to bed.
Now I have a stomach ache, not sure why, maybe because of all the different foods, and being run down nothing really agreeing with me. Tonight we might be going to the movies and tomorrow hopefully I can go the post office to see if my package is there. The packages from my aunts have been over a month, almost two, what the heck man!!!!!!!! I just hope I will get them before I leave.
Talk to you all and see you soon!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Milano a Napoli
On Tuesday, December 21st I left with my host sister to go to Milan and visit her boyfriend. We woke up around 5am and left shortly after. Our flight went well and we arrived in Milan with no troubles, and our luggage was all there. I had a window seat and the view was wonderful; however, my camera was in my bag in to over head compartment. Next time I will remember to take it out so I can take some pictures to show you all.
My host sister's boyfriend picked us up and took us to this caffe` bar for breakfast. I had hot chocolate and a giant cookie :D From there we went back to his house and stayed there for a little while. After lunch time he drove us and his sisters to Switzerland!!! It was snowing the farther north in Italy we went and in Switzerland too. We went to this shopping center called FoxTown. You couldn't tell it was Switzerland because it was the Italian-Swiss part of Switzerland. They did have another currency, but luckily they accepted the Euro too. We spent a few hours there and then we headed back to Italy. Before we crossed the border we stopped at a gas station and I bought some chocolate. I also managed to break a container with chocolate in it too, so there for I had to buy it. The worst part was that the container was filled with American chocolates, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way. My host sister's boyfriend was nice enough to buy it and shared with his sisters.
The next day we woke up rather late, 12:30pm. After breakfast we were off to Milan. My host sister's boyfriend's cousin came with us to Milan. We parked outside the city center and took the subway to the Duomo. From there we walked around and looked at some of the shops. For lunch we ate at McDonalds. (Random fact: I have had more McDonalds in Italy in three months, then I would have had back at home in New York) After the Duomo we took the subway to another street for more shopping. Here I finished my host family Christmas shopping which made me rather happy. We took another subway trip to the castel in Milan and from there we walked back to the Duomo to take another subway ride back to parking. For all of the rides on the subway, it was only 2.50 Euro.
In the piazza Duomo there was a Christmas tree with lights and decorations. When we first arrived it was sunny and the lights were off, but by the time we came back it was dark and cloudy and the tree looked wonderful with all the lights and the Duomo behind it. The Duomo's stained glass windows had lights on them and the surrounding buildings had Christmas lights too. And the best part of being there later, around 8pm, there was very few people in the piazza. Near the Duomo was a presepe (Christmas village) with moving parts, running water, and just really well put together.
The next day we woke up at 4:30 am and headed down to San Nicola. When we got around Florence there as a lot of traffic, about three hours for Florence alone. Then we arrived in Rome around 5:30pm. We went to the Spanish steps, Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum. At the Spanish steps they were doing a reading of "A Christmas Carol", then we ate gelato by the Trevi fountain, and then rain to the Colosseum in the rain! Over all it was a fun time and a nice break from riding in the car.
Normally the trip to Rome to Naples is two hours, but it took us eight hours!!!!! It was a rather long trip and we finally got home around 2am. From then I got ready for bed, Skyped with my mom and dad for about ten minutes and then enjoyed my sleep.
My host sister's boyfriend picked us up and took us to this caffe` bar for breakfast. I had hot chocolate and a giant cookie :D From there we went back to his house and stayed there for a little while. After lunch time he drove us and his sisters to Switzerland!!! It was snowing the farther north in Italy we went and in Switzerland too. We went to this shopping center called FoxTown. You couldn't tell it was Switzerland because it was the Italian-Swiss part of Switzerland. They did have another currency, but luckily they accepted the Euro too. We spent a few hours there and then we headed back to Italy. Before we crossed the border we stopped at a gas station and I bought some chocolate. I also managed to break a container with chocolate in it too, so there for I had to buy it. The worst part was that the container was filled with American chocolates, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way. My host sister's boyfriend was nice enough to buy it and shared with his sisters.
The next day we woke up rather late, 12:30pm. After breakfast we were off to Milan. My host sister's boyfriend's cousin came with us to Milan. We parked outside the city center and took the subway to the Duomo. From there we walked around and looked at some of the shops. For lunch we ate at McDonalds. (Random fact: I have had more McDonalds in Italy in three months, then I would have had back at home in New York) After the Duomo we took the subway to another street for more shopping. Here I finished my host family Christmas shopping which made me rather happy. We took another subway trip to the castel in Milan and from there we walked back to the Duomo to take another subway ride back to parking. For all of the rides on the subway, it was only 2.50 Euro.
In the piazza Duomo there was a Christmas tree with lights and decorations. When we first arrived it was sunny and the lights were off, but by the time we came back it was dark and cloudy and the tree looked wonderful with all the lights and the Duomo behind it. The Duomo's stained glass windows had lights on them and the surrounding buildings had Christmas lights too. And the best part of being there later, around 8pm, there was very few people in the piazza. Near the Duomo was a presepe (Christmas village) with moving parts, running water, and just really well put together.
The next day we woke up at 4:30 am and headed down to San Nicola. When we got around Florence there as a lot of traffic, about three hours for Florence alone. Then we arrived in Rome around 5:30pm. We went to the Spanish steps, Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum. At the Spanish steps they were doing a reading of "A Christmas Carol", then we ate gelato by the Trevi fountain, and then rain to the Colosseum in the rain! Over all it was a fun time and a nice break from riding in the car.
Normally the trip to Rome to Naples is two hours, but it took us eight hours!!!!! It was a rather long trip and we finally got home around 2am. From then I got ready for bed, Skyped with my mom and dad for about ten minutes and then enjoyed my sleep.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Hello Everyone!!!
Not much going over here in Italy. I might be going shopping tonight which will be fun. I have to do some Christmas shopping for my host family and buy some more presents or my family back in New York and my friends. It is getting pretty cold where I am, not normal weather. There is snow in Milan and seeing as I will be there in 6 days I am pretty excited!!!! I have four more days of school before I leave for Milan on the 21st!!!!!!!!!!!
Today was a pretty normal school day, not doing much, listening, reading, day dreaming.... The German teacher passed back our tests today!! I received a 9.5 out of 10!!!!!!!!!! I am rather thrilled about this because this is only month two of German classes in Italy lol.
I have started looking into college again...when i mean looking into, I mean looking at one main college. I really want to go to University of Liverpool. I don't know my major yet, but I think something with history. I am not going to worry about college until I get home so I can relax and enjoy my time here.
I hope everyone is doing well and getting ready for Christmas vacation/Winter break, which ever you prefer. Love you all!!!!
Today was a pretty normal school day, not doing much, listening, reading, day dreaming.... The German teacher passed back our tests today!! I received a 9.5 out of 10!!!!!!!!!! I am rather thrilled about this because this is only month two of German classes in Italy lol.
I have started looking into college again...when i mean looking into, I mean looking at one main college. I really want to go to University of Liverpool. I don't know my major yet, but I think something with history. I am not going to worry about college until I get home so I can relax and enjoy my time here.
I hope everyone is doing well and getting ready for Christmas vacation/Winter break, which ever you prefer. Love you all!!!!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Footloose
This spring my school is doing a production of Footloose. Auditions were this past weekend and I would just like to say congrats to everyone who made the play and give credit to everyone who tried out. Many of my friends are part of the drama club-Masque and Mime either on stage or off. I have not be able to take part in a theatre club here in Italy and I miss it quite a bit. There is just something about theatre and for the past three year Masque and Mime has been my life. I know everyone will do a wonderful job with the show and I can't wait to hear some funny rehearsal stories :D
This makes the start of my last full week of school for this year!!!!! Six more days of school until I go to Milan!!!!! I am so excited and I can't wait to go, plus there is snow in Milan!!!! It is getting cold here in southern Italy, around freezing, which is not normal weather for this region. 2010 is coming to an end and I will be celebrating the New Year in Italy!!! My first year away from home for Christmas and New Years, and not the last either, but I will take it one year at a time. You can tell Christmas is coming soon and yet I have not heard that many Italian Christmas songs. Many of the old familiar tunes as background music for commercials. I am kind of glad they do, something to remind me of home, but I would like to hear some Italian songs. Another thing I have noticed, many of the Christmas decorations say 'Merry Christmas' and not 'Buon Natale' which is Italian. I wanted to buy some things for Christmases to come, but it is proving harder than I thought. I will not stop looking until I find them, don't worry!!!!
Here is something else really random, I have started looking at colleges again. For those of you who don't know my 'plan' I am going to community college on a full scholarship because of my class rank, within the top 10% :D and then transferring two years later. Where is still a mystery, but I am a 'dream school'. On school that has caught my eye would be the University of Liverpool, but with the recent news in England about college, the cost, distance, a some other factors, I am not sure weather this will happen, but then again, Italy was a dream two years ago and here I am.....
:D Buon Natale!!!!!! Merry Christmas!!!! Happy Hanukkah!!!! Happy Holidays!!!!
This makes the start of my last full week of school for this year!!!!! Six more days of school until I go to Milan!!!!! I am so excited and I can't wait to go, plus there is snow in Milan!!!! It is getting cold here in southern Italy, around freezing, which is not normal weather for this region. 2010 is coming to an end and I will be celebrating the New Year in Italy!!! My first year away from home for Christmas and New Years, and not the last either, but I will take it one year at a time. You can tell Christmas is coming soon and yet I have not heard that many Italian Christmas songs. Many of the old familiar tunes as background music for commercials. I am kind of glad they do, something to remind me of home, but I would like to hear some Italian songs. Another thing I have noticed, many of the Christmas decorations say 'Merry Christmas' and not 'Buon Natale' which is Italian. I wanted to buy some things for Christmases to come, but it is proving harder than I thought. I will not stop looking until I find them, don't worry!!!!
Here is something else really random, I have started looking at colleges again. For those of you who don't know my 'plan' I am going to community college on a full scholarship because of my class rank, within the top 10% :D and then transferring two years later. Where is still a mystery, but I am a 'dream school'. On school that has caught my eye would be the University of Liverpool, but with the recent news in England about college, the cost, distance, a some other factors, I am not sure weather this will happen, but then again, Italy was a dream two years ago and here I am.....
:D Buon Natale!!!!!! Merry Christmas!!!! Happy Hanukkah!!!! Happy Holidays!!!!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
December
Thanksgiving was a week away and a lot has happened. The major this is that I have switched host families. I am now staying in San Nicola near Caserta, still in Southern Italy. I moved on Monday after school and things are going well. I am really excited to be with her and her family. She has a brother who is 17, her mom is a cook and her dad works in a pasta factory. They are all very nice and happy to have me.
Tuesday and Wednesday were kind of bad days. I was just crying so much, in school and at home. So many things going on, not know what I wanted, confused, many emotions. Today went much better and I am feeling better. Being with my friend helps to make me realize I want to spend time with her. This weekend we went to the local mall or shopping center and I bought a book in Italian. I am not really sure what it is about, but my host sister says its good and the writing is pretty simple so it should be a little easier to understand. Saturday night we went to a mexican restaurant and it was alright. I was hoping for some spicy taco or something, but I did not get that. I ordered nachos, which was just chips and 'salsa' but their salsa was more like tomato paste. Then I ordered a cheese thing, but the cheese was different and it was really thick and not that good. Either way I had fun with my host sister and her friends. Today I am not sure what we are going to do, but i am working on another video for youtube so I will post that later.
A few days before Christmas I will be going to Milan with my host sister!!!! Her boy friend lives near Milan and found air plane tickets for 25 Euros!!! We will be staying with him and his family for two days and then traveling back down by car. We will have a chance to stop in Florence for a few hours. Her boyfriend will then be staying with us until January 7th or so. I am really, really excited about that and I can't wait!!!
I was finally able to buy some stamps and I will be mailing some letters and postcards soon. I only have one out of the fifteen i bought and I need to buy some more. The mail here is really slow and I have not received the packages from my aunts or any letters, nothing. I am very sorry if you have mailed a letter and nothing has arrived. I am also sorry to all my friends whom I have not had the opertunity to talk to yet in the three months I have been here. I am thinking about you and I miss you!!!!
Tuesday and Wednesday were kind of bad days. I was just crying so much, in school and at home. So many things going on, not know what I wanted, confused, many emotions. Today went much better and I am feeling better. Being with my friend helps to make me realize I want to spend time with her. This weekend we went to the local mall or shopping center and I bought a book in Italian. I am not really sure what it is about, but my host sister says its good and the writing is pretty simple so it should be a little easier to understand. Saturday night we went to a mexican restaurant and it was alright. I was hoping for some spicy taco or something, but I did not get that. I ordered nachos, which was just chips and 'salsa' but their salsa was more like tomato paste. Then I ordered a cheese thing, but the cheese was different and it was really thick and not that good. Either way I had fun with my host sister and her friends. Today I am not sure what we are going to do, but i am working on another video for youtube so I will post that later.
A few days before Christmas I will be going to Milan with my host sister!!!! Her boy friend lives near Milan and found air plane tickets for 25 Euros!!! We will be staying with him and his family for two days and then traveling back down by car. We will have a chance to stop in Florence for a few hours. Her boyfriend will then be staying with us until January 7th or so. I am really, really excited about that and I can't wait!!!
I was finally able to buy some stamps and I will be mailing some letters and postcards soon. I only have one out of the fifteen i bought and I need to buy some more. The mail here is really slow and I have not received the packages from my aunts or any letters, nothing. I am very sorry if you have mailed a letter and nothing has arrived. I am also sorry to all my friends whom I have not had the opertunity to talk to yet in the three months I have been here. I am thinking about you and I miss you!!!!
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