Secondo settimana!

Ciao! Sorry this blog post is a day late but I was so busy yesterday and didn't get home until late but I'll tell you all about that now!

MONDAY (Sept. 17th): I didn't have school that day because it was a holiday in Rivoli for a Saint or something so me and my 2 other exchange student friends went shopping in Rivoli! Sanni, a girl from Finland and Blue a boy from Thailand. It was really fun! I tried my best to speak Italian to the shop keepers but after a certain point I would get confused and say "Non parla Italiano, parla inglese?" We really stood out as foreigners compared to the Italians I think! I bought a black leather jacket from Tally Weijl, perfume, some bracelets, earrings and a pink dress for disco's. Also we got some gelato ahh it was good, I have gelato seriously like everyday! I hope I don't become just another fat exchange student.... as soon as I got home I went for a run and my little sister Nini to rode her bike next to me so I wouldn't get lost! hahhaa

Fruit gelato mmmm <3

Gelato with Sanni & Bleue (:

yummmmyyy

TUESDAY: I had school on Tuesday and I switched into the 3rd year, in 3F! Everyone in my class is super nice, they have a group on facebook for their class and added me! It's so weird in Italy you stay with one class all throughout high school so it's really like one big family. Everyone is friends with everyone in a class since they've all known each other for so long! It's cool but then no one really talks to people from other classes. It's weird because in the US I'm used to switching classes and meeting tons of different people but here since you stay with one class ALL freakin day it's hard to meet different people. Anyway, after school I had my first Italian lesson! Sanni, the AFSer here from Finland goes to the school next to mine so we met up and walked to Rivoli and got some lunch. Then after lunch my host mom came and helped us so we know how to take the bus and subway into Torino. Once we got to Porta Nuova, the train & subway station in Torino we met up with all the other kids from our chapter and walked to the building where our Italian lessons are. I loveee Torino! We walked down a street with a bunch of shopping and there's people riding Vespas everywhere and gelato shops on every corner. It's just so Italian <3 At the Italian lessons there was about 15 kids, half from the Rivoli area and half living in Torino. I'm the only American and then theres people from Denmark, Thailand, China, Japan, Germany, Bolivia, Honduras, Russia and South America. It's so cool meeting people from all over the world! Anyway, the teacher split us up into 2 groups and we have lessons at different times of the week. Basically there's a group for the kids good at Italian and the ones not so good (I'm in this group...) haha after the lesson me and Sanni walked back to the station and took the subway and bus all by ourselves it makes me feel so independent! I love it!

Getting Panini's for lunch in Rivoli with Sanni!

A random street in Torino

Stopped for a cioccolato caffé in Porta Nuova

Porta Nuova <333

WEDNESDAY: Another boring day of school I don't remember much from this day.. Umm oh yeah after school Andrea my older sisters boyfriend picked me up and we went to a bar (Italian word for restaurant or caffe) in Rivoli because some of his friends texted him and said that they were hanging out with an exchange student girl from Ohio. He told them that it was me but it wasn't.. it turns out there's another girl here from Ohio! She's with a rotary club not AFS so that's why I never met here! It's sooo crazy that there's 2 girls from Ohio! After I got home from Rivoli me and Nini went running and oh my gosh for a 12 year old she's super fast! I was exhausted!

THURSDAY: I feel like I never write anything about school.. I haven't had all of my classes yet because the first week is just like a practice schedule, it's not permanent until the 2nd week. Once I've had all my classes I'll go through and summarize them and talk more about school! Anyway after school on Thursday me and Sanni met up and went to Torino again for Italian lessons! The lessons are kind of boring and reaaallly basic. I mean I know I'm not a pro at Italian and I'm clueless but we move so slowly at the lessons, we barely learn anything! I want to learn Italian SO bad! I get so frustrated when I can't speak with people :( After the lesson me and some other exchange students walked around Torino and took some pictures in Piazza San Carlo! There's a bunch of Piazza's in Torino, I love all of them so much! Also we went shopping and I bought some black flats (:

I love the colorful winding streets of Rivoli (: 

Rivoli is so cute <3 

Me and Sanni from Finland walking to lunch in Rivoli!

Ahhh looking at signs written in Italian makes me smile (: 

Classic cute narrow Italian streets in Rivoli

Torino!

Church of San Carlo

Piazza San Carlo <3 

Piazza San Carlo

Church of San Carlo

The twin churches of Piazza San Carlo

Church of Santa Cristina 

Piazza San Carlo 

Other exchange students from my Italian lesson! I look like a midget compared to them..  -_- 

Mengzhen from China, Sanni from Finland, Olivia and Victoria from Denmark <3

Torino! I forgot the name of this building..

Yeah forgot the name of this too..

FRIDAY: Friday was a goood day, I got to miss school and go on a school trip with the 5th year (Senior) storia dell'arte (art history) class to Torino! I took the subway all alone and felt super cool because I got to Porta Nuova early so I shopped around by myself. I just feel so independent it's awesome haha. It was really fun walking all around the city and seeing all the piazzas and we got to inside all of the churches! Oh and it was really nice making some more friends from a different class! We also toured the Palazzo Dal Pozza Della Cisterna of course everything was in Italian but there was always somewhere there to translate for me! All the students and everyone I've met from Torino love their city, they all say it's the best city in Italy and I'm really starting to believe them! The tour guide of Palazzo Dal Pozza Della Cisterna, was sooo funny. While he was talking I kind of started nodding off and falling asleep.. I can't help it, listening to Italian that I don't understand makes me super sleepy!! Anyway after he was done speaking he said to me in Italian "Oh don't fall asleep stay awake this is going to be fun!!" Of course I only sort of understood it so I just kind of smiled and said Si! Then one of the students explained that I was American and didn't speak Italian. The tour guide thought that was really cool he was like "oh wow we have a special guest here!" During one of the presentations there was no chairs left so he had me sit in the very front facing everyone at one of the fancy tables you're not supposed to touch.. he was like the special guest can sit here! It was cool but kind of embarrassing in front of the 5th year classes... Anyway, after the tour I took the subway & bus home then my host grandmother picked me up from Rivoli. She doesn't speak a word of English! I actually enjoyed talking to here in the car though because it really forces me to use my Italian, we were surprisingly able to communicate pretty well! When she said something and I understood it, I got so happy and would scream "Io capisco!! Io capisco!!" haha when I got home it was my little sister Nini's birthday party with her friends! My host mom made tortolini, french fries and chicken nuggets. It felt really American! Nini and all her friends were so loud and cute playing Just Dance! haha I took a nap and then Federica got home from Milan. My host mom went out with her friends so me Federica, Nini and my host dad went out for dinner at a place called Kepo's I think.. it was good I got pizza (of course!) and there was this really good bread that they made in a wood fired oven. We went home and watched a movie in Italian with English subtitles! haha I did my best to understand it... I went to sleep kind of early though cause I had school on Saturday :'( FML

Church of San Carlo 

Piazza San Carlo

Piazza San Carlo 

Palazzo Dal Pozza Della Cisterna 

Some cool building.. 

Another cool building

Inside a church

soo pretty 

Nini's birthday party with her friends!

Tortolini <333

SATURDAY: I got up and went to school it sucked. But the day was so short and ended at noon! My host dad picked me up and we rode his motorcycle home, as soon as I arrived home to my host family ready and waiting for me to eat a delicious Italian lunch I almost forgot that I even went to school that day.. almost. After lunch, me Federica and her boyfriend Andrea went shopping to look for a birthday present for one of their friends in Torino! It was suuuper crowded since it was a Saturday but it was fun! I got some gelato too and I think it's the best gelato I've had in Italy so far! It was called Gianduja and I found a recipe online for it here (: After shopping we went home stopped in for a quick half hour changed, said hi to the family and then left again to go out for dinner! We didn't even make the reservation for until 9:30 pm and we didn't get home until about 1:30! Italians eat soo muuch later but I kind of like it because by the time it's dinner I'm so starving I can't even wait to eat! The restaurant was really cool, it was called Mucca Pazza! It used to be a disco (club) but then changed to a restaurant so it was super loud and crowded! I liked the atmosphere, there was a few peoples birthdays so they blasted Happy Birthday and everyone was cheering.

At Mucca Pazza with everyone!

SUNDAY: Sunday was my host dads birthday and also one of the best days in Italy so far! (: I got up at around 9 and my host dad drove me to my friend Sergio's house for a visit! He's another American here with AFS for the year and he lives in Ivrea, it's about 45 minutes from Rivoli. I was going to sleepover at Sergios on Saturday night but AFS wouldn't let me since it's still only the 2nd week :'( Another time! Anyway we rode the motorcycle there and went on the highway, it was awesome because there was pretty much no limit to how fast we could go so we went fast I loved it! It's official I want a motorcycle when I come back so mom & dad if you're reading this, that could be my welcome home present (; Once we got to Ivrea we met Sergio's family they're super nice! He has 2 sisters one went to Mississippi with AFS. Ivrea is kind of small so I thought that me and Sergio might get bored but we didn't! We spent the entire day walking around the city and eating alooott of food (: There was some festival going on in the town so there was stands with food and stuff all over the place. And there was an American dancing group called "Route 66" they were like square dancing and there was an American flag, it was so weird seeing American stuff in Italy! First we got coffee (mine with a scoop of gelato in it) and split some really good chocolate cream cake. Then we wandered around and got lost a little... then we ate lunch at this super cute fancy little Italian restaurant. Sergio's host mom said it's the best restaurant in Ivrea! I got ravioli for my 1st course, Sergio got gorgonzola gnocchi, then for our 2nd course we split some veal and potatoes and for desert we had peaches and cream. To drink we tried this white rose wine and surprisingly I really liked it! and on the side there was these tiny little breadstick cracker things, they're sooo good and they're a Piemonte speciality. Each region in Italy has their own style of cooking. The restaurant grows their own blueberries and they mix the blueberries in with some liquor to make a digestif drink. It was really good too! We walked around some more went shopping, I got pastiere and a card for my host dad's birthday. The food prices here are so cheap it's totally insane. I bought 10 pastries and cookies for only 5 euros! Oh and then we got some gelato, see I told you we ate a TON, I got yogurt and lemon flavored. It was amazing! Also super cheap, for 2 cones both with 2 scoops of gelato it was only 3.50 euros. I'm seriously going to get fat with such cheap gelato prices.. Anyway, it was a fantastic visit! I can't wait to visit again and I want to go to the Ivrea Battle of the Oranges festival in the Spring! My host dad picked me up at 6 and we rode his motorcycle home again, this time on the smaller streets so it was more scenic! Then when we got home we had octopus for dinner, it was delicious!

mmm Italian cheese >> 

The festival in the town square

<3 

The river that runs through the center of Ivrea 

Fresh olives and veggies at one of the stands

PINK FIAT I WANT THIS

The "castle of Ivrea" Pretty much only used for concerts nowadays 

Desert peaches, cream & white wine (: 

Sergio & the blueberry digestif

Ivrea's main church

"Route 66"

sooo weridd 

Probably my best friend in Italy so far <3

The symbol of Ivrea for the Orange festival

White water kayaking in the river!

Well that's all for now, I'm getting sick of typing! Arrivederci! (:

Di più pizza per favore!!

Ciao! Okay so I decided I'm going to try and update my blog every Sunday night and I'll go through everything that happened during the week! (: sooo I already posted about the beginning of this week so I'll start where I left off!

THURSDAY: I went to school for my second day whooooo no offense to Italy but your schools kinda suck. I like all the italian kids they're super nice! I got invited to go out for pizza on Friday night! (: lol but the classes are soooo booring. The teachers switch classes so I don't even get to walk around the hallways and meet different people or switch classes. Plus the teachers literally walk in, talk for pretty much 50 minutes straight then leave. No worksheets, no notes, no activities just talking. Pluuss I can't even understand any of it! Maybe a few words here and there but not alot.. lol anyway afterschool my tutor or assistent Ada came over and we had coffee and talked! She's so nice and Italian coffee is amazing! I don't usually like coffee but I loved this one! It's served in super tiny cups because it's really strong! Later Thursday night me and my family went out for dinner at a pizza restaurant in Torino. The pizza was amazing, sooo much better than American pizza! It's thinner and there's a lot less grease and more cheese and the crust is delicious ahhh it's just 1000x better! I'm going to get so fat! ): lol it was a really nice night, my host family is so much fun! We still mostly only speak in English because my Italian is awful.. but I think (hope) that I'm learning!

Italian coffee <3 mmmm

A street in Torino (:

The court where my host dad works at! 

Pizza dinner in Torino!

yummmy (:

Tiramisu before & after 

Pizza with anchioves

Oh yeah cause I can totally understand this.. not..

FRIDAY: I went to school only from 8 to 12 again! I'm still in the 2nd year class with 14/15 year olds :/ They're nice! but I kind of want to be with people my age! I think I'm moving into a 3rd year class next week lol anyway afterschool I took a nap and then my older host sister, Federica came home from college in Milan. We talked for a while (in english lol) and she helped me put post it notes on all the stuff in my room, like there's a sticky that says "sedia" on my chair. haha my aunt elena walked in and said i must have alzhiermers disease cause i don't remember what anything is! lolol then me, my mama, Federica and her boyfriend Andrea went to Rivoli and did some shopping around while waiting for my friends to meet me! I feel like everyone knows everyone in Rivoli, my host moms cousin owns a store so we stopped by and said hi to them and then we ran into one of my host moms friends lol it's so funny! Anyway, my friends from school met me in the piazza and we all walked to a pizza restaurant together! It was SO GOOD <3 I seriously cannot get enough of Italian pizza!!! I love Italian teenagers, everyones so open-minded and they don't judge each other like in America. Everyone has their own personal unique style and they are just able to be themselves without any judgement from their friends. Oh but their taste in music is soo weird... whenever an Italian asks me what music I like, I always say Justin Bieber and One Direction. Legit every single time I say that, the Italian tells me to leave the room. They're kidding of course (I think soo...) hahhaha Italians HATE Justin Bieber! It's so weird ): Everyone listens to old American music like Metallica, Led Zepplin, Pearl Jam and like punk rock the Killers and Vampire Weekend. lol also at the restaurant one of my friends, he's either 14 or 15, ordered a beer and it was completely normal, the waiter didn't bat an eyelash. I told him about how American's can't drink until their 21 and he said that's so stupid, he said it's not like he's going to get drunk from one beer. haha he's right! lol anyway, after pizza we walked through the streets of Rivoli and got frozen yogurt! I never know what to order since the menus in Italian so I just asked one of my friends to order me the same thing she got, and she paid for my yogurt too! It was so sweet, Italians are the friendliest nicest loudest people, she wouldn't take my money! haha we walked to the "castle" in Rivoli, it used to be a castle but now it's an art museum! There's a great view of Rivoli and Torino from the castle because it's at the top of a mountain! We walked back to the center of Rivoli to watch sometime of show in the city center. I don't really know what it was exactly.. it seemed like a talent show to me or something! There was a stage and lots of people went up with different acts. There was ballroom dancing, singing, hip hop dancing, comedians and african dancing. It was pretty cool! That was the end of the night, then I went home!

The view out of the window next to me at school <3

Piazza Martiri in Rivoli (: 

Italian shoes <333

Some expensive Italian shoes that are really in style I guess

MMMM PIZZAAAA!

Pizza restaurant in Rivoli with friends from school (:

Nuovo Italiano amici (: 

One of the performances from the show in the square, African dancing

SATURDAY: Normally I have to go to school on Saturdays but this week my tutor at school let me skip!!! Yipeeeeeeee! (: I woke up at around 9:30 and went on my first ever motocycle ride with my host dad! Holy crap it was soooo cool, at first I was pretty scared and I kind of thought I was going to die a few times but it was awesome! I love feeling the wind and going super fast and passing a bunch of cars! It's sweeeeet (: Anyway we rode into Rivoli to get me a phone, then we came home. I've been wanting to go running forever and that morning I got my host dad and little sister Nini to go with me! They rode their bikes and I ran next to them. Surprisingly I had a really good run! I don't know how far I went but I ran for about 45 minutes (: Yayayyyy I'm not going to get fat, I hope! Later me, Nini, Federica and her boyfriend went out shopping for a present for one of Federica's friends. It was fun! Some of my friends from school invited me to go to a disco, basically just the Italian version of a club, that night but Federica said that you have to be 16 to get in so I couldn't go. One more month until I'm 16 and can party! Anyway, instead of going to the disco I went out to Torino with Federica and her friends. It took us foreverrrrr to find the restaurant, I thought it was pretty funny because we were so lost. The restaurant was a buffet with so much good food, I ate a ton! Federica's friends were so nice!! They all go to different colleges in Turin but used to all go to high school together. When they first met me they all said their English was horrible but actually their English was really good! It was easy talking to them and I had so much fun! One of her friends was trying to teach me Italian and all the body part and clothing words! After dinner we walked around Turin and they showed me some of the piazza's. Oh my god, Turin is beautiful! I loveee it. Piazza Castello and Piazza Vittorio Veneto were stunning. I'm so lucky to be living here for the next 10 months <3 Since it was Saturday night the streets were packed. It was insane, there were crowds of people everywhere spilling out of bars and clubs. I stopped and got some chocolate gelato too mmm it was good! Oh and there was some Italian comedian named Mago Forest that walked by us and everyone freaked out! I have absolutely no clue who he was but they all wanted to get a picture with him but they didn't want to ask! So I just went over to him and asked in English if we could please get a picture! hahaha it was a really fun night, we didn't get home until like 1 in the morning because there was so much traffic!

The famous Italian comedian called Mago Forest!

Torino <3

So much fun!! (:

Ahhhh Turin is gorgeoussss

SUNDAY: Today there was an AFS party for everyone in our local chapter at one of the volunteer's house! I got up and Federica helped me make an apple pie to bring to the party! It was fun! I rode with my host dad on his motorcycle again and we got lost on the way there.. haha the party was nice there was a bunch of yummy desserts! There was a guy who actually went to Ohio a few years ago as an exchange student and he lived in between Cleveland and Columbus which is close to where I live! Also I found out that we start our Italian lessons in Turin on Tuesday! yayayyyy that's good because I really need to start learning Italian... :/ Oh and I got to talk to all the other exchange students in my area, they're all so nice! Me, Sanni a girl from Finland and Blue a boy from Thailand made plans to go shopping tomorrow afternoon in Rivoli! I need to get heels to wear for going out and I want new Italian clothes because I don't feel stylish compared to Italians at alll! Oh I don't have any school tomorrow!!!!!! (: yayayyyy it's a holiday in Rivoli for some saint or something, I'm the only one in my family that doesn't have to go to school or work! hahahahaaaa (; I didn't take any pictures today but I'm going to try and get one of the motorcycle soon! haha well that's all for now! Buona notte, goodnight I'm going to bed!

Primo giorna di scuola!

Oggi era primo giorna di scuola! Today was my first day of school! But before I start with my school day, I'll fill you in on what's happened in the past few days, well Monday night we filled out a bunch of paperwork for me to get my permit and watched Miss Italia. It was nice chatting with my host parents (: Yesterday I slept until noon hehe then my host mom and I went and got my permit then I got some gelato. Mi piace fragola e cioccolato gelato moltissimo! I like strawberry and chocolate gelato alot! We did some other running around but I forgot what exactly.. lol

Strawberry and chocolate gelato (:

The streets are soooo narrow here!

Last night was kind of tough ): I wanted to go to sleep early so I was well rested for my first day of school but I ended up staying awake until about 1 am. It's just hard because I'm reading all these other exchange students blogs and they're talking about going out every night with a host sibling that's their age. Everyone seems to be in big cities or by a beach and already made a bunch of friends. I just feel so lonely. I love my host family but I don't have any friends yet and my city is super tiny ): I know I have to be grateful for what I have and stop complaining because I'm so lucky but it's hard. Plus I'm having alot of trouble with Italian ): I really don't feel like I'm learning anything at all! I know it's only been a few days but I just feel like the stupid quiet American. I want to be able to be myself but it's hard when I can't even speak the language. Alright I need to shut up now and stop being so depressing lol

My home for the next 10 months <3

Anyway, I got up at about 7 this morning for school then my host aunt Elena drove me and my host cousin Alberto to school, he's a year younger than me. She dropped us off and Alberto took me inside we were looking for my tutor but couldn't find her anywhere! The school is really big, I'm pretty sure it's 4 floors or maybe 3, I forget. All the students look so much older than me because they're so stylish and everyone smokes! It was kind of overwhelming, there was such a huge crowd outside and in the school. My aunt Elena came back to the school to wait with me for the teacher so I wasn't a loner, she also introduced me to a group of girls my age, Elena if you're reading this, thank you so much! <3 The group of girls were so sweet, they did their best to speak English with me. I don't remember their names because I'm horrible with names ): Well then my tutor showed up and took me and the other exchange student Jose, he's 17 and from Bolivia, to the teachers lounge. Jose is already pretty much fluent in Italian because he's a native Spanish speaker. It's so not fair! ): Plus it makes me look like such an idiot since I don't know anything! Our tutor said that for the next 10 days we're just going to try out different classes to see what we like then we'll make our final schedules. Oh and I have daily homework.. whooooo... during classes I have to write down 10 words that I hear then go home and write 10 sentences. I reallyyy hope this helps me learn! We got a tour of the school, the bathrooms are just holes in the ground it's so weird.. I thought that was only in Asia... lol and our tutor told us that students aren't allowed to smoke inside the school and only the ones 18 or older can smoke outside. But she said lots and lots of kids younger than 18 smoke and no one really cares. It's just so weird and different to America!

My outfit for the first day of school!

Me and Jose, the exchange student from Brazil, on our first day of scuola!

Classes are each 50 minutes or about an hour long, so we had 4 class periods today. Italian high schools have 5 years of high school. I spent the first 2 class periods with my tutor then the second two with a 2nd year class. The students were 14 and 15 I'm pretty sure! I'll probably move up to a 3rd year class but I was with the 2nd year one for today because they were learning English. It was so cool, helping everyone with their English. haha I had to talk slowly about my normal day in the USA and everyone wrote down what I said, then I walked around and answered any questions the students had. I love all the Italian kids, they're so friendly! One girl asked me if I went to Harry Potter world in Orlando and when I said yes she jumped out of her seat! In Italy, the students don't switch classes, the teachers switch classrooms. So next we had Physics, ugh I had no clue what the teacher was saying and it seemed really hard ): but the girl I was sitting next to wrote down the translations for all the swear words in Italian. hahahaha (: Once school was over I found Alberto and Elena took us home! I went into my house to drop my stuff off then I was going to go over Elena & Alberto's for lunch but I'm an idiot and couldn't figure out how to unlock the door to let myself out. I've been having lots of problems with the locks here, they use super old-fashioned keys! So I called Alberto and he came and helped me, he probably thinks I'm a total moron now... lol we had lunch and then my host mom got home from work and me and her went out to run some errands. She got her hair done and I waited and got my homework done, then we went to the grocery store, then picked up Nini from tennis, then Nini got her school books, then we picked up some super yummy Italian cookies and pastries from the pasticceria and came home. I'm excited but also still nervous for my second day of school tomorrow! ahhhh! Wish me luck! Buona notte! (:

Benvenuto Italia!

I'm finally in Villarbasse with my host family! Oh my gosh where to start.. so much has happened since the last time I posted! The orientation in NYC was pretty boring, I wrote a post that night in the hotel but I didn't have wifi to post it, so I'll post it now!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012 11:00 pm

So I’m sitting in my room in the Hilton Hotel after a loooong day of orientation! Me and my friend Lani who’s going to Spain drove here this morning from Ohio and left at 3 am! Thank goodness I slept the entire 9 hour car ride or I’d be dead. We got to the hotel and had lunch with my parents, it was a lot of fun. We had like 3 waiters and I’d ask one for ketchup and they’d all bring it to me, it was so funny. It’s weird when you see someone that you recognize from the group on facebook in person. I saw so many people that I messaged with on facebook about Italy but I didn’t wanna seem creepy so I’d be like uh hey I think I know you…. Hahaha most people are so much taller shorter younger or older in person! It’s crazy! Anyway, my parents took us to the check in center and we said our final goodbyes. No one cried because I still don’t think it felt real at that point. It just seems like I’m going on a short vacation I’m not actually leaving for 10 whole months. We were surprisingly early so we sat around for about 4 hours in the lobby with other exchange students until the orientation started. There are kids going to Spain, Italy, France, South Africa, Ghana, Egypt, Bosnia and Turkey. I’m pretty sure that’s all the countries! The group going to Italy is the biggest, I love our group everyone’s so nice and we understand what each other’s going through. Well the orientation part is suuuper booring but oh well that’s part of exchange! It’s making us more anxious and excited to finally leave!! Well that’s about everything.. um the rooms are super nice! There’s only 2 people per room and we’re paired up with someone going to the same country as us! Not gonna lie when I took a shower I cried a little bit thinking about how I’m not going to see my family and friends for 10 months. I’ve always been the girl that no one ever thinks will be homesick but it just hit me. I have no idea what my life is going to be like for the next 10 months. I mean I have a basic idea but I’m living with pretty much complete strangers… It’s crazy. But I didn’t cry too much because I didn’t want my roommate to hear.. hopefully the sound of the shower was louder! Sadly there’s no wifi so I can’t contact any of my family or friends or check the weather for Rome ): But our curfew was 10:30 and one of the AFS volunteers came around to check we were in our rooms so I asked her if she could check the weather and it’s going to be a high of 80 and sunny! (: She also said it’s the fig season in Italy so be sure to eat some fresh figs! I can’t wait, I feel like I’m going to be like Lizzie McGuire in Rome!

Me and Lani at the hotel in NYC!

Ready for my first flight! 

Flying over the Swiss Alps

All of the American AFSers going to Italy

 So the next day after this post ^^ we pretty much waited around all day until our flight left that night! I played poker and just hung out with a bunch of other AFSers. At the airport I had to pay $100 to bring the extra weight in my suitcase. Um the flight was about 8 hours and I watched a movie and slept for most of it, it actually went by really fast! We landed in Zurich and it was so hectic because we were late for our flight so we had to rush to make it! That flight was super short, only an hour! Once we arrived in Rome we had to sit and wait at the baggage claim foreverrrrr because a few girls suitcases was lost ): Italian people dress so much more stylish than American's! All of the guys kind of look gay because they dress so nice! and soo manyy people smoke! Anyway, then we took a bus ride to our hotel, as soon as we pulled up to the hotel a huge group of exchange students from all over the world greeted us and yelled "Welcome to Italy!!" it was so cool! We had to check in and put our luggage away, it was kind of stressful all the Italian volunteers were yelling and throwing papers at you. I got to my room who I shared with 2 other girls from the USA, I changed out of the ugly AFS t-shirts that we had to wear then went and meet exchange students from all over the world! It was unreal, everyone was so nice and friendly because they're going through the same experience! I met people from Denmark, Thailand, Finland, Japan, Belgium, Switzerland, Albania, Argentina and so many other countries. The food during orientation was pretty good but nothing close to the food my host family serves me!

First Italian meal in the hotel in Italy

Italian drivers and traffic is crazy!

First meal in Italy with kids from around the world! 

Italian breakfast

Italy is so beautiful

The second night of orientation we had a welcome ceremony. Every country was called out and then we'd stand up and cheer, it was awesome! It got me so pumped up for this next coming year. Then early the next morning I got up and left on at 8 hour train ride to Torino! There was a big group of students, probably about 30 dropped off at Torino. When we pulled up to the station, there was tons of host families holding up signs screaming and yelling for us, it was amazing. It took me a while to find my host family but when I did they hugged me and gave me a stuffed animal bull because that's the animal that represents Torino! The car ride to Villarbasse was about 20-30 minutes and it was a little bit awkward because I don't know really any Italian at all.. my family knows a little English but they spoke to each other in Italian and I was totally lost. Every now and then I can understand a few words and sentences. We got home and I love it, my host moms 2 sisters are our neighbors it's the classic huge Italian family! My host sister, Federica's boyfriend came over and we all had dinner together. Dinner in Italy is a long event, one course is brought out at a time and there is lots of conversation. No one is in a rush like in America, everyone's just there to enjoy each others company and eat some delicious food. My host dad is so funny and reminds me of my real dad! He looked up all these Eagles and Bee Gee's songs on youtube and was making me guess the names of them! lol oh and I'm definitely going to get fat.. First course was cantaloupe and prosciutto, there's 2 kinds of prosciutto in Italy, one that's cooked and one that's raw. We had the raw, salty kind, it was so yummy. The second course was lasagna, the 3rd was steak and tomatoes. Then for desert my host aunt made me a beautiful cake! The rest of the family came over for desert or stopped by to say hello. My one aunt and uncle have 2 sons: Alberto, 14 and Alessandro, 19 and Alberto's friend Georgio said hi too, then my other aunt and uncle also have 2 sons but they are much younger and I can't remember their names :/ Also my grandmother stopped by. It's just like how I imagined an Italian family to be like, they are so close-knit and live next door to each other! As a joke my aunt told me to recite all 50 states in alphabetical order but I actually learned a song in 3rd grade, so I sang it for them and they were amazed! lol After desert, I went to take a shower but I accidentally locked myself inside the bathroom and my host dad had to come and get me out. It was so funny, he was like "We're gonna loose you on the first day!" My family is so sweet they keep telling me that I should do whatever I want! They say it over and over again!

Rome

Getting on the train to Torino

Train ride

Unpacking my room!

All of the exchange students and their host families at the train station in Torino!

My host sisters and the cake my family made for me <3

Today, Federica was gone, she goes to college in Milan during the week and only comes home on the weekend. My host dad went to work and my younger sister, Nini went to her first day of school so it was just me and my host mom in the morning! We went to my school and I met my tutor she's so nice, I start school on Wednesday at 9 am! My cousin Alberto is going to the same school so we're going together! I'm excited but also super super nervous!! It's SO IRRITATING because I don't know any Italian and most of my family doesn't know English very well. I'm pretty sure they think I am just really quiet and shy because since I don't know what they're talking about half the time, I don't talk alot! It's soo annoying. I just want to be fluent already ): I start Italian lessons twice a week after school next week in Torino so hopefully that helps! Then today we went and got me some permit thingy to live here then checked out the city from the top of a mountain, bought some pane (bread) and pizza then picked up mio sorella (my sister) Nini from scuola secondare (middle school). We had pizza for lunch at it was delicious, much better than American pizza! It's served cold or room temperature and it's not greasy at all, I really like it! Now I'm just kind of relaxing in my room, I think I'm going to take a nap or do some Rosetta Stone. I'm exhausted from the past few days ):

Good-bye

It's finally here. I'm leaving the day after tomorrow for New York City. Wow I can't even get it through my mind that in 4 days I will be landing in Rome. It doesn't seem real at all. I've said my good-byes to almost everyone and it's weird to think that the next time I see them will be in July. I'm almost done packing, I have to finish today.  The weight limit for our main luggage is 44 pounds and mines already 50 pounds and I'm not even done.. so my parents decided that we're going to pay the extra $150 and I'll be able to bring 70 lbs instead. Thank you so much mom & dad, you made my life 10000 million times easier <3

My going away party with my friends was on Saturday night. It was a little crazy alot more people than I expected showed up and there was a rumor that someone brought alcohol to the party and called the cops so alot of my friends left early. Honestly that was a little rough for me, halfway through the party when people were leaving I started crying. It hurt me that someone would make up lies like that and people actually believed them because I didn't get to spend as much time with everyone as I wanted too. But oh well it's not the end of the world, I still had so much fun with everyone who stayed! Some people made me cards and got me presents, it was so sweet. One of my good friends Tyler made me a slideshow with pictures and my favorite songs, it was so thoughtful.  Everyone signed a poster board and reading all of the notes made me so thankful to have such amazing friends. I love you all and am going to miss you so much! Don't have too much fun in Ohio without me (;

Round 2 of parties was on Sunday and this one was much more relaxed. My family and family friends all came over for breadsticks and rigatoni. It was supposed to rain that day but it ended up being a beautiful day. I love my family so much and am really going to miss them. They've done so much for me to be able to go to Italy. It means so much to me <3 When my little 3 year old cousin yelled "Buon Viaggio Jacqueline!" out the window as they drove away my heart melted. It's going to be so weird not seeing everyone for 10 months but I know they'll be here for me when I get back.

The presents and cards from my family and friends and the signed poster board, thank you so much everyone! (:

The cake we got for my going away party with my family, I love it!

Putting Euro's in my walled makes everything seem so real.

Hopefully the next time I post, I will have landed safely in Rome! Arrivederci! (:

1 MORE WEEK!

HOLY CRAP 1 MORE WEEK UNTIL I LEAVE! Ahhhhhhhh this is my last week in the United States.. It sounds so weird just saying that. I'll be eating something or shopping at a store and I'll think what if this is the last time I go here or eat this for 10 months.. Part of me is kind of sad that I'm leaving. I'll be talking to one of my best friends on the phone and we'll be talking about homecoming or something and then I realize I'm not going to be here... ): But for the most part, I'm just plain excited! It doesn't even feel real, I feel like I'm dreaming. I've been counting down since like January and now there's only 1 more week left! In one week from now I'll be driving to New York City with my friend Lani who's going to Spain with AFS! In 2 weeks from now I'll be starting school in Italy! (:

I got my Visa in the mail the other day! Whoo hoo! (: Me and my family went to Detroit to the Italian consulate a few weeks ago, the lady there was so nice. It only took a few minutes, me and my parents just had to sign something and then we left and they mailed us the Visa! Easy peasy(;

At the Italian Consulate in Detroit!

I thought I finished level 1 of Rosetta Stone a long time ago and I'm halfway through level 2.. but it turns out I never finished level 1. I started freaking out because I thought I had to do all these extra "Reading and Listening" lessons so I could finish level 1. Another girl, Sara, also going to Italy messaged me and helped me figure out that all I had to do was redo the last milestone and pass it. Thank goodness for her or I'd be stuck doing a bunch of extra work! (:

Finally finished Level 1 of Rosetta Stone! THANK GOODNESS.

I started packing up some of my stuff. Basically I just made a huge pile of nearly everything in my closet and am going to try to shove it all in my suitcase (; haha I'm going to try and finish all my packing tomorrow! Wish me luck! (: I have one enormous suitcase, a smaller suitcase that'll be my carry-on and my laptop bag. I wanted all pink luggage so bad but I couldn't find any so I decided to decorate them instead! Hopefully people don't think I'm insane with my crazy fuzzy pink decorations on my suitcases.

I can fit inside my suitcase! It's seriously huge, anyone wanna hide in here? (;

Ta da! My newly decorated luggage, I feel like Legally Blonde (:

The next about 2 weeks is going to be SO MUCH FUN! <3 Here's what my schedule looks like:

Tomorrow - Finish packing and going out for ice cream with my friends

Friday - Lunch with my aunt & cousin then my high school's first home football game and a sleepover with my best friends

Saturday - My going away party with all my friends and another sleepover with my best friends (:

Sunday - My 2nd going away party with all my family and another sleepover with some friends

Monday - Finish packing do any last minute things before leaving!

Tuesday - My friend Lani, who's going to Spain with AFS, (link to her blog) is sleeping over

Wednesday - 4 am get up and drive to NYC with Lani and my parents, get to NYC and get dropped off at the hotel for the orientation with all the AFSers from the USA. We spend the night in the hotel (:

Thursday - Leave on the first flight to Zurich

Friday - Arrive in Zurich, Switzerland with a about a 2 hour layover in the airport then leave on the 2nd flight to ROME! We arrive in Rome the same day at 2 pm then spend a night there

Saturday - Orientation in Rome with all the kids from all over the world coming to Italy and we get to tour the city and spend another night there

Sunday - Take a 7 hour train ride to Turin to meet my host family!

I can't waittttttttttttt (: It's probably going to be one of the funnest weeks of my life! I can't wait for my going away party and to meet all the other AFSers and meet my host family!

The hotel we're staying at in Rome!

Hotel in ROME (:

Arrivederci! Hopefully the next time I post, I'll be in ITALY! Yayayayyay(:

Almost there

This summer has been a blast, I've been able to relax and just have fun with my friends except, it's gone by WAY too fast!! I can't believe that in less than a month I will be flying off from JFK in New York City and going to ITALY! It's crazy to think about. I'm so excited, I count down the days and can not wait to leave! Every now and then I feel a little tinge of sadness though, it's crazy to think that I'm not going to see any of my friends or family for 10 whole months but then I remember I'm going to Italy and get over my it real quickly (;

I've been messaging with my host family a lot and they're so nice, I can already tell I'm going to get along great with them! I'm truly lucky with my placement (: Tomorrow I'm going shopping and buying them presents sshhh I don't want them to find out (; hehe and this weekend I'm going to Detroit with my family to get my Visa! Whoop! I'm so thankful for my mom who has been doing pretty much all the paper work involved with getting my Visa. Let me tell you, the paperwork takes hours and hours.. I'm so lucky to have my mom! I'm picking up my transcripts from school tomorrow and will be withdrawing soon. It's going to be so weird when my friends start school on August 22nd and I'm just bumming around at home doing Rosetta Stone! Speaking of Rosetta Stone, I just finished Level 1 tonight which is the compulsory level that everyone has to complete for AFS. It's soooo booorring doing Rosetta Stone but in this last month here I'm going to try and get through at least Level 2 because I know it's going to help me so much once I get there! Mi non piace Rosetta Stone (;

Also, I got my school placement and I'll be attending "Charles Darwin Liceo". On the website it says that it is a Liceo Scientifico, Linguistic and Scienze Umane school. Basically from what I've been reading, in Italy there's many different types of high schools and each have a concentration on certain specific subjects. Scientifico concentrates on Science and Math, Linguistic concentrates on foreign languages and so on. I'm hoping that I'll be able to be in the Scientifico school because I'm thinking that Math & Science will be the easiest subjects to understand, hopefully... haha and it'll help when I'm transferring my credits over! Oh yeah and my host cousin Alberto, who's the same age as me, is going to the same school! (:

It's awesome how connected AFSers are with one another, I've gotten so many friend requests from AFSers who are going to Italy from all around the world. A girl from Costa Rica messaged me the other day and we found out when we go to Italy, our cities will only be 2 hours from each other! A boy from Hungary messaged me and a girl who's going to Spain next year asked for some advice. I just think it's so cool how AFS kids are so connected. Even now, a month before we're even leaving, we already understand what each others going through. I can't wait to meet so many people who have the same travel aspirations as me! I just know that orientation in NYC and the flights to Rome are going to be a blast! (:

Well that's all for now! 29 more days till I leave for NYC <3
Buona notte (goodnight)
Jacqueline!