FINALLY HERE!
hello! sorry for not updating very often, my laptops internet is not working here. I think it will be fixed soon. I could not possibly write everything I have to say about this past week but I will try!
When we got to Rome, we met up with other students from Argentina, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Germany, Austrailia, Nicerwagwa, (sp?), Paurugway (sp?), Chile, and more! It was amazing to finally be in Italy and to get to know all these different people. And now I have places to stay when I go and visit these places! ;) The hotel we stayed at was just outside th city and had goregous views. In Rome we had a few meetings with AFS Italy volunteers, but we mostly just hang out and got to know one another. It felt great to be there despite the fact I was exhausted. Since we knew we didnt have much time together we stayed up pretty late talking, sharing music, ect. Its crazy how many different types of people there are in the world and prior to just this one experience I thought I was picky about who I let myself get along with. But turns out you can be best friends with someone who is totally different than you, although I might have known that was possible its an amazing feeling to expierence it.
After the orientation in Rome, we grouped up with other students going to the same area as us in Italy and took a train to our host families. I was sooo nervous! I had to wake up at 6 and leave the hotel at 7:30. The whole train ride I was pretty much freaking out.
I was the first person off the train in Rovigo, and someone came running at me with a sign and following her was a bunch of other people! It was crazy, I felt like I was in a weird dream. I was shaking!!! My host mother and father and sister ans brother were all there, and two other students in Italy with AFSs and some others They gave me flowers and had signs and spoke in all Italian. I felt like crying because I was so happy and tired and they were all so nice!!! I couldnt understand a word though, and no one understood me. We went to a cafe all together and I got hot chocolate which was super thick and delicioussss. After that my family and I went to a grocery store and got some food for dinner and I picked out some stuff for breakfast. It was about noon, and for the rest of the day I was choking back tears...I could not and still cant believe how welcoming these people are. The fact that a family would welcome me into their home as one of their own literally warms my heart...cheesy as that sounds..hahahah but no seriously I didnt realize how amazing that would feel. <They are so patient and work really hard to help me understand. We got to the house and other family members were there, we all had lunch together. No one speaks English. The first two days I felt a mix of being so happy to be here and so frustrated with the launguage barrier. I didnt realize how challanging it would be, but it just makes me want to learn faster. I arrived on Sunday, and went to school the following Tuesday.My first day was crazy. They had welcome signs in the classroom, and I went to an english class and talked about myself and America. Italians are so funny, they are blown away by the fact that our milk comes in gallon sizes and that we eat big breakfasts such as eggs and bacon. They also dont understand the idea of prom or homecoming, because in Italy schools dont organize such events. Instead there are discos, or clubs. and for sports they have clubs that are not associated with school. For an example, I do atletica here, which is like track but it isnt a team...its a club. And they do it outside in the winter and at night so its SO COLD!!! Everone was asking me a million questions and they were so curious and nice!! The school system is very different, the students have more power over what they learn and stuff. Also, the teachers go from class to class while the students are in the same class for 5 years, with the same people. So each class is very close. My friends in school dont speak any english, but they are teaching me italian and we use translaters and dictionaries in every conversation...hhahaha. They are so curious about mdi and want to come visit in the summer.
Another thing that blows my mind is how many people smoke here!!!! its like a normal thing, kids my age and younger smoke before school, after school, during school breaks...ect. Its crazy.I must go now but I will update more later!! Ciaoooooo
When we got to Rome, we met up with other students from Argentina, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Germany, Austrailia, Nicerwagwa, (sp?), Paurugway (sp?), Chile, and more! It was amazing to finally be in Italy and to get to know all these different people. And now I have places to stay when I go and visit these places! ;) The hotel we stayed at was just outside th city and had goregous views. In Rome we had a few meetings with AFS Italy volunteers, but we mostly just hang out and got to know one another. It felt great to be there despite the fact I was exhausted. Since we knew we didnt have much time together we stayed up pretty late talking, sharing music, ect. Its crazy how many different types of people there are in the world and prior to just this one experience I thought I was picky about who I let myself get along with. But turns out you can be best friends with someone who is totally different than you, although I might have known that was possible its an amazing feeling to expierence it.
After the orientation in Rome, we grouped up with other students going to the same area as us in Italy and took a train to our host families. I was sooo nervous! I had to wake up at 6 and leave the hotel at 7:30. The whole train ride I was pretty much freaking out.
I was the first person off the train in Rovigo, and someone came running at me with a sign and following her was a bunch of other people! It was crazy, I felt like I was in a weird dream. I was shaking!!! My host mother and father and sister ans brother were all there, and two other students in Italy with AFSs and some others They gave me flowers and had signs and spoke in all Italian. I felt like crying because I was so happy and tired and they were all so nice!!! I couldnt understand a word though, and no one understood me. We went to a cafe all together and I got hot chocolate which was super thick and delicioussss. After that my family and I went to a grocery store and got some food for dinner and I picked out some stuff for breakfast. It was about noon, and for the rest of the day I was choking back tears...I could not and still cant believe how welcoming these people are. The fact that a family would welcome me into their home as one of their own literally warms my heart...cheesy as that sounds..hahahah but no seriously I didnt realize how amazing that would feel. <They are so patient and work really hard to help me understand. We got to the house and other family members were there, we all had lunch together. No one speaks English. The first two days I felt a mix of being so happy to be here and so frustrated with the launguage barrier. I didnt realize how challanging it would be, but it just makes me want to learn faster. I arrived on Sunday, and went to school the following Tuesday.My first day was crazy. They had welcome signs in the classroom, and I went to an english class and talked about myself and America. Italians are so funny, they are blown away by the fact that our milk comes in gallon sizes and that we eat big breakfasts such as eggs and bacon. They also dont understand the idea of prom or homecoming, because in Italy schools dont organize such events. Instead there are discos, or clubs. and for sports they have clubs that are not associated with school. For an example, I do atletica here, which is like track but it isnt a team...its a club. And they do it outside in the winter and at night so its SO COLD!!! Everone was asking me a million questions and they were so curious and nice!! The school system is very different, the students have more power over what they learn and stuff. Also, the teachers go from class to class while the students are in the same class for 5 years, with the same people. So each class is very close. My friends in school dont speak any english, but they are teaching me italian and we use translaters and dictionaries in every conversation...hhahaha. They are so curious about mdi and want to come visit in the summer.
Another thing that blows my mind is how many people smoke here!!!! its like a normal thing, kids my age and younger smoke before school, after school, during school breaks...ect. Its crazy.I must go now but I will update more later!! Ciaoooooo
This is an amazing description, felt like I was there with you. Please keep posting, you are a great writer. I wish you the most wonderful beginning, middle and end of your AFS experience.
ReplyDeleteWow i love taking this trip with you!
ReplyDelete