Hey everyone! I know it's been a long time since I've updated...sorry about that! I just never know exactly what to write. So I guess I'll just write about what I've been up to. I think the last time I blogged was when it was halfway through my time here, well now there's only 2 months left. I get so excited when I think about getting home and seeing my family and friends, but I also feel like crying when I think about saying goodbye to everyone here.
It's hot here, summer weather for us in Maine! And we thought the weather was bipoler where we live, but here it's even more. There will be thunder showers one second and then the sun comes out! I remember I was in Venice the other day and it was sunny and hot, I went into a bar for like two seconds, came out and it was raining!
It's hot here, summer weather for us in Maine! And we thought the weather was bipoler where we live, but here it's even more. There will be thunder showers one second and then the sun comes out! I remember I was in Venice the other day and it was sunny and hot, I went into a bar for like two seconds, came out and it was raining!
When I was in Venice I went with some other students who are living in the area with Intercultura. We went to Lido beach, which is like a 20 minute boat ride from Venice. It was so nice! We went swimming and yes, in Northern Italy the sea is as cold as in Maine.
I went to Venice twice that week actually, because we didn't have school one day and then I went the Sunday after that. Both days were hot and sunny so it was nice to take advantage of the good weather! I was expected there to be a lot less people than when I first went in February for Carnival, but that wasn't the case. There were a million tourists both days which I guess wasn't that surprising!
Both days were a lot of fun and I finally feel totally confident getting around myself. I remember in the beginning I would get nervous the second I arrived at the train station to go somewhere! I couldn't even get the tickets myself and the whole time on the train I didn't know where I was allowed to go or where to get off! I'd panic the whole time...and I really didn't think I'd ever figure out how the whole train thing even works. It seemed totally impossible. I'm proud to say now I'm completely capable! Maybe it seems like a stupid accomplishment to some people, but personally I think it's pretty satisfying to be able to navigate independently in a foreign country with a foreign language.
My 17th birthday was May 3rd, and my friends threw me a surprise party at a disco in our town. I was blindfolded the whole time in the car and until I was actually inside the place, I had no idea who was there or where we were! It was really nice of them and a lot of fun. :) I felt a little homesick on my actual birthday because I've never been away from my friends and family for it, but when I got to school the classroom was decorated and my class gave me a present and it was really sweet; the homesickness wore off quickly.
Last night was my friend Anna's birthday party, which was also fun! I'm so happy I can actually have conversations with people with little struggle, and every time someone says "you've learned Italian so well!" it makes me SO happy. I personally think for 3 months I should know more...I'm not completely fluent and that really frustrates me because I'm so close. It's like something just has to click now. When I'm with my Italian tutor we don't even do exercises anymore, we just have conversation! I understand how to talk the hard part is just the vocabulary, people often have to explain things to me because I don't know the name for it. I think the hardest part is just knowing by the time I'm fluent, my 5.5 months here will be over. For this I wish I was here for a year.
School is almost over...thank god! I'm not gonna lie I had a pretty terrible experience with school here. I haven't done a single thing, and I basically just sit there. Sometimes I draw or something. It's really boring, and I would much rather do school work or study something. My Italian tutor said the next time there's a student in Rovigo with Intercultura they won't put them in the school I'm in because it hasn't been a very good experience. But it's okay, now I just realize how incredibly lucky to have the school we do back in the US! I'm really loving it here regardless, and there's so much I miss already. It's all the little things too. Like almost missing every train; but running enough to make it every time, the cobblestone streets, Piazzas, having a bar on every single corner, the coffee, the buildings, the church bells, casually meeting in Venice, the heat & humidity, speaking the language and rolling R's, and I could go on and on. Tonight is my birthday dinner with my family so I have to go! I'll write again soon! ❤
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