A Place to Call My Home // I'm Loving The Life I'm Living

It's becoming difficult to talk about what goes on during the week, because I've fallen into routine. My life in Tivoli is by no means a vacation. The town is no longer an unfamiliar place. I walk on the cobblestone streets every single day. I know exactly where to place my feet so the stones wobble and click harmoniously. I know where not to step in order to avoid the dog shit that's been on the sidewalk for a week. Friends will honk and wave from their cars while I'm on my run. I've developed my niche here. 

Tivoli has become my home. And I love it.

In order to keep this interesting for both you and I, I try to pack as much fun filled events into my short weekends as possible. This past weekend will definitely be one to remember. 

Saturday afternoon I walked home from school with pepper in my pants, because I was headed to Rome to see my fellow Americans. I arrived at home, ate my lunch, and packed my bags. Around 3:00 my mom and I hopped into the car and headed west. She drove me to the edge of Rome to the metro stop, Bologna. This was a liberating moment for me, because it was the first time I was going to 1. Take the metro and 2. I was doing it alone! I was beyond excited to have the trust of my host parents. (I'm slowing gaining independence.) I bought my biglietto (ticket) and headed towards The Colosseum where I was meeting Selena and Becca (my fellow Americans). When I arrived they were there to greet me with hugs, and immediately all three of us were smiling from ear to ear. 

Becca (Florida), Selena (Washington), and myself

Exchange students have an unexplainable bond. We relate very well since we are all going through the same experience at the same time. Usually when one exchanger is telling a story about their experience, all the others have extremely similar events that happened to them; if not the same. It's great to talk to other people going through the same things, because it reassures me that I wasn't completely crazy when I decided to hop on a plane and move in with a family I've never met. (I'm only slightly crazy.)

Now back to my weekend:

After Selena, Becca, and I met up we decided to go to the mall near their neighborhood. We hopped back on the metro to end of the route. From there we took the bus to the mall. While in route a drunk Italian man happened to get on and sit right next to me. He yelled and flailed his arms around for the remaining ten minutes. If there's one thing I've lost since being here, it's personal space. Although I miss it, I've definitely gotten used to having none. 

Finally, we got off the bus and went into the mall. We looked around, ate gelato, and stared at all the things we wish we could afford. I didn't buy anything, because I was carrying a heavy backpack and purse with me the whole time. I knew if I had to carry another bag I was going to fall to the floor. 

I think she's my long lost sister.

We decided to head home when it started to get dark. We got back on the bus and headed towards their town of Casal Polocco where dinner was waiting for us. Our meal was great with Selena's family. It was nice to have a little change for a night and see how her host family related to mine. They were very warm and welcoming. I was happy to be in their company. After dinner, we helped clean up, then put on our pajamas. We spent the rest of the night watching Youtube videos, eating pretzel m&m's, and drinking tea (like any other teenage girls). We ended the night by starting a movie, but I'm almost certain I fell asleep before it started. It was the perfect night, and it was our best version of the American sleepover. 

The next morning we woke up early, showered, and ate breakfast before we left the house. They showed me around their town square while we waited for the bus. When it arrived we headed back to the metro station where we took the metro to The Vatican. We were sure that we were going to be able to see the Pope, but when we got there we weren't permitted to enter. Too many people had the same idea we did, so instead, we wandered around the unfamiliar streets. We walked by a market, found a beautiful piazza, and ate the remaining m&m's on a bench there. A little while later, we started making our way towards the center of Rome. We stopped at a beautiful gothic church on the way and sat in for mass. Moments before communion began we noticed a man that had come in and quickly left. We turned around to see where he went and Becca noticed her purse that was right beside her was gone. We quickly left the service and by the time we made it outside, he was gone. We were shocked and couldn't believe what had just happened. There wasn't much we could do to get the bag back, so we continued making our way to the center. We stopped at a museum and looked at their Impressionism exhibition. It a was spectacular show with works by Degas, Van Gogh, and Seurat; only to name a few.

The Museum

This describes all of our personalities perfectly.

We finally made it to the center by lunchtime. We grabbed food at a market and carried it to the Spanish Steps where we relaxed and refueled ourselves while people watching. From there we walked along Via del Corso with all the amazing shops and I found a few of my favorites that I'll definitely have to head back to. We made our way to Piazza Venezia and hopped on a bus to find a popular gelato shop nearby that friends had told me about called Sweety. It's self serve like the yogurt bars we have in the States. We decided to try it out and I'm glad we did. It was delicious and better than anything I've had back home. Gelato just doesn't compare to ice cream or frozen yogurt. By the time we finished our gelato and it was time to head home. We made our way back to The Colosseum and said out goodbyes at the metro. They went back to Casal Polocco and I headed the opposite direction to meet my host dad at the edge of the city. 

On the way home I went through all the pictures I had take from the two days. We had so much fun, and although it was a quick visit, it was one to remember. I can't wait for the next time, and hope they'll come visit me in Tivoli. It's crazy to think that I've only met Selena and Becca twice before, but it feels like I've known them a lifetime. No matter where we are in the world the moment we reunite it will feel as though we were never gone. Those are the most important relationships to me. It's truly amazing what kind of connections you can make around the world. 

I'm finally realizing it truly is a small world after all.

I mean, I had to take a selfie on the Spanish Steps...

Gorgeous frescos  

Beautiful street I take on my run.

Miei Amici // Mia Zia e Miei Cugine // Roma

I've had a few people worried, because I didn't post last weekend. Don't fret, I've been busy and enjoying my life here. Two weeks fly by and before I know it I'm looking back at the memories I've created with great friends and my host family. My Italian is getting so much better. Communicating is becoming easier, and my friends continue to tell me how good I've gotten at speaking their tongue. I love when they tell me week after week I keep getting better. I speak more, and sometimes surprise them when I actually know what's going on. Honestly, I surprise myself more than anyone knows. 

A couple Saturday's ago I went shopping with some friends. After school I took the bus home with my friend Lucilla. Lucilla went on exchange last year to Colorado so she speaks English with me. She showed me all her things from back in the States. I loved to see her family and see all the places she was able to visit. Although it made me miss home a little bit, I loved to see her glow and she showed me pictures of her host family. I bond with her, because she understands everything I go through while on exchange. We ate lunch at her house and played Just Dance afterwards. When more friends arrived we left and headed to go shopping. We met more friends at the mall, and before I knew it there was about ten of us. That didn't stop me from shopping! I bought a few things: sweatshirt, flannel, hat, knit sweater, and the complete series of Lord of The Ring shoved into one big book. I love it! Lucilla also gave me one of her books. It's Oscar Wilde's, The Ghost of Canterville. One side is in English and the other is in Italian. It takes me a long time to get through one page, but it's perfect with helping me learn how to read Italian. I've been reading it during school to keep me occupied. 

At H&M with my girl friends. Being silly with our animal hats and mittens!

After a day of shopping I got home around dinner time and quickly changed to go to dinner with my parents and Aurora. We went to a friends house who lives in Tivoli's center. We are a delicious meal that reminded me of Thanksgiving. There were multiple courses, wine and champagne, and amazing desserts afterwards. I was in heaven and felt a little bit at home. Although I thought my stomach was going to explode, I couldn't stop eating the delicious cheeses and meats. I was in heaven. I went to sleep that night knowing I'd be full until I went to bed the following day. 

Last week I went out with friends after school. We hung out around town, ate pizza, and had drinks. We were able to stay out later, because we didn't have school the next day. I had a blast, and it was nice to get out on the weekday. It doesn't happen very often, so I enjoyed every minute I had out with my friends. 

The next morning I slept in until 11:00. I had a small breakfast and coffee, then at noon my brother and I walked to Nonna's for lunch and cards. We ate pasta (of course) and it was delicious (obviously). Afterwards Nonna and Lorenzo taught me how to play Italian card games. It was a challenge to learn and explain the rules in a different language, but Lorenzo and I succeeded. I learned how to play and I loved the new games I learned. Nonna's friend came for a visit and we left several minutes after she arrived.

On the walk home Lorenzo and I talked about our favorite season. We both said that we don't have a favorite season, but they are all unique for their own reasons. I told him I miss fall, because the weather is perfect and I miss the apple and pumpkins and Halloween and the leaves changing. He said he loved summer because he goes the ocean. I explained how our equivalent to the ocean are our lakes. I enjoyed telling him a little bit about home.

This view never gets old. And I'm going to capture it as often as possible.

The rest of the week flew by, because I knew by the end of it I was going to be in Rome! On Saturday, I woke up early in the morning and my host mom and I drove into the city. She dropped me off at I hotel on the edge of Rome and from there I took a taxi to Trastevere where Marissa apartment is. When I arrived, Anna was waiting for me outside. I was so excited I couldn't believe she was there. I celebrating in her arms and we screamed like little girls. I think the taxi driver got a kick out of us, because he watched until we went inside. Although it hasn't even been two months that I've been away from family, emotionally it feels like a lifetime. Seeing Marissa, Anna, and Julie was exactly what I needed when I was feeling homesick for the first time in Tivoli.

Around noon we left the apartment, grabbed a quick breakfast across the street, and then hopped on a tram that brought us to the center of Rome. I was able to see the Capitol, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, The Colosseum, and many more sites. We took a tour through ruins that were found buried under a basement. It was a great way to learn about the history of Rome. There is so much history buried beneath it's surface. It's was amazing!

Trevi Fountain (above) // Pantheon (below)

Piazza Navona

Trajan's Column // I was able to learn about the inscriptions that wrap around the stone. I also had the closet view.

Threw my coin in, made my wish, and one day... I will return!

The Colosseum 

We got gelato and walked around some more to different sites, markets, and piazza's. When it was getting dark we sat down in an Irish pub and had snacks and drinks then took the tram back to Marissa's. The rest of the night we drank wine, played cards, and ate Grandma Margaret's homemade pretzels. It was a perfect, laid-back night.

The next morning we slowly woke up and went to the market in Trastevere. It had everything and anything you could imagine; for cheap. I bargained with some men and bought a Pashmina scarf. For lunch we ate delicious lamb kebabs. They are the Italian equivalency to American Chipotle burritos. You can put what ever you want inside, and they are the size of a small baby. 

After lunch we took a tram towards the center of Rome. We bought some more gelato and found a great art market. There was a lot of amazing jewelry by wonderful artists, and I couldn't stop myself from buying a few pieces. I would share a photo, but they are going to become the perfect gifts for family and friends. I can not wait to share!

We returned to the apartment late afternoon and just relaxed on the couch and enjoyed the last couple hours together. While Marissa studied, Anna, Julie, and I walked to a nearby cafe and bought drinks and relaxed. When it was time to go, I grabbed my things from the apartment, said my goodbyes, and grabbed a taxi. It was bittersweet, but I was very lucky to be able to spend time with family. I am very fortunate for all my families, blood and host. With out them, I wouldn't be able to do the things I have. I am blessed for the people in my life. 

Lucky shot // I think he needs a few teeth whitened... I hope you laugh as hard as I did!

I am forever grateful.

xo.

Sometimes It All Feels Like A Dream...

There are times in my day when I dream, and there are times when I think I'm in one.

The night before I left home my sisters gave me a gift. It was a watch, but not your ordinary time teller. It has no face and tells no time. Instead, it's a reminder to live in the moment. Every time I look at it I pause and look around. I think about how I got to where I am and remember how fortunate I am to be in such a magnificent place. I love the life I am living and wouldn't want it any other way...

...well maybe with big bowl of Grandma Elaine's Chicken Dumpling Soup and a loaf of Grandma Margaret's Zucchini Bread, but that's in my dreams and this is reality.

This week was great and this is why...

1. On Monday Lorenzo found a stray kitten near school. He brought it home and put it on the roof. Don't worry, we fed it and gave it a box so it wasn't completely inhumane. The number of stray cats in Tivoli is equivalent to the amount of dog shit on the sidewalk. If I don't see at least ten cats or step in doggy doodoo on my way to school, I'm not starting my day off right. If anything we were doing the cat a favor.

The little kitty turned out to be healthy after a traumatic visit to the vet. We brought it back home and this time it was able to stay inside the house.

Minu loves her new home. We spoiled her with cats toys and she loves to snuggle with me and stay warm. 

2. On Friday I got Netflix and Hulu to work on my computer. It sounds ridiculous and you're probably wondering why it was a highlight of my week. Truly, only other exchangers would understand what I'm talking about. The important thing to know is that it was exciting as opening presents on Christmas morning.

3. Saturday I was supposed to go to Rome to visit Marissa, but unfortunately the weather didn't want to cooperate and I wasn't able to go:( I was disappointed to say the least, but instead I was able to go out with friends in Tivoli. We hung out around town and for dinner we ate paninis'. They were delicious. I had so much fun with everyone and I can't wait for next time!

3. Sunday was the party for my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. It was a big celebration with the family and big lunch. I also went to my first church service. Mass was the exact same as back home, except everything was in Italian. I was able to understand it all besides the language, but knew the equivalent in English. It was wonderful. By the end of the day I was so full. It was more like breakfast, lunch, and dinner for our one meal. 

That's all for now, but I can't wait for more exciting events to come!

xo

F.