It’s been a month and some since I’ve last wrote and as always, I haven’t done a thing… (kidding) Memories have been made with new friends and family: Christmas, the New Year, trip to Naples, change of family, and change of school. Best/worst of all- I will hit the four month mark tomorrow (as long as a crazy Italian, driving a Fiat, doesn’t run me over).
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| Enjoying the festive lights above Via del Corso. |
Christmas!!!!!!!#$%!!asdfghjk****#(@#!!!
Apparently I have been nice this year, because Babbo Natale (Santa) treated me well (and I don't just mean with gifts).
Christmas Eve my family and I went to my grandparents' house in Rome. We ate dinner there with the rest of the relatives. There were about 15 of us plus a dog surrounded around the dinner table eating plate after plate of fish, salad, pasta, and sweets and drinking lots of fizzy water and wine. Although I missed my family back in Castle Rock greatly, I was so excited to experience a new way to spend the holiday. Although it is very similar, there are a few things that are different in how my host family/Italians spend Christmas.
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| The best american exchange students around. |
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| Taken only moments before I went ice skating and ripped my jeans and bruised every joint in my body. Who would have known after 10+ years of skating I could look like a fool on the ice. As I hypothesized in my previous post... the skates were indeed plastic boots strapped on hunks of recycled metal. |
On Christmas Eve they do not eat meat. My brother begged and begged for a piece of prosciutto all day, but my grandma wouldn’t give in. I don’t think this is solely an Italian tradition, but more so a Catholic sacrament. Other particular food I ate was pandoro, panettone, and torrone. Pandoro and panettone are typical cakes eaten during Christmas and New Years. They are very similar to Angel Food Cake. Pandoro is put in a bag with powdered sugar then shaken up, and panettone does’t usually have powdered sugar but instead and nuts, fruit, or chocolate inside. Torrone is a type of nougat or chocolate bar filled with nuts. It is addictive and delicious and might be the answer to why my jeans have been a feeling a little tighter. Who knows? All I know is that one suitcase is going to be filled with torrone morbido.
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| This is heavan,.. or otherwise known as Torrone. |
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| Pandoro and Panettone |
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| Lorenzo as a gladiator with the packaging of Pandoro on his head. |
In Italy, families open gifts on Christmas Eve. Babbo Natale brings all the kids their presents at midnight. While they preoccupied tearing open their new toys the families exchange small gifts with each other. Everyone opens the gifts at the same time, and then kisses are given. It’s all done pretty quickly and after opening presents I went to church with my grandma. I love going to church here, because it is the exact same as back home (minus the language part.)
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| Lorenzo and Aurora walking through Tivoli on Christmas. |
In the evening I went to my Rotary Club President’s house. I brought them wine from Israel, and I ate some of their Christmas sweets. I ended up going to a movie with him and his daughter. It was a perfect end to my Christmas, but it made me miss my papa!
Capo d’Anno (otherwise known as New Years)
I spent New Years Eve with my classmates from school. We ate way too much food as always, danced, sang karaoke, played video games, and watched the fireworks from all over Rome. I went to bed at five in the morning, so I’d say it’s safe to say I had a good time.
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| To a new year and many more memories to make while abroad. |
The next morning I went to my grandparent’s house in Rome for lunch with the family and relatives. We ate and I slept as the family played a round of cards.
Napoli: Where Stoplights Are Always Read As Green and STOP means GO
Before I had to leave my beloved host family they decided to take me on a small trip to Naples. We packed the car and made our two hour trek to the coast and one-of-a-kind city. The whole time we were there it was rainy, but we didn’t let that stop us. We visited a city ruined by Mt. Vesuvius. It was similar to Pompeii, but smaller. We also went to the top of a castle where we were able to see a 360 degree view of Napoli. It was breathtaking- seeing the ocean, the volcano, and the city all in one panorama.
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The next day we took a tour of Napoli underground. I was able to see over 2,000 years of history from Greecian, to Roman, and Medieval architecture. We walked all around the city as well, visiting beautiful churches, testing all the local sweets and pizza. It’s safe to say that the food is safe to eat. I tried it all.
Why Did I Ever Think It Was a Good Idea to Pack More Than One Bag……………………..??? uuuufffdaaaaa
The day after returning from our trip it was time to say goodbye. My bags were packed and I was ready for a new adventure. It was a rainy day, but my spirits were still high. I was sad to have to say goodbye to my family, but I know I will see them often (considering I’m a five minute walk away). I was more excited for a little change and excitement in my life. I am now living with my new host mother (Ilaria), my host father (Guiliano), and my host wonderful host sister (Giorgia). Their house is gorgeous and reminds me a little bit of home. It is filled with lovely carpets, my host dad’s golf trophies, and lots of delicious treats. It’s warm and cozy and the perfect fit for me.
My host mom is a exquisite cook and every meal is delicious. Giorgia is seventeen and the best host sister ever. She has been so helpful, warming, and opening to having a new sister taking over her bathroom space. I am very lucky. We are closer in age which is nice, because we have more in common. My dad loves sports. He will leave in a couple days for Africa where he is going wind surfing! So cool!!! I hope I’ll get to learn this summer. He also plays golf, and I played with my parent’s the morning after I arrived. It was so nice to be back on the course. While it was -20 degrees in Minnesota, it was 60 degrees while we were golfing. Nonetheless, I am very happy to be living with my new host family. I couldn’t ask for a better host family.
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| 60 degrees and sunny. |
Today was my first day back to school since break. I am now in a new class for the remainder of the year. The principle thought it would be a good idea to be able to meet more students, and I agreed. My new class and teachers are wonderful and extremely helpful. They gave me a warm welcome, and my teachers are very patient with me. For one hour my Latin/Italian teacher taught me what she thought was the most important lesson of the Italian language. She was very helpful and I leaned so much in that one hour. I am happy to be in a new class, because the change is nice, but I miss my old class and make sure to visit them during my break.
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| Teaching English slang while learning the Italian equivalent. |
xo,
F.
