Great news; I just returned from Venice. Bad news; I brought a nasty cold with me. It’s Friday and I’ve spent my day sleeping, taking meds, and drinking hot tea in front of the TV. I thought since I’ve had some down time, I would stay productive and give you all an update… I know, it’s been well overdue.
My last post was in January. At that point I had been here for four months and tomorrow marks my sixth. For all of you curious, my return date will be July 15th, 2014 at 4:00pm. I am more than excited to be home, yet I can’t imagine leaving my friends and host family behind. Good news is that the Seitz Farm house fits a lot, and I’ve invited them all. I’m sure it won’t be long until I get to share my life with those that have shared theirs.
Over the past two months, I’ve had 18th birthday party- one after the other. Oh wait.. maybe I should mention my own 19th first...
On February 1st, 2014 I had a birthday party I will never forget. What I thought was going to be a fun dinner with my best girl friends, turned into a full-blown surprise birthday party. I showed up to all my closest friends with food, dance, cake, and everything else I could imagine. It would't have happened without my amazing host sister and mother. They are the most wonderful women ever. My mom made a delicious decorated cake, and my sister planned everything so it was perfect. My host family is so generous. I am ever so grateful to be spending my time here with such a great family.
During my birthday week, I also ate dinner with both my host families, and we can't forget the dog, Rocco. It was so nice to be together with all of them, and even more special to catch up with my old host family. I have spent time with them since I've switched; visited Aurora and having tea time and enjoying dinner with them like it used to be. I am so happy I still get to see them so often.
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| From left to right: Ilaria (current host mom), Rocco (host dog), Giorgia (current host sister), myself, Lorenzo (first host brother), Aurora (first host sister), and Anna Maria (first host mother) |
After celebrating birthday after birthday, I’ve learned all the Italian dances and taught a few of our American ways to celebrate. The parties are full of great food, wine, cake, desserts, friends, and lots and lots of dancing. By the end of the night my feet are on fire, I my bed never feels better than after a long night of dancing.
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| 18th Birthday Party with friends from Tivoli |
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| Rotary friends at an 18th Birthday Party (Selena, Fernanda, myself, Becca**missing) |
My host sister’s, Giorgia, is in April, and I’m very sad that I won’t be able to go to hers.I have been helping her prepare by helping her pick her dress, decide on the cake, and I really wanted to do her hair and makeup like I would with Riley and Zoe, but I won’t be able to, because I will be out of the country.
Unfortunately and very fortunately I will return to Israel for a Rotary Peace Conference with students all over the world. I am very excited to return, to what I call a this point, my favorite country. I hope to visit friends that I had met during my first visit and also go to the beach, which I was unable to do the last time.
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| Time to go back to The Holy Land |
I will be staying with a host family the first couple days, and then after I will stay in a resort like area with the other exchange students who will participate. I am so happy to be going and look forward to what I will learn, see, and who I will meet when I am there.
Aside from going to Israel, like I wrote above, I have just returned from a three-day trip in Venice. It was such a unique and beautiful city- nothing like I’ve ever seen before. I took the train with my friend, Selena, as well as her Rotary tutor, Marina, and Marina’s daughter, Francesca. They were the best companions to travel with. It was so nice.
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| Gondola: 80euro for 40 minutes.. no thank you, maybe another day. For now I'll just enjoy the view. |
The first two days we spent while there were the last two days of the festival, Carnevale. It is a huge month-long event in Italy with particular costumes, masks, and even desserts and treats. It was so wonderful seeing all the costumes, and of course I had to buy a mask or two of my own.
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| Beautiful girl dressed in spectacular costumes. |
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| Dressed in my own mask |
They were experiencing high tide the first day we spent on the main island. The water rose over a half a foot over most of the island which mean’t for chaos a lots of tourists buying funny looking rain sacks to put over their feet. Luckily for us, the hotel let us borrow the ones they had for their guests. When we were in San Marco the water rose past our boots and our feet were soaked by the time we got back home.
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| Example of high tide. |
Aside from walking all around the main island, we also took the water taxis to the nearby islands, Murano, Burano, and Torcello. Murano is the island famous for it’s glass blowing. We were able to see exactly how they do that. It was amazing to watch the men who have been doing it for years and years and how well they were able to make the forms. It is quite an amazing art.
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| Perfect timing with the sunset at the water taxi station. |
Our hotel was on the long island of Lido. It is known for the beach coastline, that I unfortunately wasn’t able to experience, because it wasn’t quite warm enough. It was very nice, because it was a nice getaway from from the main island of Venice. The streets were less filled and much more quite.
It was a few days filled with lots of walking, sight seeing, and awe-struken beauty. Unfortunately while I was there I caught a bug. I tried to ignore it hoping it would pass, but that doesn’t always work. I hope sleeping in my own bed and medications will do the trick.
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| Photo from the top of the bell tower on S. Giorgio Maggiore island. |
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| The Peggy Guggenheim Gallery // I now hope to become her, someday. |
I’ve been missing quite a bit of class while I have been traveling and visiting Rome. I don’t mind missing class, but I miss my classmates so much when I am gone. I have made great friends with a few of my classmates. They are so funny and nice, it’s always nice to return to class when they are there. I hope they will come to visit me in Minnesota.
Our class as well as my old one has a trip planned to Lisbona at the end of March. I am so excited to travel with them! I can’t wait to visit Portugal as well. It’s always nice where the weather’s warmer.
In the next week or two I will have a few friends in Rome. I hope I will be able to see some familiar faces from the states and show them around Rome like a pro.
The end of April or beginning May, I hope Mom and Dad will come to visit me. They need to buy their tickets still… (hint, hint) and Riley and Adam will go around Europe and hit Italy at the end or beginning of their trip.
Zoe recently sent me a couple letters leaving tears in my eyes. I miss her so much and can’t wait to see her as long as everyone else when I get home.
180 days since I’ve been here and 130 days to go. It’s crazy to think of all that I have done since being here, yet I have so much more to see. The 180 days that I have been here have flown by and I know the rest of the days I have here in Europe are going to go even faster. Before I know it, I’ll be landing at MSP where I hope to see no snow on the group and above zero temps. If not, I may have to stay here until it goes away.
Much love to all of you, no matter where you are in the world. I love each and everyone of you just as much.
X’s and O’s,
F.
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| Sharing my smile with all of you <3 |
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