Last week I returned to Venice to visit my friend from Germany. We spent the week either relaxing or going to see things in the area. One day we met with the students who are going on exchange next year. The next day we went to Venice and I got to see Saint Mark's Square in more detail. We toured the Palazzo Ducale (and the Bridge of Sighs), the Basilica, and we went to the top of the bell tower. Unfortunately, it was raining so the view wasn't optimal, but it was still beautiful! When the weather got nice we went to Jesolo, where there's the beach and a water park. For most of the day we were at the water park (which was luckily not crowded at all) and after that we caught the end of the USA world cup game.
On my last day we went to see Venice for the last time but it was raining really hard so we didn't get to see much. However, my American friend that I haven't seen since the day we arrived in Italy came with us so we got to catch up. Since then, I've been relaxing at home and every so often going out with friends. It's been abnormally cold up until yesterday so I haven't been able to go to the beach or in the pool, but this week hopefully the weather will be nice enough and I'll have a good last two weeks.
See you all soon!
A Italia!
The flag in the bottom right is where I am!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Parma and AFS Camp
So a few weeks ago I got to go to Parma to visit one of my friends from AFS. She's from Uruguay. It was so pretty in the north! It was the typical Italy that you imagine, with the green hills and cute little houses.
While I was there I didn't actually see a ton of Parma, but at least the important parts. My friend had an Intercultural dinner with AFS one night so my friend and I made empanadas (a typical food in Uruguay). On my last day however we went to San Marino, which is a whole another country, that is surrounded completely by Italy. It's very small and is basically just one town on this big hill. At the top though you can see all around, even to the sea. We also brought along one of my American friends who lives nearby. At the very top of the hill there is a castle and a beautiful view!
A few days after there was our last camp with AFS. It was really fun and great to be with the other AFS students but quite sad at the end. They talked to us about the troubles we will have with readjusting at home and they helped to prepare us for it. At the end we all signed eachother's t-shirts and had a chance to say goodbye.
While I was there I didn't actually see a ton of Parma, but at least the important parts. My friend had an Intercultural dinner with AFS one night so my friend and I made empanadas (a typical food in Uruguay). On my last day however we went to San Marino, which is a whole another country, that is surrounded completely by Italy. It's very small and is basically just one town on this big hill. At the top though you can see all around, even to the sea. We also brought along one of my American friends who lives nearby. At the very top of the hill there is a castle and a beautiful view!
A few days after there was our last camp with AFS. It was really fun and great to be with the other AFS students but quite sad at the end. They talked to us about the troubles we will have with readjusting at home and they helped to prepare us for it. At the end we all signed eachother's t-shirts and had a chance to say goodbye.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Florence!
Hey Everyone!
I just got back from my school trip to Tuscany late last night and it was such a great time! On the ride up we had to be at the school at 7 AM and it took us 12 hours to get there (but also when we reached the rest stop in Rome some girl fainted so we were waiting there for an hour) but it was so worth the ride! We stayed in the Hotel Le Fonti, which was about an hour outside of Florence, but the town was so cute and very peaceful, with lots of green hills around (actually all of Tuscany looked like that, it was so beautiful). Then that night we took a nice walk around with all of us. The next day we spent the day in Florence, with most of the day spent with the tour guide, and we walked around to see all the famous sites of Florence (Dante's house, all the famous squares, the Duomo, etc). However, we couldn't enter into the Churches because there were masses going on. That afternoon we went to this garden, which was really beautiful. At the highest part (altitude-wise) there you could see all the hills and the city and there was lots of lovely flowers too. On Monday however we went to see several museum type things and in the afternoon I climbed to the top of the Duomo's bell tower with two of my friends. At the top it was AMAZING! You could see all around the city with a nice view of the Cupola and the landscape around it. There were 414 steps each way! After that we got to do some shopping and it was just fun in general to spend time with all my school friends and see the city. And we did some bargaining with the vendors. After that we took the bus back to the hotel and that night we went out in that town. It was lots of fun, we went to this bar that was outside and and there was singer and we all danced together and I really enjoyed myself. Our last day (yesterday) we went to Siena for the first half of the day. Siena was a lot smaller and more tranquil than Florence, but it was a really nice city. Unfortunately we didn't have time to really get to see it in detail but the tour guide took us into one of the churches and we walked around to all the famous points in the city (the piazza, the cathedral, etc). We ate lunch at this really cute very italian restaurant and at around 3 we left to go home. After a very long trip we arrived in Maglie at around 1:15. It was funny to see how on the ride up everyone was singing and being loud, and then on the ride back everyone was sleeping. It was really a trip I will never forget and it really strengthens my feelings of having my heart in two places! I know it will be really sad to leave here but at the same time happy to return. At this point I only have a few more weeks left of school and I can't believe how fast the time has gone. See you all soon!
Emily
PS Congratulations to Nina who graduated this weekend and happy birthday to Mary Clare!
Monday, May 10, 2010
San Nicola
Happy Mother's Day to everyone and Happy San Nicola!
This weekend, in the town where I go to school, Maglie, they had their Patron Saint's festival (San Nicola). Last night I was at the festival with my friends from school and I was expecting to see something typical Italian, but it turned out that it was almost exactly like the Marshfield Fair.... with rides and everything! There was the thing that spins really fast and all those types of fair rides. I went on the Tagada (the spinning one) and the Frisbee, which was like a thing that swings back and forth and spins at the same time (like the Freak Out at the Marshfield Fair). It was lots of fun! Then if you walk down to the Square where the school is, it was all lit up with all kinds of lights and there are little markets selling whatever it is you could possibly want. Then as we were leaving they set off fireworks... basically, a pleasant night and it reminded me a lot of times at the Marshfield Fair.... it was actually quite strange too because it was almost the same thing, except I was with all Italians instead of Americans.
This weekend, in the town where I go to school, Maglie, they had their Patron Saint's festival (San Nicola). Last night I was at the festival with my friends from school and I was expecting to see something typical Italian, but it turned out that it was almost exactly like the Marshfield Fair.... with rides and everything! There was the thing that spins really fast and all those types of fair rides. I went on the Tagada (the spinning one) and the Frisbee, which was like a thing that swings back and forth and spins at the same time (like the Freak Out at the Marshfield Fair). It was lots of fun! Then if you walk down to the Square where the school is, it was all lit up with all kinds of lights and there are little markets selling whatever it is you could possibly want. Then as we were leaving they set off fireworks... basically, a pleasant night and it reminded me a lot of times at the Marshfield Fair.... it was actually quite strange too because it was almost the same thing, except I was with all Italians instead of Americans.
Matera
Hi Everyone! Just thought I'd share with you about the city of Matera, where I went last week. So basically, it's a very different kind of city. There are two parts, the old historical part (where the Passion of the Christ was filmed) and the more contemporary part.
In the historical part basically theres a kind of valley and one the two sides where the earth goes up, there are all kinds of houses built into the side... and a million stairs! There's actually another student from AFS who lives in one of these houses... and he said everyday to go to school he has to climb up 150 stairs, can you imagine?
I'll add some photos to the blog so you can see exactly how it was like... nevertheless, it was beautiful! Also, at the top there was a cathedral, where you could see all around... incredible!
In the historical part basically theres a kind of valley and one the two sides where the earth goes up, there are all kinds of houses built into the side... and a million stairs! There's actually another student from AFS who lives in one of these houses... and he said everyday to go to school he has to climb up 150 stairs, can you imagine? I'll add some photos to the blog so you can see exactly how it was like... nevertheless, it was beautiful! Also, at the top there was a cathedral, where you could see all around... incredible!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Easter in Italy
At the beginning of the month we celebrated Easter here in Italy. It wasn't very exciting though... On Sunday we went to mass in the morning and ate lunch at the grandmother's house. The tradition here on Easter is to eat lamb and then for dessert a chocolate egg...and after Easter we had 4 chocolate eggs at our house (and they're huge too!)! The day after Easter is much more exciting, the Italians usually go with their friends in the countryside or to the beach and have a picnic. I went to the sea with my assistant from AFS and my chinese friends. We stopped at thies place by the sea and we were quite high up and there was a tower, at this point you can see the eastern-most point of Italy, so beautiful!
Now we're back at school and life's pretty normal, tomorrow is Labor day so it'll be a "long" weekend of two days... wow! :) Then on Sunday I'm going to see Matera, a city in the region of Basilicata a little further north (this is the city where some scenes from the Passion of the Christ were filmed). Happy May... which me luck because it's starting to get quite hot here.
Now we're back at school and life's pretty normal, tomorrow is Labor day so it'll be a "long" weekend of two days... wow! :) Then on Sunday I'm going to see Matera, a city in the region of Basilicata a little further north (this is the city where some scenes from the Passion of the Christ were filmed). Happy May... which me luck because it's starting to get quite hot here.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Exchange Week in Venice
For my own exchange week I got to go to Venice! It was so beautfil and again lots of fun with the other AFS students. We went to see all the famous spots in Venice like Saint Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge, Bridge of Sighs, a million churchs, and lots more. The sunday and Monday of that week it rained but the rest of the week the weather was really spectacular! I was so thankful. One evening we took a gondola ride, which was really cool. The gondalier was pretty funny, though he wouldn't sing. However, instead the finnish guy sang in Finnish!
Another day, we went to two of the islands of the Ventian lagoon, Murano and Burano. Murano is famous for their glass-making and while we were there we got to see them blowing the glass. In Burano, it was much quieter but there was a street (more like a canal) where all the houses were in bright colors and every one was in a different color.
Another day we spent half the day in Venice and the other half in Padova. In Venice we alkwed to this huge church that was across the water from Saint Mark's Square. It was so beautiful! The church from the outside was really spectacular. In Padova we took a walk around the city, went to this nice park, and saw St Anthony's Church. The church was quite huge and beautiful!
The next day we went to Verona (the city of Romeo and Juliet). In Verona there was this Castle/museum (also connected to a Bridge). At a certain point in the castle you could see the area around Verona including this pleasant river. After that we saw the Arena (which is something similar to the Colesseum) and Juliet's house. Also, during that day we encountered some Americans. However, they were quite airheaded.....hopefully from the long trip, hah!
On the last night we had another dinner party with everyone which was lots of fun. The guy from Finland and another American played the guitar and we sang and of course ate (we're always eating in Italy).
I also forgot to mention the host family in Venice. There was a brother my age and a younger sister and two dogs. There were all so nice and the dogs were really amazing. One was even named Emily...she is trained in agility and knows how to do jumping, racing, and even a bit of basketball. The other dog, Nana awould ring a bell to go outside and knew how to press the button to open the gate. The host brother has decided to go to Brazil next year with AFS and last year they hosted a student from Chile.
The week in Venice was quite great and I learned a lot about Italy as a country. The North was a lot different from Southern Italy: how they talk, the houses, the surroundings, and the way the people interact with one another. In the North the people are more closed, still nice, but just more closed and more similar to the rest of Europe. It was a really great time in Venice and an unforgettable experience.
Another day, we went to two of the islands of the Ventian lagoon, Murano and Burano. Murano is famous for their glass-making and while we were there we got to see them blowing the glass. In Burano, it was much quieter but there was a street (more like a canal) where all the houses were in bright colors and every one was in a different color.
Another day we spent half the day in Venice and the other half in Padova. In Venice we alkwed to this huge church that was across the water from Saint Mark's Square. It was so beautiful! The church from the outside was really spectacular. In Padova we took a walk around the city, went to this nice park, and saw St Anthony's Church. The church was quite huge and beautiful!
The next day we went to Verona (the city of Romeo and Juliet). In Verona there was this Castle/museum (also connected to a Bridge). At a certain point in the castle you could see the area around Verona including this pleasant river. After that we saw the Arena (which is something similar to the Colesseum) and Juliet's house. Also, during that day we encountered some Americans. However, they were quite airheaded.....hopefully from the long trip, hah!
On the last night we had another dinner party with everyone which was lots of fun. The guy from Finland and another American played the guitar and we sang and of course ate (we're always eating in Italy).
I also forgot to mention the host family in Venice. There was a brother my age and a younger sister and two dogs. There were all so nice and the dogs were really amazing. One was even named Emily...she is trained in agility and knows how to do jumping, racing, and even a bit of basketball. The other dog, Nana awould ring a bell to go outside and knew how to press the button to open the gate. The host brother has decided to go to Brazil next year with AFS and last year they hosted a student from Chile.
The week in Venice was quite great and I learned a lot about Italy as a country. The North was a lot different from Southern Italy: how they talk, the houses, the surroundings, and the way the people interact with one another. In the North the people are more closed, still nice, but just more closed and more similar to the rest of Europe. It was a really great time in Venice and an unforgettable experience.
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