It's been quite a good month here in Italy! Not it's starting to get warmed and it's been raining less. Not too much to report though besides going to Belgium. School and life are going well and I actually finished two books in Italian this month (and I'm now working on another one). I've now read two little chapter books (probably about 2nd grade level) and I'm really proud that my Italian's finally getting to a useful level! Even though I'm understanding most of what they're saying now, I still have a long way to go. For example, during lunch time I'm starting to get what they're discussing (depending on what they are talking about) but it's not perfect (but sometimes it's not my fault because they speak in dialect at times). Then, I've got to master understanding that dialect! Italian first though.
In a few weeks, I'm going to Venice for an exchange week with AFS and I can't wait! I'll be staying with a family who lives right outside the city and there's a brother my age and a younger sister. However, I've already embarrassed myself in front of them. O.o I received friend requests from them, one of them being from what I thought was their dog, due to the fact that a bunch of the photos they were tagged in were of a dog. So later that day, the dog instant messages me and after small chatting for a bit with the dog I ask if he's a dog and he replies "Almost. Why????" .....it turns out it was the dad of the family! Oops! I'm hoping he found it funny like me or it's going to be a long week in Venice.
Anyways, everything's going well but I still miss you all back home! I got an e-mail yesterday with my flight information back home.... I'll land in New York on July 9th at 3:45 pm!
A Italia!
The flag in the bottom right is where I am!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Belgium
A few weeks ago for our "Carnival" vacation I went to Belgium with my host dad and brother and their family friends. We took a really cheap airline called Ryanair out of Bari to Brussels. When we arrived in Brussels I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was snowing! I've been missing the snow (though not that cold :P ) so I was quite glad to see it. Plus all the italians were in a fuss over being freezing and I was perfectly content. The hotel we stayed in was quite nice and big with a mini kitchen! And I was again pleasently surprised to find some channels on the TV in English (I even watched Arthur for a bit!). It was really cool while being there being the translator for the italians at times just because I could speak English (though confusing too). Some people were surprised after they asked why I could speak English so well when I told them I am American.
Anyways, so the next day Monday we spent most of the day in Brugge and after we walked around Ghent for a bit. However, when we were trying to get to Brugge we asked a Belgian man for directions and he led us completely wrong! I'm not sure if it was because he couldnt speak either of our languages or because he was a huge jerk.... but nonetheless, we were very confused! In Brugge we saw many churches and basically walked around a good part of the city. In the afternoon we took a ride on the canal too! There was a very big and beautiful Cathedral that we went into and lots of cute buildings to see. In Ghent we took a walk around but there didn't seem to be much to see and they were doing construction on the road so it was very muddy and gross.
On Tuesday we spent the first half of the day in Antwerp. I met up with Claire and we all took a walk from the very pretty Central Station to the biggest cathedral in Antwerp. On the way there were lots of stores and things, and Claire explained whenever there was something important to make a note of. At the Cathedral however there wasn't much to see because to go in all the wall you have to pay 5 euros. We returned back to Brussels for the afternoon where we went to see another Cathedral and we walked around the city some more.
That night after dinner we all went to a Belgian bar type place. One of the family friends' son spooted some Spanish girls that he decided he wanted to try and hit on. Only he had to do it in English! So I get dragged along to help him hit on these Spanish girls... it was quite funny! They were really nice actually and some of them talked to me too, though I think they were wondering what I was doing with a guy who was trying to hit on them. After a while I think they were reaching the too much alcohol point thought because when I got up to leave they were chanting my name and clapping.... HAH! Funnily enough, my family friend actually managed to get a few of their numbers.
On Wednesday, we stayed in Brussels again only we went a bit outside the city to go inside the giant atom. It was really cool, especially when you had to take escalators between the protons and electrons and such. Then at the top you could see all around too! After that we did some more walking around the city and we went to see the European Parliament and did some shopping.
And basically the next day we got up early and returned back to Italy! Belgium was really beautiful to see and I really enjoyed the trip.
Anyways, so the next day Monday we spent most of the day in Brugge and after we walked around Ghent for a bit. However, when we were trying to get to Brugge we asked a Belgian man for directions and he led us completely wrong! I'm not sure if it was because he couldnt speak either of our languages or because he was a huge jerk.... but nonetheless, we were very confused! In Brugge we saw many churches and basically walked around a good part of the city. In the afternoon we took a ride on the canal too! There was a very big and beautiful Cathedral that we went into and lots of cute buildings to see. In Ghent we took a walk around but there didn't seem to be much to see and they were doing construction on the road so it was very muddy and gross.
On Tuesday we spent the first half of the day in Antwerp. I met up with Claire and we all took a walk from the very pretty Central Station to the biggest cathedral in Antwerp. On the way there were lots of stores and things, and Claire explained whenever there was something important to make a note of. At the Cathedral however there wasn't much to see because to go in all the wall you have to pay 5 euros. We returned back to Brussels for the afternoon where we went to see another Cathedral and we walked around the city some more.
That night after dinner we all went to a Belgian bar type place. One of the family friends' son spooted some Spanish girls that he decided he wanted to try and hit on. Only he had to do it in English! So I get dragged along to help him hit on these Spanish girls... it was quite funny! They were really nice actually and some of them talked to me too, though I think they were wondering what I was doing with a guy who was trying to hit on them. After a while I think they were reaching the too much alcohol point thought because when I got up to leave they were chanting my name and clapping.... HAH! Funnily enough, my family friend actually managed to get a few of their numbers.
On Wednesday, we stayed in Brussels again only we went a bit outside the city to go inside the giant atom. It was really cool, especially when you had to take escalators between the protons and electrons and such. Then at the top you could see all around too! After that we did some more walking around the city and we went to see the European Parliament and did some shopping.
And basically the next day we got up early and returned back to Italy! Belgium was really beautiful to see and I really enjoyed the trip.
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