Happiness

Right now I think I'm one of the happiest people in the world. Most of the time I'd say I'm a pretty cheerful person, but sometimes there's just so much beauty in one day that it spills over and I get a little crazy. Today's one of those days :]

I had a good day at school, despite not understanding a thing in my Literature Class (we were going over Latin grammar) or the architechture-esque Art History and Design Class. I have to say, it's thanks to the really nice and welcoming people in my class that school is so enjoyable!

After getting home from school today, I had a delicious pasta lunch, thanks to Chef Checca, and then: I went out. Not really knowing what I was going to do, I headed out with just myself and my lovely new camera, Albus. For two hours I roamed the city, enjoying the absolutely gorgeous weather and wonderful scenery that Trieste provided. My route started at the harbor, one block away from my apartment, and I walked down the street smelling the sea. Next up was a Greek Orthodox Church, then the Piazza Sant Antonio, and then downtown Trieste: the shopping area. After a minor detour at H&M (Mama, Daddy, don't worry, I didn't buy anything) I climbed a few small hills behind the ancient Roman theater and reached the top after navigating my way through a quiet residential area that made me feel like I was in the middle of the countryside: the colorful apartments spilling over with flowers, elderly women reaching out their windows to hang laundry, and winding cobblestone streets complete with stray cats. Continuing my trek uphill, I found a photographer's paradise. The sunset over the distant sea was casting a beautiful glow over the stone staircase of a neighborhood park, and I was occupied for quite some time trying to capture the beauty. Then, finding my way home through more winding streets.

Now, I'm sitting in my room listening to one of my favorite songs [Bold as Love, Jimi Hendrix (instrumental version)] and smelling the wonderful aroma of couscous as Checca works her magic in the kitchen. I've gotta say, life is pretty good right now :]

Here's the link to the new photo album I just put up. All of the pictures are from today's little jaunt through Trieste. I hope you enjoy them!

Ciao e baci grandi :]

Swept off to Italy

"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door. You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no telling where you might be swept off to."

As it turns out, Bilbo Baggins was right! It was several years ago that I first learned that Rotary Youth Exchange existed, and a couple of years ago when I decided that it was something I wanted to seriously consider. The application process started almost one year ago, and then the preparations began in earnest. But it wasn't until exactly one month ago that I stepped into the Road. And it is most definitely a dangerous business, because that road is stretching out in front of me with infinite and exciting possibilities, and there's no telling where I'll be at the end of the year!

For now, school is giving my days a new rhythm. I'm attending the Liceo Scientifico Guglielmo Oberdan, which is apparently the toughest school in Trieste because it is science based, which means lots of math and physics. It was pretty funny when the first teacher gave us our weekly schedule; on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday we have two hours of Math and Physics, and when the whole class groaned at this, I have to admit, I felt a bit like I had just received double Potions with the Slytherins. My other classes include Literature, Latin, History, Philosophy, Art History and Design, Chemistry, English, and of course Gym. Every day except Wednesday school is from 8:10 to 1:04, and on Wednesday we get a special break--school starts at 9:00! So late-start Wednesdays followed me here from Northfield :] So far the teachers that I've met seem very nice, and if I understood correctly, the History teacher already has me roped into doing a presentation on American History. Eduardo, want to help me brush up on that? As for the other students, they are so friendly and very helpful, so I'm excited about getting to know them and the Italian school system better throughout the year.

Another new part of my life is soccer! My amazing host mom searched all of Trieste for a girls' soccer team for me, and the one she found is perfect. The practice area is so wonderful--filled with kids laughing and playing soccer on the one, small, turf field, with parents looking on from the outdoor bar that serves pastries and other refreshments for after practice. The coach was extremely welcoming, as were the other girls, and it felt so great to play again! I have to say though, after a month of absolutely no activity, the first practice still has me sore :] But I'm looking forward to getting back into the game, and learning the way to play soccer Italian style.

Other than school and soccer, I've been doing a lot of relaxing; reading, writing letters, hanging out with friends, and walking around the city. The other day I was walking around by myself, and I came across a large church that I had seen before, but never entered. So I climbed the many steps to the entrance and walked in. It was nearly empty, with the afternoon sun streaming in through the windows and lighting up the frescoes, small side-chapels, and arched ceilings. At some point I heard a small group of people chanting the Hail Mary in Italian. It was so peaceful, and the smell of incense and the cool air kept me there for a few minutes of just sitting and reflecting on the reality of my new life.

If I think about it, it seems so surreal. How on Earth am I lucky enough to be living in Italy? It doesn't seem possible that I came here one month ago, knowing no one, knowing barely any Italian, and am now happily living here with a daily routine. It's difficult for me to wrap my head around. It's much easier to just take things one wonderful Italian moment at a time, accept them as normal, and let them slowly add up into Life. Because all of the beautiful things that I love about Italy are the little details that make up daily life:

-coming home from a friend's house once, we made a turn and I was shocked to see the huge expanse of the sea, glittering in the evening sun and dotted with tiny sailboats. I'm still not used to the fact that I live on the coast!

-my host mom , Checca, sometimes talks to me in English, whereas I normally talk to her in Italian, and most of the time I don't even recognize the difference between the English and the Italian.

-with the wind speeding past and the gorgeous buildings glowing in the setting sun, riding behind Checca on a mo-ped is one of my absolute favorite things about Italy.

-just seeing the bright blue sky and the red-tiled roofs outside the window while I eat my breakfast makes me so happy

-there is a really great bakery right downstairs from our apartment, and everyday we get a special order of delicious bread from them. And if I wake up early enough, the smell coming in from my window is really heavenly.

-there is beauty and history everywhere: in the ancient churches, the large piazzas, the harbor, the tiny restaurants, the adorable children, and especially the gelaterias :]

It sounds like all of my fellow exchange students feel the same way: I think everyone is loving their experience right now. Whether in Italy, some other amazing country, or back home in Northfield, we're all living La Dolce Vita. I hope everyone's doing well!

Ciao e baci grandi :]

Rotary is Amazing

Seriously, that’s all I really need to say. Rotary is amazing. In the past two weeks it has brought me together with seven incredible people, from South Africa, Poland, Spain, Germany, Latvia, Turkey, and France. It has helped me to learn about so many other cultures. It has given me the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful places in Northeastern Italy. So really, all I can say is thank you.

A few details of what exactly happened on this Rotary- and Rotaract-organized camp:

-I lived in Verona for one week, and in a small town called Cordovado the next. Two very different places, both with a classic Italian charm and beauty that I absolutely love.

-I seriously bonded with the seven other campers. It’s pretty difficult not to when you’re all united solely by the experiences you’re sharing. And let me tell you, we shared a lot of experiences; we were together almost all of every single day for fifteen days.

-We spent one full day sailing on Lake Garda. Huge bluffs surrounded the lake, which is the largest in Italy and was such a beautiful clear blue. Swimming, eating ice cream, relaxing, talking, getting a little bit sunburned, falling in the water, and continuously ducking under the huge sail made for a wonderful day.

-We toured Venice. Most of the others had been there before, given the proximity of everything in Europe. For me, however, it was all new, and we went on such a beautiful day that my camera got plenty of usage :] It was absolutely gorgeous, although it was almost tragic to see that the main reason it exists at this point is for tourism. However, I’m a tourist, so I guess I can’t really complain.

-We went to a Rotarian’s mountain home for a barbecue prepared by an army of Rotary and Rotaract members. The view was breathtaking, the neighboring houses were colorful and overflowing with flowers, and outside in the garden there was a trellis covered in vines of delicious grapes. I also got to help pick lettuce from the next-door neighbor’s garden, and she was so ancient that I couldn’t help but be impressed as she creaked her way around the garden, chopping off enormous heads of lettuce like her life depended on it. She was quite generous, although I couldn’t understand a word she said since she was speaking Friulani, the dialect of the Friuli region.

-I ate so much Nutella, I think it’s time to start up soccer again :]

-I realized that eating in Italy is very different. At nearly every meal, I would eat my fill of whatever was on the plate they put in front of me. Usually, it was so much that I couldn’t finish. It took me a long time to learn that there is ALWAYS a second plate. Always. Needless to say, the second plate was just as delicious as the first, and I was forced to find one tiny corner in my stomach for just a little bit more. Also, I was always the last one to finish eating, which I found interesting seeing as we Americans have a reputation for always being in a rush and on the move, whereas Europeans live life more slowly.

-Thanks to the Rotary clubs of Verona Scaligero and San Vito al Tagliamento, I have two new Rotary flags! They are both beautiful, and I felt like a real ambassador when we exchanged flags. It’s so cool to think about all the connections and friendships I’ve already made!

-I dressed up in medieval clothes and participated in a four-hour parade through the medieval town of Cordovado. Everyone was dressed up in medieval wear, and there were stands everywhere selling stained glass windows, swords and armor, “holy relics”, paintings, and rustic cuisine. I actually felt like I had been transported back in time, thanks to the ancient stone walls, castles, and churches of Cordovado. Also, in the parade, the four ancient warring areas of Cordovado were competing against each other to win the prize for the best borgo, or village. The seven other campers and I were participating as the “Giallo e Nero” team, so we wore yellow and black. Guess who won :] “Viva Giallo, Viva Nero, Viva Giallo e Nero!!!”

I could go on and on with descriptions of everything we did, but it’s impossible to recreate any of it, or even do it justice. I had so much fun and learned so much over the two weeks, that it seems impossible that it was only two weeks. It’s great to be back home in Trieste, but I know that I will really miss the friends that I made on the trip. Again: THANK YOU ROTARY. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. Or as the Italians would say it, Grazie mille. Until next time, ciao e baci grandi :]

ps-here's the link to my new online storage site for photos. take a look and enjoy!

http://picasaweb.google.com/109253908369204461087/SummerCamp?authkey=Gv1sRgCKCD__78nsyDjgE#

Trieste!

I'm here. Finally! After seven months of waiting, I was more than ready to start the next chapter of my life. And now it has officially begun.

Of course, saying goodbye to my friends and family was, as others have found out before me, bittersweet; sad because I love them all and I know I'll miss them tremendously, but happy because I know that we'll all be reunited next summer to share our respective adventures. My travel went smoothly, and I cannot even begin to describe how excited I was in Munich when I boarded that tiny airplane with little black propellors. Either I look vaguely Italian or the stewardess just assumed that I was, because she spoke to me in Italian, and it was very satisfying to be able to answer her with an eloquent "grazie" :]

Upon my arrival in Trieste, I was welcomed by a person who is possibly the best host mother in existence: Francesca Vio, whom I call Checca. She greeted me with several gifts:

1. Luca, Giada, and Linda, three friends of her son, Enrico, who is currently in Florida through Rotary. They were so friendly, it was really nice to immediately meet some young people :]
2. A brand new cell phone. Luca, Giada, and Linda all said they were sorry for buying me such a bad one, but for those of you at home who have ever seen my old cell phone, you will understand when I say that the new one is a huge step forward for me :]
3. A beautiful bracelet that is very popular in Trieste right now.
4. So much kindness! She thought of everything that I would need to be comfortable here in Italy,and everything that was in her power to do, she did. She is so welcoming, I couldn't have asked for a better family.

Luckily I was hyper enough yesterday to explore the city a little, and let me tell you: É una cittá molto bella. So beautiful! Driving back from the airport, the road hugged the coast of the Golfo di Trieste, or the gulf that opens into the Adriatic Sea. Green hills cup the coast like an amphitheater, and red-roofed houses scale the hills. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Checca, Luca, Giada, Linda, and Pietro (another of Enrico's friends) took me to Rosso Pomodoro, a wonderful restaurant across the street from the Yacht Club that is a block away from my house. Apparently, in Italy when you order a pizza, you're supposed to eat the whole thing. I ate about a quarter of mine, but it was SO DELICIOUS that I wish I could have eaten five!

Today I had a lovely breakfast of bread and nutella (invented in Italy, of course) while listening to the sounds of the city through the open window. Afterwards, Checca took me out to explore the city, and we had a wonderful time seeing ancient Roman ruins from when Trieste was a part of the Roman empire two thousand years ago. The churches, the walls, the arches, the plazas, even the place where we had lunch--everything is ancient and beautiful and historical. I met up with Linda and her friend, Seba, in the Piazza Sant Antonio, a beautiful plaza which also faces the sea. After walking around a bit, practicing my italian and just joking around, we stopped at "the best place for gelato" where I got yet another delicious dose of nutella in the form of Nutella ice cream. I don't think I need to say any more about that :]

I honestly can't believe that I get to live in this perfectly amazing city for an entire year! Rotary is amazing, that's all I have to say :] To my fellow exchange students: I hope you guys are all having amazing times, keep up your blogs! They're so interesting. And to those who still haven't left, don't worry, you'll get here soon :]

I hope everyone is enjoying their last little bit of remaining summer! Until next time, Ciao.

Great Expectations

When I was 13, I lived with my family in Spain for one year. While I was there, I was asked the following questions by my classmates:

-do you have a gun in your house?

-did your parents vote for Bush?

-is school really the way it looks in 'Mean Girls'?

-what do you mean, you don't watch the Simpsons?!?

Hmmm. Needless to say, I was a bit shocked at the impression that my friends had of me and apparently all other Americans. At the same time, I realized that before I had come to Spain, I had been just as guilty of stereotyping the Spanish culture. It's what we tend to do when we don't have the time or energy to research the complex intricacies of cultures we are partly or wholly ignorant of.

So of course, as I ready myself to head off into the great unknown that is Italy, I carry with me certain stereotypes. I must say, the clichéd images of delicious pizza and gelato, beautiful people, gorgeous landscapes, and a rich history don't sound too shabby. But the real excitement is in the unknown; the aspects of life that will be most exciting to discover are the ones that I didn't know to look for.

Based on what I've heard, Italy will be beautiful. But I know that the real part of my journey, the exhilarating part, will be to seek out the subtle shades of its beauty, to experience the realities behind the stereotypes. And I absolutely cannot wait :]

the beginning

welcome to my blog!

i'll be putting up new posts soon, but for now i just wanted to write a quick welcome post.

thanks for visiting, i hope you enjoy the story of my soon-to-come adventures :]