I came back almost two weeks ago from my settimana di scambio (exchange week). It was musically themed (we all played an instrument and did a piccolo concerto alla fine) and in Livorno. I wasn't expecting anything special, but it turned out to be something beautiful. I got to live with another family for a week, meet other awesome exchange students and hear a different Italian accent after seven months of only quello sardo (the Sardinian accent).
 |
| We practiced here! |
 |
| A fratellino, little host brother! Finally! Che bellino! |
 |
| Cliché but fun. |
 |
| Pisa! |
 |
| La mia famiglia ospitante livornese ed anche qualcun'altro! My host family from Livorno and a few others! |
 |
| Other awesome exchange students. From left to right, the Philippines, Chile, Indonesia! SO COOL! |
 |
| Firenze! |
 |
| AHH ITALY has so much culture and history... |
 |
| Il ponte vecchio! |
 |
| She's from Iceland and super nice! |
 |
| The musicians of Intercultura (AFS Italy!)! I musicisti di intercultura! |
The morning of Pasqua (Easter) in the town that I live in, there was this huge procession of priests from the local church and a bunch of people dressed in traditional sardo costumes. One group held a statue of the resurrected Christ and the other of the Madonna. The two groups started from different places in town at the sound of a gunshot. Then they walked until they met the resurrected Christ and the Madonna, and there was this explosion of shooting into the sky. I don't think I did a good enough job explaining it... here's an article about Easter in Sardegna:
Click here!. It was super diverse and wonderful. Then we went to church and ate until I felt full enough for three days. The next day was pasquetta (which we don't celebrate in the USA), but that the Italians usually spend with friends.
 |
| My host father! |
 |
After the meeting between the Madonna and Christ
|
Before I left for Toscany, I also had the chance to go to the party 100 days before the exams with my class. The last year in Italian high school, everyone has to pass a set of really difficult tests near the end of June or beginning of July. There are oral and written parts that cover the entire five year program. My whole class has to study molto (very much)! I had a great time celebrating with them, though!
 |
| They're hilarious! |
 |
| My class all together! |
I'm really trying to enjoy my time here as much as possible. Only three months remain. I don't want to immagine when I have to leave this paradise of a life here! If you're in high school in America, take the chance and please go abroad.
