Cinque mesi sono passati!

I've been in Italy for a little more than five months. Five months that have changed me and my weight (Haha, yes I know, I eat pasta and nutella nearly everyday!). Anyways, I don't think I've ever felt so much happiness than this first half of my exchange year has given me. The language is finally finding its place in my brain, and now I want these next few months to pass as unhurriedly as possible. I have met so many people and learned so much and had time to think about my life with a much broader background. I have finally had some time to just ponder my entire way of being in America.

Right now, I'm with another family for one week at the half year orientation in Terralba, Sardegna. All the students with AFS Intercultura in Sardegna are here. We have so much fun when we're all together, and we've really grown to know each other well. Staying with another entirely new family doesn't feel like so much of a terrifying thing now. I guess because we're all so used to things changing at last minute and embarrassing moments. We met the families we would be staying with for a week as we were going to their houses. It has gone very well so far though, and I've learned that there are even more distinctions depending on where you live in Italia. There's of course the huge differences in the way people act and speak in every region of Italia, but then there's the subtleties that a foreigner may not notice very easily in each province of Sardegna. Then there are distinguishing aspects of each town.  Not to stereotype though, it's not that every single person acts the same, but there are definitely apparent characteristics. There's an overwhelming amount of culture here and it makes things so breathtaking.

Carnevale starts today in Italia! It's similar to Halloween in that everyone dresses us, but it lasts three days and what you do and the traditions depend on where you are in Italy (more I know!)! We're all going to Oristano for Sa Sartiglia to celebrate. I'll write something after I go about this awesome tradition that's been taking place for over FIVE HUNDRED YEARS!
Here's more information!

In treno on the way to the camp!

Intercultura-AFS girls from the local chapter of Nuoro!

Daiki from Japan and me!

Karoline from Norway working on this poster we made with all the flags of our countries on it!

We weren't able to make the American flag much of a masterpiece, but our flag was still there!

We're halfway through our ten months here!

Dressing up for Carnevale! Nicole from America is the cat and I'm the mouse! 

Beach near Cabras in Sardegna! On the Sinis peninsula! 

Andiamo al mare! Let's go to the beach....

Nuovo gennaio, nuovi pensieri...

2013 began and the first month swept away too fast in front of me.

I celebrated Capodanno (New Year's) with my friend Sara from Bosnia, and we went to uno spuntino (little party) and ate pizza. Italians seem to celebrate New Year's more than I've ever celebrated in the States, which usually included watching the ball drop in New York on TV with my family. There's a saying here which goes (translated into English, but it rhymes in Italian I swear!) "Christmas with your family, and New Year's with the people you want, your friends". Here almost all the teenagers seemed to be out of the house, going to a party, or just staying with friends.

Capodanno con Sara!

Did I tell you I changed schools? Now, I go to a scientific based school named after the Italian scientist, Enrico Fermi (un liceo scientifico). Before I was attending, another type of school called the Magistrali. My class at my old school was never even supposed to be permanent, but in the end, they were unwilling to change me. My classmates were fairly nice to me, but I didn't ever feel like I was a part of the class. I'm really glad I made the change. I'm much more talkative and content now at this new school. They ended up putting me in a quinta (fifth year), which is with all the students that will turn 19 this year. I was in a terza (third year) alle Magistrali. It's an extremely diverse school situation, from the maturity level of the students to the amount they have to study. Both of which are higher at my new school. The class is studying five sciences right now (earth science, biology, physics,  computer science, and chemistry) not to mention, history, matematica, English, Italian, philosophy, and P.E, but I probably will change classes for more than one subject. It's practically impossible to follow, especially coming in almost mid-year. At least, I'm not expected to do everything at school.
I've noticed this year that most of the exchange students aren't commanded to study too much. It would really take away from my experience this year; however, if I were studying all the time. I wish that the volunteers here had listened to my request to change schools a little bit better and sooner because my well being at school majorly impacted my feelings here...At least I was able to experience two completely diverse schools, classes, environments. I think that the same thing goes for host family changes. 

I don't know many people (other than my family)  in America who've been in my life for more than five years. In Italia, I noticed that many people hold their friendships for much longer. My host sister has known everyone of her age in the town where we live since the first year of elementary school. In my class, nearly everyone is comfortable around each other. This is their FIFTH year of being in the same class during the school year, six days a week, 5-6 hours a day. The connections created between many high school students here seem to me more heavily rooted and family-like, and I think it's a little shock to the social system when a student comes in for the first time half way through their last year together (me!). In the end though, it's super interesting and wonderful when us exchange students are still able to make friends despite the fact we haven't known our fellow classmates too long. There are exceptions of course...

We also celebrated this awesome festival in honor of Sant'Antonio mid-January. In many parts of Sardegna, they lit fires all over towns and cities in honor of this saint-Sant'Antonio. In the little town of Mamoiada, where I live they divided the town up into sections and each section built it's own fire in the street. Then the members of these sections organized dinner and lunch together for the days of the festival. It was a natural way to be able to meet and bond with our neighbors.

You can even see the priest here!

An assortment of delicious and surprisingly healthy dolci sardi (Sardinian sweets!)

Casu marzu- Traditional sardo cheese with living insect larvae! A little too strong for my taste buds! Read more about this cheese! :)

I ate this but don't want to again even if it was rather delicious. IT'S SHEEP BLOOD!

That's my host sister! She's so nice to me!

Me and un piccolo Issahadore!

It's been one of the best months so far...In the next couple months to come, there's much to think about. The mid-year AFS camp (already here!) will take place at the beginning of February and then there's the exchange week (I'll probably go to Reggio-Calabria on the sea!) in April. This year in Italy is full of thrilling and beautiful happenings...

Italy is glorious. This a ceiling of a bar (similar to a cafe in America).

NATALE (Christmas!) in Italia!

My Italian Christmas has already passed and I miss the Christmas-y feeling already. Even though, the weather here was unusually similar to that in springtime. At first it felt a little strange for me not being with my family on Christmas Eve (La vigilia di Natale) when we usually celebrate, but it the feeling dissipated when my host family showed me the way they celebrated my favorite holiday. I felt like I really was a relative, a part of the family at dinner.


L'albero di Natale e il presepe (The Christmas tree and nativity scene) were both up right after I got back from Amsterdam. It seemed to me that il presepe is a larger Italian Christmas centerpiece that the l'abero-the tree. It could also just depend on how I saw it, but accompanied by the tree, there was without a doubt always il presepe. In the house of mia nonna (host grandmother), there was only a presepe.

Il presepe in nearly every home!

My family's Christmas tree!

On Christmas Eve, we went to the relatives of my host mother, and we arrived around nine at night and left at two in the morning. Usually in America, we begin and end three hours earlier. It was super fun though even when your eyes start to close uncontrollably. The meal was delicious, but didn't seem like anything out of the ordinary cycle of cooking in Italia. We started with the antipasto of formaggio (cheese) and salsicce (sausages) and bread (there will always be bread, don't worry!). Then there was the primo piatto, which was ravioli or some sort of pasta, and then there was the porcetto sardo- buttery delicious pork.

The table is set! Let's eat!

Lastly came the fruit and dessert-tiramisù and un'altra torta (and another cake).

Cake with a mini nativity scene on top! Che bellina!

After dinner, we lit fireworks and Babbo Natale (Santa Claus) came for all the kids at midnight, but he didn't come from the chimney or when the children were sleeping. He just arrived and dropped off the presents and left during the party!

Babbo Natale (Santa Claus) brought me some delicious smelling soap!

Christmas Eve and we lit some fireworks (fuochi d'artificio)!

Before concluding the night, we played a game called "Tombola" which is similar to Bingo except you can win at different degrees. You win when you get two in a row, three, four, until you feel the whole board.

On Christmas day, we opened presents, all went to church, and everyone wished each other Merry Christmas or Tanti Auguri! with kisses on the cheek.

I gave my host sister a plane ticket for Christmas!

The splendid church in the little town where I live!

We had Christmas lunch at the house of my host father's relatives this time, but we even took a drive (abbiamo fatto un giro in macchina) afterwords and relaxed. Lunch was very similar to the dinner we had the night before, but equally delicious.

Il primo piatto-Natale

Pranzo a Natale (Lunch on Christmas Day)

Cosimina (aunt!)

Zio Ciccio...(my host uncle)

Me and my host sister!

Host cousin and host sister!

Host cousin!

Best host parents ever!

Nonna-Grandma

Marcella, my awesome and beautiful host sister!

We took a drive...

I even skyped with my family back home! 

The stockings are hung up, but we won't use them until the Befana (another Italian holiday on January 5th).  The Befana is an old women who delivers gifts to children.

I've never been felt like I've belonged to something this much after only three months. I feel at home now. At the beginning, it was like I had just moved into a different house and everything felt fresh. 2012 ends tomorrow and this year has probably been the most diverse and thrilling so far in my life. Right now, I can say I will have to return home next year, but in only a day I will be saying I'm going home this year...My indifference has now become not wanting to return home. I don't have to think about that for six months. I can enjoy my belonging to this place.

Un sogno dentro un sogno: Amsterdam

Ciao cool people! I just returned Saturday from Amsterdam where I went with my sister and eight of her classmates in a sort of gita (high school trip). I kept thinking about the theme from that movie Inception with Leonardo di Caprio (DiCaprio) and directed by Christopher Nolan: "a dream within a dream" or "un sogno dentro un sogno". This trip in Italy sometimes feels surreal and dreamlike, and then going to Amsterdam brought me to another surreality. Amsterdam was a lovely city and my host sister's classmates were fun company. I like how much simpler it is to become closer to people my age here. They seem more open to new friends and like saying hi to each other. The girls even link arms when they're walking together, and it makes you feel like you belong there with them.

The city was narrow house filled, a bicyclist's dream (I have a bicycle obsession), and full of English speakers. So many vices are legal in Amsterdam, and although I didn't delve into any I still found the city super thrilling, chilly, and relaxing (I don't think those adjectives work very well together! :). It reminded me of Berkeley (UC Berkeley), a city near where I live. Liberal. The trip itself was una bella pausa (a nice break) from school everyday. I think it even helped my italiano improve more than going to school everyday. I was constantly speaking with the other students, rather than listening to a professor talk for two hours about something awesome that happened 300 years ago.

Mi piacciono le foto (I like photos!) do you? Here are some from the trip:

C'è freddo! (It's cold!)

The clog or Klomp from the Netherlands! Here's more about it: Click for Klomp!

La città delle biciclette!

The group! My host sister (Marcella) is taking the photo! (I'm wearing an overly bright red jacket!)

Elisa, Marcella (my host sister), and me

Siamo ritornati! All'aeroporto ad Alghero

Otherwise frigid weather is slowly infiltrating Sardegna, and my follow exchange students and I have been forming a better relationship with italiano.

In other news...I might change schools in a little bit. Right now I'm at the Magistrali, but maybe I'll change to the liceo scientifico of the city...  It's difficult to decide whether I want or need to change my school. Sometimes I like my current school and other times not so much. Especially after three months you build a sort of comfort zone around your current situation. We'll see how things proceed over the next few months... That's another thing this exchange program has been making less complicated for me and many others... Our problematic and stressful days (bad days) don't seem so terrible. We can go with the flow of our lives this year. After all the embarrassing moments (at least once a day one will occur), we can finally say "fregatene, non importa" (forget about, it doesn't matter). I don't find myself being humiliated or self-conscious very much anymore. I can take the imperfections of the day with a smile.

E poi dicembre inizia!

Well, November passed and left a sort of normality. I feel at home here. This is my room (at least for another seven months) that I'm writing this in.
I'm still looking for changes in my school. It's been a drawn out ordeal, and sometimes I feel like I want to go to my current one (Magistrali - different programs you can choose to study including: economics and human sciences) and other days I just want to go to liceo scientifico (scientific high school that focuses more on math and sciences).
Tomorrow I'm leaving for Amsterdam with my host sister's class. Facciamo una gita (We're going on a trip in high school with the class). It'll be a pleasant pause, but I'll still be speaking Italian and with Italians. At least for the rest of this week, school won't worry me.

Oh by the way in November, I performed songs in Sardo (the Sardinian dialect) with the local choir of my town and also songs from Senegal to entertain at a day recognizing foreigners, witnessed an Italian student strike (which seemed to me more like a parade), took a DJing course at my school, and gained a greater ability to understand Italian (Wow, 60 % overall now!). Why doesn't everyone want to be an exchange student?

Stolen from facebook! All the exchange students in Nuoro (from Thailand, Iceland, Chile, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Dominican Republic, and America), a few volunteers, and some of the Italians who went abroad with AFS last year (to Sweden, Germany, America, Thailand, and Argentina). Being an international group is awesome.