Hi everyone!!
I'm so sorry that I have been a little lazy when it comes to blogging, but I have a wonderful reason! You all will be happy to hear that I am doing 50 times better! I switched families and gladly adapted quickly. I am now living with the Scaramuzzi's, have fun trying to pronounce that one! I will be with them till April 1st and already realizing how hard it will to leave them. I live in an apartment, for my first time, with Eugenio (dad), Federica (mom), Francesco (brother), and last but not least Gollie, the boxer dog that smells to high heaven. They have another son named Jacapo who is living in Delaware also doing the Rotary exchange. Francesco is 19, very helpful and a great big brother! He did an exchange in Texas for a year, so his English is perfect, just like everyone else's in Florence. My dad is the manager of some business and is very intelligent, there's always something to learn from him. My mom is very sweet and always concerned for everyones feelings, she tries to be analytic. I'm dramatically more relaxed here allowing me to focus better in school and just realize what I have in front of me. This exchange is not easy, but having a wonderful family here and in America makes all the difference. Thank you!! I will continue to fight with this computer to get a few pictures up!
I'm so sorry that I have been a little lazy when it comes to blogging, but I have a wonderful reason! You all will be happy to hear that I am doing 50 times better! I switched families and gladly adapted quickly. I am now living with the Scaramuzzi's, have fun trying to pronounce that one! I will be with them till April 1st and already realizing how hard it will to leave them. I live in an apartment, for my first time, with Eugenio (dad), Federica (mom), Francesco (brother), and last but not least Gollie, the boxer dog that smells to high heaven. They have another son named Jacapo who is living in Delaware also doing the Rotary exchange. Francesco is 19, very helpful and a great big brother! He did an exchange in Texas for a year, so his English is perfect, just like everyone else's in Florence. My dad is the manager of some business and is very intelligent, there's always something to learn from him. My mom is very sweet and always concerned for everyones feelings, she tries to be analytic. I'm dramatically more relaxed here allowing me to focus better in school and just realize what I have in front of me. This exchange is not easy, but having a wonderful family here and in America makes all the difference. Thank you!! I will continue to fight with this computer to get a few pictures up!
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Hi everyone!!
Sorry it took so long for me to update this but I've been pretty busy!! Christmas, New Years and switching families is a lot. For Christmas I was here in Florence with my first host family and on the 29th took a trip to Rome for 4 days with the family and 2 other American exchange students in Florence (Tristan and Emma) It was amazing, Rome is huge!!!! But truly, it lived up to my expectations and more. On New Years Eve I had the treat of having mass with the Pope! The service was gorgeous, all in Latin but translations in Italian, thats a story for my grandkids :)
It was really nice having my friends there too, the three of us get along pretty well, Tristan is from Michigan, farm boy and Emma is from Long Island, New York, City girl... and well, I'm from everywhere so we blend fine.
On the 4th I switched houses and am loving it! Sooo different from my previous house and even my house in America. It's me and my 19 year old host brother (Francesco) and this dog that looks like a pig. Francesco did an exchange in Texas so his English is perfect and he's just cool to talk to. It's very tranquil, no stress!
I'm starting to be able to look back on this exchange and see a lot of progress! Theres been quite a few speed bumps and also pot holes I've been stuck in but the road seems to be freshly paved right now.
The big update right now though is my dad is being deployed again... In 2 weeks. He just got back less than 2 years ago. I found out while in Rome from my moms Facebook status! That is the worst way to find stuff out. I had a minor freak out, fought with them to let me come home and help the little girls out but they said the best thing to do is to stay. It makes me sad that Andrew, me and now also my dad won't be present for 6 months.... What mom says goes though. I will finish my exchange. My best friend, Sami Vanderburgh went back from France yesterday, I support her decision 100%! She tried a lot of methods to make it work but in the end, she would be happier back at home.
Enjoy the pictures!
Sorry it took so long for me to update this but I've been pretty busy!! Christmas, New Years and switching families is a lot. For Christmas I was here in Florence with my first host family and on the 29th took a trip to Rome for 4 days with the family and 2 other American exchange students in Florence (Tristan and Emma) It was amazing, Rome is huge!!!! But truly, it lived up to my expectations and more. On New Years Eve I had the treat of having mass with the Pope! The service was gorgeous, all in Latin but translations in Italian, thats a story for my grandkids :)
It was really nice having my friends there too, the three of us get along pretty well, Tristan is from Michigan, farm boy and Emma is from Long Island, New York, City girl... and well, I'm from everywhere so we blend fine.
On the 4th I switched houses and am loving it! Sooo different from my previous house and even my house in America. It's me and my 19 year old host brother (Francesco) and this dog that looks like a pig. Francesco did an exchange in Texas so his English is perfect and he's just cool to talk to. It's very tranquil, no stress!
I'm starting to be able to look back on this exchange and see a lot of progress! Theres been quite a few speed bumps and also pot holes I've been stuck in but the road seems to be freshly paved right now.
The big update right now though is my dad is being deployed again... In 2 weeks. He just got back less than 2 years ago. I found out while in Rome from my moms Facebook status! That is the worst way to find stuff out. I had a minor freak out, fought with them to let me come home and help the little girls out but they said the best thing to do is to stay. It makes me sad that Andrew, me and now also my dad won't be present for 6 months.... What mom says goes though. I will finish my exchange. My best friend, Sami Vanderburgh went back from France yesterday, I support her decision 100%! She tried a lot of methods to make it work but in the end, she would be happier back at home.
Enjoy the pictures!
Oh my goodness, I just have to share this story with everyone!!!
Yesterday, as I was riding the bus to my cello school an old lady gets on the bus, with her little white fluffy dog. You are not supposed to bring dogs on the bus, common sense and there is even a few signs with a picture of a dog and a big X through it. I guess this Italian women is just too stubborn or maybe just has bad eye-sight but brings it anyway. I watch the lady walk down the aisle with her mini friend... The dog turns around, I am not kidding, this dog is wearing a HUGGIES DIAPER!! The dog, was wearing a diaper, it was strapped around its waist and was wearing a freaking diaper!! I started laughing of course, very loud, so all these grumpy bus riders look at me... Yeah, they stare at me instead of the dog in probably a size 2 month diaper. You guys all know that my family, especially my mom, just dont mesh well with animals, well try liking an animal in a diaper. And you know how theres those cute little stars that magically disapear when the CHILD wets it, well those stars happened to be missing! YUCK!
Yesterday, as I was riding the bus to my cello school an old lady gets on the bus, with her little white fluffy dog. You are not supposed to bring dogs on the bus, common sense and there is even a few signs with a picture of a dog and a big X through it. I guess this Italian women is just too stubborn or maybe just has bad eye-sight but brings it anyway. I watch the lady walk down the aisle with her mini friend... The dog turns around, I am not kidding, this dog is wearing a HUGGIES DIAPER!! The dog, was wearing a diaper, it was strapped around its waist and was wearing a freaking diaper!! I started laughing of course, very loud, so all these grumpy bus riders look at me... Yeah, they stare at me instead of the dog in probably a size 2 month diaper. You guys all know that my family, especially my mom, just dont mesh well with animals, well try liking an animal in a diaper. And you know how theres those cute little stars that magically disapear when the CHILD wets it, well those stars happened to be missing! YUCK!
Ciao
So finding ways to stay busy and just to keep my mind off of everything. Christmas is coming up and soon New Years. Set up the Christmas tree here, it's a lot different but still pretty! For New Years I am going to Rome for a couple days with Emma and Tristan the other exchange kids through Rotary! Should be a good time!
This week I have been resting, helping out Regina who will have her own blog post soon, eating, cleaning, and listening to music. A LOT of music, everything! It helps a lot, keep your mind off of stuff. I miss having my ipod though, stepped on it and it broke :( But whenever I'm on the computer usually just put on grooveshark or whenever I'm building a puzzle :) Yep, building puzzles, just small ones to keep busy is always fun. It is getting pretty cold here, no snow but there could be I think. I hope everything is going well for everyone whos reading this, Thank you for all the support it really helps!
So finding ways to stay busy and just to keep my mind off of everything. Christmas is coming up and soon New Years. Set up the Christmas tree here, it's a lot different but still pretty! For New Years I am going to Rome for a couple days with Emma and Tristan the other exchange kids through Rotary! Should be a good time!
This week I have been resting, helping out Regina who will have her own blog post soon, eating, cleaning, and listening to music. A LOT of music, everything! It helps a lot, keep your mind off of stuff. I miss having my ipod though, stepped on it and it broke :( But whenever I'm on the computer usually just put on grooveshark or whenever I'm building a puzzle :) Yep, building puzzles, just small ones to keep busy is always fun. It is getting pretty cold here, no snow but there could be I think. I hope everything is going well for everyone whos reading this, Thank you for all the support it really helps!
Ciao a tutti!! (Hi everyone!)
So I just got back from a small village about 30 minutes outside of Florence, it felt amazing get out of the city! Today was a lot warmer than most days but there was still rain on and off. The town is famous for the medieval towers that still remain, apparently if you were rich you just built a tower to show it off, all about the image! :)
And I am honestly doing a lot better, thinking more positive, I have 6 more months here, I will do whatever it takes to make myself happy again!
I talked to Nick and we decided that friends is the best thing for both of us... We are both so young, and so much can happen and whatever does happen, happens for a reason so knowing that live in the moment, take care of yourself and allow God to take care of you.
Hope you emjoy the pictures! :)
So I just got back from a small village about 30 minutes outside of Florence, it felt amazing get out of the city! Today was a lot warmer than most days but there was still rain on and off. The town is famous for the medieval towers that still remain, apparently if you were rich you just built a tower to show it off, all about the image! :)
And I am honestly doing a lot better, thinking more positive, I have 6 more months here, I will do whatever it takes to make myself happy again!
I talked to Nick and we decided that friends is the best thing for both of us... We are both so young, and so much can happen and whatever does happen, happens for a reason so knowing that live in the moment, take care of yourself and allow God to take care of you.
Hope you emjoy the pictures! :)
Turning a break-up positive is not so easy, but making your view on the world and what you have in front of you is a little bit simpler so thats what I'm working on first.
I'm not sure if it was all the tears that lifted the blindfold off my eyes but here is just a quote I set as my facebook status that really inspired me;
"Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game." Aristotle
My mom asked me to explain the meaning to her and this was my reply:
"Besides the fact that everyone hates to be my partner when we play cards because I suck, but even if you lost a few rounds, you can still win. You have to stay focussed and not let your mind run off singing "the clarinet, the clarinet goes tweetly tweetly leety leet..." No one is looking at my hand, only I have the power to lay them down... I lay down my road. The road to happiness, friendships and love. Don't get discouraged by one lost round because it is bound to happen. And it is even more difficult to cheat. No cheating life."
I am not very good at cards, and whenever we play I sing the song from I think it's You Got Mail when they sing about the instruments and they make all different noises for them, it makes me happy. I can never cheat and whenever I do it just gets worse for me. I am finally figuring out how to sail my boat, I just wish Nick was aboard but I guess I forgot to pack the life vest, I'll remember that next time ;)
Told you guys it was going to be positive!!
I'm not sure if it was all the tears that lifted the blindfold off my eyes but here is just a quote I set as my facebook status that really inspired me;
"Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game." Aristotle
My mom asked me to explain the meaning to her and this was my reply:
"Besides the fact that everyone hates to be my partner when we play cards because I suck, but even if you lost a few rounds, you can still win. You have to stay focussed and not let your mind run off singing "the clarinet, the clarinet goes tweetly tweetly leety leet..." No one is looking at my hand, only I have the power to lay them down... I lay down my road. The road to happiness, friendships and love. Don't get discouraged by one lost round because it is bound to happen. And it is even more difficult to cheat. No cheating life."
I am not very good at cards, and whenever we play I sing the song from I think it's You Got Mail when they sing about the instruments and they make all different noises for them, it makes me happy. I can never cheat and whenever I do it just gets worse for me. I am finally figuring out how to sail my boat, I just wish Nick was aboard but I guess I forgot to pack the life vest, I'll remember that next time ;)
Told you guys it was going to be positive!!
Just as I was thinking it couldn't get any worse and had a good few days of trying my best to be happy God throws another piece at me, hard. Losing a person that you have been with for about 8 months and that you were able to love so easily hurts like nothing I have ever felt. So yes, Nick broke up with me yesterday. I know I'm changing here, I have so many problems and so much stress from this exchange right now and Nick was just tired of hearing about it. I'm sick of hearing about it... Why did it have to go this far though? Getting dumped hurts, hurts bad, but not having your family and friends here to help you get through it is just as bad. I know I'm just a 16 year old girl but that doesn't effect how strong you feel stuff, if anything it hurts just as bad as a 60 year old women. He was perfect, but the timing not so much.
I try so hard here, I'm pulled in all different directions, the one thing that I held onto so tightly is now absent. I always finish what I start (Besides cleaning the kitchen) so I need to finish this year. I can't live like how I have been, even if I get one hour of sleep because I wake up screaming and crying I need to get myself out of bed and take care of myself. My mom has raised me to be strong, I am so sick of just being strong but thats what you have to do in life. I'm scared how this adjustment is going to go, but believe me, I am sick of this. I am sick of not being happy, I just lost my boyfriend, I miss my family.... I need to just forget everything, deal with the pain and stop complaining. So next post on my blog will be much more happy, I promise, and I mean this promise!
Think positive, just think positive... Some of you know my struggles lately with not only school but host family and culture. I am in a state of waiting for something to happen so that is why I have not been updating my blog as much. As soon as this "something" happens that I'm wishing to occur this week I will inform everyone. For the time being though I will tell you that I am not allowed to travel out of Florence this entire year unless my host family takes me. Italians do not like traveling, at all. They are perfectly happy staying in there own town every week and do the exact same routine so host mom taking me is out of the question. I am not even allowed to take a day trip with other students... meaning taking a train in the morning and returning that same day at night. I find it ridiculous. It is just the exchange students in Florence which this rule applies to so all the other exchange kids have already taken the train to Milan, Venice and other gorgeous places. I have a limited time in Europe, and I signed up for this to not just experience one towns culture. Florence is not a city, it is a town, and I am getting bored. Of course Italy does not organize a Euro tour like how most rotaries do. So it looks like bus route 6A is my window pane for a year.
Christmas season is coming up, Christms is by far my favorite holiday, I really hope things get better. I'm praying and asking God to help stretch my patience even more.
I will update as soon as I get news for you guys! Thanks
This weekend I discovered solutions to homesickness....
1) Stay out of my new home
2) Take a day trip to a near-by city
3) Go to the gym and run till you can't breathe
4) Eat sushi
5) Stay out of my new home (Again)
The problem to following through with these solutions is the one thing that everyone wishes they had more of, money.
Gym membership is €80 a month, cello lessons € 120 a month, sushi €15 a meal, train tickets €20, excess travel expenses... who knows. And keep in mind that the US economy is not doing so hot so the exchange rate is about
$1.50 = €1. You can do the math for all those conversions if you would like :)
So looks like some things such as gelato need to be cut out of this budget.
Only if money rained down like the fast Italian language... I will figure something out!
I love Italy but I love being with my family more... The excitement of being in one of the most important cities in the entire world is slowly fading and homesickness is setting in. I miss my wonderful family with my entire heart! Yesterday there was this mom and child on the bus, they were talking in English about Thanksgiving, I automatically jumped in the conversation and told them about my families tradition: the three P's!!! (Pizza, Pepsi, Pumpkin Pie) The mother was very sweet and motherly towards me and the six year old girl with her big brown eyes and perfect curls reminded me of Gaelyn. We talked for about 30 minutes and when I got off the bus didn't even realize myself crying. I have had a few issues lately with adjusting and just a few dislikes here and there but I am learning how to cope with them. I am not going to lie, it is very difficult being away from home and feeling behind in school. I have thought about just coming home and doing the easy thing but I don't quit usually. I signed myself up for this and I am going to be strong and get through it.
Ways to help myself though: Travel every other weekend, start going to the gym, start cello lessons, really work on the language, and just show that I'm trying in school.
My chemistry teacher called my host mom this week telling her that I have not been doing any work, I'm not interested, I didn't take a math test, I didn't do a lab report, I've missed school and many more complaints. Well first of all the principal said not to buy any school books therefore how do I do hmwk? I listen as best I can and take as many notes as I can. I still do not know the language so why do they expect me to be able to learn chemistry? I do not know what they are talking about 3/4 of the time and get a little peices here and there but have no idea how they connect. Nobody told me I was supposed to do a lab report after every lab, the math test was soooo hard I didn't even know where to start with those equations.... I got very upset over this. I need time, I need space. I am already stressed and I feel like my first goal is learning the language then I can learn the chemistry and math. I haven't even been here for 2 months, and nowhere near learning a chemistry lesson in Italian let alone being fluent.
I miss my mom, I miss my daddy... losing another year with him hurts. I miss my funny brother, my talkative Kate, my silly four-eyed Ellie, the fairy princess Gaelyn, my supportive boyfriend, being close to my grandma, fall, pumpkin pie... I wish I could just bring everyone here. As the holidays are getting closer and closer I feel myself wanting to book a flight, I'm going to miss grandma's fudge, listening to my family try to sing Christmas carols at advent even though we're all tone deaf. Ugh, I'm scared here, I'm only a 15 year old girl with a stuffed animal sheep to hold onto named Ernie. I pray to God to give me the strength to overcome this.
Ways to help myself though: Travel every other weekend, start going to the gym, start cello lessons, really work on the language, and just show that I'm trying in school.
My chemistry teacher called my host mom this week telling her that I have not been doing any work, I'm not interested, I didn't take a math test, I didn't do a lab report, I've missed school and many more complaints. Well first of all the principal said not to buy any school books therefore how do I do hmwk? I listen as best I can and take as many notes as I can. I still do not know the language so why do they expect me to be able to learn chemistry? I do not know what they are talking about 3/4 of the time and get a little peices here and there but have no idea how they connect. Nobody told me I was supposed to do a lab report after every lab, the math test was soooo hard I didn't even know where to start with those equations.... I got very upset over this. I need time, I need space. I am already stressed and I feel like my first goal is learning the language then I can learn the chemistry and math. I haven't even been here for 2 months, and nowhere near learning a chemistry lesson in Italian let alone being fluent.
I miss my mom, I miss my daddy... losing another year with him hurts. I miss my funny brother, my talkative Kate, my silly four-eyed Ellie, the fairy princess Gaelyn, my supportive boyfriend, being close to my grandma, fall, pumpkin pie... I wish I could just bring everyone here. As the holidays are getting closer and closer I feel myself wanting to book a flight, I'm going to miss grandma's fudge, listening to my family try to sing Christmas carols at advent even though we're all tone deaf. Ugh, I'm scared here, I'm only a 15 year old girl with a stuffed animal sheep to hold onto named Ernie. I pray to God to give me the strength to overcome this.
