A Year in Italy

2007-05-28T19:23:00.001+02:00

I can't believe how fast time has gone. I officially have 13 days left in Italy!! Less than 2 weeks. I'm literally in shock. Though out my exchange I have imagined this point time and time again, but I never expected to feel like this. I feel like I'm being pulled in two completely opposite directions. On one hand, I am very excited to come home...to see my family, my friends, sleep in my bed, go for bike rides, work at the Grill, backpack...I miss Sun Valley so much, and I can't even imagine how it is going to be to drive through main street in Hailey for the first time in 10 months. Yet on the other hand, I don't want to leave my life here. I love all of my friends, my family, and the life I have created for myself. I can't imagine not speaking Italian everyday, not chatting with friends, seeing my host family, biking through the Italian countryside. I love everything about my life here and I'm not ready to leave it yet.

My next 13 days are packed with activities...everything from a school play to shopping in Milan to slumber parties with friends. In the blink of an eye it is all going to be over. I'm going to be on the plane home feeling like I just made the flight to Italy a day ago. But so much has changed since September 5th. Or rather, I have changed. I am completely different from the girl I was when I left 10 months ago. It is hard to explain how exactly I've changed. It's not the fact that I've learned Italian, made friends in a foreign land, or found a home in Italy. Its that I've discovered myself. Who I am.

When I arrived in Italy, I had just come out of the worst part of my entire life. Mononucleosis. It stripped me down, not only health wise, but mentally and emotionally. At the end of the summer I was at my lowest low. Although the physical aspect of mono had for the most part past, the emotional aspects still had a tight grip on me. I was unable to separate Adelaide from Mononucleosis.

I arrived in Italy with nothing. Literally no understanding of the language, no friends, no family, and no sense of myself. I had to start from ground zero and work my way up. I left the mono behind me and began working on figuring out who Addy was. Now, 10 months later, I look back on who I was when I first got here, and I can't believe how much I've changed. I'm no longer the little girl from Idaho. I'm a woman of the world. I have lived in Italy for a year, during which time, I've learned the language, made a great group of friends, traveled through Europe alone, and discovered who I am.

I am so grateful to my family and to the rotary for giving me such a wonderful opportunity. I left home completely lost, and now I'm coming back with my life in order. I know where I want to go and what I want to do with my life. It is a wonderful feeling to have such clarity.

13 days left. It's been an amazing year. I know that no matter what roads life takes me down, this year will live on inside of me forever. The friends I've made and the memories we've created will keep my Italy alive. I'm sad that I'm leaving, but I know that I will always have my Italy to return to...if not in an airplane than in my thoughts and memories.

Can't wait to see everyone. Love you all
Ciao Ciao...
Adelaide

2007-03-19T10:52:00.000+01:00

Paris.
So I just returned from my class trip to Paris. All year I have been looking forward to this trip, and I wasn't let down. We left at 6am last saturday in a bus and arrived in Paris at 9:30pm that night. The anticapation had been building for the entire bus ride. The entire bus was silent as we reached the outskirts of the city. Suddenly someone in the back of the bus spotted what we had all been waiting for...The Eiffel Tower!! Although still far away, we could make it out clearly twinkling like a star in the darkness. The entire bus erupted in screams and cheers.
The weather was wonderful. Everyday was hot and sunny. We hit all of the major spots including the Musee d'Orse, the Louvre, le Defance, Versaille, and the Tour Eiffel. I have never walked so much in my whole life. The teachers gave us much more independence than they would in America, telling us to meet at at a square in Paris at a certain time, and to have fun. So I spent the whole time roaming the streets with Feda, Laura, and Rosella. It was all so amazing. I got to know a lot of the people in my class much better, and my friendship with the three I mentioned above really grew. Each of them is so wonderful in their own way, and I found myself wondering how I can love them so much when I just met them 7 months ago.
The 6 days in Paris went so fast, and before I knew it I was on the bus heading back to Italia.
But the excitement isn't over yet. My next few weeks are completely full.
Hans arrives in 6 days. Then my family, my birthday, Zoe, and later Eric.
My time here, which at one point seemed to be endless, is drawing to an end. So much has happened and so much has changed. This has been such an amazing year, and I am sad that it is almost finished. For me Italy is no longer just a name on the map. It is happiness, tears, people, family, school, memories.
It is my life, my family, my friends, my home.

2007-03-05T17:59:00.000+01:00

CARNEVALE IN VENEZIA

2007-03-02T11:58:00.002+01:00

A day of shopping in Milano

2007-03-02T11:58:00.001+01:00

My New Host Family

In the up hand left corner is the Pope

2007-03-02T11:58:00.000+01:00

Where has my year gone. Suddenly I find myself entering into my last three months and struggling to hold onto whats left of my stay here.
I went to Rome a few weeks ago, and all I have to say is that it is the most amazing city I have ever seen. I was constantly in awe of all of the art and history the city held. It is a city where the past and the future collide. Where a building or sculpture is older than my country. Where millions of people have walked before me and millions will walk after me. I saw the Pope, the Colosseum, the Vatican, the Sistine chapel, and basically all of the major monuments of Rome.
The day after I got home from Rome, I chugged over to Venice for carnevale...the Italians Halloween and the french Marti Gras. Venice, which is know for the most extravagant costumes in all of Europe, did not let me down. Everyone was in costume and I had so much fun photographing the different people.
And now I'm back in school. Next week I am heading to Paris with my class. I am really excited to go on this school trip and I know I will have a blast. Then a week after I return Hans arrives, and then my family. And before I know it I will be on the plane home. I guess the only thing to do in these last three months is to eat as much food, see as many things, have as much fun, and basically soak up as much of Italy as I can. And I will love every minute of it.
Baci a tutti!!!!!

2007-02-02T12:14:00.000+01:00

2007-01-08T11:11:00.000+01:00

So, I've been very busy since my last post.
Christmas in Italia was really fun. For christmas eve I had a huge family dinner where I ate some wierd fish stew and polenta. I was feeling a little homesick, but I was happy to be with my Italian family. Before I went to bed, my host mom gave me some beautiful presents(chocolate, earings, a sweater, and a scarf). Christmas day was very relaxing with only one meal at noon. Unfourtonatly, that night I got what the Italians call the 'American Influenza' aka the throwup flu. Luckily it only lasted for 2 days.
For new years(Capodanno) I went to one of my friends houses in the mountains. We stayed up all night and had a great time. In my last days of vacation, I went skiing in the Alps. All I have to say is...ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!! I had so much fun. Although this year there is a major lack of snow, the Alps are incredible.
I changed families about a month ago. It was really hard to leave Emanuala (because she is the best host mom I could ever have), but we talk almost everyday. My new host family is ver nice. My host mom is German. She teaches piano and is a professoresa of German at the local university. My host dad works for a steel company and is always gone on buisness trips. He speaks Italian, German, English, Spanish, and French. I have two host sisters (Anna Paula and Barbara). Barbara(19years old) studies in Venice and is rarely at home. Anna Paula (17 years old) goes to a highschool near mine. They are both very nice.
It was hard to change families, but I'm doing better know. I know that this is part of the experience.
I just recieved my plane tickets home. I arrive in Boise on June 12th at 7pm. I can't believe how soon that is. My life here, which in September seemed endless, all of a sudden has an expiration date. As excited as I am to come home, I am going to miss this place so much. It is my home now too. These people are my friends and family. But I always know that I will have someplace to come back to. A home away from home.

2006-12-15T14:21:00.000+01:00

The Italian Disco is unlike anything I've ever experienced. I arrived at the Disco around 11pm. There were already a lot of people there, but no one was dancing yet. Then at midnight, the DJ hopped up onto the bar and shouted, 'Who's ready to get this party start?!' Everyone cheered, the music began, the lights went down, and people flooded onto the dance floor. The bar and tables were cleared of drinks, and people jumped up onto the tables and began to dance. The music didnt stop for 5 strait hours. I made the mistake of wearing my new red italian high heels. By the end of the night, I had could barely stand up my feet hurt so much. Italians really know how to have a good time!

2006-12-14T12:42:00.000+01:00

Santa Lucia
Yesterday was the holiday of Santa Lucia, the patron saint of children. The story of Santa Lucia goes like this. When Lucia was alive, she was tourtured because she wouldnt give up her faith. She was blinded with hot ashes and eventually killed. Then, because of her undying devotion to God, she was made a saint. Now every December 13, she brings presents to the children of Italia. On the night of the 12th, all of the children have to go to bed really early. During the night, Santa Lucia rides into the town on her donkey with lots of sweets and goodies. When she enters your house, the bells on her dress jingle. But it is said that if you open your eyes to see her, she will blind you with hot ash(kind of a scary thing to tell little kids.) Anyway, she leaves a trail of chocolates from your room to your presents. If you have been bad, she leaves only ash.
They also have a Santa Clause in Italy (aka Babbo Natale), but he is just a jolly old fat man who brings christmas joy.

2006-11-25T17:14:00.000+01:00

Wow, I can't beleive how fast time has gone. It is almost already December, and I feel like I just got here. Things have been going so well. My host mom and I have been getting really close. I am so lucky to be living with her. She is constantly showering me with hugs, kisses, and compliments. I don't know what my life would be like without her.
School is going well. I have switched into a lower level of Spanish and French. Hopefully when I come back to America I will not only speak Italian, but also a little Spanish and French.
The language is getting so much easier. No one speaks in English to me anymore, and for the most part, I understand everything. I dont know when it happened, but it is as if one day the language just clicked for me. I am by no means fluent, but I am getting there. The verbs are the hardest part of the language, but I think once I get those down, I will be able to speak with as much ease when I am speaking english. This process is really weird. I feel like my brain is a mix of Italian and English. Some days I can only remember the italian word for something. And as far as writing and spelling in English, I am having a lot of trouble. So if this makes no sence, I apologize.
I feel like I am finally fitting in here. I have made two groups of friends: The foriegn language girls and the art boys. At the begining of november I spent 3 days at the local art school. It was really fun, but I decided to stick with the language school. But when i was at the art school I met a group of 4 boys (Ady, Diego, Eddison, Luca). I have been going out with them a lot lately. The language girls are my friends from the Foriegn language school (Fedarica, Laura, Rosella, Marta). Both groups are really nice, and it is wonderful to have friends here.
I am really excited for the coming month. Already the streets are feeled with christmas lights. IN the center square of brescia, there is a christmas market with lots of little treats and goodies. Although I am sad not to be coming home for natale, I am excited to see how the italians celebrate it.
Until next time...Baci e Ciao!!!!!!

2006-11-04T16:05:00.000+01:00

This past weekend I took a trip to Venezia with my host mo. Venezia is completely amazing. I loved it.

2006-10-09T17:00:00.000+02:00

Giro di Macchina Vecchia.

2006-10-09T16:45:00.000+02:00

A glimpse into another world.

2006-10-09T15:43:00.000+02:00

Italian Rotary:Wine and Cars.
So, This past weekend, I attended my first Italian Rotary Meeting. As a Rotary Exchange Student, I was expected to give a little speech about myself. I spent the day preparing, and was very nervous about giving a speech in a foriegn language. The Rotary meeting was held in a 5 star hotel. It officially began at 9:30pm. Everyone was dressed in their finest; men in full siuits and ties, women in long evening gowns, high heel, and precious jewels of every size. At the meeting I met another Exchange student, Nathan(although everyone calls him Natan because the can't pronouce the ’th’) He is from Chicago and lives about an hour outside of Brescia. The two of us were welcomed by the president of the club and taken to sit at a special reserve table. The night was wonderful. Nathan and I gave our speeches, and the festivities began. We were served a very upscale but very long 6 course meal:gnoke, risotto, beef, cheese, dessert, and coffee. At around midnight, the meeting finally ended. The next day, the real fun began. The president had invited Nathan and I to the annual rotary wine tasting. Unfoutunatly, when I woke, it was raining hard, and I was begining to wish I could just stay in bed. The president piked me up, and after about an hours drive, we came to a gate with a giant golden sun on it: the enterance to the Winery. I was in awe of the beauty that awaited me. Even on such a dreary day, the beaty of this italian vineyard was quite apparent. We drove though a maze of roads winding through the grapevines. All of the roads lead to the same place...a beautiful building at the perched atop a grassy slope. Umbrellas in hand, we made our way up the hill and into the building. Once inside, we socalized for a few minutes before making our way toward a door at the back of the room. One by one, the rotarians filtered inside. I felt a bit out of place, Nathan and I were the only two that were under 60 years old.
When we made our way through the doorway, I nearly gasped out loud. THis room was much larger than the previous, and completely filled with wine barells. I would have liked to stop and explore, but our group kept on moving, and soon we went through another doorway and into a long dark hallway. The walls were lined with dusty wine bottles and hanging lightbulbs flickered on and off overhead. I felt as if I had stepped into another world.At the end of the hallway, we decended into a stone chamber, lit by the same flickering light. Tables filled with delicious pasteries, wine glasses, and the wineries famous sparkling wine lined the walls.
It was so cool.

2006-10-09T15:04:00.000+02:00

After eatting so many pasteries, I thought I was going to burst, we moved back upstairs, and out into the rain. Waiting for us outside were 50 or more old cars. We got in and proceeded to have races through the vineyard. Then, once we reached the golden gate, we began an annual procession through all of the villages in the region. Despite the rain, everyone came out of their houses to wave at us as we drove by. The last stop on our tour was a home for the mentally ill. The rotary donated something like 30000£ to them. Everyone was hugging, singing, and laughing. It was so much fun. We ended our day back at the hotel were we ate another delicious meal. Its funny how different the Italian Rotary club is from ours. We have rubber duck races and they have old car races.

2006-10-08T18:32:00.000+02:00

Vineyards surround Brescia. They are famous for their wine, and have senic bike paths twisting through them. Many people enjoy a day of riding from vineyard to vineyard, tasting delicious Italian wine and enjoying the beautiful country side

2006-10-08T18:21:00.000+02:00

My home. Bellisimo. It overlooks Piazza Arnaldo and is right in the center.

2006-10-08T18:10:00.000+02:00

This is mia mama italiano, and one of the Twins, Camilla. I am so happy to be living with them. They have made me feel so welcome.

2006-10-06T21:02:00.000+02:00

Umm. Italian Cappichino. I am in love

2006-09-22T22:08:00.001+02:00

The italian language is very expressive. everyone is constantly saying MAMA MIA, and MA DONNA, and AUITO (help me!!!). i love it, and already im yelling mama mia every chance i get.
the other day i went out with francesco again. i discovered on our walk that he is an aspiring rugby player. he has spent his past few summers training with the rugby brescia team. anyway, we were walking down the street, when we came to a cafe. all of the rugby brescia team was sitting outside. Seeing francesco, they immediatly jumped up, and within seconds i found myself surrounded by these italian athletes. they egarly introduced themselves to me...lugi, stefano, luca, ect....i was, to say the least, over whelmed. they all laughed and asked me, why is your skin so white??!! mama mia!!
all in all they seem like a funny group of men. i was officially invited to their game on sunday, and im excited to see my first rugby match.

2006-09-11T13:55:00.000+02:00

Life here is as exciting as ever.
Yesterday, I walked around the city with my mamma. she flaunted me all over town, showing me off as if i were the most priceless jem in the world. she took me into all of her friends shops, annoucing as we entered, "La Raggaza Americana (the american girl)". all of the women would ohh and ahh saying "Bellisimo" and "oh che bella" (a phrase meaing 'what beauty' that is used ALL of the time.) Emanuala would beam as if she were the proudest woman in the world.
Later that day we went to one of the nearby hill lakes for an early luch and a late dinner. The lake is bellisimo!! houses of earthy reds, pinks and yellows line the water. all of the shutters are bright blues, greens and reds. laundry hangs on lines from every window. very pictureque(sp?). It is quite a bit bigger than redfish, with three islands in the middle. we took a boat to the largest of the three where we began to search for a resturant. A long walkway parallels the water, twisting around the entire island. olive trees line the walkway and grape vines weave there way overhead, providing some much needed shade from the hot and humid weather. butterflies dance around bringing a dreamlike feeling to the world. women and men sun bath on the grassy patches of land. I had to laugh--dad, youd fit right in...all of the men are in speedos.
Lunch was wonderful. polenta, and fresh fish from the lake. the oddest thing i tried were this little fish, fried whole and eatten eyeballs, talls,scales, and all. these crunchy little treats were a bit unnerving for me--when i was younger, lyndsey and i would catch these little fish at redfish.
After lunch, i had my 1st cappuchino. i must say, i think ive been missing out. it was so good, and the caffine made me feel so much more energetic. my senses seemed to come alive.
After everyone was full of fish and cappuchino, we got on a little wooden boat to go on a tour of the lake. the other two islands were much smaller. castles topped both, bit securly in the middle of the lake. che bella!!
the funniest thing i saw on my lake excurtion came right before we ended our boat tour. a large boat came into veiw. at the wheel was an italian man dressed in only a black thong speedo and standing proud for all the world to see. i laughed and thought, im not in idaho anymore!!
Today was my 1st day of school. school is a 2 minute walk from my house. its very big. it is the only foreign language high school in brescia. it has two inner courtyards with classrooms lining the edges. i must admit, i am a bit overwhelmed. my class is on the second story of the second courtyard. i walked in and was immediatly bombarded by names. im afraid the only name i can remember is francesca, the girl who sits next to me. school is 6 days a week. it begins at 8 and goes until 1. it is different from idaho, because we do not choose our classes..everyone has the same schedule. i am taking german, french, italian, english, chemistary, physics, math, philosopy, and history of art. so far, it seems fun. although i cant understand what the teachers were saying, i think i will do well.
well, i should go, so for now, ciao!!

2006-09-08T19:18:00.000+02:00

Italia è motlo bello! I like it very much. my flight was long, and i felt very sick when i arrived in Italia. but everything is so wonderful and i am so happy to be here. my family is very nice. my host mom is always kissing me and hugging me and telling me how happy she is that i am here. i live with her and her 25 year old twin daughters. they are so beautiful--italian models. this morning when i woke, my mom cooked me pasta, bread, salad, pork, and green beans. so much food. im going to be a blimp when i return. i think she is trying to fatten me up. across the street from my home, there is a little bakery where we buy fresh bread daily. oh it is sooo good.
Today i walked around all day with a boy named Francesco. I saw the old castle in this town. we went to the top tower where i could see all of Brescia. bellisimo! all of the roof tops are red clay shingles. it is breathtaking.
then we went to his house. on the roof across from his kitchen lives a white cat. he told me that the cat appeared one year ago on the roof. the have a long stick with a bowl taped to it. they put cat food in the bowl , reach across to the other roof and feed the cat every day. they have another stick that they use to pet the cat. it is so cool.
one thing ive noticed that i like is that every house has basil growing on the windows. at night, they use the basil in their food. umm soooo good.
anyway, ill write again soon.
ciao

2006-09-07T19:41:00.000+02:00

Italia e troppo bella. I cant beleive i am so lucky. everything is so wonderful. my family is very nice. they are always kissing me and telling me how happy they are to have me here. my room is has a beautiful balcony overlooking the italian world. it is all so amazing. the food...ohhhhhh. pasta, procutto, gelato, pizza, yummm! i miss home, of course, but i am happy to be here. i dont have much time right now, but soon, i will write much more. i just wanted everyone to know that i have arrived safely, and all is well.
xoxo Addy

2006-08-05T20:34:00.001+02:00

Lyndsey left two days ago. 24h of travel. ahh. She is so brave. As I watched her go, I realized that I am going to be doing the same thing in a month. thats freakin scary.

2006-07-29T06:51:00.000+02:00

So, Lindsey leaves in less than a week for Thailand. Her departure came so fast! I know that she'll have a great time, but I'm going to really miss her. I keep telling myself that I have a month left in Idaho, but I know that the time will disappear in the blink of an eye. I am excited but a little scared. I think that the hardest part will be leaving my friends, in particularly my boyfriend. I'm taking Italian lessons with a belle Italian woman, Anna Camille. I've also been in touch with my Italian host family. I will be living with a single mom and her 25 year old daughter. The 16 year old daughter, Elena, will be coming to Ketchum on August 13 to spend a year here. I'm excited to meet her in a few weeks. I've been writhing her for months now, so it will be interesting to finally put a face to her words. Anyway, much love.
xoxo
Adelaide