September 30 2016

Today is off to a good start.

One of the reasons we have been staying so long at the beach house is because Giovanella rents the houses around it out to tourist. The past week an English family has been staying in one of the houses. Today I got to sleep in because Giovanella couldn't take me to school until after the English family had left for the airport.

The original plan was that I was just going to be late to school, but we had to keep stopping to do different errands on the way there. At some point it wasn't worth going to school for the last half of the day. Instead we did a lap around the mall and got sandwiches at my new favorite restaurant. All of their produce is local, and they have really good cheese cake.

After a lot of rain this week today is sunny and bright. I think I'm going to get a coffee from Maurizio in the Caffe below the apartment and go on a walk.

I am living the life.

September 29 2016

This week has been a normal week of school. Tuesday afternoon was my first time having friends over at the house. We played pool and they all liked the american candy I had brought. It was such a nice feeling to have a group of friends around. It was a little hard because when they got excited they would all talk quickly at the same time and I missed out on a lot.

The rest of the week I've been hanging out by myself after school. As an introvert I really enjoy it. I watch movies, draw, drink tea, and feel lucky to have so much free time. I'm a little concerned about the novelty of too much free time wearing off soon. I'm hoping to join a Yoga class once we get settled in the city house.

I love the beach house, but it's been hard not being able to fully settle into one place. I'm constantly moving my things between houses and forgetting things. Not being in the city has also made it harder to go out at night with my class mates and start after school activities (like the yoga class).

This weekend I am staying at Giovanella's friend's house while my host parents go on a business trip to Malta. After that I'm praying we will officially move into the city house. I am really excited.

A few pictures from Tuesday night:

September 26 2016

Friday night was my first night out with friends from school. We got sandwiches and crepes for and then went to the beer festival in the square by my house (In case anyone form Rotary is reading this, I was very responsible and didn't drink any beer or other alcohol). I also got to sit in on two of my firends band practice. They are really good and I hopefully will get to see them play on Sunday!

The band

Angela the lead singer.

Alessia the Base player

This Saturday I got to miss school to go on a day trip with my host parents to Catania. Sadly as soon as we got in the car I realized I had forgotten my phone, so I don't have any pictures. Giovanella and I took a little train tour through the city and learned about some of the old architecture. Catania is at the base of Mount Etna the largest active volcano in Europe so a lot of its buildings and streets are made from black volcanic rock.  It's nickname is The Black City.
After the morning trip to Catania I was dropped off with some of the younger rotarians (Rotac). We went on a tour of a barn/winery.

Looking at the olive trees

Mildly Scary Goat

Sunday I went to a friend of my host parents house for a birthday party and to watch an aerial show! I've never seen anything like it. The only downside was we had to watch in the rain.

Watching in the rain.

Go Italy!

September 22 2016

It's been a while. Here's the overview of what has been going on.


Sunday: My host parents and I got in the car and started driving to Palermo. The views out the window were all beautiful hills, mountains and towns. We stopped for lunch at McDonalds but all got salads. After getting to McDonalds we drove past some greek temple ruins! It was the craziest juxtaposition of my life.
After about 3 and a half hours we got to our hotel in a city I don't remember the name of (I'll ask Giovanella later). We then walked down to the beach and took a quick dip in the water. After refreshing ourselves at the hotel we walked over to see the some of the greek temple ruins. It was so beautiful. It was crazy to know I was standing in the same place that so many people had stood before me. I don't think I've ever felt so much history.

McDonalds In Italy! 

The Beach

Best host family ever.

Monday: We made it the rest of the way to Palermo. While Pino had his work meetings, Giovanella and I explored the city. We took a tour of a abandoned palace at the intersection of the two most important streets in the city. The palace had been built in the 1760's and inhabited by the cities most important lawyers. The ceilings and tile floors all had the original art work. Sadly, because the titles are worth so much money, and because the palace is abandoned people steal the tiles. Giovanella explained to me that many of the old buildings are abandoned because it costs the city to much money to maintain or restore them.

Really cute kitty we found in a whole in a door!

Tuesday: We drove back to Ragusa and had a slow lazy day.

Wednesday: I woke up late and was late to school! I was a little embarrassed but didn't get in trouble.

Today: Had another good day at school. The only class I really understand is english, but I try my best to pay attention in the others.

September 18 2016

Last night I had an amazing dinner with my extended family on my Nonna's balcony, overlooking the port. After dinner Anna and I, joined the giant crowd of teenagers on the port to watch the fireworks. I was a little disappointed because things didn't work out with my classmates, so I wasn't able to meet up with any of them, but overall it was a great night.

At the port, one of Anna's friends, Christina, was very excited to speak in English with me. When she was trying to ask me if I preferred Ragusa or Minneapolis she forgot the word for Minneapolis. Instead she said "Your Christmas City". So from now on, Minneapolis is the Christmas City.

Today we leave to visit Palermo and one of the cities close by (I forgot the name...). I'm not taking my computer so I'll let you know how it goes on Tuesday!

Pictures from last night.

September 17 2016

Today was my first time having school on a Saturday. From what I understood it's common for classes to skip school the first saturday of the year, but my class didn't plan anything.

Another aspect of Italian school that is different from American school is that teachers teach the same students for 5 years. So a teacher starts with the students freshman year and then continues with them until they graduate. This great if you love your teachers, not so great if you don't. Today we had physics. The teacher had been my class's teacher for three years, but had worked at a different school the year before. So when he came into the room the students had cookies and all warmly welcomed him back. It was very sweet to watch.

I finally got sent the class photo!

September 16 2016

Day three of school was similar to the first two. Today I had English, gym, chemistry, and art history. For every new teacher that comes into the class room we repeat the same process.

Teacher: There is a new girl!
Everyone is class smiles.
Me: Hi, I'm Sienna.
Teacher: What is your name?
Me: Sienna
Teacher: Sienna?
Whole class tries to explain my name.
Teacher: Ahhhh okay Sienna, nice to meet you. Where are you from? Will you be here the whole year?
Me: The United States, and yes.
Teacher takes attendance. Pauses, looks at me. Whole class looks at me.
Teacher: Coskran?
Me: Yes, Coskran?
Teacher: Coskran, Coskran, Okay.

This is more or less how it goes. Some teachers ask more questions, some less. I still have about five more teachers to meet...

On a different note, I finally got a photo with friends from my class!

September 15 2016

I had my first day of school yesterday!

Giovanella had to get to the school where she works early, so she dropped me off in front of the school and asked one of her friends, who works in the school, to meet me. Thankfully instead of waiting alone, I found Luca (Matilde's Brother) who is starting his first year at the school. We waited a little ways away from the door because a huge crowd of people was pushed up against it, waiting to be let in. Every time a staff member had to enter the school they had to push their way through the crowd.

After a little bit Giovanella's friend (Giussi?) found me. She forcefully led me through the crowd of people and into the building. Inside I waited by the door and talked to girls in the very front of the crowd. I was then handed off to another man who led me to my classroom as the crowd of students was allowed to enter the building. In the class everyone shook hands with me and introduced themselves. I talked to a few different groups of girls but not for much time.

When the teacher came everybody stood and then sat down quietly. The teacher noticed I was new and asked me where I was from in front of the whole class. I think in Italian schools it is much more normal to be put on the spot or to have to talk in front of the whole class. I was asked how to pronounce my name and last name, where I was from, and about my family. She then asked all the other students about their summers and career plans.
I'm not one hundred percent sure what today was for or why we were in school, because the day was only two hours mostly spent talking amongst ourselves. But everyone seems really nice. There were some group pictures taken that I was told would be put in Facebook so hopefully I'll have those soon!

Today was was similar to yesterday. We had Gym class, which didn't consist of much because it was the first day, Chemistry which I did not understand a second of, and English. For every new teacher that entered the classroom I had to repeat the process of explaining where I was from and how to say my name. All the teachers are very friendly and welcoming like their students. In English we filled out a cross word puzzle about food and meals. It was funny because it was very British English, so occasionally I took me a while to figure out the word. The teacher asked me to explain to the class the phrase Traffic Jam, and the difference between dinner and diner.   

Here are the photos I have. Hoping to get the group picture soon!

First day of school photo. Not my best, but it's what I have.

"On my way to my first day of school"

"New entry...This year we'll have an American Girl"

September 13 2016

Being an exchange student in a very social and active family, I never know what is going to happen next. There are days where I have no idea when or where I am going to eat or sleep. This weekend was a prime example.

This friday I was invited over to my friend Matilde's house for a pool/dinner party. At the party I met her friends, some of which will be going to my school. We hung out in the pool, and then had a delicious dinner prepared by Matilde's mom and grilled by her 14 year old brother Luca! After dinner we hung out in the living room and sang karaoke and danced.

Matilde tried to claim that not all Italians are good at dancing, but her friends weren't helping her argument. 

Dinner outside. You can see Luca grilling in outdoor kitchenette

Eating with friends

Matilde's family then invited me to go to Catania with them the next day to see Matteo Renzi (who is the equivalent of Obama in Italy) speak. It was a long bus ride, but me and Matilde chatted the whole time. The speech was help in a beautiful garden in Catania, so we walked around the garden and the surrounding neighborhood  before the speech.

Matilde and I on the bus.

 

This Elephant statue is the symbol of Catania.

The park where the speech was held.

When walking around the neighborhood before the speech we stopped in a store dedicated to making merchandise with sicilian phrasing. In the store one of the employees who was close to me and Matilde's age was very excited to find out I was from America. She rushed us over to a rack of T-shirts and started to take every shirt of the rack and translate the Sicilian phrase to English. In Sicily everyone one is much more direct than in the Midwest, so Matilde quickly informed her we were not planning on buying anything. She complete understood and explained that for her it was fun to teach me Sicilian, so we stayed for 15 minutes all having fun learning from each other. 

I got a picture of my two Sicilian teachers! The shirt they are holding is the Sicilian phrase for "Don't worry about it" but much ruder. 

After exploring the neighborhood we headed back to the garden. The tent where Renzi was going to speak was relatively small, so Matilde's parents were able to get seats inside but we were not. Instead we stood outside. The problem as Renzi set up and started to speak it started to rain. So instead of standing the rain we found a dry tent to sit in and with a better view on the TV.



I got a quick picture before it started raining too hard.

After riding home on the bus. It was easier for me to spend another night at Matilde's house then to have Giovanella pick me up. I spent a wonderful weekend with a wonderful family and am sure I will be seeing much more of them! 

September 10 2016

Hanging out in the pool with Giovanella, Anna, and Aunt Graziella. 

Yesterday I also got to meet Andrea, an exchange student from Canada. Our host mom's bonded over the fact that we never dress warm enough. I'll post the picture of us when I get it :)   

September 8 2016

The past few days have been very chill. Giuseppe, my host dad, is a doctor and works a lot and all my host siblings are off at school, so I spend a lot of time with Giovanella, my host mom.

We wake up at the house in Marina di Ragusa and drive to the school where she works. I sit and draw or read while she and the other teachers meet. After school we run errands and eat lunch. When we are finished with errands we spend some time relaxing at the Via Roma house. Giovanella's big project this week has been cleaning the house. I stay out of the way by taking long walks in the city. Last night we went out for sushi with Aunt Graziella! 

September 6 2016

Highlights/Summary of the past two days 

Visiting Nonna (With Davide) 

The view of the port from Nonna's balcony


 

Reading in the rain

A letter from my sister!

Making a bracelet while sitting in on my host mom's teacher meeting.

September 5 2016

Yesterday I went on my first solo adventure of the neighborhood around the beach house. My first task was getting out of the yard, which proved more difficult than I imagined. I had to recruit help and be shown which gate to use, and that the electric gate closes automatically. Once I finally made it out of the yard my family gave me all the normal advise. Don't talk to strangers. Watch out for cars. Don't get lost. 

Feeling very confident I took a beautiful hour long walk. On my way home I kept walking back and forth along the same long road because I couldn't find the right turn. Finally I decided it was much easier to admit I was lost than to panic about how to get home. I called my host mom, and within minutes Davide turned the corner on his motorcycle to come rescue me. Turns out I was only about 2 blocks away from home. Because the road took a sharp turn, from the outside it looked like a dead end and I had continuously walked past it. 

Here are some pictures I took of the neighborhood!