October 31 2016

Happy Halloween! I'm not really doing anything to celebrate because I am currently in Bologna!

Saturday night I had another diciotessimo. I think it is one of the last for a while. It was on the beach and had the most dancing than any of the other three I've been too, making it one of the most fun. Sadly not many of my classmates could make it because it is a holiday weekend so people were out of town, or because they couldn't find rides to Kaukana (a city outside of Ragusa near Marina di Ragusa). I feel like I bonded with my classmates that were there.

Three of my classmates at the party :)

Sunday Giovanella and I drove to Catania to have lunch at a Vineyard with the other Rotarians. It was an amazing five course meal, with a lot of starch. The dessert was very typical of Catania. Its a little cake called "St Agatha's boob...". St Agatha was a martyr who stood up for her religion and (maybe you guessed it) got her boob cut off... I know it doesn't sound that appetizing and is a little weird, but it's really good. After lunch, which probably lasted four and a half hours, we drove to the airport to fly to Bologna. My host cousin, Anna, met us there. We got to the hotel around midnight and headed to bed.

St Agatha's boob...

Today we have been exploring Bologna and visiting with Giovanella's son Bruno. It's been really fun, and this afternoon Anna and I might do a little shopping.

October 29 2016

Yesterday marked an official 2 months in Italy. It's been an amazing time. Of course there have been some down moments and homesickness but I am accepting it and taking care of my self with lots of tea.

Had an awesome tea date with Andrea Thursday.

The cutest little tea shop. Its so homey and the atmosphere is so relaxed. It might be one of my favorite places in Ragusa.

One of the school court yards with a little sandwich and pizza table.

Another court yard with a soccer field.

My desk.

My beautiful apartment building.

My walk to school. (I walk up the hill, I turned around to get the photo.)

My street.

One of the main churches right on my street.

Trees(!) by the school.

Church and little snack stand.

October 26 2016

Today I was reminded by my mom that I hadn't posted any pictures of my neighborhood or street in Ragusa. On my way to an intense full body work out class (With about 15 preteens that weighed a collective 500 pounds) I snapped a few photos. Tomorrow I'll take some of my morning walk to school.

This is my street. It's one of the only streets where cars are not allowed. Every afternoon/evening groups of old men meet up and find different benches and tables to hang out at. (There is another picture at the very bottom)

Another street with a little bridge and a super cute little tea shop I'm going to go to tomorrow!

Bridge by my house that crosses what used to be a river.

Overpass and tree

View from the bridge.

Under the overpass.

Typical Italian parking.

One of the many little fruit and vegetable markets.

( Not sure why this keeps getting pushed to the bottom, I wanted it to be the first picture but no worries.) This is directly underneath my apartment. My front door is just to the right of the little jewelry shop. To the left of the jewelry shop is Cafe Roma. Every street has at least one or two cafe's that all sell the same things; Pizza, arancine, focacce, pasteries, coffee and gelato.Every day on my walk to and from school, I say hello and chat with the bakery owner Maurizio.

October 25 2016

Today during school we elected class presidents and talked about options for a senior trip. It sounds like in Italy its common for schools to offer 5th years a trip to a foreign city like Prague, Berlin, or Amsterdam!

October 24th 2016

It's been a full weekend. It seems every Saturday I have a Diciotessimo. As always it was fun. This diciotessimo had a man with a microphone who was supposed to keep the party energized. A majority of the time he didn't capture many peoples attention. The highlight of the party was when he had Alessia pair us up into couples. Each couple was given a piece of dry spaghetti to bite between our mouths and instructed to dance with out breaking the spaghetti. It was really hard to do but a fun bonding experience.

I traded hair braiding for a ride to the party.

Ready for the party.

Me and Alessia

Sunday morning, after four hours of sleep, I got in the car to drive to Enna, a city in the center of Sicily. In Enna I had orientation with the other 26(?) inbound students. We traded pins for our Rotary Jackets, were reminded of all the rules, and then had lunch together. It was nice to meet everyone and I am excited to see them again.

This should be a picture of all of us,  Sanna the girl from Finland may be missing

America going strong.

Meeting cool new people!

October 21 2016

Today when I walked into the school something felt distinctly off. It felt way too quiet. I didn't think I was too early or too late, but no one else was in the building. When I got to my classroom only two other students were there. They explained that everyone else was at some type of protest. I'm not 100% sure what the protest was about but it had to do with school. To say the least it was a pretty chill day at school with only a total of five of us in the class.

Later today I went to a Pilates lesson, I wasn't sure if the schedule got switched but lesson started an hour later than I thought. While I was waiting I wandered around the neighborhood and found a really cute little Tea shop. I made friends with the two employees and am hoping to go get tea soon with friends or Giovanella.

October 20 2016

The past two days have been really fun! Tuesday was Elisa's diciottesimo. It was nice hanging out with my classmates but it's always hard to be part of any group conversation especially when there is a lot of background noise. It was very elegant and the food was good.

Yesterday was my last day with the Franconce's. When I came home from school there was a bag on my bed. Mati had gotten me an Italian grammar work book, and a coloring book that went along with a little story in Italian. It was so sweet and thoughtful. On my way out the door, Concetta ran to pull a hot muffin out of the oven for me to eat on my way down in the elevator. The whole family is so sweet and kind.

I was then reunited with Giovanella who had gotten me two more coloring books and a pin from Dubai! On my desk at home there was also mail from my family. I don't know any one as lucky as I am.

Today I was able to try out my new work book, and my classmates had a lot of fun helping me. Now I am having a chill afternoon back at Via Roma.

Me,Angela, Gaia, Teresa, and Elisabetta.

Me, Angela, Elisabetta, Laura

Elisa

October 18 2016

Sunday was a ton of fun because I went with the Francone's to a little restaurant on a farm. All of their cheese was homemade and delicious.

Yesterday I went to Pilates with Concetta, which was nice to get some exercise in after excessive cannoli eating.

Today is Luca's 14th birthday! No party today, but he will have one after he gets his motorcycle license. Tonight I am going to another diciotesimo.

Mati and Luca's Nonna. She is the sweetest in the world. She calls me her new granddaughter!