February 24 2016

Group photo from friday night in Siracusa

Monday, for lunch, Nonna made scoccia and focaccia! 

With everyone visiting, we called Frida, the other exchange student who lived with Giovanella last year.

Tuesday morning I made pancakes. Pia, Anna's sister, in the background.  

We spent the day at Marina di Ragusa.

It didn't feel like February 21st.

Pia, is an amazing gymnast, so after I took a ton of photos for her she offered to take one for me.

Wednesday we went sailing in Siracusa. In Minneapolis I spend almost the whole summer on my friends little sale boat on the lake, and it's something I've been missing a lot. 

Unfortunately near the end of the voyage both me and Pia felt a little seasick. But during the first half we had a good time. She taught me German and I taught her American Sign Language. 

Thursday morning instead of going to school (Which I had only gone to Monday), I went upstairs to learn how to make ravioli from Nonna. She made the pasta, I sat and watched and we talked. I learned much more than I ever would have at school.

The ravioli! This is just one of the many batches. By the end of the ordeal the whole kitchen was covered in trays of pasta.

In addition to the ravioli, Nonna made small little pastas to take to her brother. She used a very traditional method and materials passed down from her grandmother. She would take the pasta dough and twirl little pieces onto thin rods. She would then role the rods along the ladder-like contraption to give them a swirling pattern.

The finished product.

Don't worry! It's not my arm. Thursday evening I went with Perry to the tattoo parlor. She got a beautiful outline of Sicily on her wrist. As soon as we walked into the room I was more nervous than she was. Half way through, Perry's friend Francesca ask me if I was okay because I had been anxiously hovering over Perry's shoulder, fiddling with her hair, and observing the whole process.

This morning I went with Perry to the bus station to see her off. It was a nice one week visit.

February 19 2016

A typical Sicilian dish: Black Pasta! The sauce is black from the ink of Cuttlefish.

The winter is Ragusa is really short and spring is already starting. There aren't many green spaces but in a few wildflowers are popping up.

Thursday it was beautiful and warm, so I took my computer to Piazza San Giovanni to reread a book of Greek Myths.

Friday and Saturday I went to Siracusa to visit the other exchange students. One of the rotarians, Pucci, was extremely generous and hosted me in his home right in the center of Piazza Duomo (Every town has a Piazza Duomo, that is the city center). This is the view from my balcony.

Siracusa is right along the ocean.

Some of the exchange students, including Perrine and Anna who were exchange students last year and are back for a short visit. Perrine was in Ragusa and stayed with Giovanella half the year. We went home to Ragusa together and she staying the rest of the week.

Papyrus. 

The Port.

Sunset at the port.

Saturday morning, Pucci and I had a slow breakfast in the Piazza. I think we sat for over two hours, watching life go by. It felt just like being in an Italian movie. There was a great accordion player, a bicycling group, little kids in costumes for festivale, couples, grandparents and Asian tourists. No one was in a rush. Pucci knew almost everyone and every stopped to say hello.

Saturday for lunch Pucci invite everyone over. We took the opportunity to take a ton of picture on the roof. Unfortunately we didn't get a group photo. Me and Giogio.

It was a great weekend and I'm going to try to visit everyone again soon!

February 15 2016

Friday night my friend from school was in town (she from the town over), and we got together for a quick cookie before she had to catch the bus. This is a terrible photo but it was a good moment. 

Later that night I went to a birthday party with the Francone's. It was almost exactly like all of the diciotessimos I got to, but for a 60 year old.

Saturday, I had some of the morning free before going to run a few errands in Catania with Concetta, Mati's mom. Ragusa has three big bridges in the center and her office is right on the edge of the center bridge. I took the opportunity to take some pictures. 

The center bridge.

The center bridge, but a lower angle. 

The first bridge (the highest on the hill).

The third bridge (lowest on the hill).

On the way back from Catania we had to stop for a herd of sheep to cross the street.

Sunday I went to mount Etna again but this time with Mati's group of friends.

Sunrise from the bus. The bus left at 6am.

Sledding!

It feels like being on a cloud.

Another group photo.

Valentines day is really only celebrated between couples in Sicily, so it wasn't very festive. Me and Andrea met up at the tea shop, and had a great little Valentines date. 

But the best gift of all was finding out that in March my class is taking a five day trip to Greece! I have always loved greek mythology and I am insanely excited. My classmates are much less excited for various reasons. For them it's easy enough to pop over to Greece later in life for a fun trip with friends, rather than being constricted by school rules. For me, this could be my one opportunity to see Greece in my whole life. I am taking the time to relearn my Mythology and get excited!!

February 8 2016

I have no doubt that I am the luckiest person in the world. With all the opportunities I have been given I feel like it is my duty to live each moment as fully and as thoughtfully as possible. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny afternoon in Ragusa so I put my music on and walked around the city for an hour and half before the sun set. It's amazing how much the weather effects my perception of the city. On cold and rainy days I forget how beautiful everything is. Pictures below! (this picture is from Anna's diciotessimo).

The northern edge of the city. Ragusa is in the hills, so the northern slope of the hill cuts the city off.

A new Piazza I found on the norther edge.

Looking in the opposite direction.

Looking across the park to the the bridge.

Via Roma. My house is just a street past the church.

A church and the moon.

The street outside my favorite tea shop.

Beautiful intersection. At first I didn't realize that the street to the right was the very beginning of Via Roma.

The train tracks in the newer more industrial part of the city.