April 29 2017

Hi all! I got back from all my travels late on the 25th, and have been readapting to life back in Ragusa. I'm hoping to put up a blog post with all the pictures soon! I had been having a few issues with Iphoto, and now I'm just waiting for Anna to send me a some of my favorite pictures from our France trip. I can't wait to show you guys everything!!!!!

April 13 2017

Wednesdays are always one of my favorite days of the week because I have my first two hours in 5F, where I have friends.

Because of spring break we only had three hours of school, so we went to the mall, where many people usually hang out.

We had a nice lunch with a big group from the class.  

After going home for two hours, to organize ourselves, a small group met up again to go to the movies. In Ragusa the second wednesday of every month is two euro movie night, so almost everyone goes. 

This morning was the first day of spring break, and the weather was beautiful outside. I decided to take a walk, and stumbled upon a long procession into the main church.


I don't know if it is possible for my host family to be anymore amazing or generous. Over winter break they casually dropped the news that they would be going to France for Easter. At first I was confused, was France a small little town in Sicily with a funny name? Would they be going for a few days while I stayed in Ragusa? No, I get to go with them! Tonight we leave for Milan and tomorrow morning we arrive in France. They have a time share house about an hour outside of Paris, right by EuroDisney (where I will be going on Tuesday!!!!). Anna is coming, we're meeting Davide in Milan, and Luca and Bruno will each be there for about half the time (Unfortunately they only overlap for a family lunch together).

If it is possible for things to get any better, the 19th when I arrive in Catania; I'll be picked up by a Rotarian, spend the the night in Siracusa, and then leave with all the Rotary students in the district for Rome! After a whirlwind of travel I will be back in Ragusa on the 25th with lots of photos and stories to share on my blog.

April 11 2017

Friday I went to Catania and met Auntie Jess, Uncle Brent, Adam and David who had come to visit me! For their family vacation they had gone to Rome, and then met me in Sicily. (Me and the boys in front of the elephant statue of Catania) 

A wonderful dinner out.

Saturday we took the bus back to Ragusa and I showed them around. 

Giogio was super generous and made us a large wonderful lunch.

Sunday I spent the whole day with the rugby team. We had a game in Piana degli Albanesi, near Palermo. It was four hours in the bus to get there and four hours back.

We drove through all of Sicily and the landscape was beautiful. If you look close you can see Mount Etna.

Piana degli Albanesi (Land of the Albanians) is a tiny little town of about 6,000 people. It was founded in the late fifteenth century by a group of Albanian refugees, and still maintains it's own specific culture. The whole community speaks their own unique dialect.  

We had a wonderful social with fire grilled sausages...

locally made cheese...

and dancing!

Yesterday was the first night of passover and I invited Giogio, Zia Graziella and Anna to celebrate and do a mini seder with me. I made some of the traditional foods, and even had Matzo balls because Auntie Jess brought me a mix.

My chicken marbella turned out great.

Chocolate Toffee Matzah.

April 6 2016

Saturday my host dad had to work in Siracusa, so I went along.

In Siracusa I was able to meet up with my friend Gabrielle from Belgium. We went to the hair salon and got her hair died pink.

Sunday, I spent the whole day with the rugby team. We went to one of the girl's country house and spent a great day hanging out, listening to music, dancing and eating. 

Grilling over the fire in the countryside.

My friend Angela is studying for a big English test, so we've been getting together for study sessions and food.

Yesterday I went over to my friend Ottavia's house and with her friend Mattia we made crepes. 86% of the time Italians eat their crepes with Nutella, but I brought peanut butter for them to try. Mattia liked it, Ottavia was not a fan.

April 2 2017

Hi All! I'm sorry it's been such a long time. I went on my school trip to Greece, and just got back on Tuesday. Unfortunately when I got back the home Wi-Fi, which had been having many problems prior, decided to complete give up. Yesterday we go everything all sorted out, and now I can post this blog.

The trip was an amazing experience especially because I have always been fascinated by greek mythology. I got to see so many special places! The sad part was that because we did and saw so many things, everything was at lightning speed and I didn't have much time to really soak in the experiences or information.

Our very first stop, even before going to the hotel, was this temple of Poseidon on the coast of the Aegean Sea.

Cape Sounion.

 The temple was constructed in 444–440 BC, over the ruins of a temple dating from the Archaic period 

Proof that I was there. 

The Corinth Canal. The construction dates back to the time of the Roman Emperor Nero.

Theater of Epidauro. The women in the center demonstrated the amazing acoustics for us. She dropped a coin against the stone and the people all the way in the back row could hear it.

 I learned that all the amphitheaters are built in the shape of an ear.  

The Lion Gate was the main entrance of the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae, southern Greece. It was erected during the 13th century BC in the northwest side of the acropolis. The two Lions represent Greece and Crete. 

The ruins of Mycenae.

Tomb of Agamemnon built between 1350 and 1250 BC. It was found robbed and there is no information of who or what was once inside.

From the inside.

During the evenings we were often free to hang out in Athens. The city center was only three metro stops away from our hotel. I thought this picture featuring Starbucks and the Parthenon is an interesting and funny juxtaposition. 

Free morning out with my friend Dario. The base of a temple for Zeus barely makes it into the top of this picture.

Little street market.

Baklava! I was always really surprised when my classmates would buy food that they could easily find in Ragusa rather than trying something amazing and typical. 

Temple for Hephaestus! 

Morning at the Acropolis museum where we got to see the Caryatides. These six statues supported the roof of the norther porch of The Erechtheion.

My favorite day of the trip was taking a mini cruise of three of the Island. To get to the first island, Hydra, it was a three hours on the boat. As almost every night, many of the students had barely slept. We had to get up at 6 in the morning and to make matters worse it was daylight savings. Walking around the boat it looked like a zombie apocalypse with bodies draped over tables, chairs and benches. 

Hydra, with typical donkeys. 

We walked all the way up the hill to check out the amazing view. 

Tiny little bridge and fishing boats.

After only 45 minutes in Hydra we made our way back to the boat, and had lunch. After lunch they put on some greek dancing music. Soon all the Italians and two other school groups were dancing.  

The second Island was Poros and at the top was this little clock tower.

My friend Ricardo and I coping all the memes going around Facebook. How Italians take selfies! (The funny thing is, it's not just a stereotype, this hand gesture comes out a lot.)

At the last island Aegina the weather started to turn gray, and I finally got a Gyro with some friends. Unfortunately along the trip, we mostly ate at the hotel and restaurants; both served very generic food and we didn't have the opportunity to eat many typical dishes. 

The highlight of my whole entire trip was talking with this great group of girls during our three hour return to Athens. They are all from India, but live in Dubai. As an exchange student I am always interested to talk to new people especially from different cultures. I started talking with one of the girls, and was then completely surrounded by the almost the whole school group. They asked the DJ who had been playing very loud traditional Greek music for some Bollywood songs. We rushed to the dance floor and they had a ton of fun trying to teach me Bollywood moves. 

Theater of Dyonisis.

The Parthenon! Unfortunately the visit was very fast, with very strong wind and I really didn't hear much of what the guid said.

Temple dedicated to the goddess of Athens, Athena.

The archeology museum. Gold death masks found in the tombs of Mycenae.

The Parthenon at night.

The typical walk of the guard change in front of the parliament buildings. 

It was a great trip and I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to go. Hopefully in the future I'll be able to visit again, and see everything on my own terms.