Well since the last time I wrote on this there have been many many changes in my life in Italy. I ended up switching host families because I was having lots of problems with my first one. They were just very different from me in many ways and we werent compatible at all. So for the weekend I stayed with my assisstente (Jasmine) which was so much fun! First off, she lives on top of the bakery her father and mother work in which has amazing bread and dolce!!! and second she went to alaska for a year so we have tons in common!!!! Anyways, thursday after I left my host family Jasmine, her sister and friend took me to Milano where I got to witness the first ever in fashion week history in milano, a fashion show open to the public. The line was CNC (abbrev) I dont remember the full name but I know i cant spell or pronouce it!! It was the coolest thing ever!!! I wish I could see more but unfortunately, you need to be invited to the rest and I dont know anyone who could invite me sadly. SO, after a fun filled weekend of meeting new people, I moved into a new family! They live in Meda which is close to my school sort of, I now take a train to school! I have gotten lost too many times so far to count, everytime I try to go somewhere on my own i get lost and then eventually get to the right place at the very last second! Example, this morning almost missed the only train and got onto it ten seconds before the door shut! My luck! Well yah so I have 3 host siblings, 5 year old boy named Francessco, 7 year old girl Katerina and 10 year old girl Margherita. They are very cute and nice! I am actually sharing a room with Francessco, yes me and a 5 year old boy are sharing a room! At first, I was really upset about it , I mean anyone my age would be! However, we dont get in fights, he is a sound sleeper and, he doesnt complain about anything, so for now its perfect!! School is getting harder here and I am really realizing how easy I had it in the US! Gah school is so hard here! Its not even the language its school in general! I am learning that I am not a polite person and keep breaking rules by accident, for example, saying Ciao to a teacher is not acceptable here which I do all the time when I should say Salve. Also chewing gum here is not okay, and I have been yelled at many times about it!! Oh and lets see since no one told me toccare ( tocar in spanish=to take) isnt the same meaning as spanish, I have been telling my MALE teachers that I want to touch them in many different ways and the best part is no one said a word! Also, I had thought Dio meant I say, but no I say= Ho Detto and Dio means god, so people must think I really like god because I say Dio all the time!!!!!!!!!! Well not anymore ofcourse. But actually living with little kids is helping my italian thankfully :)))
Ciaooo!
Xoxo
Mollie
This is my blog about my journey before during and after my experience to study abroad in Italy for my Junoir Year of High School with AFS
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
OOH Italiaa
Ciao Tutti!!
So now I have been in Italia for a little over a week and so much has happened its hard to think about everything. School is so different, but really fun! I love talking with all my classmates and they are all sooo nice. I have met so many new people this week but in gjueneral I have to say I love italian people. I dont even remember what I did when so I guess I will wrsite about what I did this weekend. On friday, I went to Milano with Martina and some of her friends, I got a really cute pair of shoes and saw the duomo and also many high fashion italian stores!! Ahh it was fashion heaven. Im still trying to figure out how I am going to sneak into fashion week because I found out you need to be invited in order to go to it :( Then ahh saturday, I had my first day of saturday school which was not fun !! But anyways that night I was invited by some friends from school to go out for Chiara and Gatto's birthdays! We went to this crazy restaurant called La Cantina, and its insane after you eat your meal the waitors clear off the tables and the restaurant turns into a night club and everyone gets up and dances on their tables, it was so much fun!! Everytime they would play american songs everyone was amazed that I knew the actual words. Here in italy they say most of the words wrong to the song or if they dont know the words they say jaja bluuu or something you know not the actual words. Ah but I love my school friendss! I also love my afs local chapter , they are amazing! We had a dinner to welcome us to the Monza local chapter. They gave us Miss Italia sashes which said welcome to monza on them and then we sang kareokee, they love singing " I want to be a part of this , New York. New York" a lot of people seem to sing that when they hear that I live in New York haha but I keep having to explain I am from la cascada di Niagara not la citta di Nueva York. Most people are disappointed when I tell them that. Haha oh well! Anyways, Afs also had another orientation where we had a lunch and everyone from each country had to make a signature food from their host country. I made a cookie cake, which was a fail because it got burnt and did not resemble a cookie cake what so ever. But what can I say , im no chef! But I have also learned that I suck at drawing!! I am a horrible artist. I have 2 art classes which I thought wouldnt be too hard but I am the worst in the class. Its so annoying how bad I am. Everyone is very advanced at drawing and I am so behind its really hard to keep up with everyone. I really am having trouble understanding certain teachers only a few know english i think maybe 2 total including my english teacher. So yeah they all talk very fast and also something new here they dont write notes on the board they say them and we are sopposed to write down what they say. However, i cannot understand or spell for that matter anything so its been hard but luckily my friends help me with everything and my teachers try to help too which is really nice. Well this has been pretty long so I think I will stop writing
Arriverderci (sp?)
MOllie
So now I have been in Italia for a little over a week and so much has happened its hard to think about everything. School is so different, but really fun! I love talking with all my classmates and they are all sooo nice. I have met so many new people this week but in gjueneral I have to say I love italian people. I dont even remember what I did when so I guess I will wrsite about what I did this weekend. On friday, I went to Milano with Martina and some of her friends, I got a really cute pair of shoes and saw the duomo and also many high fashion italian stores!! Ahh it was fashion heaven. Im still trying to figure out how I am going to sneak into fashion week because I found out you need to be invited in order to go to it :( Then ahh saturday, I had my first day of saturday school which was not fun !! But anyways that night I was invited by some friends from school to go out for Chiara and Gatto's birthdays! We went to this crazy restaurant called La Cantina, and its insane after you eat your meal the waitors clear off the tables and the restaurant turns into a night club and everyone gets up and dances on their tables, it was so much fun!! Everytime they would play american songs everyone was amazed that I knew the actual words. Here in italy they say most of the words wrong to the song or if they dont know the words they say jaja bluuu or something you know not the actual words. Ah but I love my school friendss! I also love my afs local chapter , they are amazing! We had a dinner to welcome us to the Monza local chapter. They gave us Miss Italia sashes which said welcome to monza on them and then we sang kareokee, they love singing " I want to be a part of this , New York. New York" a lot of people seem to sing that when they hear that I live in New York haha but I keep having to explain I am from la cascada di Niagara not la citta di Nueva York. Most people are disappointed when I tell them that. Haha oh well! Anyways, Afs also had another orientation where we had a lunch and everyone from each country had to make a signature food from their host country. I made a cookie cake, which was a fail because it got burnt and did not resemble a cookie cake what so ever. But what can I say , im no chef! But I have also learned that I suck at drawing!! I am a horrible artist. I have 2 art classes which I thought wouldnt be too hard but I am the worst in the class. Its so annoying how bad I am. Everyone is very advanced at drawing and I am so behind its really hard to keep up with everyone. I really am having trouble understanding certain teachers only a few know english i think maybe 2 total including my english teacher. So yeah they all talk very fast and also something new here they dont write notes on the board they say them and we are sopposed to write down what they say. However, i cannot understand or spell for that matter anything so its been hard but luckily my friends help me with everything and my teachers try to help too which is really nice. Well this has been pretty long so I think I will stop writing
Arriverderci (sp?)
MOllie
Thursday, September 17, 2009
la mia vita italiana รจ bella.
Ciao everyone,
So now I have been in italy for about a week or so and this is the first time I have been able to sit down for a small amount of time on a computer. So, I guess I will try to start from the beginning of the journey. I took a one hour plane ride from Buffalo to NYC with Bill (afs) and we met all the other 43 kids from around the USA in the Double Tree Hotel where we had a long boring orientation that seemed to never end. We finally after about 4 days of traveling, one of those days with no sleep what so ever, we made it to Rome. And arriving in American style we were the last people to arrive. Great first impression of Americans, but it wasnt out fault. We spent one night in Rome and the next morning split into different groups where we took different transportation to our new homes. I was in 1-Nord Centro(north central) with 50 or so other kids. When we got to Milan we had to go to a waiting center and put our bags down and then enter a room which had all of our host families in it and say in front of hundreds of people in italian, Hi, my name is mollie, I am american, I am going to be in monza, with the Savino Family. It seems easy but it was the most nerve racking thing I think I have ever done in my life!!!
Okay, so I met my host family, my local volenteers whom I absolutley love!! They are hilarious and sooo nice. And I just love everyone, everyone is super nice. There are so many differences in Italian life I never knew before and I cant even think of all of them right now but hmm...okay well for starters the food, I am used to eating one plate for dinner, they have 2 plates, and also breakfast they eat like chocolates and sweets which I love! Also, the coffee, more like expresso is super different, very strong but I love it!!
I am trying to keep this semi-short so I will skip to my first day of school. I was like sooo nervous I really didnt know what to expect. None of my teachers know any english haha but when one of them introduced me to the class and they heard I was American they were like OmGGGG american!! WHAT!!! It was really funny. Later on they told me they expected me to be a fat, ugly , red head with lots of fat lmao....but I don't think I fall into that category. I actually think people think I am italian that is..until I start speaking.. well okay heres a funny story I had to take the bus for school , they dont have school buses here so Nadia my host mom showed me the way a few days ago and I thought I knew where I was going so I asked some girl once we were on the bus, is Cesano Maderno the next stop and she said yes the next one, i thought she meant the next time the doors opened but no , So i got off at the wrong stop and had to ask random girls how to get to Cesano because I was still in Seveso, so i ran around with them i got a train ticket and took a train to Cesano and met some boys on it who go to my school, I guess they had heard of me from their teacher or something , and they helped me get to school which was really nice. So yeah Im pretty sure that story seemed way more stressful in my mind but actually running around ab to cry because I thought i would be late for my first day of school was scary! Luckily everyone was really nice the train people even let me go in their office so I wouldnt have to wait in line for a ticket. Haha, hmm well I really have too much to write its not even funny, I actually hate writing but I know people want to know about this stuff so I will try to keep writing on the blog.
Ciao for now,
Mollie xoxo
So now I have been in italy for about a week or so and this is the first time I have been able to sit down for a small amount of time on a computer. So, I guess I will try to start from the beginning of the journey. I took a one hour plane ride from Buffalo to NYC with Bill (afs) and we met all the other 43 kids from around the USA in the Double Tree Hotel where we had a long boring orientation that seemed to never end. We finally after about 4 days of traveling, one of those days with no sleep what so ever, we made it to Rome. And arriving in American style we were the last people to arrive. Great first impression of Americans, but it wasnt out fault. We spent one night in Rome and the next morning split into different groups where we took different transportation to our new homes. I was in 1-Nord Centro(north central) with 50 or so other kids. When we got to Milan we had to go to a waiting center and put our bags down and then enter a room which had all of our host families in it and say in front of hundreds of people in italian, Hi, my name is mollie, I am american, I am going to be in monza, with the Savino Family. It seems easy but it was the most nerve racking thing I think I have ever done in my life!!!
Okay, so I met my host family, my local volenteers whom I absolutley love!! They are hilarious and sooo nice. And I just love everyone, everyone is super nice. There are so many differences in Italian life I never knew before and I cant even think of all of them right now but hmm...okay well for starters the food, I am used to eating one plate for dinner, they have 2 plates, and also breakfast they eat like chocolates and sweets which I love! Also, the coffee, more like expresso is super different, very strong but I love it!!
I am trying to keep this semi-short so I will skip to my first day of school. I was like sooo nervous I really didnt know what to expect. None of my teachers know any english haha but when one of them introduced me to the class and they heard I was American they were like OmGGGG american!! WHAT!!! It was really funny. Later on they told me they expected me to be a fat, ugly , red head with lots of fat lmao....but I don't think I fall into that category. I actually think people think I am italian that is..until I start speaking.. well okay heres a funny story I had to take the bus for school , they dont have school buses here so Nadia my host mom showed me the way a few days ago and I thought I knew where I was going so I asked some girl once we were on the bus, is Cesano Maderno the next stop and she said yes the next one, i thought she meant the next time the doors opened but no , So i got off at the wrong stop and had to ask random girls how to get to Cesano because I was still in Seveso, so i ran around with them i got a train ticket and took a train to Cesano and met some boys on it who go to my school, I guess they had heard of me from their teacher or something , and they helped me get to school which was really nice. So yeah Im pretty sure that story seemed way more stressful in my mind but actually running around ab to cry because I thought i would be late for my first day of school was scary! Luckily everyone was really nice the train people even let me go in their office so I wouldnt have to wait in line for a ticket. Haha, hmm well I really have too much to write its not even funny, I actually hate writing but I know people want to know about this stuff so I will try to keep writing on the blog.
Ciao for now,
Mollie xoxo
Friday, September 4, 2009
Departure
So, the time has finally come. Only 5 days left until I depart. I can't believe this is actually happening i've been waiting all year and now its time! I hate saying goodbyes to people. I feel like I will talk to everyone and the way people act all sad makes me feel like I am never coming back to Buffalo but I am, just a year later. I wish people would stop making this so hard to say goodbye. The more sad people are the more sad I get. How do you say goodbye to things you are so used to? I don't know what I will miss the most because I haven't even left yet. What I am trying to say is sad goodbyes are not necessary because this is a happy experience and I wish everyone felt that way about it. I have not even started to pack yet, I feel like I should do it soon though because when I realize all the things I still have to get before I leave I will be running around at the last second to get them. Anyways, I am excited to find out what is in store for me, but with that excitement comes nerves. I am a little nervous but the excitement for this adventure over weighs it : ) If that even makes sense? Well the next entry I write will hopefully be after I arrive in Italy at my host families house!!! I hope this turns out to be every thing I hoped for and more!
XOXO
Mollie
XOXO
Mollie
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The Dreaded Visa
So I'm sure many of you may have heard that Italian Visas are very hard to get and it is the hardest part of the whole pre-departure experience? Well you are completely right if thats the case because in my opinion it certainly was. My parents took care of all of the paper work but sitting in the small crowded italian consulate in New York City for 3 hours waiting while many people in line in front of me were getting rejected was not something I like to consider fun. For anyone reading this who hasn't done it yet, make sure you have all your paper work because trust me you don't want to go back there twice!! Other than that though, my trip to New York was fun! It was the first time I had ever been there so I was the typical tourist taking many pictures of times square and all those tacky people walking around. I have been taking Italian lessons at this womans house since the end of April and I feel like they are really helping. I can't imagine how much harder it would be for me if I did not take these lessons. I feel like the langugage will not be the hardest adjustment I have to make there because I already know a decent amount of grammar and stuff. Plus I've heard when I get there we have italian lessons everyday after school!
Well thats the lastest update for now!
Ciao,
Mollie
Well thats the lastest update for now!
Ciao,
Mollie
Friday, June 19, 2009
2 Months.
Hi!
Okay so I know I haven't wrote on this blog in a while, but again there is not many intersting things to write about since I am not actually in Italy yet! However, Since I last wrote I have found out so much information about where I am staying and such. I have been e-mailing my host sister, Martina very often and she has told me a lot about Seveso! I also have been talking to my 2 liasons in Italy on facebook there names are Jasmine and Clio! They seem really nice and I can't wait to meet them. I have the website for my school in Italy, www.iismajorana.it I am pretty sure its a Science School whatever that means. I'm sure going to find out! I looked at pictures on the school website and it sure looks different from my school now. I am so excited to go! I feel like this whole thing is a dream, it really hasn't hit me that I'm leaving I feel like its just something I say and I won't realize the reality of it for a long time. Anyways, I have gotten an e-mail saying its time to go ahead and get my visa...I am actually secretly excited to get it because the consulate is in NYC! I have never been to NYC and I live in New York! It's really sad, so even though my parents are mad they have to pay all this money and ofcourse I heard italy is one of the hardest countries to get a visa to besides Russia and China. Other than that though, besides the long boring process, there is some good to come of it! Well I really don't have too much else to say! I hope these blogs I'm writing are somewhat interesting for people! I have 22 views yay!
Ciao!
Mollie
Okay so I know I haven't wrote on this blog in a while, but again there is not many intersting things to write about since I am not actually in Italy yet! However, Since I last wrote I have found out so much information about where I am staying and such. I have been e-mailing my host sister, Martina very often and she has told me a lot about Seveso! I also have been talking to my 2 liasons in Italy on facebook there names are Jasmine and Clio! They seem really nice and I can't wait to meet them. I have the website for my school in Italy, www.iismajorana.it I am pretty sure its a Science School whatever that means. I'm sure going to find out! I looked at pictures on the school website and it sure looks different from my school now. I am so excited to go! I feel like this whole thing is a dream, it really hasn't hit me that I'm leaving I feel like its just something I say and I won't realize the reality of it for a long time. Anyways, I have gotten an e-mail saying its time to go ahead and get my visa...I am actually secretly excited to get it because the consulate is in NYC! I have never been to NYC and I live in New York! It's really sad, so even though my parents are mad they have to pay all this money and ofcourse I heard italy is one of the hardest countries to get a visa to besides Russia and China. Other than that though, besides the long boring process, there is some good to come of it! Well I really don't have too much else to say! I hope these blogs I'm writing are somewhat interesting for people! I have 22 views yay!
Ciao!
Mollie
Friday, May 1, 2009
My Host Family
This is a picture Martina took this in Cesano
Another picture she took in Seveso or Cesano(5 min from seveso)...not sure
Front of my house
My house!Hey Everyone,
So for all of the 16 people who have viewed my blog so far I will tell you more about my host family! My father's name is Franco, my mother's name is Nadia, my sister's name is Martina, and my brother's name is Luca. They live in a small town about 19 km from the city of Milan, which sounds awesome! Martina says it takes 30 minutes by train to get to Milan and we could go there once a week or twice a month If I want to! I have been e-mailing Martina almost everyday for several weeks now and I have found out so much about her and her family so I will share! Martina is currently in 11th grade, this means we will be in different grades next year because right now I am in 10th grade. She told me that AFS said we will be going to different schools, she is at a language school, and they will put me in a school more similar to the one I go to now...I am not sure how similar it will actually be but Im assuming I will find out. Luca is in 7th grade and he loves to swim and play video games. Martina said she paints, listens to music, hangs out with friends, or plays the piano in her free time. My father and mother like to travel, read, go shopping, see movies, paint and much more! I feel like I have many things in common with them and I think we are going to get along great!! The pictures above are some pictures Martina has sent me! She is actually doing a summer study abroad with AFS in July, she is going to Austrailia so when I come to her house, she will probably have a good understanding of how I am feeling when I first get there!
Tomorrow is my pre-departure orientation, I am going to have a sleepover with a bunch of other kids going to many different places and we are going to talk about how we feel about everything. My local AFS coordinator said I was the first one in our reigon to recieve a family so far, but we had that conversation a month ago so I am not sure if anyone else has received any news! I can't wait to find out more about this experience I am going to have and I hope its fun!
I still haven't heard anything about my student visa so I am waiting on that, I have heard its not a fun thing to do but I will find out hopefully soon how it goes.
XOXO
Mollie
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