life lately

Below is my monthly report to Rotary that summarizes what I've been up to. I apologize for the length of it, I did a lot in October and I didn't even manage to write about all of it! Pictures that tag along with these events are on facebook. (:

Hey friends! The month of October had some high highs and some low lows. It seemed to go by quickly, but at the same time it feels like I’ve been in Italy for two months now.  My Italian (which I really didn’t speak a word of before I left, let’s be serious) has improved significantly. I can have small conversations and usually understand at least the topic of discussion when people speak to me slowly (slowly is the key word). I am nowhere near conversational Italian yet, but am completely content with my progress. Each time I am able to express myself in Italian is a battle won, and is easily one of the most rewarding feelings. Not only is my Italian progressing, but I really feel as if I am creating a life for myself here where I have routine I follow, friends I can talk with at school, activities in the evening. It was an exciting realization when I was on a train home after a Rotary trip and I was ready to be home, home in my Italian house. Of course it isn’t always wonderful, as this month homesickness has definitely set in. It’s difficult when you’re physically sick, and you don’t have the simple comforts of home. However, I am working past this. I know I have a loving family and friends back home, and that they’ll be there for me when I return. This is an adventure and what would be the good times without the bad? Thankfully there are many wonderful moments that I know I will cherish in the future.

Creating a life for myself here in Italy has been one of the most fun, exciting experiences. Sure, you can visit a foreign country for a few weeks, but to really be surrounded by the culture at all times and feel apart of it- that’s worth so much. For example, I have joined a gospel choir that meets every Tuesday night from 9 pm – 11pm (yes, you read that right). Singing has always been such a big part of my life back home and to continue it here really meant a lot to me. Since it’s a gospel choir and most gospel songs are English, the choir sings mainly in English. It’s quite entertaining as no one in the choir really speaks English, but I love it. It’s a chance I have to help others, to give back. I get to teach the choir how to pronounce words in English and they in return teach me them in Italian. Although I am easily one of the youngest in the choir, it’s nice to have a safe, welcoming environment where I can express my love for music away from home. I have also joined an Italian course the local library offers for free every Monday and Friday evening on top of my Italian tutoring session Rotary gives to each exchange student every Monday morning for two hours. This increase of focused time on learning Italian has really been helpful. I look forward to these courses, and really enjoy seeing my progress. These evening activities have been a welcomed relief. In America we have the mentality to be busy as possible, and fill our schedules to the brink with meetings, activities, work, and school. I was a victim of this mentality and arriving in Italy was quite a shock to me. Here, students are expected to only go to school and when they’re not at school, they’re studying. Education has an extremely high importance. This lifestyle has given me more freedom than I’ve had all through high school. Here there aren’t any school sports, clubs, or part time jobs. With this time I get to read books I’ve always wanted to, take walks, visit small cafes, and when a friend doesn’t have to study we go out. I love the feeling I get every time I ride the train to school and realize this is my life, this is my new normal.

The month of October has been a month of traveling. Of exploring the surrounding area I call home. I had my first Rotary trip on the weekend of October 12^th – 14^th to Cinque Terre! Rotary districts 2030, 2040, and 2050 took fifty five exchange students to these stunning shores on the west coast. Cinque Terre literally translates to “Five Lands” for there are five lovely villages along the Mediterranean Sea that can only be accessed by train, foot, or boat. During this weekend I became physically ill with an ear infection and a terrible cold, so I missed a few activities but it didn’t stop me from having a pleasant vacation. We stayed in a monastery one on of the five villages, Monterosso. Monterosso may be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been- blue sea, surrounding mountains, a paradise. The weekend started on Friday evening when all of the different districts arrived on separate trains and getting settled in to our rooms. Saturday morning we were woken early from our beds, had a quick breakfast of brioches and tea, and headed out for a three hour hike in the mountains. It was amazing to see all of Cinque Terre from a bird’s eye view. To really just stand in awe of God’s creation and realized how blessed I am to be here, having this experience. The weather was unusually warm for October and we actually spent the afternoon swimming in the Mediterranean Sea! On Sunday we toured Monterosso, visiting churches, a famous cemetery, and spent a few hours in a fruit orchard. The owner was extremely kind, letting us pick oranges, lemons, and grapes from his vineyard. They were easily some of the sweetest fruit I’ve ever had. After a very exhausting weekend, all fifty five of us climbed onto the train for the three hour ride back to Milano. It was such a peaceful weekend, and I am so thankful for all of the friends I made on that trip.

I have taken smaller day trips during October as well to Como, Milano, Bergamo, and Delebio. Delebio is a small town at the very north of Italy, almost in Switzerland. The mountains surrounding the village are actually the Alps whereas the mountains around Lecco (where I attend school) are the pre-Alps. My friend, Frannie, an exchange student from Wyoming who attends the school next to mine is currently living in this adorable town. On Sunday October 21^st Delebio had a bazar, the largest of the year. Every street was crammed with booths selling jewelry, clothes, and tasty treats. In a large field there were games to play, as if a carnival, and a large ride that swung you around in circles like a swing. Frannie, her host family, and I spent the afternoon browsing the booths and cheering on our friends as they played games. The most popular was similar to a cake walk. In a circle on the ground were probably twenty different wooden boxes, all having a number painted on top and a small hole in front. In the center of the circle was a bucket with a guinea pig underneath. You would bet on which number the guinea pig would enter and once all bets were place they would lift the bucket. If the guinea pig went into the box of your number, you would win a cake. I didn’t play (exchange students already eat enough sweets!) but I had a brilliant time anyway.

As the month continued, one of the most celebrated holidays in America approached- Halloween! Halloween has only recently been celebrated in Italy, maybe in the past 15 years or so. Only little children dress up in costumes, visiting homes. However, it rained all evening causing any trick-or-treaters to stay home. Teenagers don’t dress up here for Halloween, but rather spend the evening going out with friends to dance or to stay in and watch scary movies. Some exchange students and I decided we wanted to show our host families some American Halloween traditions. The week before Halloween we went pumpkin hunting so we could make jack-o-lanterns! Pumpkins are not grown in Italy and are actually imported. They also aren’t very common- it took asking many strangers and visiting three groceries stores until we found one that had pumpkins. The grocery store had only four, small (compared to American standards) pumpkins but we weren’t picky. We bought our pumpkins and went over to Renato’s house, an exchange student. Together Frannie and I (the only Americans) taught Renato and Joaquin (exchange students from South America) how to carve pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns. When I presented the pumpkin to my host family they loved it, putting a light in it and placing it on the windowsill for everyone to see on Halloween night.

Life in Italy is becoming easier as time goes on. I am starting to feel apart of my host family as they are finally allowing me to help out around the house. Washing dishes with my host mom Adonella or just setting the table with my host sister Giorgia are some of my favorite activities. It’s starting to feel normal to be here, and all awkward feelings that come with living with strangers are slowly beginning to fade. While I may occasionally feel homesick, I know this is where I belong right now. At the end of the day, I’m happy. I wouldn’t be here without Rotary, my family, and my friends, so thank-you for everything. I won’t ever be the same.

Much love,

Kira

following the calling

“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him…Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.” 

-1 Corinthians 7:17 and 20 ESV

I apologize for my lack of posting. For almost the past two weeks I have been battling a cold among other things and all motivation I had to study or do anything productive went out the window. During this time I have found myself struggling a lot with why I am here in Italy. Why this country and not another? Why not college? Or mission work? I felt incredibly confident walking into this experience and that confidence abandoned me. All of the doubts and questions people voiced to me before I left seeped in the back of my head, pestering me. I started to view myself as a coward. I couldn’t understand why I didn’t just absolutely love every minute, but then something changed.

Let me just say that God’s plan for you is magnificent. Those are words I have always spoken to myself, but sometimes it is hard when all you can focus on is the temporary, when tomorrow feels like a far call. Since the day I have arrived I have faced an incredible amount of cultural shock. For the first time in my life I am not surrounded by a strong Christian community. I don’t have bible studies I can go to if I want or even a close friend to pray with. I have fully emerged out of my Christian bubble and really have gotten a glimpse at the real world. Yes, I have traveled out of the country before. Yes, I have traveled without my family out of the country before. I have even traveled with complete strangers out of the country for a month last summer (well, we weren’t strangers for long). This is different. To abandon anything familiar and conform to a new lifestyle, that’s hard. During this time I really have to solely rely on Christ. There isn’t anyone who is going to hold my hand, pull me aside and feed me. It’s just me and God. And let me tell you, it has been pretty amazing.

Now I can in full assurance say that I am here in Italy for a wonderful purpose. I am meant to be here, just the way I am. This is where I belong and when I go home in June, that’s where I’ll belong. If all I do this year is eat pizza and learn Italian, then I have had a successful year because I followed my calling. No one should ever compare their life to another’s. God did not create you to live a life like Mary Jo down the street, and I finally understand that. I am going to live the life the Lord has assigned to me because there is no better way to live.

Next post I’ll give you an update about all the fun activities I get to be a part of. Thanks for supporting me through this experience!

Much love,

Kira

Lessons Learned

I have been here for 24 days and I can't believe it. Time always seems to escape me. I'm going to do my best to describe what life is like here in Italy, but nothing can be fully understood until experienced first hand. I was told frequently by Rotarians, students who have gone on the exchange, friends, loved ones, and even strangers how this year was going to change me. How it is going to be the time of my life. Already, only a mere 24 days into it I know that I will return a different person. I will be stronger, braver, cultured, appreciative, and so much more. This journey isn't necessarily a walk in the park- learning a foreign language is hard. Living with a family that is not your own is hard, but I will be a better person for it. I am learning how to adapt, how to just go with the flow and be content no matter the circumstances. After all, I am living in one of the most beautiful places in the world and blessed with the most wonderful support system of people back home. I have never felt more lifted up and supported. This blog is just an opportunity to share with you, to give back to you a small piece of Italy.

I'm just going to bullet point a list of the lessons learned and give you an idea of how Italians live.

• Food. No matter where you go, what you eat it is fabulously delicious. Breakfast is not really recognized here but lunch and dinner are big meals. Lunch is eaten with the entire family since students don't eat at school. Both lunch and dinner are served in courses and there is always a clean plate for each course. The first course is usually pasta or rice, second is something heavier like meat and potatoes. Third course is salad, fresh baked bread from the bakery, slices of cheese. Once a meal is finished fruit is usually served. Desert always comes after the fruit. :) You might be thinking, "Wow! They eat a lot of food!" but the portions for everything are small so you have enough room for everything. All Italians are apart of the "happy plate" club. I have never seen an Italian not finish their food, haha.
• School. A child starts school when they are 6 years old and finish when they are 19, so school is one year later than the traditional American system. There are three levels of schools here (primary, secondary, and high school) but high school is for 5 years instead of 4. In high school students don't choose their classes but rather stay in the same classroom for all 5 years with the same students while the teachers rotate for each lesson. Even though you can not choose your classes you do get to choose what type of high school you attend. There are three main types of high schools: Classical, Scientific  and Linguistic. The lessons you take in the school then revolve around that subject, but it does mix a little. For example, students do learn a foreign language in the scientific school. You also only go to school here to learn. There aren't really any sports teams, fine arts, clubs, or organizations. Students here are expected to study in the afternoon for hours, and extracurricular activities are not very adamant.
• Transportation. I LOVE the public transportation here. I can take a train to anywhere in Italy and the trains run so frequently that the timing is never a problem. A lot of young people prefer to take Vespas or Motor bikes (Mandello del Lario apparently is a motor bike capital) because the driving age is eighteen and it's expensive to get a driver's license. At school there is are only two parking lots- one for teachers and staff and another for motor bikes driven by students. 

Then there are small, everyday things that I love:

• Women walking in high heels on cobble stone streets
• People saying "pronto" when they answer the phone (pronto means ready)
• Wiping your plate clean with fresh baked bread
• The hand gestures when speaking
• The beautiful views from every corner
• Drinking espresso after every meal
• Gelato. Enough said.
• Dogs in clothing stores, restaurants, you name it
• How all of the buildings are old. I will never get over that.
• Lastly, swimming in Lago di Como

I pray that all is well back home!
Much love,
Kira

piano, piano

Slowly, slowly.



Ciao America! I know there are many loved ones at home curious about my encounters and experience over the past twelve days since I stepped onto that plane to Milan (actually Frankfurt and then Milan). This blog will be the place to come back and check up on me throughout this journey and I will do my best to continually share my adventures with you. I have such an incredible support system back home, and this is just a way to say thanks.

My journey started twelve days ago on September 3rd when I flew from Houston to Frankfurt, arriving in Germany on the 4th. After many challenges caused by the Lufthansa strike, I finally safely reached my new home around 12:30 am September 5th. This year I will be living with two host families (at least that is the plan so far). I am with my first family until the beginning of January and then will switch to my second family which I will live with until I fly home in June.

My first host family is incredibly sweet. I technically have only one host sibling, Giorgia, at age fourteen but they have another daughter, Rosandrea, at seventeen (almost eighteen) years who is in Sweden with Rotary Youth Exchange this year. Even though Rosandrea is not here she really tries to make me feel at home. I always get messages from her, asking how I am and when she Skypes her family she always asks to talk to me which makes me feel so welcomed. My host mom, Adonella, may be one of the best cooks I have encountered. Every meal there is some delicious Italian dish on the table- I am extremely spoiled. Besides being an excellent cook Adonella has already become the person I usually talk to. My host sister Giorgia and my host dad do not speak English while Adonella knows enough to hold simple conversations with me. This is a challenge I did not really expect, but in the long run I know my Italian will improve quickly. Everyday I am learning new words from left (sinistra) and right (destra) to spoon (cucchiaio) which I still have difficulty saying. Needless to say an Italian to English dictionary is always close by. Occasionally I become frustrated when I can't express myself properly to my host family, but Adonella always tells me "piano, piano" which translates to "slowly, slowly". It has become my catch phrase on this adventure. Adonella lived in London for a year to learn English, and she understands the challenge of learning a new language (not to mention she also speaks French and German). She reminds me that listening is the key to learning a language at the beginning and the rest will come slowly, slowly.

I plan to post more in depth about my daily life here. Hopefully I'll manage to write at least once a week, maybe even more frequently. Say hi to America for me!

First picture- Frannie (a Wyoming Rotary Exchange student) and I grabbing a cappuccino after our "first" day of Italian school (we did not attend class, only met some teachers and were told what to expect).
Second picture- The lake down the street from my house in Mandello del Lario which is in the providence of Lecco.
Third picture- The same lake where I swam this past Sunday while the weather was still warm.


Much love,
Kira