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