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 12th – 14th
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 21st 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
