As Christmas Is Nearing....

Well, the Christmas season has somehow snuck up on me. I'm not really sure how I should feel about it. I'm very proud of myself for making it this long without my parents, my family, and my friends being with me all the time. I'm sure that it has become much easier due to the amazing host families I have here and my wonderful Italian friends. However, Christmas has always been important to me, so not being with family this holiday season will be a challenge, but I've made it this far, so I'm sure I will be fine.

    I put up the Christmas tree with my host mother, Cinzia, and her granddaughter, Cinzia. I call the granddaughter little Cinzia or Cinzia Piccola in Italian. My host parents' tree is an artificial tree with plenty of ornaments. Also I've talked with my Italian friends to get an idea of how Italians celebrate Christmas. From what I've heard it is not a "little occasion" at all. My family usually eats one large lunch on Christmas Day. Here they eat multiple large meals on Christmas and after. I was also told on Christmas Eve the teenagers are out of the house for most of the day. Then, the family eats dinner at around 10:00 or as late as 11:30 pm. Yeah, the thing is, that I'm not joking. They wait until midnight to place the baby Jesus in the nativity set and then they start to unwrap the presents.
 

Cinzia Piccola with the Christmas tree.

Last night I went to the annual Rotary Christmas meeting of my host club, Pompei Oplonti Vesuvio Est. It was absolutly wonderful. I was there with the other exchange students hosted by my host club as well as almost all of the Rotarians. We all ate very well but I think it's pretty difficult to "eat badly" in Italy. After the meeting portion of the night was over, we all moved to a more casual area where we listened to music. Laurel and I both danced with our club president Alfonso or as we call him "Fofo" and another Rotarian. Yeah, I don't think I'm in Illinois anymore. It was still a lot of fun. 

Darcy, Me, Luciano (EEMA chair) Laurel, and Jack.

Laurel and I at the Rotary meeting. 

My host mother getting an award for all of her work with Rotary Youth Exchange. 

Yeah, just a "little" Christmas party.

Salvatore, (the husband of my Italian tutor), Lello, Luciano and Cinzia. 

The amazing band of the night plus a few Rotary Interact members. The saxophonist made me really miss my sax back home though. 

The band was all from Torre Annunziata. They sang songs in Italian and English. They were so good that my host parents were singing Christmas songs on the way home.

Near the end of the night.

P.S. By the way, I am missing the snow with all the snow days just a tad. :)

This is Muriel's family, and extended family, in St. Francisville, Illinois, USA, at the community log cabin. Muriel's Mother, Dianne Brumley, is not pictured, because she was with her Mother, Frances Dehner. The people pictured here are Muriel's Grandmother, Great Aunt and Uncle, Father, Sister, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Second Cousins and 4 friends, who she is not related to...yet.

A Time to Give Thanks!

As most people know, yesterday was Thanksgiving. For Americans, this holiday is very important. Usually in the United States, the family and some friends get together, eat, and just give thanks. In my family (American), Almost everyone gets together and we meet in a little wooden cabin in St. Francisville. This has been the tradition since before I was born. Of course, this year I couldn't join them. However, I did try to bring a little bit of "home" to my second home in Italy.

    Laurel, Darcy and I decided to have a little party for our families and a few friends. After school Laurel and I went to Laurel's host house to prepare the food for the party. We made the Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, homemade Noodles, Glazed Cinnamon Carrots, and Broccoli. 

My host parents lending a hand or two.

I was messing around with the turkey.

Serena (Laurel's host sister) and I.

Pasta making. American vs. Italian

I'm so proud of this. It's the second time I've cooked turkey in my life.

Stuffing. It tastes like home. 

Stuffing and mashed potatoes, not the potato purée they have in Italy.

Serena, Zia, and me 

 

The table. I think it looks pretty good.

My family in Illinois having their party. It doesn't look too different, does it?

My Italian tutor and her husband.

 I think it's safe to say the Italians liked American cooking.

 

The party! If you look you can see the American, Italian and Canadian flags. Before we ate we said a prayer in English and in Italian. Then, we listened to the American national anthem, the Canadian national anthem and of course the Italian Anthem. It was really sweet that they went into that much thought to do that for us. The little things really do count.

 We must have done pretty well the great Luigi Prota continued to eat our food. Haha 

Well, I was really expecting the worst about being away from my family but I realized I had my other family right before my eyes. My parents and my sister - I'm so happy that I have them. Surprisingly they let me go. I thank them for being crazy enough to say yes to the even crazier idea of becoming an exchange student with Rotary. I'm glad I have both of my families there when I need them; Italian and American. My friends that I have from around the world. I'm thinking of you all. The Rotarians who got me here in Italy and support me. I can't even begin to name off everything that I'm thankful for. This party certainly made me feel much better. I wasn't alone for this large holiday. I spent it like it should be spent with family and friends.

My day on Friday (Nov. 15, 2013)

Today I woke up around 7 a.m. I made my bed and opened up the blinds and the window. Then I got dressed and went to say "Buongiorno" to my host parents. I ate breakfast, which was milk, yogurt, a spoon of peanut butter, (I'm such an American) and biscotti (cookies) and yes cookies and milk is a legit breakfast here. 

Around 7:50 my host mom took me to school in her car. Today was Friday and every Friday, Torre Annunziata has a market for clothes, toiletries and food. We had to take the other way because of this. I had five classes today: Latin, Greek, PE, and two hours of Italian. I really can't do anything in Latin and Greek because my classmates have had it for years and I can't keep up and plus it's too difficult. I love PE. It's probably one of my favorite classes.  In Italian right now we are studying about Dante. Thanks Mrs. Atkins for making us study about him. My Italian teacher was really impressed with how much I knew.

After school, I met with Laurel and we went to Pompei for the mall. Yeah, I bought probably more than I should have, but it's all things I need. I have to buy warmer things because, yes, it's getting cold here!!! I also got to eat at an American restaurant, "Old Wild West." It was very good, but I was sad when they didn't have cheddar. (My box of Mac and cheese is on its way! Wooooo!!) 

Then I came home and ate dinner with my family. Right now is really the only time that I have to rest, but I wanted to share my day with all of you who are curious! 

The damage....

And these beauties. ❤️

Please help me go on this tour. Per favore aiutatemi andare su questa tour.

This June there will be a tour of Europe. This tour will be with a bunch of students who are on their exchange in Italy. We will travel to France, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Monaco, Milan and Venice. I had planned on taking this tour. My church had helped me raise money to go,which helped so much. This trip cost $2,407 but after taking out expenses which I spent when I was in the US, I only have $1,356. I don't have enough to take this trip. This trip would mean everything to me. If some of the sponsors I had when I was home could contribute again or if new ones could contribute, it would literally mean the world to me. I always loved when I had people in my community reach into their hearts and give me money to go on this exchange. It makes me feel like you care about my experience and that you are as excited as I am. This exchange is amazing but seeing more of Europe would open my eyes even more. If I could have some help from all of my friends, family and acquaintances that would make me so grateful. For anything that you can do for me thank you! Grazie Mille!

 

Month 2

Well, yesterday was my month 2 in Italy. And it's going way too fast. When I went out at sea with my host parents I realized just how lucky I am. 

1. I am the only student from Illinois in Italy with Rotary International as an exchange student.

2. I live right under Mt. Vesuvius and any time it could BLOW! (Mom that was for you. Just to scare you a bit.)

3. I'm hosted by the Pompei Oplonti Vesuvio Est club. You know Pompei, the famous one?

4. I live literally by the Mediterranean Sea. 

5. While everyone in the North is freezing their butts off I'm enjoying the sun.

It took me until month 2 to realized I'm this lucky. How many teenagers my age become exchange students anyway? Very few and that's the sad thing. When considering going on this experience I thought I'm going to miss things from home so much. Sure, I miss things but learning and experiencing this teaches me more than I could ever try to recreate at home. 

Sono così fortuna! Grazie Rotary per questa esperienza! 

Madonna Della Neve ~ Ottobre 22

Today is a very important day the people of Torre Annunziata. Every October 22, there is a festival celebrating the Virgin Mary. As legend has it, in the sea some sailors found a icon of Mary, who in this depiction had dark skin and was holding baby Jesus. The sailors took this image back to the town in the church. The part that makes this interesting is that odd things have happened since then. There a time when it snowed which is extremely unusual here. Vesuvius had erupted and Torre Annunziata was left unscathed while the towns around it were damaged. 

Anyways, this is a huge deal for the Italians here. I didn't go to school like everyone else. No one worked today. There was a parade with a band and the procession of red,white, and blue banners and a large structure which bore the image of the Madonna. I really enjoyed this celebration and it will be something I will always remember. 

Rotary Youth Exchange Inbound Conference

Last weekend I attended the Italian Youth exchange inbound conference in Fognano, Italy. I met many inbound from all over Italy. Everyone came from all over the world. A few countries who were present were USA, Canada, Australia, Thailand, India, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Taiwan and many others. I was very happy to attend this because I finally got to meet people I had talked to via Internet. I also got to see my friend from central states! #CSRYE13 Woo! It was held in a convent with was kinda creepy but interesting. I want to go back to the Italian conference soo bad! Can't wait to see everyone again! 

The eight hour drive to Napoli to Fognano made Jack pretty tired.

#exchangestudentprobs #fatness

The convent.

Laurel and my room. 'Murica

Hungry exchange students!

Everyone at the conference! I'm with my flag! La Mia bandiera Americana! 

Update on the good ol' blazer. I need more space!

Mamma Cinzia

Me picking grapes at a vineyard. 

Rotary Youth Day!

Last Sunday, I went to my Host Rotary District's Youth Day. It was a day completely for the youth, such as Rotaract, Interact and, my obvious favorite, Youth Exchange. It was really nice go to this. I got to see all the other exchange students, Laurel, Darcy, Taylor, Claire, Jack, and Alex. It was a great ti listen to everything but nearing the end, being exchange student we were extremely hungry and we were wondering, "WHERE'S THE FOOD?" May I say, that not only was the conference fun but the venue was absolutely beautiful. It was close to the Amalfi Coast. I want to go back!!!! 

    Laurel and Me.

It's beautiful, right?

My host Mamma and me! 

My eyes will be forever opened from this experience.

Mi Seconda Casa - My Second Home

Here's another picture from another trip to Naples. This time for the patron saint's festival, San Gennaro. My classmates and I went to visit the church.