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. :)