Monday, January 27, 2014

The Dreaded Middle


Today I am literally halfway through my exchange in Italy.  Really, how is this possible??  It seems like just yesterday that I arrived in the Naples airport at 11:30 AM.  It makes me sad because I love my life here.  It's so different from my life in my hometown of Lawrenceville, in southern Illinois.  In a little more than five months I'll be leaving my host families to return to the United States.  Rotary Youth Exchange has given me a once in a lifetime opportunity and I want to make the most of the time I have left.  I feel so lucky to be here, but I'm also extremely proud of myself for making it this far.  One thing I have learned is: "It may not always be easy, but it is worth it." Happy halfway and to another wonderful 5 months to go!
At the Naples airport meeting my first host parents, Cinzia and Lello on August 28th, 2013
Really this was almost 5 months ago???

At Salerno 
District 2100
In class.



Sunday, January 12, 2014

The holidays in my home away from home. Part 2 - Ciao, Ricciardis 😘

After Christmas, I was in a way relieved that it was over, but there was one thing that continued to make me nervous only three days after Christmas I would be switching families. I would have to say now it was one of the hardest things I've had to do on exchange. Of course I knew I had to do it but I really hated the idea. I've lived with these two wonderful people, who have helped me so much, for 4 months. So, just leaving them was really difficult. Near the end, I just tried to enjoy my time with them. Packing up my room felt really weird. Exactly like leaving again.
   I remember my last full day with them. There was a Rotary game night that night. A few of the exchange students and I were going to go to the mall the following week. So once we got home, for some reason, I asked Cinzia if I could go. Then I said, "Wait, it's not important anymore." and I just started to cry. I think Cinzia realized what I had done and she came over to give me a hug. I mean now I look at it all as being completely normal. After 4 months with this incredible woman and after she was my caregiver and mother for this time, it really is normal. 
    My last day with them had come. My room was all packed up. All of my clothes were put away. I ate my last lunch with them and also with their daughter Anna. I saw Nonno (Grandfather) and he gave me a card to smooth things over with the change. (It really did.) 
The time had come for us to change. I couldn't help but cry once I saw Laurel. (My fellow exchange student) We both cried like little babies. Really, the only way I can put this situation into perspective is that it was like leaving my mother all over again. I said my last goodbyes and got all of my things and left, still with tears in my eyes and after receiving hugs from Cinzia and Lello, even a kiss from little Cinzia.  

At the same time I was thinking if it's this hard to leave them now just think about how it will be when I leave Italy. 


I still miss them terribly everyday but luckily I see them every Wednesday. As Cinzia told my parents, "To make our separation sweeter." 


And this difficult journey continued....

Saturday, January 4, 2014

The Holidays in my home away from home. Part 1

This Christmas wasn't like my normal Christmas celebrations in the US. On Christmas Eve, Cinzia and Lello (my host parents) had a party at their place with Mario-their son, Angela-his wife, her parents and of course the cutest little girl Cinzia. We ate pasta with fish eggs, another pasta with sea snail (Yes, sea snails. Not that bad. ), a special fish dish, vegetables like cauliflower, carrots, pepper with olives, then dessert was struffoli, which are like little balls with sprinkles and a sugar covering, and caramelized oranges. Everything was so good. Another Italian tradition is to place a baby Jesus figurine in his cradle at midnight. After the party Cinzia thought it would be a good idea to just open our presents that night. Of course I bought things for Cinzia and Lello as an expression of my gratitude for all they have done for me. Anna, their daughter, was there also and I bought her a gift as well for Christmas.
      The next day all of us went to Nonno's (Grandfather's) house for lunch. Other family members included were Laura-Cinzia's younger sister, her twins-Mafalda and Claudio, Cinzia's older sister and her two sons. We ate pasta with a special Neapolitan tomato sauce, roast beef and sausage, broccoli leaves, mushrooms, peppers and desserts. I really loved this dinner. Also I've come to be very close to this family. 
    The day after there was another lunch, but this time at Lello's sister's home. After two days of heavy feasting/eating, Italians eat a smaller meal which is usually composed of a soup with a vegetable which literally translates into prickly lettuce. I've never seen it in the US, but still it's very good. It is made of slow simmered chicken, meatballs and broth. After that we just ate some beef and peppers, accompanied with fruit. We got to the house at 2:00 PM and left at 9:00 PM if that gives you any idea of how much time we spent there.
Italian teens go out almost all day on Christmas Eve. I went with Laurel and a few of her friends to watch a movie. 

Lovely Mamma Cinzia on Christmas Eve. 

Mamma Cinzia at Nonno's house. 
This is the soup especially made for the 26th of December. 
I'm just throwing this in, but this is a normal Italian breakfast: a glass of milk, cookies (biscotti), and a Italian version of fruit cake, panettone.