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.

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....

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.

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. ❤️