Arbitrary photos and a few words

The first few of these are just old pictures, this was my sunset a few days ago.

 This lovely photo is from when I went to see Footloose.

 This is my amazing view out my window when it storms.

 This is from school today.

 This one is yesterday's kickin' waves.

 And here's where it all starts. Today I spent about an hour with my favorite teacher ever. This is Maria. She is amazing. She is sweet, and kind, and actually cares. She's the best.

First we went to the beach. I'm not sure how well it shows up in this picture. But there's a little mountain thingie out in the water. It's a volcano. It's not usually noticeable from the beach but for some reason today it was. 

We were Maria, and me. Then Maria's sister, and also her niece. They all speak English, German and Italian. It was really interesting being around them. My teacher doesn't speak very much German, she's just starting to learn now, but she's also helping me learn some.

This photo is the lovely fountain in the square.

 After the beach visit, it started raining. So we sought shelter in the church. No, not really. It did start raining, but we went to the church to walk in and around it because it's really old and cool looking. There's a cave in it. And that's where this photo is taken.

During the whole church and underground walk, there were stories about great things the Saint of the church "did" during his lifetime. On a bridge there was a "footprint of the devil, from when the devil and the saint fought on that bridge". They told me these stories starting out by saying "they say" so finally I asked Maria's sister what she thought since she was phrasing it that way, and she said she thought the stories were a buncha bull. It was really interesting learning about it all though. I had a great time with them. My teacher is trying to get permission to have me come spend a few days with them because the town is so far and we didn't really have much time to visit.

I have no title.

I'm going to start this out saying it's a pretty "R" rated post because I do say a bad word in it. Just warning you ahead of time.

I have been in such a great mood today! Why does that always happen the days after I have good dreams? I don't know, but it'd be awesome if I could have great dreams every night! Because I could go for a few more optimistic days like today.

I woke up this morning and hit my snooze button 3 times. I finally thought "crap I'm going to be late for school" and rolled my way out of bed. I've shortened my getting ready time down to about 15 minutes so I can sleep as absolutely long as possible. I kind of say screw makeup if I have to pick between that and sleeping. I know, I probably go to school looking exactly the same as when I woke up. But I really couldn't care less. Here I have to act exactly how I want them to see Americans, and it'd be lying if I pretended we all look perfect every day. At my school in Oklee I don't dress up cute everyday, so why should I here? I recently decided I shouldn't.

Sometime in the later afternoon here I had tea and biscuits with my host sister Elisa(Blonde! We got in a nice long conversation and it was really fun! Then our tea time was interrupted by Elisa (brunette) calling to say her mom was on her way over to pick me up!

Today it stormed. The storms here are freaking hardcore! They scare me! I was standing up to go take a picture of the rain out the window, which I didn't get a good one because I didn't want my camera close enough to the window that it'd get wet. But anyways as I was walking toward the window, the thunder cracked right above my house with a ton of lightning all around. I jumped and literally ducked down covering my head! I think the reason it's so loud is because it echos from the mountain across the sea. I don't know exactly, but there's no thunder like this in Minnesota. SCARY!

At Elisa(Brunette)'s house I ate gelato with nutella in it. Which of course tasted absolutely sublime. Then we just sang karaoke together to some good old country songs and I showed her videos on youtube of things we do in Minnesota. The things involved "mudding with fourwheelers", "whippin' shittys" and "corn mazes". Excuse my language in the last sentence, that's what it's called and I don't really know how to say it differently. So I'm sorry.

Tonight when I got home I played piano for awhile. Elisa(Blonde) and I sang songs in different languages to each other. I sang in Norwegian and Hebrew, and she sang in Latin for me! She also helped me translate the common table prayer to Italian, so hopefully I will learn that. After singing and stuff my family and I ate a lovely dinner, then I came up here. I'm heading to bed after I read for a little while! Goodnight everyone.

I love my Italian teacher

The title pretty much says it all. But I suppose I could explain why I love her.

Today I had 3 hours of Italian. That's right 3 freaking hours. My teacher keeps it interesting. She invited me today, to her house on Friday. I'm going to go there, and she's going to help me with Italian. I'm really excited for that because I think it will be really fun.

I have to pick between going to Barcelona, or Salamanca. Both are in Spain. I've googled pictures, but I can't decide. The trip to Barcelona is cheaper, so I'm guessing I'll end up doing that one. I really hope it works out. I think it'd be so beautiful there! :) Anyone have any suggestions on food I should try while I'm in Spain? I don't really know much about Spanish food.

I also think I am going to have to talk to my representative sometime soon. My teachers are assigning me all sorts of homework, and tests. It's kind of ridiculous  I'm here to learn the language. Until I know Italian, I'm pretty sure taking Science tests is kind of a little bit, what's the word.. ohh yeah.. IMPOSSIBLE! Also there's no point in me writing down stuff on the board if I have no idea what it's about, I'm never going to need it in my life, and I'll throw away my notebook before I understand all Italian anyways? Sillyyyy.. School is the one thing here that I don't like. Although I did walk into the classroom yesterday morning to a beautiful "Louisa we love U" written on the board. Pretty sure that was really sweet. I don't mind doing homework if I'm capable of it. So I really don't mean to complain about the assignments that I get that are from my English or Italian teacher. Those are usually a little fun. But I'm not diggin' this whole having tests in Science thing. Sure, I did put up with the homework and figured it out well enough to do it. But I know for a fact, I'm not suppose to be doing tests. The only test that I don't mind doing is English, because it's kinda funny.

Did I mention how beautiful the view out my window is? I know, I probably have told people this a million times. But it's amazing! I still can't believe I'm here! I'm in Italy! I sometimes think "wow I'm lucky" then I rethink it and think "no, it's not luck, I worked my butt off all summer in a nursing home, and filling out papers for the scholarship. It wasn't easy, and I worked hard and earned this." But still it's so crazy!!! I can't believe I'm actually here.

I suppose I should head downstairs and get started on my homework. Maybe find some food to eat. Sorry for another post where I really just talked on and on about nothing very important. I have a question for people reading, would you rather me only post when I have something super exciting to post about? Or is just reading about my every day life actually interesting? I personally think it'd be pretty boring to read, but I don't mind writing if people actually enjoy it. So comment or message me on facebook and let me know! :)

 My classroom board, thank you Elia! :)

 This is from last nights sunset, since I missed posting it then, I figured I'd post it tonight.

Twilight&Food

This is what I ate for lunch today. :) It was delicious. I figured I'd post a picture of it, because my lovely mother asked me to start showing off more of my Italian food that I brag about so much. So here it is.

I don't think I've ever explained the typical Italian day on here as far as food is concerned, so I guess I'll attempt to do that. I eat breakfast when I wake up. Breakfast consists of a mug of milk, that I fill with cookies. :) It's really good. Dinner is served at about 2pm. It's a big meal. The first course is Pasta, followed by a meat. Often times there is salad and bread following or along side of that. Then anywhere from 8:30-10pm is supper, it's a smaller meal basically the same as the second course of dinner. 

 This is my calamari I had for Dinner today. It wasn't my kinda thing. I am not much of a fish person, and so I didn't really like it. My host dad saw my reaction after my first bite, even though I didn't know I'd had a reaction. And my host mom got up and made me a hamburger instead. This picture is for Alyssa Nelson!! :)

Sorry this picture is a little bit blurry looking. :(

Some of you guys might have seen the new twilight movie, Breaking Dawn, but unless I've met you in the last few months. I can guarantee you didn't see it in Italian. This was my first time at the Cinema here in Italy. I understood most of the movie, but I've read the book so I'm sure that helped.

Sorry this is a really uninteresting blog post, but not all of them can have feeling in them. I don't have that much to write about always, and I am just kind of posting pictures to keep you updated a little bit.

Protest.

I can't exactly tell you what the protest was about. Because I didn't understand it fully. They students were opposing something to do with the school. I was pretty much just there because it was that or attend school, and I'd gladly ditch school any day. My friend Mayca and I broke apart from the protest and went to the seafront and bought ice cream, because we were kinda tired of the noise, and the smell of weed.

Camped out in the middle of the road.

My drink of the day, don't ask what it was, because I have no clue. It looked cool though, so I took a picture.

The lovely sandwich my future host sister made for me.

Supppppper! :)

After sleeping 2 hours this afternoon, I have no idea why I am tired. But I am. So I think I will head to bed pretty soon. Tomorrow is just a normal day I think. We're going to see Breaking Dawn.

Appreciation

Life is full of decisions. You can pick if you want to look at things on the good side, or the bad side. I could write a post about my morning today, which wasn't so awesome. But instead I think I will write about what an amazing day I had yesterday. I personally think that is a slightly more interesting subject. Plus, I got to see the most beautiful sunset ever, and I think I feel like bragging about it. ;)

I didn't have to go to school yesterday, due to the fact that I went to see Footloose in a slightly not nearby city. Footloose was pretty good. More enjoyable was the food I spent the day eating.

My Thanksgiving dinner! :)

My friend Larisa let me copy some of my country songs onto her phone, so that we could listen to them together on the bus ride, and so I'd have music that I love to listen to. Her favorite was "Cleaning that gun" which is a really good song. In Cosenza, the town with the theater, I saw Tom, one of the Australian boys who I met awhile ago. I went and talked to him, it was cool catching up.

We went shopping. It was a pretty nice mall. I guess. Shopping can be kinda boring sometimes, but they had a food court, so I was happy! :) On the way home as we were weaving alone the mountain side, on the cliff hanging over the sea, I got to watch the beautiful sunset. As the sun was going down, I did a lot of thinking. I don't know exactly how to express it through words. But I can't believe how I ended up here. It's so incredible to me. I am so incredibly blessed to be able to experience this.

I hope that everyone had as wonderful of a Thanksgiving as I did.

Ohh and I might be switching classes at school, but I'm not sure. We'll see what happens!

Today I said goodbye to my friend Jacqui. She's been such a great friend to me. When I feel homesick or down she reminds me that it'll get better, and that I just gotta be tough and it takes time.

 My delicious Gelato of the day. :) Did I mention about a week ago I asked one of the workers at the gelato place to marry me? I think it was a yes, but I'm not sure.

 Tonight's sunset.

 I like scenery pictures.

My mountain!!!! :)

Jacqui and me!!!! We've already made plans to visit each other's countries in the future. I saved this picture for last because it's the most special.

Wait.. one more thing. If my grandma reads this, which I think she will. I looked at the stars tonight, remember we're looking at the same ones! We aren't so far away. I love you grandma!

You can stand under my Umbrella

It's raining, again. It rains like crazy here! It's really cool I think though. It's been an amazing day. Nothing that great has happened, but I'm alive! And surrounded with blessings from God.

School was boring, like always today. Buuuuuuuut tomorrow I'm going to a nearby city to see the theater performance of "Footloose"! I'm really excited for that because I love that musical. It's for English class that I'm going, so everything will be in English too.

Today my host sister, Elisa, made us a delicious pasta for lunch. I can't wait to try making a bunch of these different things when I get back to Minnesota! I'm so lucky to be in a family with amazing cooks!

My school is really, freaking cold. They don't even use the heaters. We have them, but we don't use them. Why? To save money I think. Personally, I also think it would be worth the money so we don't die of hypothermia this winter. On Saturday the whole school is protesting and so we won't be in class on Saturday.

On Friday I believe Jacqui is coming to visit because she's leaving soon. :( I think she flies out on the 28th. I'm going to miss that girl, but at least I know if I ever want to go to New Zealand I have a place and a friend to stay with! :)

Also, I'm sorry if my English is bad right now. I'm trying to be careful with how I write, but I haven't been talking normal much lately, so I have kind of picked up a few bad habits, and I don't remember completely how to speak right, so I hope my typing isn't terrible too.

I don't know why posts need titles.

I have nothing interesting to say today, so I'm not even gonna pretend.

This is what my sunset looked like tonight, still amazes me sometimes.

"But where I come from, rain is a good thing"

Sunday night Elisa(Brunette) and I went out again. We met up with several of our friends, and just relaxed and talked. It was a nice evening! No annoying boys. I did see the boy from the night before, but as soon as I saw him I grabbed Elisa and we decided we were going a different direction. He did follow us and come up behind us to talk for awhile, but he wasn't as... crazy.. like the night before.

Paola, Me, Martina, and Elisa :)

I have no clue who the boys in this picture are, but the girls are Paola and me.

Today I had school. I had English class today for 2 hours, that was nice. I took a test with the class even though I didn't actually have to. They were surprised when I finished after about 15 minutes. I was like "Guys.. I grew up speaking English." It's been raining off and on all afternoon. It's a pretty gloomy day outside, but as we drove past the sea today I was surprised at how beautiful it still looked. God made an amazing world. I like rain. I might be kind of crazy, but I think rain is fun. Here people hate it though. But it does rain a lot here, so maybe that's why.

I hope there's food in heaven

This is what my meal looked like last night. It was delicious. Last night Elisa(Brunette), her friend, and I went out.

My pizza was raw meat, lettuce, and cheese. This is my favorite kind of pizza so far!

I like going out. Last night got a little overwhelming, because guys here are so much more "loving" and stuff, than in America and it's hard to get use to. There was a guy last night who was kissing my neck and stuff and I kept telling him to go away that it was annoying. I think the guys here probably think I'm cold, because I'm not really use to it and so I don't react well to it. But to me I kind of need my space. I know they don't mean anything by it, it's just something friends do, but it's really hard for me to get use to. I guess eventually I will.

The night was fun for the most part though! Today I'm getting ready for church right now, and after church I think we're going to a family dinner! :) Life is good!

Ahh yes, and one more thing, I changed the settings on comments people make on my posts, so that I have to read the comments before they post publicly. I did that just so I know to look at a comment when someone comments, because before I wasn't always reading all of them. So everyone still comment!! But your comment won't show up right away just so you know! :)

Somedays...

I'd actually suggest no one read this post, it's basically because I need to vent.

Okay, just saying.. I've only been here two months! Just because I can understand a lot of Italian, doesn't mean I can understand all of it. Dear Teachers, I don't understand everything, repeating it over and over won't change that, and please don't get mad at me for not understanding, because that doesn't help anything either. I'm trying really hard, and I can't just make my brain take it all in at once. It doesn't work like that.. sorry.. Also, teachers, keep in mind that I'm not here to learn your material, all of it is either really easy for me, or really hard. The part that's easy I learned like 3 years ago, and the hard stuff I'm not going to understand anyways, so there's not much point in trying. I'm here for the culture and to learn the language. I'm making great friends over here. But I'm not actually here to learn these subjects, pretty sure if I was, I'd have picked a few different ones, like Greek! That would actually be super cool to know! Let's just say I'm so glad it's the weekend.

 This is what we did in Spanish today, I don't mind Spanish, but it does get a little long by the end of the 2 hours.

This picture basically describes my day.

I'm sorry to anyone who actually felt like reading this, I suppose I'll try to put some good things in this post too. Today my family and I stopped at a bread store which we've gone to several times, and I looked up and there was a sign that I've seen before, and I read it today and realized for the first time I understood it. I know that probably sounds like a little thing, but to me it's a big step and I was excited about that.

I do love Italy, and I love my family here so much, sometimes it just gets hard. I should really just chill out and remember to thank God that I even have this experience.

Pizza night.

Italians know how to use the free time they have for fun activities. We eat with friends at least once every two weeks. Tonight we went out for Pizza with one of my host mom's friends, and her daughter, her daughter is Silvia's age. I love the pizza at this restaurant and there's a cute waiter there too, which just makes the pizza even better.

 Today school just drug on and on. I think it was due to the fact that all day yesterday I thought it was Friday, so when I woke up this morning, I didn't think I'd have school tomorrow because I thought tomorrow would be Sunday. But noooo.. I realized while looking at my schedule that I have school tomorrow. I guess on the plus side I still have all of the weekend ahead of me now. This picture is of me and my friend Larisa! :) In school today my second and third hour classes we didn't actually do anything, so we took some pictures. :)

A day without pictures.

I've been in a great mood both today and yesterday, do to unimportant facts. But anyways, great mood! :)

Yesterday I only had school until 11am because there was some teachers meeting or something. I went to my friends house for lunch, and they stuffed me full of food! These people here, I tell you, they'll make me into Santa Clause and use me for Christmas! I've only gained about 3 kilos though, so actually I'm not really worried. I think that I needed to gain a little weight when I came here.

Today I had 3 hours of Italian class. And guess what my teacher and I studied? You'll never guess so I'll just tell you. My Italian teacher is teaching me German! :) It's kind of the blind leading the blind though, because she doesn't speak much English, and she's just learning German. And I don't speak much Italian, so probably I'm learning some stuff wrong. It was fun though! :) Also, my Italian teacher is taking English lessons, and I did her homework for her for that. I guess it's good knowing I'm good for something! I love my Italian teacher, she is really sweet, and understanding to me! We get along really well! I had French next, which I can honestly say I've learned absolutely nothing in, but my teacher is really funny! After French was English. English is one of my favorite classes, because it doesn't give me a headache. In English today we watched Footloose, which was cool because it's one of my favorite Musicals! :) We're going to see a theater performance of Footloose in a week or something like that. I can't remember exactly when.

I met my representative for the first time today. She talks a lot, but she's really nice! :) I'm very happy with my family, and I'm finally fitting into the culture and understanding things better.

Birthday party

Sunday was a long day. Some fun, some not fun.

Yesterday morning I woke up to a beautiful day outside, sunny and warm! I had slept in a little bit. Then got up for church! :) After church my family bought a plate full of sweets for me! :) It was so awesome! I love my host family, they are so incredibly sweet! :)

After Lunch yesterday, I went to my friend Larisa's house, to do her hair for her 18th birthday party! :) I really liked how it turned out Larisa looked beautiful yesterday. As I finished with Larisa's hair her mom asked me to do her hair too, so I ended up doing Larisa's and her mom's.

When I was finished with Larisa's hair I went home to get myself ready for the party. I rode with 3 other girls from my class to the party. The party was.. extreme.. It was really fancy.. tables full of food, waitresses serving us, and a DJ playing music, with a big blow up "18!!" or something like that. It was fun taking pictures and stuff. The night got really long for me though, and I was really relieved when my host parents showed up at quarter after 12 to pick me up. Anyways, I hope Larisa had an amazing birthday party!!!! :)

Sunsets and food.

 And a view from my garden. :)

 Bread <3

The best cake ever.

Pictures speak louder than words.

Okay, so I am sorry for people with really slow computers. Because it seems like most of my blog posts are going to be made up of pictures. They just explain my life so much easier though.

 This is what we do on Saturday nights. :)

 This is what I do.

 Me and Deby!!!! She's one of the sweetest girls in my class! :)

 Francesca and me!!!!!! :) She's so pretty, inside and out!

My beautiful city! :)