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Monday, February 24, 2014

I Got Run Over In Italy!

      Crazy days come and they go, but what is left of those days is called a memory. Now I will push replay on my month so far, it's kind of been huge.

       As most of you know, I had been living with a host family, the Gatto's. They consisted of a mother, father, brother, and sister. Since about Christmas I have noticed that I was not part of their family. So I finally worked up the courage to speak to AFS intercultural about my problems. I asked to switch host families. They excepted also, after many hours and a long email sent. I had a "going away/moving out party" with the Gatto's. I am not sure why?.... Then I calmly packed up my room, which, I had just finished doing yesterday-Sunday. Then I changed families. I now live with my friend Emi and her amazing family, or technically my new family also. I am so happy now :)

       Another big news killing headline was that I was hit by a moterbike! If you have ever been hit, you know what I am feeling like. BUT if you have not, it really feels like a moment of confusion as their vehicle makes contact with you. After, your on the ground and you start to wonder how you got there, then you ask yourself, "Was I just hit?" It is not till about this point that you feel like you were hit. Did I mention it was on Valentine's day? <3

       So I went to the hospital and found out I have a sprined ankle, that is a nice color of purple at this moment. I also have an ugly brace and some crutches to use! (I refuse to walk with crutches!) I finish with all this medical care on March 5th.

       Some other things about this month. At school this week we are having student week. It is when there is no classes and no teachers teaching, unless they refuse to let you go. We do activities instead! For example today I was signed up for break dancing with Valentino helping out. (He is the new exchange student from Belgium) I went to see him dance mainly :)

       Oh course something always goes wrong so I missed that hour and had to go with Noriko (the exchange student from Japan) to help with origami! We were the only 2 people teaching. Should I mention I never did that before in my life?! Yay, now I have a swan! Then after this I went to the AFS Interculteral lab. I got to talk and so did Noriko and Glenn. Glenn is also from America <3 we invaded Lamezia together!

       That's a wrap from my memory! I hope you had a better February then I did! It will get better now that I am healing.

| § | XOXO Brystal | § | 

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Rich People Walking Around Nude? - What?

        Would you count yourself as observant? Do you notice the small details in everything? Are you quick to believe some things because everyone else believes them? What do you believe?...

        Recently I have noticed something strange about sterotypes. American sterotypes to be exact. I would like to clear them up for you. Now there is the normal one that we are all fat and do not know how to cook. My host family firmly believes in this. I have asked to cook for them, just for the host sister and brother to say they would not even try it. So I do not cook. They won't let me because the only American food they have ever tried came from McDonald's. So the sterotype is that Americans only have food similar to McDonald's. Greasy, fried, covered in salt, soda, grilled. Now if you are American you might be thinking, "That is not all we eat!" Evidently not all Americans weight 300+ pounds, or eat fast food all the time. So what do we eat?

        I came up with a few items that we eat that I have not had from my host family yet. Making me think, they do not know what it is. List time!!!

- Gingerbread houses for Christmas time
- Chocolete chip cookies. No one makes them like the US do. My host family does not even know what a chocolate chip is.
- Smores, seriously? This is a go to campfire food.
- Potato pancakes, this might just be my American family that eats these.    
- Hamburgers, they gave me one and forgot the bread, tomato, lettuce, cheese. Everything but the meat.
- Hotdogs, they have them just without the bread....
- Chili, it is meat and like tomatos, but you eat this with tortilla chips
- Pumpkin roll, or really any dessert out of pumpkin or carrot
- Chicken noodle soup, my friends parents made this once, but differently, not with all the liquid part...
- Apple pie people, my host mom has no idea what it is

        That is to give you an idea that Americans do not just eat deep fried food. Also because my host family won't let me cook, I guess they will never try the awesomeness. More for me. BUT this sterotype of the USA not knowing how to cook should end, unless you had a real American cook for you.

And we are not all fat. Just saying......

        Ok now to deal with the newer sterotypes I have noticed. They revolve around the music industry.

        People look at the American music industry, at their idols and think that's just the life of a normal American. My host brother asked me if we all have so much cash that we can rub it on our bodies and throw it into the water like Rihanna did in "Pour it up." - Rich greedy Americans have no idea that Italy is poor. Well Italy has no idea that America is poor too.

        I have been asked if all American boys are like Justin Bieber. First he is from Canada, and 2nd not everyone does drugs and goes shirtless all the time.

- As a side note with JB, Americans want to kick him out, there is a petition for the White house to do so. I notice that it is not just him that gives American people their bad reputation. Should I mention that Rihanna is not American either, but people think she is, so we get bad things said about us because of her.

        Recently I was in an English class, where I got asked the question about being nude. No not me, but in general do all American girls feel comfortable walking around like Miley Cyrus did in "Wrecking Ball?" Well that's an exteme sterotype, can I just say no and not need to explain why?

So, yes this is just three examples, but seriously take the time to look at every other famous song out today that is repeated on the radio 100x times per day. Really listen to the words, someone over seas is wondering if that is how all Americans think, and act.

        Same with movies. They influence the world to believe that is how Americans are like. Being abroad I get to be part of a Facebook page that we write all the ridiculous things people think about our country. I have a few at the bottom for you to read. Sterotypes, people, are not good. Neither is judging a country by what you see on social media.

Till next time <3 by the way, this is the half way point in my fashionable journey !

| § | XOXO Brystal | § |