Nothing At All

        This is what I call "A quick update!" Yup! What have I been up to recently? Well I can honestly say next to nothing! It is after Christmas, and all plan making has failed completely!

I have taken up Knitting! So useful if no one in your family knows how to knit. I am doing this with Noriko the Japanese girl, and surprisingly she's been more bored then I was! we started making scarfs on Wednesday of last week, today makes a full week later, andI should mention that this scarf should take a normal person 2-3 weeks. She is so ahead, like a steam engine. She said that is all she has been doing, breathing-eating-sleeping while making a scarf.... Mine is a cranberry color <3

        I have also gotten back into the swing on school. Everyone has been going through the awful interrogations, except for me! Thank goodness, they all really have to remember such useless stuff! I think sooner or later I will have to do them, but this then I will keep reminding everyone I speak a different language.... Gosh I AM so lazy! I could probably attempt one in math, but I have no clue what the teacher does. Maybe layer guys :)

        Only other exciting news, for me, is I won't be the only American in Lamezia anymore! Yes! A girl from California is coming Sunday, i will meet her at the airport! #NotAloneAnymore

        Of your at all curious about by host family, they are all well! Except Maria went back into her bubble of not talking..... Guess I have to get used to it again

| § | XOXO Brystal | § | 

My Family!

Ciao tutti! So it occured to me that you need pictures of my host family! So yes this will all be about my host family!

Signor Pietro Gatto (Papa)
Sì this is the dad! So for all you to get the jist of things, he loves to run! He is always out running, and running, and running! Even when his legs hurt, he runs! This is what I will call true love! <3 He also loves his job! He works with computers. When I went to go get my residence permit, I went and saw his work! (I think it is boring, but if it makes him happy that is all that counts right?) Also he eats so much! Everyday at dinner I find a pile of fruit skins (because Italians dont eat them I guess?) It is really funny! He is also sweet as pie!

Signora Annamaria Gatto (Mama)
So of course this is the mom! First thing you should know about her, if she is great at her job. Being a mom! I am always surpriced when I come home to find that she takes care of everything! Meaning - She cooks, cleans, laundry! ALL! She loves to clean: she goes around almost everyday and cleans everything! She also hates it when I put my shoes on my bed! Because they are dirty! I do not know why I do this, habit maybe? She also cooks everyday! She spends hours cooking! (And when someone does not like what she makes, she cooks something else for them) She is a great cook, reminds me of my american mom! To top it off, after those hours of cooking, she does all the dishes! I had to beg her the first week to let me clear off the table! I am not a house guest! I am also surprised no one else likes to help out, it is just not a thing in Italy. (Or maybe just this house) Sunday is also her big "lets clean everything day!" So laundry of everyone is done then. I do my own because I can not stand letting her do everything, for everyone! She is a trooper!

Attilio Gatto (Brother)
First off - I do not see him often, he is always working or with his lovely girlfriend! He is 23 and loves to play soccer! He looks like he has fun doing it too! He does online college, so really good luck! (My american sister does this too! Love ya Age) He also is crazy about the USA,he wants to go there one day and become an accountant. He has a phone case of the flag and all! Attilio is also very kind, and trys so hard to speak english with me! (Well really they all do, but you can tell they knew next to nothing before I came....) OH and lastly, just like the father, he loves to eat!!!! But still they both stay so skinny?!?

Maria Gatto! (Sister)
I have had experience with 3 of my own sisters, so I thought this would be a breeze for me. BUT it is not. Why? Well because she does not now how to act with a sister, I plan on helping her with that! Pop her bubble and let her out! Now, Maria is really pretty, perfect picture of Italian! She loves to skype her friends also! After school each day she cooks, I can see where this came from! She also loves sweets just as much as I do! It is fantastic that she loves shopping as much as me, so we go out all the time! The only problem is she never seems to talk, and it's because she is shy. But if you have any suggestions on how to get her to talk to me more, feel free to tell me! Maybe time will help?!?

OK That was a rundown of my Italian family! :)

| § | XOXO Brystal | § |

My host dad and a little girl we go out to eat with but I completely forgot her name...

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Brain Food!

        Information is like food for the brain. For the last few months mine has been on overdrive to learn as much as possible ! It's kind of fantastic if you think about it, how much stuff it can hold.

        My update on Italian.... I have been taking mandatory lessons for ever now in Italy and they are finally ending! There is maybe 6 left and I have been wanting this day to come since the beginning. Yes, I know, shouldn't I want to study? No... I am human, I don't take it as a fun thing to do when I could be doing something else less productive. (But more fun!) I actually hated the lessons at first. I was constantly thinking that it was Noriko and I that didn't know any Italian, and then Celeste who has an Italian mother... Which gave her an advantage! :) She did end up being top in the class also....

        But for the normal people who started out fresh, Noriko and I, it was hard for us.... Now, I never really at first could talk to Noriko as she was 100% Japanese. Different language! Now we talk all the Time! BUT, back then I would assume she had just as hard of a time as I did during the lessons. The teacher Laura would speak Italian, and I would look at her like... Humm you could be saying anything at all and I wont understand.... Needless to say I later found out Noriko did have a hard time! So I dont feel like a complete loser! :)

        Now lessons are ending and I am surprised to find I dont want them to end... I mean I got used to them in my schedule! They were even getting fun! ... Plus there is the obvious fact that I still am not fluent.... In the grammar, reading, writing, speaking .... So more lessons would be fine with me <3

        Now we do a lot of crazy stuff .... Oh really we did a lot of crazy stuff.. oh gosh it is really ending.! Anyway, crazy like doing a Madlib in English and translating it to Italian. Can I say that was almost impossible because the teacher did not know the words and it was Celeste and I with our bad Italian! Noriko does not know much English... So yes Enjoy the English version below!

        (The Madlib was taken from AmazingPhil a youtuber I watch from England! This is called Z-day for Halloween!)

Brystal: 

        It has been '25' months since Z-day. The infection began when 'Justin Bieber' kissed the diseased 'walrus' on the 'tongue'. My name is Brystal, me and 'Michele Phan' have been living in the 'Leaning Tower of Pisa' for '19' days. One day a zombie broke in where I keep my 'toliets'. I had to butcher him with my trusty 'car wheel'. Until I slipped and hit my 'fingernails' in some 'hair'. In my shock a zombie bit my 'eyes' off. I remain in 'Chicago' devouring the living. It turned out the cure was an injection of 'milk', but it was to late!

Celestina's: 

        It has been '10' months since Z-day. The infection began when 'Sia' kissed the diseased 'dog' on the 'boobs'. My name is 'Celestina', me and 'Jenna Marbles' have been living in a 'Sydney Opera House' for '25' days. One day a zombie broke in where I keep my 'tables'. I had to butcher him with my trusty 'chair'. Until I slipped and hit my 'face' in some 'dicks'. In my shock a zombie bit my 'legs' off. I remain in 'China Town' devouring the living. It turned out the cure was an injection of 'glue' but it was to late!

        So yes :) hope you enjoyed it! It was extremly funny, we did 2 others ! :) BUT thankfully only translated one!

That is it for now! Till next time readers

| § | XOXO Brystal | § |

This is it in Italian LOL!!!

My girls <3

I go to lessons in PJs.... :) Got to learn in comfort right?

Group shot!

Teacher = Laura! 

Santa Clause Came to Town!

        Well it's not a complete surprise I am a few days late writting this. I think that it being a Christmas / New Years break gives me a free card! So I hope your special Santa brought you something worth while! Or... If not, I hope you had a fantastic day!

        Moving on! Now Christmas is such a joyful time of the year... Meaning I love it! Yes, even if I was bounced between host families, it still is one of the best I will ever have! Gosh really, how many can I have in Italy? Unless I move here for sure, this might be the last one!

      

        Now yes, I had a temporary host family for a week which was super amazing. I mean perfection really, I loved them to death! It helped it was a family I knew and a friend I loved. <3  I got to speak some intense Italian and teach English outside of school for once! I also got to play board games like Clue and Monopoly and Tumbla (like bingo..) if I spelled it right! So no judging! It is an Italian word I will only hear during Christmas season's!

        Now when I left their house on the 28th (aka the sisters b-day!) Buon compleanno!!! I also heard the grandmother cried that I left... How adorable! She was cool, she was so lively, reminded me of my grandmother who is the same way!

        Now the crazy thing I totally did not expect was the presents they got me! They did not have to get me anything! But... Of course they are sweet at heart! The other grandmother made me, yes made me a poncho and a hat! I can totally say "made in Italy" for those! I love it so much, I am going to learn how to make it.... Really isn't the saying, "Give a man a fish and he can eat for one day, or teach a man to fish and he can eat forever.." I can see how it is true....! Emi got me pretty earrings also, orange and all. Reminds me of a pair my sister has in the US!  .  . The parents got me a cute heart necklace that means the world to me, they will never know... It shows someone cared enough to find it specially for me. I will wear it as often as possible! My goal is to keep it always!

        Now other important things I did with them includes going to Emi's and her sisters practice for gymnastics! Amazing thats all you can say when they are throwing themselves around the building. Or better yet, where can I learn! While you stare at the place they are learning and you go ahead and think, humm first level please??? Or baby level, what about help me be flexible first? Yea, I would break in half quicker then toast likes to crumble....

        I should mention I won clue 1 time and out of every time I always always ended up being the killer. How is that possible? I hope it doesn't mean anything! ... Strange....

        Now this was with my second host family <3 but soon I will tell you all about my real host families Christmas (Natale) a different time. Feels like it needs to be separate. Still really TODAY is the last day of 2013! (As I write this at 1 in the morning...) So Happy New Year!!! Kinda ...Few more hours to go, but I am super excited! I get to spend 2014 in Italy also, that's just about the most stunning thing a person can do....

        With love, I hope your thinking of a New Years Resolution! (Has to be good!) - I am thinking, lay off of the PASTA before I return to america looking like some over stuffed bird. Which might happen....

| § | XOXO Brystal | § |

P.S.    The picture Of Emi and I includes the neaklace and poncho!**

My December Love

        December is the time of the year that you put on your snuggly PJs and sit by the fire drinking hot cocoa with marshmallows! Or you go out and you have an excuse to look all winter ready in fur and sweaters. December is a time for love and I should confess mine....

        But first before I do, you should be prepared with the thought that going abroad has made me open my eyes to everything! Why not this also? Ok I am totally in love with Italian weather! The weather here is at least 20 degrees warmer then in Pennsylvania USA! I would normally see snow and be unbearably cold, to where you do not even want to change in the morning. Now in Italy, there is some cold days, but they are still nice, like a cold Fall evening or something similar!

        I do not have to constantly remember my gloves, hat, or scarf! Plus my winter jacket is really light! So it is perfect! Should I also mention that all the trees are green still, not even a dull green but green. Beautiful!

Now I know some of you were actually wondering who I liked right? Well I will say that Italian guys are all adorable in some way or another. Even if it is just the Italian accent on English words. I do have a crush though, who would not if you went abroad? But my lips are sealed! No names, you will just have to guess the most Italian sounding names! ;-)  

        Anyway! So what have I been up to in December lately? Well first off I should talk about my Christmas Holiday. . . .So I will not be spending it with my host family. Instead I will spend it with my bestie Emi! :-) Now she is cool and speaks English, and is like a flexable ruler! She can go into any pose, score one for you girl! Her lovely family decided to take me in for 1 week, and I will forever be grateful! Christmas in Italy is a family time, and I feel like I will be intruding still, so pray I will do alright!

        My family are all going separate ways. My host dad Pietro will be going to Rome for work. My host mom Annamaria and Maria my sister will go to Napels. My host brother Attilio will go to his GF's house. :) Have fun all of you!

        What else have I been doing? Well I went to 2 different Christmas parties! let me tell you one thing, Italians party like American's! The only difference was not so much "grinding" and "butt-rubbing" but more of a "Lets invade your personal space in a different way" thing. For example I went to a large party yesterday and there was a group of guys who had a goal of just dancing behind people even if they did not know each other. WEIRD DUDES! So yes, when they came around I let someone else take my spot ;-) The other party was on Friday the say before yesterday, it was smaller but I think I had more fun! Dancing room helps! Plus I was wearing heels that day too! I completely forgot to pack heels for the other party. (My suitcase can only fit so much...) 

        I also went this month to a Christmas concert at my school! Their voices were all so magical! They were singing in English and Italian. I took some videos and when I figure out how to add them I will! (Maybe).... I might be to lazy too lol! I had to leave early though to go to an AFS Interculteral party then after. I ended up getting to see Noriko and Celestina again! (BTW our lessons of Italian end very soon! Meaning I will either be very thankful I dont have to worry anymore, or very upset because that means the half way point is gone...)

        So a little side note..... I have been writing this post forever.... so the weather is not great now, but its not bad either! Also I am now at my 2nd host families house.... :) Which I am having a ball! 

So MERRY CHRISTMAS or BUON NATALE! Hope you have fun! Till next time readers ! Spend your holidays like there will never be another. Because for me I will never have another in Italy! 

| § | XOXO Brystal | §| 

My new host family and I for the week!

My Host mom and host dad before they left!

I did go to see a movie this month too! Avoid the fact that this is awful....... AND I look bad LOL! 

A break in the middle for snacks is OK with me! 

I forgot to write about this! I went to a protest in Italy! 

Hello Kitty and me <3

ME! Party 1

Emi and I! 

Noemi and me!!!!

Nativity set it is HUGE

Santa's in my city :)

Went to the Theator to see "Othello!" in italian!

Shopping on my friends B-day! At a shop just like Claires !

Told you it is still green! 

100 days

        Life goes on, and time controls it all. I feel like just yesterday I got off the plane in Roma. Now my clock gears have turned time so far ahead. Today is my 100th day in Italy! I am 1/3 % finished. I only have 306 days in Italy you know! (That's if I leave exactly on July 6)

        It's an amazing feeling to know that I have survived in a different country for so long. By myself also. I did not know anyone except 4 other girls from Pennsylvania who got the same scolarship as I did. When I arrived in New York that first day, that is really when I noticed I knew no one.

        Now four months later, I know so many people, I don't even want to count them! (Lets let facebook do that for me) A lot of the people I know are foreign also!

        It completly shocks me to know that all the Italians around me are friends. Even if we speak different languages. It really all gets down to basics, we are all oddly similar. For some reason I thought crossing an ocean I would find them more strange. With different thoughts and feelings, or looking like a different species. - I know, I know! I have seen Italians before in America, but it was all so new to me!

        What I notice is that they are just like normal people. Some even remind me of people back in America. Crazy even. If you can imagine yourself moving in your own country and adjusting well, I think you can study abroad also.

        I mean once you get past the language gap and all.... That's not even that hard to avoid. It's fun at times experiencing something new.

        100 days deserves a special something don't you think? Yea, I bought a Twix at school. Very American right there! :-) sweet loveable candy that is so hard go find overseas! Yummy!

        - Little side note, my family thinks its soo weird that I made a sunny side up egg (bubbled egg) for breakfast this morning. My host brother took pictures and all so he could laugh or make it himself. I am not sure. They also think it's soo weird that Americans eat salty food for breakfast. Bacon, buttered toast, sausage, eggs, potatoes. While I sit and want to say, "But you eat cake!"

        They handed me cake every other day this week. Like full on cake and all. Or cookies, gosh they love cookies! :) So do I, but for like dessert....

        Just remember if you ever see a foreign person, say the AFS moto, "Its not wrong, it's different!"

        At school also I got to make up my own game and teach my English class, it was really fun! It was suppose to be a joke the teacher wanted me to play on them. To "interrogate" their knowledge (like a oral quiz for all you Americans reading this) - very extremly common here - The joke was suppose to last 5 minutes of me asking really tough questions, but they wanted to continue. So we made a game out of it, and I asked them questions about America....

        For example: Who ran against Obama in last years Election. Name as many states as you can. Presidents also! What countries surround the USA <-- I was surprised when they got that one wrong. 

Ok Happy 100 to me! Till next time

| § | XOXO Brystal | § |

Kiss Me, I'm American!

        Yes, strange title that needs explaining right? Thought so! Well today is a tradition for Exchange Students! Called Kiss an Exchange Student Day! The kids in Italy are not really doing it this year but so many others around the world are! Now! They made YouTube videos and everything! 

        November 30 = Kiss an exchange student day, worldwide! Next one on December 30th!

        Now I was open for the idea because Italians kiss on the cheek all the time! It's kinda their thing... So what's a few more going to do, kill me? Nah! It was fin really! I later saw all the pictures my exchange friend posted and thought it was a great idea! 

        Now I do not know if you tried this with the exchange student in your area, but I say that it's never to late! Because for many of you this may be the first time you heard of it. Happens each year! So go next year! Or just ask! Ok done.... 

        I also want to say thank you to all my readers! (Grazie!) (Thank you!) it has been exactly one month since I said  that I had 1 thousand page views and now I had the most ultimate surprise! I now have over 2 thousand! I can not even believe people are reading this... That's crazy!!! Also it has been such a short time to get 1 thousand more! Thank you so much everyone for taking your time and spending it with me on my adventures in Italy! I will love all of you forever! I know I am not alone :) 

        Now next on my list... Thanksgiving! It was just on Thursday! My host family does not celebrate it though, they are not American. It was adorable though to see them try to understand what it was. So instead I got asked to go to a Thanksgiving dinner with my friend from school. We will go eat with his family. I am nervous though, I completely forget everything to do with this American tradition. Besides the basic ideas. :) I am not a complete moron though, I probably remember more then I think! So I must read to remember the rest! It is tomorrow you know!

        Ok nextly, on Friday my school had a play going on. Oh my goodness was that the most strange thing I have ever been to! I liked it but did not understand like anything they said. It was because they would sing and speak SO FAST. I did not know what to do. I was also in the back. Lucky I know. Anyway this play was done but just 2 people. That's the strange part . It was about a guy going to school who did not want to do his homework... Yea that's all I got from it.... Lovely singers they were though.!.

        Also I can offically say I am in level 2 of my Italian lessons! We finished on Friday, level 1... It's like second grade all over again. I was almost afriad I would have to retake the first level. If you knew me in America you would know I failed first grade. (Evil teacher with a bent finger hated me..) So excited for second grade Italian though! 

        Also Happy Thanksgiving! (Late) and Black Friday shopping for all the Americans!

Till next time readers! | § | XOXO Brystal | § |