Italian English

        So many questions I have, I just have to wait to ask. For example: "Why do Italians have to learn English?" "Why is it that on the Interculteral AFS application to study abroad, everyone had to write in English?" "Why is it that English is the important language... Everywhere!" Why can't it be Chinese?

           

         Now I want to explain my questions. OK 1st - Why is it that I have toured all over Lamezia school's and each one has to learn English and sometimes other languages like Latin? In America we are not forced to take a foreign language in high school unless we want to. Like I took French fo fun! So I feel like Americans are a step behind everyone else. Won't learning languages mean we can communicate with more people? Maybe it's because Americans really are lazy and do not care. But I don't think so, I think it's because everyone else is making our life easier by learning our language. This is kinda sad and I am determined to go back to America and learn as many foreign languages as I can. One step at a time right?

        My second question! It is about Interculteral AFS. The people who let you study abroad! I went through them and I thought it was kinda easy. TILL I went to an AFS meeting today and noticed that the Italians and everywhere else in the world has to take a test to be eligible to study abroad. The first one is a mental test - so to see that you are not crazy. (I understand this, but why did the Americans and Australians not have to take this, we could be crazy you know!) The second test was to test your English skills. Now I am not complaining that I did not have to take it, because I kinda stink at English, but why is it we did not take the test in a different language or something. They think we don't need it? Feeling like I got off easy compared to just about everyone else.....

        Thirdly -- English is important every where. In American I never thought about how I watched so many Hollywood movies and I did not see any foreign ones. I always though, "Oh well they are probably making their own movies and don't need ours and we don't need theirs." I was wrong. Not only do Italians watch American movies but some watch only them dubbed into Italian. Have you ever tried watching a movie where the lips do not match? Yea I have, and I get quite angry! (But *shhh* that's a secret!) I assume this is how it is for every other foreign country that does not speak English... Lots of dubbed lips....

With that last thought - MUSIC! So I was in class today and asked my friend what are some great Italian artists that sing pop. Easy question in English ... And I was alittle worried when they kept answering with English people, because that's all they knew. I did get 1... but I think it is rap, because I gave up trying to get a pop or hip-hop or dance artist out of them (thanks anyway guys!) Maybe next time? Yea in America I listened to mainly English songs about 99.5% of them at least. Not all Americans are like that but I sure was! And that has got to change.... Even if I do not understand the words I think I will feel more human. Humans are not suppose to understand everything out there, being confused is a good thing!! When people do not understand, they learn! About time I start doing that too!

      Now that I have put my questions out there, maybe someone can help me answer them?

        Also so news of Italy.... Really bad weather everywhere happened last week. Floods and a tornado. Lots of people's lives changed that week. Pray for them all! Water damage can hurt! .. I am ok, just lots of rain! But my fellow exchange students in Italy, some won't be as lucky as me. Some were placed in the mess. Good luck guys! It is over and now Italy will work together to fix it!

Not really a fun post, so I am sorry... anyway till next time Readers 

| § | XOXO Brystal | § |

Titanic Moment!

        What have I learned in my 3 months abroad ... This is what I am asking myself. In general I feel I have learned so much I have no room left in my head. I did take in an entire culture in this time. Language included!

        Now my language skills are not as high as other people's, but doesn't the turtle win the race? With learning a language I think this may be true. I would study so hard for French in America, and only be able to keep the information in my head a short period. Why? Well I was not really learning the language, that happens over a long time. I know so many exchange students are going home stuffing everything in till their brain hurts. Guess this is alittle effective ... But not for me :-)
   
        My language skills in total. I kinda stink at speaking, but at least I am attempting something new. This will come with time for all you worriers out there! Secondly, my understanding skills are coming along nicely. I did read somewhere that at 3 months you should understand about 75% of what is said to you. I am more like 56%.... So it's not zero! Thirdly, writing.... Well I can write like random sentences (with mistakes of course) but it's not like I can take my own notes yet.... That would need to be its own category.... The teachers speak fast so I would have to have all my skills to understand them (bonus though, I understand my science teacher a lot!)

        I also started writing my graduation project! For all you who do not know what that is, let me explain to your wandering souls! It is a project for my school (and many others) that you have to complete or you do not pass high school-can't graduate. Which I do not want to happen. So you have to put 30 hours towards something of your choice. Many people go the easy route and volunteer somewhere. (Elderly home, soup kitchen, dog shelter...) Then you have to keep a fancy "log of hours" even get it signed each time. Also a reflection log.... So to reflect on what you have learned and what were the hardest parts. Now for most people this is easy. Done and done. I am one to always think of the hardest ideas.... Ready for mine?

        Yea, I will help foreign people (Italian) learn to speak English more easily! Wow... This is great, but not as easy as you would think. Some of the classes I attend are really good in English, some are so bad I speak really slow and use small words. I am hoping that me spending time with them (logging hours) they will get used to what English should sound like. They are great with reciting things from the books though. BUT when it comes to conversations, some do not even know where to begin! I won't judge you, I want to help you! I am here for that, I would much rather you come to me and stink so badly, and learn then go on pretending you know what your saying....

        So yes that was addressed to the Italians who read this. (Thanks Google translate) Now for all seriousness, this is my graduation project. I am learning so much and teaching so much. It is somewhat of an amazing feeling knowing you have helped out hundreds of people. I hope I can help more-7 months....

        Now I attend 6 hours of English a week. But I do not add all those hours to my log unless I did something in class for a long period of time. If I added them all I would have been done weeks ago.

        Ok what else have I learned... Yes the culture! Italians have such an intense Culture and lifestyle. Before coming here I sat through many orientations where they would talk about an "iceberg." How an iceberg is similar to what we would be going through....

        Explaining time! (Don't we all love these?!?!) Thought so :) .... So if you have ever seen the Titanic you would know the ship sank. Yes, but why? Because of a giant ICEBERG! The watchers could only see the top, they did not know what was in-store for them when it came to what's underwater. This is basically the concept of the "iceberg" in studing abroad. There are some things we can see. (Music, clothes, food) and something's we do not see (family styles, the hating between the North and South Italy) so many.... Now I came into Italy with what my eyes could see. Now I am starting to learn more about the culture under the water. It really is lovely, they do not even know how rich everything is.

        Oh little side note: went to my friends house (Emi) and I cooked for the first time in Italy!!! A little late I would say, but it was amazing! (This will be in my November catch up)- but it applied to me learning something new! Gosh I see fireworks dancing in my eyes! I have been wanting to cook for 3 months now in Italy! ...

        Ok readers... Know reading is good for you and all that helpful stuff. Learn new words and all and I will see you back soon!

| § | XOXO Brystal | § |

Italian Art

        I notice the the Italians in my school do not have a wide range of Art Classes that are fun. So they never really learn how to express themselves that way, unless they do it on their own.... I know for me I would die! So this post is about the art I do find around Lamezia!

        Be warned this will be mainly pictures! How better to explain then show you?!?

Till next blog readers, love you all!  

| § | XOXO Brystals | § |

Store I saw!

Paintings on the street!

number 2

number 3

number 4 (my favorite!)

Just know these are all ON MY SCHOOL WALLS..... like wow....

Humor!

What does this mean?

Who has the time!?!

Faces are hard to draw... try spray-painting them!

Wonder what he is looking as?...

Reminds me of Batman.....why?

LOVE the green tooth!

My schools nickname (Scienti) this was made at a school dance and approved to do!

Front of my school

What we learned in Art Class today.... how to draw this thing....

Other art class lesson...

I know how to draw a cone now!- my friends BTW!

How Italians Eat....

        Being as I am in Italy, I will look like a marshmallow when I go back to the state's. Italy does that to foreign people! You go there skinny and somehow you eat the same stuff as everyone else (loads of carbs!) And notice your the only one who is gaining weight! Whats the secret? Can I be in on it too? 

        I have been pretty good so far I think! I tell my mom "basta!" Or "No, grazie" to just about every second spoonful she trys to put on my plate. She loves to overfeed everyone! Yu should have seen the first day.... I ate enough to feed Africa.... Scary right?

        Italians love to eat together, so when your not there it's kinda a bad thing. AND not to mention if you leave the table early they wonder if you did not like the food. . . So I am always last to leave so I do not seem rude to them! Don't want to make them hate me the next 8 months right? 

        Also I should mention that some "Italian" food you hear about in America are not in Italy.... What? Well for example: spaghetti with meatballs - they do not know what a meatball is.... Alfredo, yea that's not here in the kind I always had in America... Tastes different here. Also no chicken parmesan... So sad I loved that too! And I should mention I have not seen a pizza covered in layers and layers of cheese like we have in America.

        Dinner here is such a special time for the family! Also lunch! They always have huge courses of everything! First pasta! Second meat! Third vegetables! Fourth fruit which is dessert! Each course takes up an entire plate. I normally feel like I really want to go for an intense run after dinner, but at 9:30 at night I just don't see my host parents letting me go... Also eating is a race at my house. I sit and eat maybe 7 fork fulls of food and look over at everyone else and they are done waiting for me to finish. I do not know if the chew the food or not. My host brother also takes what would be 4 bites of food for me all at once. While I still finish my first bite, he has finished....

        Coffee - tasted it here and was about to pass out it was so strong! You will not see a large cup of coffee here. Ever. I will not get into coffee, promise you that!  

        So today is November 17 also my mom (Rose) in America's Birthday! Wish her luck and a Happy Birthday! I miss her like crazy! . . . . Also I went out to eat lunch with my family in the mountains and I took some photos!

        Keep in mind the appetizers were huge and I thought they were the entire meal.... I was so full after them that when pasta then meat then salad then potatoes then fruit course came. I had a steady line of bad words enter my head from about the meat course on... I was in trouble! I kept asking my host sister if this was the last one! I could not just no eat or try the things when they put it on my plate.... SO MUCH FOOD!

            There will be so many of my blogs dedicated to Italian food this year. But who doesn't love food?

Wish me luck on not getting super fat this year readers! Till next time! |§ | XOXO Brystal | § |

Appitizers 

PASTA 

Salad.... do not like it covered in oil like italians do...

9 people and one of them way 5 years old... Did we finish this, not even close!

Coke with lemon! - weird but good!

loves his jobs!

Me and my host sister! Maria!

The place we ate at! 

soooo pretty!

My dad and the 5 year old! 

Red mountain?!?

The volcano was right between the 2 mountains in the water. I COULD SEE IT! First time I saw a volcano! 

Shopping Time!

        Now if your anything like me, you love to shop and you find that you can spend 1000 euros in one night. Yes, anyone else like this too? Well I think my shopping skills will get better in Italy, because everything is so expensive!

        The price for these items look good - until I do the calculation in my head for the exchange rate. Most of the time I gag and think, "Italians over pay for everything!" Which kinda stinks being as I love to shop! I guess it's because it says Made In Italy!

        So I live in Lamezia as you all should know! In my town we have like an area in Central Lamezia that is pretty much shops.... And more shops...and even more hidden shops! I call this the shopping street.... Even though it's more like 10 streets.... Yea, it's huge!

        So the time to shop is at night when everyone goes out. I do mean everyone.... At like 8 - people come out in packs of like 15 at a time! It's really amazing because I am not used to it. Shouldn't these people be at home getting ready for bed or something? No, Italians love to party. *Clap, Clap* for all those Italians out there, I surely can not! Guess it's because I am a lazy American? At least this sterotype might be true! I went out yesterday at 5 and around 8:30 my feet hurt me! In sneakers!

JUST BE READY TO SHOP IN ITALY! 

        The stores people! Do I have to mention they are really unlike American stores, or could you have guessed that? Some are so small 2 people can fit in at once! I guess this is just Italy! They come small and cute! Fun-size! They also have these weird window shuters that slide down for when they are locking up....

I guess it's better if I show some pictures right? I took a lot . . . . . . . 

View the pictures! Till next time

 | § | XOXO Brystal | § |

Cute shops I passed!

The blonde is Emi she is Italian. Celeste is the one with the long hair! 

Shoes are a thing here...

I thought of my little siste wearing these shoes....

PJs !!!  Its cold here at night!

Get ice cream here, it is amazing! 

I tried on that black jacket...does not look good on this american... 

No Prom, wonder where they wear these gowns too? Any ideas? 

MORE SHOES!

Small right? Like a little walkway ...but cute as pie! 

Maybe they buy them to go shopping in?!?! 

I forget what this is.... :)