As I write, I'm sitting in my new room while the 70 degree weather kills me slowly. In the past 3 weeks, I've changed host families, gone through hard times far from home and burned to a crisp. You guys all know about #2 so I'll enlighten you on #1 and #3.
Right before Easter, I switched host families. It's just for a month or two and then I'll be going back to the Braida's. I'm staying with the Germini's now. I have two host brothers, one older than me and the other the same age as me. I also have a host sister who's a year younger than me. I live right outside of the city so now since it's warm, I get to bike to practice everyday. It's not that bad. I actually like it. There's a lot of freedom with a bike and I feel so European. Plus, it's the type of bike I want for university so I'm doing a test run right now. I will be buying the same kind of bike most likely.
I like my new host family. Yes, I miss the Braida's a ton and yes, I get first host family sick. Here, I think I like the guys more than my host sister. The guys are really nice and we get along just well. My host sister is nice too but I like the guys more.
Did I say the highlight for this family is being able to bike into town?
Then last weekend, I went to Parma for a duoathlon as the team cheerleader. Parma was so nice. We left Saturday afternoon and drove 4 hours to Parma. We had rented an apartment room and went out to dinner. Then we went and walked around the center of the city. Since it was 10 at night and all the university students were out and about, Parma really didn't impress me. I bet it's wonderful during the day and the nightlife is great but still. I wished we would've been able to walk around during the day. Sunday, we set out to the University of Parma science campus. Since the duoathlon was running and biking, we had to set up all the bikes. Along with being the cheerleader, I was helping out set up bikes. It wasn't that bad. I thought it was fun. For all my CO readers, it was 80 and sunny. How's the snow?
I went for a run with my coach and Vicky while she did her warm up. Then the races started. It was 2000 km of running, then 6000 km of biking and finally a 1000 km run. I think if I ever did a duoathlon or triathlon, I would be laying dead on the sidewalk 3 minutes after the race started. I give these kids massive props for being able to do this.
Because the sun was out and my skin was white, I decided to wear a tank top and shorts. Well, I kind of forgot the most important ingredient; sunscreen. Oops. My shoulders are burned but now they're tan because I've been putting so much cream on them. Sorry Mom. I learned my lesson.
I also got to eat Parmigiano Reggiano cheese there. Note to everyone: Just because it's called Parmigiano Reggiano doesn't mean it's made in Parma. It's made in Reggiano, a city near by. Parma is famous for its prosciutto.
All in all, Parma was amazing. The weather was amazing. I've never seen 80 degree weather in April. I've never gotten burned in April. I'm not coming home I've decided.
Then this weekend I'm going to Vicenza for an Israel peace conference get together and then next weekend I'll be in Rome. I'm going to ROME!!!! Yey!! I will take a ton of pictures for your enjoyment on Facebook. It's going to be sunny too! Shorts, skirts, lots of skin showing. I love spring in Italy.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
L'amore e le stelle
A lot of things happen on exchange. I mean a lot. On the exchange front and also the home front. Exchange students miss things back home; graduations, birthdays, Prom, and then the hardest hit thing, death.
Last year before jetting off for a year filled with laughter and smiles, I would read on the facebook group of exchange students, "My cat just died" "My grandmother/father/great aunt just died."And I was naive enough to think, that won't happen to me. I have two very healthy strong grandmothers who I love very much and will probably be at my wedding. So I shrugged those comments off.
WARNING NEXT PART IS VERY EMOTIONAL. MOM, IF YOU READ THIS AND CRY I'M SORRY.
A few months ago, I got an email from my mom. It was short and quick to the point. It read, "Your grandmother is very sick. She might get better, she might not." I, being the good granddaughter I am, quickly started to worry but a few weeks after that email I stopped. I figured my grandmother had gotten better. I'd seen her over skype and she looked strong and ready to fight.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. Same email except "This time she is really sick. The docs gave her months to live. You might see her when you get back, you might not." My mom gave me time become at peace with this idea. I am not the person who shows her feeling right away. I'm the type of person who writes down what she's feeling like and then stuffs it in the box. That's what I did. I cried and I told my Italian mom about it. She understood and made sure I was okay.
Fast forward to last week. New email. "Grandmother's extremely sick. She has a few weeks." Within the week, I was writing my mom and dad, and as I read their responses I would cry. The last letter my dad wrote made me cry for a good 5 minutes. That's my dad. Quick to make me cry. Mom, remember, Dad's a keeper in this kind of situation.
Fast forward to last night. No email but skype. I get to see my Grandmother. About the strongest woman I have ever known. She was laying down, eye's half closed and when I said hi, she said the name she's been calling me since birth, "Hey, Annie girl." Like that I broke. There were no tears and I struggled to get the words out. I told her I loved her so much and when I blew her a kiss, I blew a thousand times more because well in my own words... that kiss has to be a strong little motherf**ker to cross hundreds of thousands of miles and land on my Grandmother's cheek.
Fast forward to tonight. I avoided going on facebook and my email since I'd gotten home. I'd seen a thing on facebook this morning and I wanted to believe it was an April fool's joke. That's how I take bad news. Denial is not just a river in Egypt. I get on skype with my great aunt and the news is spilled. That's when I cracked. The tears spilled and I learned a heart can break into a thousand different tiny slivers. We talked and talked and talked. I talked to my mom over the phone via skype. There may be no physical hugging right now but I can feel all the love from all 8 children, 28 grandchildren and greatgrandchildren going for my Grandmother.
My Grandmother is a true southern gem. She raised 8 children all by herself with the help of a giant Irish family. She is the strongest person I know. And I see her in my mom. I remember asking my mom what kind of grandma she wanted to be and her responding, like Grandmother. Mom you are Grandmother. Just a younger version. Actually all my aunts are Grandmother. I am so lucky to have that. I am so lucky to say that my children will have 6 Grandmothers because of who my aunts are.
Grandmother, everyone is saying how they love you to the moon and back. I'm going to say that but also through the old Native American legends you gave me and my sister. I see you whenever I see bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrushes. I love you when I see those flowers.
We all know this year, I've studied Dante. Well, Dante knew I was going to need this quote to express my love for Grandmother.
Last year before jetting off for a year filled with laughter and smiles, I would read on the facebook group of exchange students, "My cat just died" "My grandmother/father/great aunt just died."And I was naive enough to think, that won't happen to me. I have two very healthy strong grandmothers who I love very much and will probably be at my wedding. So I shrugged those comments off.
WARNING NEXT PART IS VERY EMOTIONAL. MOM, IF YOU READ THIS AND CRY I'M SORRY.
A few months ago, I got an email from my mom. It was short and quick to the point. It read, "Your grandmother is very sick. She might get better, she might not." I, being the good granddaughter I am, quickly started to worry but a few weeks after that email I stopped. I figured my grandmother had gotten better. I'd seen her over skype and she looked strong and ready to fight.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. Same email except "This time she is really sick. The docs gave her months to live. You might see her when you get back, you might not." My mom gave me time become at peace with this idea. I am not the person who shows her feeling right away. I'm the type of person who writes down what she's feeling like and then stuffs it in the box. That's what I did. I cried and I told my Italian mom about it. She understood and made sure I was okay.
Fast forward to last week. New email. "Grandmother's extremely sick. She has a few weeks." Within the week, I was writing my mom and dad, and as I read their responses I would cry. The last letter my dad wrote made me cry for a good 5 minutes. That's my dad. Quick to make me cry. Mom, remember, Dad's a keeper in this kind of situation.
Fast forward to last night. No email but skype. I get to see my Grandmother. About the strongest woman I have ever known. She was laying down, eye's half closed and when I said hi, she said the name she's been calling me since birth, "Hey, Annie girl." Like that I broke. There were no tears and I struggled to get the words out. I told her I loved her so much and when I blew her a kiss, I blew a thousand times more because well in my own words... that kiss has to be a strong little motherf**ker to cross hundreds of thousands of miles and land on my Grandmother's cheek.
Fast forward to tonight. I avoided going on facebook and my email since I'd gotten home. I'd seen a thing on facebook this morning and I wanted to believe it was an April fool's joke. That's how I take bad news. Denial is not just a river in Egypt. I get on skype with my great aunt and the news is spilled. That's when I cracked. The tears spilled and I learned a heart can break into a thousand different tiny slivers. We talked and talked and talked. I talked to my mom over the phone via skype. There may be no physical hugging right now but I can feel all the love from all 8 children, 28 grandchildren and greatgrandchildren going for my Grandmother.
My Grandmother is a true southern gem. She raised 8 children all by herself with the help of a giant Irish family. She is the strongest person I know. And I see her in my mom. I remember asking my mom what kind of grandma she wanted to be and her responding, like Grandmother. Mom you are Grandmother. Just a younger version. Actually all my aunts are Grandmother. I am so lucky to have that. I am so lucky to say that my children will have 6 Grandmothers because of who my aunts are.
Grandmother, everyone is saying how they love you to the moon and back. I'm going to say that but also through the old Native American legends you gave me and my sister. I see you whenever I see bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrushes. I love you when I see those flowers.
We all know this year, I've studied Dante. Well, Dante knew I was going to need this quote to express my love for Grandmother.
L'amor che move il sole e l'altre stelle
In English: Love moves the sun and the other stars.
That's what will be tattooed on my shoulder blade in remembrance of my Grandmother. So I can always keep her love with me.
Grandmother, I love you. I love you until time stops. Ti voglio tanto, anzi troppo bene.
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