Monday, January 28, 2013

Intensive Italian!

I am so glad that the three week intensive Italian class has started! Knowing a little bit of spanish and italian is helping tremendously with the conjugation aspect of the language. I am finally putting together phrases and sentences that actually make sense! I have found a language partner and he is pretty cute too! He took me around the park yesterday where we practiced conjugating the -are verbs. He also speaks no english so we use pictures and gestures to express what we are trying to say! It's pretty neat! I never knew the letters K, J, X, Y, and W didn't exist Latin or Italian. Pretty cool!

The city is amazing. I don't even know where to begin! From the medieval horse tie up areas on every building to detailed artwork of the frescos, this city has so much rich history. So many small streets that I have no idea where they lead! I want to take them all! I never, in a million years, thought I would be here! Everything little thing has meaning from the past and I want to know everything! For example, I live in the contrada of the snail. Contrada's are the neighborhoods of Siena. And your neighbor is your enemy. SO much to learn and SO little time.

My friend Dyeemah took this picture of me on my first day at The Siena School. Thought I would share with all of you the excitement on my face!


Off to explore the next Contrada of Siena! Ciao!

-kali

Friday, January 25, 2013

A Special Night

Tonight was very special because my host mother and family invited my real mother (most of you know her as G) to dinner at our house. My mom is staying in Siena tonight and leaving for Florence tomorrow. We had a very traditional dinner and vegetarian so my mom could eat it! The pasta was probably my favorite part (PESTO!). Dinner conversation was absolutely hilarious! We laughed so hard because of translations and trying to speak both English and Italian! We talked a lot about politics and healthcare and it was very intellectual even though there was a small language barrier. I am learning more and more about Italian healthcare and government as well as a more simple way of life compared to the U.S.

School is school and so far we have only had orientation days, permit of stay paperwork, ect ect. I am excited for the intensive italian and more excited to get to know the other 33 students in my program! We also got a tour of the school and let me tell you.. the views are like a painting. UNREAL.

I am no good with words and I can explain myself much better through pictures. So I will try and upload a few pictures this weekend. But here was my favorite that I took today.




Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Settled In Siena

ciao ciao!
After a fabulous time in Florence seeing The David with my mother we ate at a fabulous restaurant called Buca Mario. The old men were hilarious and the food as always was delicious. I had a mushroom risotto and mom had fresh artichokes with rigatoni!  Mom and I split two bottles of wine. We had a ball walking home...

Today was a good day. I met my classmates at the Florence airport and we took a bus to Siena where my host mother (Anna Maria) picked me up! She speaks english very well but there were definitely some awkward silences in the car! She showed me where the bus stop was that I will be taking.
My host home is about 45 minute walk from the center of Siena (where my school is) so I plan on taking the bus to school and hopefully walking home, then ill get a better  understanding of my host country.

My first homemade meal was classic and I couldn't ask for a better family. Both of my host siblings study here in Siena and speak english very well! I am slowly but surely picking up more words and phrases. After dinner Anna Maria and Elena made a cake for tomorrow while Lorenzo watched me/ helped me practice Italian with my Rosetta Stone.

It was really fun being able to tell them about lacrosse and my team and everything I'm involved in at NAU. I can't wait until I can have a full conversation with them about my day and daily living!!

A few days of orientation ahead and then classes slowly begin! 3 week intensive italian class first and then my semester officially starts! My mother comes Friday and my host family has already invited her to come to dinner. Such a wonderful experience!

buona notte

kali

Monday, January 21, 2013

So Much History

Exploring Rome... This isn't real life.
The "famous" sites are absolutely breathtaking. Words cannot describe the emotions I felt walking through the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. So many amazing artists contributed to these ancient creations. My pictures do not do these sites justice.
We woke up relatively early to get to the Vatican City and then toured the museum. Inside the museum my mother asked one of the ladies working "dove il bagno"(where is the bathroom?) and the lady responded in Italian and it left my mother puzzled and confused that she just had to laugh! Natives definitely think we speak Italian!
 After hours of viewing different sculptures and reading little blurbs we climbed numerous steps in small hallways and climbed what seemed like endless windy stairs to get to the grand view of the city.


After saying a quick prayer downstairs in St. Peter's we walked. And walked. And walked! All the way to the Piazza Navona, and then down random streets to the Pantheon.
From there we ventured to the ever famous Trevi Fountain where my mother and I both threw in one coin in hopes that the legend is true. Thrown from the right and over the left shoulder, one coin means that one day you will return to Rome!

From the fountain we made our way back to the St. Regis and on the way stopped at our first gelato spot! Oh my, I don't think I'll ever have ice cream in the states again!!!

Today was the first day that it did not rain ALL DAY. It sprinkled on and off, but we got really lucky! Dinner was fantastic. We both had an eggplant parmigiana (and a bottle of wine between the two of us).

Soon enough I will be meeting my fellow classmates and SSLA staff in Florence and then my real journey begins in the home with my host family in Siena. Here are a few pictures from the day (for Buba) and there are more on my facebook page!








ciao,

kali


Sunday, January 20, 2013

Rome!

2 cars, 2 planes, and 13 hours later our flight arrived yesterday morning at 7:30 am (Italy time). We had to stay up for the whole day so that we could adjust to the time difference! Italy is 8 hours ahead of Arizona. The weather is very grey. It rained both days on and off. Despite the weather, e una bella giornata!!

During the day we ventured the streets of Rome, visited the Spanish Steps and sipped the BEST cappuccino! After a long day/night of travel it was nice to go to bed early!!

Today we went the colosseum! It was beyond amazing, even in the rain. I could not believe I was actually there. Of course we did the touristy thing and listened to the audio tour and I am glad we did. I learned so much of the history, why it was built the way it was, all the materials that went into building it, and information about the gladiators of the games. (It reminded me a little bit of the Hunger Games!!!)
In the afternoon we went to the Borghese Gallery, and WOW I could have easily spent 24 hours there. What amazing artwork and so much history! I was utterly amazed. Thank you Borghese family for your love of art and luxury :)

The language is beautiful and I am slowly picking up words, but wow does everyone talk fast! One of our cab drivers spoke slowly for us and even though there was a language barrier it was still so cool to be able to have a short conversation. All of the cars drive so fast and people J-walk all the time no matter what street. On every other corner there is a fountain or some type of stone work, sculptures and old buildings line the streets. When we sat down for our afternoon coffee we talked to the bar tender about the upcoming election, healthcare, drinking, driving limit and much much more.

Anyway, I promised my aunt CG that I would post pictures here for my Buba to be able to see.
To Buba: Godetevi le foto e ti amo!!









Thursday, January 17, 2013

Last Phone Calls

I still need to pack.

I got the chance to talk to Buba, my 97 year old great grandmother, one last time before my flight departs tomorrow.  She told me to say hello to her cousin "over there" in Sicily. My mother and I could not stop laughing.


Buba: There's a lot of them over there [cousins].
Me: Who's alive?
Buba: Well I'm not sure. (long pause) Don't forget to bring your bathing suit!

I also had the opportunity to talk to my best friend Meredith who also has some fun travels in Costa Rica coming up! I can't wait to meet new friends and build relationships in Italy!!

My parents' 26th wedding anniversary is tomorrow and I am SO BLESSED that they are MY parents! So sorry I'm taking Mom away from you Dad! Can't wait for you to visit me when you are in France for work!

Next post will be from Rome!

ciao

-kali






Wednesday, January 16, 2013

One more day, one day more!

ONE MORE DAY! ONE DAY MORE! (I have the Les Mis song stuck in my head and it's fitting. Literally one more day!)

I never realized packing my life up for the next six months would be SO HARD! I am REALLY lucky that my mom is coming back over to Europe for my spring break so I won't have to backpack with my winter clothes once the semester is over! Today we booked all of our travel arrangements for spring break! I was shocked how cheap it is to fly in Europe! Ryanair.com is UHH-MAY-ZING! From Pisa to London to Paris, I get to spend an amazing week with my mother exploring and shopping! I am so blessed! But I should probably focus on my academics before I can even start thinking about seeing Wicked in London!!!

Rosetta Stone has been my best friend for the past few days. Although I cannot wait to meet my host family and learn the language from them!

My mom was reading my first blog entry today and already commenting on my miss-spelled words, but lets face it.. I''m not an english major for a reason! (Sorry mom and Mr. Cass if the bad grammar/spelling bothers you!)

I can't wait for good gelato.

ciao

-kali

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

2 days 9 hours and 32 minutes...

I have 2 days 9 hours and 32 minutes until my flight from Phoenix departs for Atlanta. From there we will get on our plane flying into ROME! My mom and I have been packing all week and are excited for the adventure ahead. As most of you know she is 'dropping me off' in Italy like she would 'drop me off at school' in kindergarden. Even though I'm now in 16th grade and could easily do this on my own she needed a reason to visit Italy, and this was the perfect time:)  Needless to say, I am blessed to have my mother traveling with me!  
As the time draws near I realize how much I will be missing in the states. I will be missing Julie&Peters wedding, Coopers birth (love you jess&jeff!), country thunder (ash, cyd, tater, and mike), graduations, our lacrosse season, and of course NHL HOCKEY GAMES. But I am so very excited for this opportunity to study in Italy.
Nestled in the heart of Tuscany, I'm lucky to have the opportunity to study in Siena at the Siena School for Liberal Arts. Where I will be taking a film photography class, italian language course, writing and literature, and lastly art history. And I will be living with a host family!
Studying abroad had never been in my 'plan' until this past summer when I realized I didn't know what I wanted to do, nor did I have any desire to graduate. Everyone always says 'this is the only time you will be able to be selfish. Travel. Explore. Sleep on floors.' And that is exactly what I am going to do. No career plans and no graduation date is the perfect time for me to travel, meet people, eat good food, drink good wine, and immerse myself in a culture that I am unfamiliar with. And I am so excited to learn the language!

There is one quote that I have had in mind for the past few years. And I feel that it is VERY fitting for my upcoming travels...

"If you're 22, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel - as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them - wherever you go" - Anthony Bourdain

arrivederci

-kali