Look who's back!

I know it's been awhile since my last post, but my life here in Italy has been a rollercoaster this month.

It's said that while on exchange you meet your truest friends. Well that's so true! The people in my District have become my family. We understand each other and we always have a good time together. To think that I'm going to have to say goodbye to them, breaks my heart!

 

 

I went to my first Italian movie this month. Now let me tell you about Italian movie theaters... America needs to step up! When I walked into this movie theater there was about 12 ticket counters, when you buy your ticket you have to decided if you want to sit in the middle, front, or back, then you get a seat number, and you have to sit there. Once you have you ticket you walk into the "Food area" They had a regular snack bar like in America, but they also had a mini store with drinks and snacks and a HUGE wall of candy! They also had a café. Once you get you snacks and drinks, you walk into the actual theater part, and they had mini bars, so if you needed a refill of popcorn you could go there. To shorten that... It's really nice!!

 

 

 

On to school...

This week I got yet another new schedule. I have a lot of friends in a lot of classes now. Italians are really funny! They also like to selfie a lot!   

 

One thing I absolutely love Italy is the scenery. I really wish my pictures could do it justices.

This is my front yard. Waking up to this is
really one of the highlights of my day.

The castle in Udine has some of the most
amazing view! I sit up here for hours, and just
take in the beauty!

 

 

 

 

 

So past Saturday I had to take the SAT...

On the bright side I got to see my fellow exchangees in Trieste! They took me around the city and we went to a roller blade hockey game. It was a lot of fun, but it was FREEZING COLD! In Trieste they have this really strong wind called "Boar." It's really strong and makes it like 10 degrees colder!

 

 

Exchange students unite!

 

 

Then Sunday I went to Venice to have pizza with the governor of Rotary. Some of the exchange students meet in Venice early to explore. We managed to get lost at least twice, but that's a part of exchange!

 

 

So we got a new family member this month!
This is Abi, she is from South Africa. She
lives in Udine with Paige and I.

Max-a-Million is truly one in a
million!

My long lost sister!

 

 

 

 

So everything was good until it was time to go home...

There was a huge train strike! I was supposed to leave Venice at 6... I didn't leave until 9. Then once the train finally got to the station, it was totally full of people. So we had to stand, which wasn't that bad. So the train finally got moving and everything was good, or so we thought. Well the train stops in the middle of nowhere, and they tell us that the train has stopped and we had to wait to see what happened... we waited for about 30+ minutes, then they told us that the train wasn't going to start again. So we had to exit the train and wait for another 30+ minutes out in the cold, but once that train came we got on, got a seat and eventually made it home:) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You know when you have all the family together you have to take family photos, so these are a few of my family photos.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tanti Auguri e Buon Anno/ Best wishes and Good New Year!

Well I hope all of you have had a wonderful holiday and I hope you've stuck to those New Years Resolutions!

Well Italians don't get very many holidays, up until now I had 2 school holidays. Well at my school they have this huge Christmas party called "Copernicus Night" It was crazy fun! However it was a little crowded!

Then my host family and I went to Milano for a week. That hotel we stayed in was magnificent. It reminded me of the country back home. They had a pool, 3 different saunas, and a room full of water beds! It was a little slice of heaven. One the first day we were there it snowed. Now I usually HATE snow, but I made an exception for this snow. It was beautiful!

 
 
 


























Then on our second day we went to Bellagio. It was so pretty! It was a very photogenic city!

 Italian sunsets always amaze me! I will defiantly miss them when I go back home! They are simply one in a million and breath-taking.

I finally got to see the Milano Duomo! I'm absolutely, positively, 100 percent in love with this amazing building! From the outside to the inside its magnificent! I could have spent all day looking at it!

 The stain glass windows were all made of little stain glass windows, that pictured scenes from the bible.

 

 
 

 This small covered shopping center (I have forgotten the name) has some of the most expensive stores! For example this Christmas tree is decorated with Swarovski Crystals. It was beautiful. Then to the right of the tree (which you can't see, sorry) is Prada. My host mom went in, and found a purse that she liked... $24,000 for a purse!!!

 

For Capodanno (New Years) we stayed at the hotel for a hotel dinner. It was a lot of fun. The food was wonderful! After dinner we did fireworks... inside! Then we danced the night away! My host sister and I finally went to sleep at about 2:30. 

 

 

 

Don't worry it's just water:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Broken bones and Beautiful Places

CIAO TUTTI!!

I'm sorry it's been a long time, but I'm back now:)

Well since my last post I've turned into Betty Croker, I hit 100 days, and I can now speak 3 languages!

First things first some of y'all already now, but last time I posted I had hurt my ankle pretty badly. Well it turns out that I fractured my ankle:'( But have no fear, because now its slowly getting better!!

 

 

Know if you really know me, you know I hate cooking! But Italy has made me hate it a little less. I've made at least 4 different types of cookies and a cake, and surprisingly they all tasted really good!!

I also hit 100 days in Italy! I've had the opportunity to see so many gorgeous places in such a short amount of time and its all thanks to Rotary and my amazing host family!

 

Onto more things...


This past weekend my district had a Christmas lunch for our host families...
That was an interesting day. 22+ people in one tiny kitchen with a half- working oven, and 2 stove tops. Needless to say I think the food could've been better, however it was a good day!

However unfortunately we have to say goodbye to the Aussies:'( Tom and Libbi I'll miss you more than words can describe! Thanks for making the first months of my exchange amazing!

 

 

 

This is Alessandro! He exchanged to Tennessee last year!
#SouthernsUnite

I FOUND SNOW!!!!!!

 This past week I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to the Dolomitis and Brunico for my host dads Christmas Dinner. I have a new obsession. 

 
 

Who knew I would like cappuccinos... not me!

Castello di Brunico

 

 

 

Okay so the Dolomitis are most definitely the most beautiful and breath-taking mountains I've ever seen! If you ever get the chance to see them... just be prepared to not have words! I stood gaping at these amazing mountains! These pictures don't do these mountains justice, but there as close as I can get you guys...

Sorry It's sideways

 

I also got the opportunity to meet my host fathers rotary club, and they were a fantastic and welcoming group!  Brunico is on the border of Austria, so most of the people in the club spoke Dutch. Well I can now introduce myself in Dutch! Which isn't easy!

Lots of people have asked me how many pins I had. Well I had
never actually counted... until today.
As of today I have 126 pins

 

Last night I had a Rotary dinner with my host club and it was a lot of fun. I'm blessed to be in such a loving club. I can't thank my tutor and his wife enough for all they've done for me! I'm forever grateful to Rotary Club Udine Nord for everything they've done for me! I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them!






 Now its time for the future exchange student part:
 Sometimes when your on exchange you have rough days and nights. Its normal. Don't be afraid to cry, it doesn't make you weak or a coward. I had a tough night last night (Holidays are hard, but just try and stay busy), but I'm extremely lucky as I have an amazing best friend, Paige, and together we help each other through the tough times. Today I went over to Paige's house and we had comfort food (A.K.A Mac- and- cheese), watched our favorite TV series, and played with bunnies and guinea pigs.
So remember even though there will be bad days, the sun will shine again soon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This could be you!

Ever wanted to be an exchange student? Well, its not as far out of reach as you think it might be. If you had told me 5 years ago that I would be an exchange student in Italy, I would've laughed, but here I am. Exchange is the best thing that's ever happened to me! I've seen places that I've only dreamed of seeing, I've meet some of the most amazing people, and I've made memories that ill cherish for the rest of my life!

If you have any questions feel free to contact me!

( baberuthgirl@gmail.com )

Or

If you think you could be a Rotary exchange student, go to the website and fill out a application!

 ( https://www.rotary.org/en/get-involved/exchange-ideas/youth-exchanges )