Monday, January 21, 2008
Andrea
So, most of you know by now but for those of you that don't, I have some news over here in Italy. I have an Italian boyfriend now. It was very unexpected and I never really thought it would happen while I was here but I am very happy it did. He is 24, and is actually Manuela's brother, Chicco's uncle. I am happy and we are really enjoying our time together. This is a picture of me and Andrea, taken last weekend at a friends birthday party:
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Blah
I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile but I really have had nothing to report because life has been pretty much the same for the past week or so. Chicco's morning nanny has had a fever all week (she got it from Chicco because he has pretty much been sick since I got back here- I have yet to catch anything serious so hopefully I won't). So I have had to fill in for her and I have been working double this week. It's still not too bad considering how much I normally work but I'm not used to it and it was early mornings so it has been hard on my sleep. I have been really busy with him and really tired all week so it will be really nice to finally sleep in tomorrow morning.
I am also hoping to learn to drive a stick shift tomorrow afternoon. Most of the cars here are manual and I have never tried and am interested to learn. I am a little worried because of how extremely graceful I am and, even though it doesn't take much, I am sure I can screw it up. Andrea has offered to teach me and he is getting a new car soon so I obviously need to learn before then because I won't be allowed to touch the new one. Anyway, it should be interesting. We will see how long it lasts because I know for sure it will be testing his patience to the extreme, so we will see how long he can deal with me.
That's about all the excitement going on. We are going to try to go to the cinema tomorrow because we haven't been in awhile, and even though the movies are in Italian, I miss going to the movies all the time.
The big carnival in Venice starts next week and I am looking forward to taking a day trip there to see what it is all about and be able to say that I experienced it. Unfortunately it ends the day before my mom gets here (her birthday), so I will be going with Andrea sometime in the first week of February.
Looking forward to possibly watching the Superbowl on Italian satellite TV and then the arrival of my parents in three weeks!! :) I can't wait!
I am also hoping to learn to drive a stick shift tomorrow afternoon. Most of the cars here are manual and I have never tried and am interested to learn. I am a little worried because of how extremely graceful I am and, even though it doesn't take much, I am sure I can screw it up. Andrea has offered to teach me and he is getting a new car soon so I obviously need to learn before then because I won't be allowed to touch the new one. Anyway, it should be interesting. We will see how long it lasts because I know for sure it will be testing his patience to the extreme, so we will see how long he can deal with me.
That's about all the excitement going on. We are going to try to go to the cinema tomorrow because we haven't been in awhile, and even though the movies are in Italian, I miss going to the movies all the time.
The big carnival in Venice starts next week and I am looking forward to taking a day trip there to see what it is all about and be able to say that I experienced it. Unfortunately it ends the day before my mom gets here (her birthday), so I will be going with Andrea sometime in the first week of February.
Looking forward to possibly watching the Superbowl on Italian satellite TV and then the arrival of my parents in three weeks!! :) I can't wait!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Back in Italia
So I am back here in Montebelluna. I have been back for almost a week now and things are back to normal again. It is really weird to think about the fact that I won't be in America again for almost nine months! Saying goodbye to my brothers and friends was really weird and sadd because this is the longest I have ever been away from home, or my family.
I am very happy here though and really looking forward to this next year spent here. I have a lot more traveling to do and a lot more to see and learn so it should be exciting.
The next thing I have to look forward to is my parents visit in the beginning of Febraury. I can't wait! I am so excited for them to meet everyone and see what my life is like here. That is in about three weeks so I am very excited.
After that, I just have to look into dates for a few more visitors and enjoy life in Italia!!
I am very happy here though and really looking forward to this next year spent here. I have a lot more traveling to do and a lot more to see and learn so it should be exciting.
The next thing I have to look forward to is my parents visit in the beginning of Febraury. I can't wait! I am so excited for them to meet everyone and see what my life is like here. That is in about three weeks so I am very excited.
After that, I just have to look into dates for a few more visitors and enjoy life in Italia!!
Monday, December 31, 2007
2007
One of my friends did a survery for the year 2007 and I decided it would be a cool thing to do so here it is:
1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before? hmm, graduated college, became a registered nurse, moved to Italy, spoke a new language, became a full time nanny (twice), traveled Italian trains (ALOT!), flew on Ryanair!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I dont really make them, but maybe I will make some for next year...
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? unfortunately no
4. Did anyone close to you die? actually no, and that is a really big deal for me lately. I think it is the first year in about 5 years...
5. What countries did you visit? Italy
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? the ability to speak two languages
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? February 10th, March 5th, May 21st, August 20th, September 28th, December 6th (all for their own different reasons)
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? moving to Italy on my own and surviving, as well as going through a tough first month all alone and still deciding to stay in Italy, instead of giving up and coming home. Traveling almost all of Italy by train all alone with two massive suitcases.
9. What was your biggest failure? I dont think I had many, but I was pretty disapointed when I had to leave my first family in Italy because things werent working out.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Just my usual minor cuts and scrapes and bruises because I am extremely clumsy, but thats all.
11. What was the best thing you bought? I would probably have to say my train ticket to Montebelluna to meet the family, turned out pretty well :)
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? i think my mom, she had a tough year, with her oldest graduating college and then moving to Italy...
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? cant think of anyone
14. Where did most of your money go? phone calls and internet cafes in the beginning, communication in general, but it is the best way to spend money :)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? both leaving for Italy and coming home for Christmas
16. What song will always remind you of 2007? Time of your Life - Greenday
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? I think I am a) happier b) maybe a little fatter (I am also writing this after the holidays...c)im pretty sure im poorer since I have spent a lot of money!
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? nothing really, I want to do more traveling around Europe but I did a lot and plan on doing a lot more
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? being lazy, but I really dont regret that either, because I have to live my relaxing life now while i can
20. How did you spend Christmas? at home in America with my family like we do every year, for details look at my recent blog post
21. Did you fall in love in 2007? i think possibly twice....
22. What was your favorite TV program? Grey's Anatomy by far
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? i dont think so
24. What was the best book you read? too many to think of on the spot
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? i will say Taylor Swift since she is my newest favorite
26. What did you want and get? the experience of a lifetime, living in Italy
27. What did you want and not get? i think i got everything i wanted...
28. What was your favorite film of this year? movies and books are very hard for me to pick just one
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 23 and I had a very special Italian birthday: breakfast and presents in my pjs at Manuela and Lucas house with them and Chicco and then the afternoon spent talking to family and friends from America, then out to dinner with Andrea and Mattea and then out to a party at a disco, at the end of the night recieving the best present I could ever ask for....
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? not too much, I am starting to realize that I had a pretty amazing year!
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? comfortable and unstylish as always
32. What kept you sane? my family and my ipod did a pretty good job, acting as my best friend for the first few lonely months in Italy
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? i lost track of celebrities when I moved
34. What political issue stirred you the most? i hate politics so all of them
35. Who did you miss? everyone back home in America
36. Who was the best new person you met? Andrea, he also has helped me so much
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007. Sometimes things happen when you least expect them to.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. sorry cant do that one either. I think I have a song lyric for everyday of my life...
Turns out 2007 was a pretty amazing year for me, even though New Years is kind of depressing right now, but because of this I am going to bed happy :)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! :)
1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before? hmm, graduated college, became a registered nurse, moved to Italy, spoke a new language, became a full time nanny (twice), traveled Italian trains (ALOT!), flew on Ryanair!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I dont really make them, but maybe I will make some for next year...
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? unfortunately no
4. Did anyone close to you die? actually no, and that is a really big deal for me lately. I think it is the first year in about 5 years...
5. What countries did you visit? Italy
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? the ability to speak two languages
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? February 10th, March 5th, May 21st, August 20th, September 28th, December 6th (all for their own different reasons)
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? moving to Italy on my own and surviving, as well as going through a tough first month all alone and still deciding to stay in Italy, instead of giving up and coming home. Traveling almost all of Italy by train all alone with two massive suitcases.
9. What was your biggest failure? I dont think I had many, but I was pretty disapointed when I had to leave my first family in Italy because things werent working out.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Just my usual minor cuts and scrapes and bruises because I am extremely clumsy, but thats all.
11. What was the best thing you bought? I would probably have to say my train ticket to Montebelluna to meet the family, turned out pretty well :)
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? i think my mom, she had a tough year, with her oldest graduating college and then moving to Italy...
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? cant think of anyone
14. Where did most of your money go? phone calls and internet cafes in the beginning, communication in general, but it is the best way to spend money :)
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? both leaving for Italy and coming home for Christmas
16. What song will always remind you of 2007? Time of your Life - Greenday
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? I think I am a) happier b) maybe a little fatter (I am also writing this after the holidays...c)im pretty sure im poorer since I have spent a lot of money!
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? nothing really, I want to do more traveling around Europe but I did a lot and plan on doing a lot more
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? being lazy, but I really dont regret that either, because I have to live my relaxing life now while i can
20. How did you spend Christmas? at home in America with my family like we do every year, for details look at my recent blog post
21. Did you fall in love in 2007? i think possibly twice....
22. What was your favorite TV program? Grey's Anatomy by far
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? i dont think so
24. What was the best book you read? too many to think of on the spot
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? i will say Taylor Swift since she is my newest favorite
26. What did you want and get? the experience of a lifetime, living in Italy
27. What did you want and not get? i think i got everything i wanted...
28. What was your favorite film of this year? movies and books are very hard for me to pick just one
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 23 and I had a very special Italian birthday: breakfast and presents in my pjs at Manuela and Lucas house with them and Chicco and then the afternoon spent talking to family and friends from America, then out to dinner with Andrea and Mattea and then out to a party at a disco, at the end of the night recieving the best present I could ever ask for....
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? not too much, I am starting to realize that I had a pretty amazing year!
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? comfortable and unstylish as always
32. What kept you sane? my family and my ipod did a pretty good job, acting as my best friend for the first few lonely months in Italy
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? i lost track of celebrities when I moved
34. What political issue stirred you the most? i hate politics so all of them
35. Who did you miss? everyone back home in America
36. Who was the best new person you met? Andrea, he also has helped me so much
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007. Sometimes things happen when you least expect them to.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. sorry cant do that one either. I think I have a song lyric for everyday of my life...
Turns out 2007 was a pretty amazing year for me, even though New Years is kind of depressing right now, but because of this I am going to bed happy :)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! :)
Monday, December 24, 2007
America
I AM HOME IN AMERICA!!!! I am soo happy and just had to share my happiness here but I only have 10 days here and need to suck it all up as much as possible so I probably wont be writing until I return to Italy. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! :)
Friday, December 21, 2007
Christmas
Now that I am all ready for my flight to Rome this afternoon, and then to return to America on Sunday, I am getting really excited for Christmas at home. One of my fellow expat friends is writing about her 12 favorite Christmas memories and it made me want to write about mine. But instead, since my memories aren't quite as poetic as hers and it would be very difficult, I decided to write about my family's Christmas traditions that I love so much and look forward to every year. I am so happy I was able to go home because I don't know what Christmas would be like without my family and our traditions.
First of all, we usually have a dinner with our cousins, sometime in the week before Christmas when we usually order Chinese food and exchange gifts. It is a very casual relaxed dinner and very nice. This year we are doing it the night I get home so I am excited.
Then, on Christmas Eve, we go to the early mass at church (I think it is at 6). We always go there with our cousins too and some more of their family. Then we go home to light the lumineria (the candlelit bags that line our yard and our street). We get ready and then we head over to our cousins house where they have a big Christmas Eve party every year. This is the only part of our Christmas that is really even remotely formal, which I really like because I don't like formal things. We get slightly dressed up for church and for the party and that's all. It is a really good party with mostly family and some close friends too. We always have a really good time there. Santa even pays a visit too.
After the party, we go home pretty early, and sometimes we decided to each open one present. So we do that all together and then if we are in the mood we try to watch a movie together as a family (which we never do). Then we go to bed early because even though we are all old now, we (usually just me) get up very early on Christmas morning still. What can I say, I am still a little kid at heart! This year will be interesting because we have my aunt Polly and her husband Steve and daughter Sadie, who is four, so it is the first time in a long time we will have an actual little kid in our house.
Anyway, Christmas morning we wake up and our stockings are on the foot of our beds. So we spend some time opening them and then we go into each others room and compare and look at what we got. When we think it is finally late enough we wake up our parents (if they haven't heard us already) and we can go downstairs to start opening presents. After the presents (we try to take our time as much as possible), we usually have a special big breakfast. During the course of the morning we also talk to our relatives from California who are always up early with their kids.
Then we spend the day relaxing in our pajamas, sometimes we play a game together, sometimes we watch a movie, but it depends on what everyone got for Christmas. We usually stay in our pajamas most of the day and for lunch/dinner my mom makes a ham and we have ham sandwiches, very casual. Then if we are in the mood and there is a good movie playing, we finally get dressed and go to the movies together.
Ok, that was a lot longer and more detailed than I thought it would be but I really love the way my family spends Christmas and it makes me happy just writing about it. Sorry if it is boring to some of you but it is nice now even if it is just for me to have in the future.
Four days until Christmas!!! :)
...the next time I write it will probably be in America! So exciting!! :)
First of all, we usually have a dinner with our cousins, sometime in the week before Christmas when we usually order Chinese food and exchange gifts. It is a very casual relaxed dinner and very nice. This year we are doing it the night I get home so I am excited.
Then, on Christmas Eve, we go to the early mass at church (I think it is at 6). We always go there with our cousins too and some more of their family. Then we go home to light the lumineria (the candlelit bags that line our yard and our street). We get ready and then we head over to our cousins house where they have a big Christmas Eve party every year. This is the only part of our Christmas that is really even remotely formal, which I really like because I don't like formal things. We get slightly dressed up for church and for the party and that's all. It is a really good party with mostly family and some close friends too. We always have a really good time there. Santa even pays a visit too.
After the party, we go home pretty early, and sometimes we decided to each open one present. So we do that all together and then if we are in the mood we try to watch a movie together as a family (which we never do). Then we go to bed early because even though we are all old now, we (usually just me) get up very early on Christmas morning still. What can I say, I am still a little kid at heart! This year will be interesting because we have my aunt Polly and her husband Steve and daughter Sadie, who is four, so it is the first time in a long time we will have an actual little kid in our house.
Anyway, Christmas morning we wake up and our stockings are on the foot of our beds. So we spend some time opening them and then we go into each others room and compare and look at what we got. When we think it is finally late enough we wake up our parents (if they haven't heard us already) and we can go downstairs to start opening presents. After the presents (we try to take our time as much as possible), we usually have a special big breakfast. During the course of the morning we also talk to our relatives from California who are always up early with their kids.
Then we spend the day relaxing in our pajamas, sometimes we play a game together, sometimes we watch a movie, but it depends on what everyone got for Christmas. We usually stay in our pajamas most of the day and for lunch/dinner my mom makes a ham and we have ham sandwiches, very casual. Then if we are in the mood and there is a good movie playing, we finally get dressed and go to the movies together.
Ok, that was a lot longer and more detailed than I thought it would be but I really love the way my family spends Christmas and it makes me happy just writing about it. Sorry if it is boring to some of you but it is nice now even if it is just for me to have in the future.
Four days until Christmas!!! :)
...the next time I write it will probably be in America! So exciting!! :)
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Loving Italy
Today is Chicco's 2nd birthday and I just got back from giving him his present. He really loved it and it made me so happy. I will try to post a picture soon but I didn't have my camera so they are on Luca's camera. I got him a little lego set with a car and a truck (it is like a small mechanic shop, which he loves). Anyway, I am really going to miss him and Manuela and Luca when I am home in America for Christmas. I would really love to see him on Christmas morning because he and all of them now feel like a pary of me.
Also, I realized today that I really am falling in love with my life here in Italy now. I took an unexpected trip today to see Lake Garda and the cutest little town on the lake. And on Friday I am flying to Rome and am going to the Vatican on Saturday, (I think it sounds really cool to say that casually and I can now because I live in Italy!)
Anyway, I am really excited to go home and really happy with my life here in Italy. It is a very good time in my life right now! :)
Also, I realized today that I really am falling in love with my life here in Italy now. I took an unexpected trip today to see Lake Garda and the cutest little town on the lake. And on Friday I am flying to Rome and am going to the Vatican on Saturday, (I think it sounds really cool to say that casually and I can now because I live in Italy!)
Anyway, I am really excited to go home and really happy with my life here in Italy. It is a very good time in my life right now! :)
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