September 21, 2016

First Rotary Meeting: Two nights needle, was my first Rotary meeting. All of the exchange students went to give a short presentation about Their home country, city, and family as well as touch on our new host families. We each made ​​a power point That Showed pictures, and we presented in Italian to a large group of past, present, and future exchange students as well as their Families, and Rotarians. Everyone was extremely supportive and helpful During the presentations despite our lack of fluency. After the presentations, we each went to the front and Exchanged Rotary Club flags with the president of the rotary. It was an amazing evening.

School:  I had my first day of school on Thursday the 16th of September. The school day is very different than a school day in the US. For example, for the first 2 weeks to the two Sicilian grueling heat, the school day is only four hours long. The students stay in the same room where the teachers rotate to and from. All of my classes are very difficult and the teachers are not quite understanding That I am not here for grades, I am here for the cultures. However, I have many people at the school working with me to make sure That my time here is well spent. I love all of the kids in my class and was added to a class group chat, Which is only in Italian, so along with getting to know my peers, I am furthering my Italian !!

Sports:  Last night I had water polo practice. I have never done water polo, but the building where they practice is very close to my house so I Decided to try it out! It was so much fun! The I Practiced with about 8 people and everyone was extremely nice !! I cant wait to go back !!

September 9, 2016

Today is my fifth day in Syracuse, Sicily! In the past five days I have Already done and seen so many things, things most people could not even begin to imagine. On my first evening here, I went to see the ICF conoe Polo Championships right near my house. I have never seen anything like it, so many prideful Italians watching energetically, and when to Italy won ... it was crazy. The next day, I Began an Italian class, taught by a teacher named Guilia, the class taught basic Italian, and Syracuse / Sicilian history. The first 2 hours were in a classroom lessons on grammar and such, and the second 2 taught about the history, while walking around the city. We saw La Piazza Duomo, Arethusa, Ortigia, and The Catacombs. It was an amazing opportunity to get to know about Italy as well as getting to know the other exchange students! Today was the last day of classes Because We all start real school next week. After class, myself my friend Claire from Michigan US, Nina from Taiwan, and Pedro from Brazil went to the beach! The water was so blue and the sea glass was amazing !!
I have, as expected, tried some amazing food since I have been here. From pasta with homemade sauce to Swordfish, and I can honestly say That I have loved everything That I have had, Also expected.
My Italian is coming along as well. I can understand a lot of what is said to me, permitting That is spoken slowly and to me, otherwise I get very lost in the conversation and do not really know what is happening. Forms sentences That have bad grammar I'm sure, but they are understandable for the most part(I hope). I study for hours everyday as well as communicate with my host family. When school starts, I hope to become proficient in my Italian.
I have to say, the thing That is taking me the longest to adjust to and figure out, Is that words mean what they are. This sounds like a difficult complex, but allow me to explain. When people are learning a language, they are Constantly trying to take the word of non-native Their language, and turn it into Their native language (for me, to Italian to Inglese) So that they can understand the meaning behind the word. However, a word is its own word. For example, we will take the Italian word, "thank you". "Thanks" is TRANSLATED to "thank you", but "thank you" does not MEAN "thank you". Thanks means thank you. A word is its own word. Thanks is a word, a word That gives different feeling than the phrase and meaning thank you. It is a hard concept to understand, and thanks / thank you probably was not the best example, but the theory is still Practiced. I am coming to realize That every word / phrase has locked emotion. To unlock this emotion, you can not use Google Translate or something of the like, you have to understand the word and its implications, you have to experience the emotions in which that word brings you, and by doing so, you now have unlocked the words true meaning!

Michela

September 4, 2016

Ciao a tutti!! My journey has officially begun! After what seems like a lifetime of paperwork, consulate visit, interviews, insurance, and more, I am in Italia! About a year ago, the summer before my senior year of high school, I officially decided that I would embark on the once in a life time opportunity that is Rotary Youth Exchange. I have known That I will travel the world, However what 

I did not know was how to get started, and thanks to Rotary, here I am !!

I left Albany International Airport on September 3, 2016, and took a 2 hour flight to Philadelphia. From Philadelphia I took a 9 hour flight into Roma, Italia. Then last from Roma to Catania, Sicilia. My host mom and host dad picked me up from the Catania Airport. They had a big Italian flag and a sign for me, it was so sweet!! We then drove about 40 minutes to Siracusa, my home for the next year. On the drive to Siracusa, on the sides of the roads, there were oooold what appeared to be castle ruins. They were amazing!!

My house is so beautiful, and I even have my own room, which I never have had before. Later, my host parents are going to take me around the city and show me everything! I can't wait!!

Goodbye!!