You know you're a part of the family when...

·         You share a bed with your host brother

·         When your little host brother introduces you like this “This is my sister, my American sister”

·         When they don’t need to know ask what pizza you would like for dinner

·         When you are recruited to look for more underwear for your brothers

·         When your host brother tells people to “Not make fun of the American accent”

·         When your entire family corrects your grammar mistakes

·         When your become your host brothers alarm clock

·         When your host brother waits to go to sleep until you and your cousin return from a ‘discopub’ because he was “Afraid someone would murder you and bury you under the snow”

·         When you watch Lord of the Rings with your little host brother and both get really excited about the talking tree part

·         When you braid your host cousins hair every night

·         When the entire family is comfortable walking around the house in their underwear

·         You’re asked to take the garbage out

·         When you told “We left the maid at home this week”

·          You have your brothers open mustard and mayo cans for you

·         When your little brother is waiting in the doctor’s office and draws a picture of his mom, his dad and you inside a house.

·         When you openly discuss which boys you find attractive and which you do not with your family

·         When your host dad buys you tampax

My Eavesdropping Abilities have been Severely Compromised.

So I'm at this really cool part in learning a new language where I can follow a complete conversation and give my input to the conversation. However something I've really begun to miss is eavesdropping. That may seem kinda bad but I'm really good at it. Ask my parents. But here in Italy I'm not able to follow a conversation that's happening in the kitchen from my bedroom or when I'm out to lunch I can't creep on the people next to me because I have to focus on the Italian conversation I'm having with someone. Oh the art of following two conversations at the same time. When I get back to the States I'm going to go on an eavesdropping frenzy. Don't say I didn't warn you family, everyone who sits next to me at restaurants and those who stand next to me in the check-out line. Anyway and example of this (though not exactly eavesdropping) is the other night before dinner Paola was talking to me about some current event while Lorenzo was talking to me about monster trucks. I couldn't follow either conversation. So I had to pick one. Monster trucks won. But it's just frustrating because I love being involved in multiple conversations (or involved without permission). I also now dream in Italian. Sometimes all Italian. Sometimes all English and other times a mix of both.

How's the family? Things are good. We are heading up to the mountains to go skiing for a week on the carnival break. Lorenza cut his hair himself, without a mirror. Paola was horrified. I laughed and all the brothers told him he looked cool and he modestly replied "I know". He has since then offered to cut Paola's hair, she politely declined. Though she told me the other day in the car she is terrified that one days a parent of one of Lorenzo's friends is going to call inquiring about why their child came home with no hair.

School? School's fantastic. I wrote my first essay in Italian at school. It was only about my American family but my Italian teacher was very proud and asked if she could cry when I handed it in. All my classmates have presentations about an english-speaking country and my friend Andrea has problems with pronuciation, so I went through her notes and wrote the 'italian spelling' for the English words she has problems with. For example the word "Jewish" she couldn't pronouce because Italian doesn't have a 'J' so I wrote "Giuesh" and now she can say Jewish. It's fantastic. Then after school today I went to a friends house and helped her study English verb tenses for a test tomorrow. I think she's pretty ready. Anyway when we got to her house it was lunch time and she's like we only have Pizza. But not only Pizza, homemade Pizza by her Uncle. Only homemade by your uncle pizza? well this lunch is going to suck. NOT. And she was worried the whole time that I didn't like it and that there was only Pizza. She's too sweet. It was wonderful pizza (:

TERREMOTO!

I get to at Italy to the list of countries I've experienced earthquakes in! How exciting (:
Anyway last night around 1 in the morning there was an earthquake (4.1), I was too sleepy to feel it. But at school this morning around 9 we had another one this was about (5.1). In case you didn't realize all the buildings in Italy are really really old. So they started evacuating kids from school right after it happened, in case of a bigger earthquake. They started evacuating at the top floor and then worked there way down to the bottom. My class is at the top floor. However we had an interrogazione di italiano and the teacher said we couldn't leave because we had to do the interrogazione. There wasn't another earthquake but I would just like to applaud the safety ethnics of my Italian teacher. Grazie Mille. If there was I don't think she's going to want to take responsibility for the 30 students that didn't get out of Pigafetta before the building collapsed. Boh if she's cool with than I'm cool with it.

 

Io abito in una casa dei ragazzi.

I live in a house of boys.

Today at dinner Lorenzo stuck his hot dog with a LEGO sword and proceeded to dangle it in front of my face while burping rhythmically.

I love boys.

Praise the Lord for Mexican food!

I found it!
Mexican food in Venice.

On Sunday I had a girls day with my friends Solveig (Iceland) and Renata (Brazil) in Venice. It's hard to believe but we found a little Mexican restaurant in the middle of nowhere Venice. I think it was a Mexican food and sandwich place because in the middle of the menu there were a couple pages of club sandwich's (?). I had a burrito the size of Jupiter and I ate the entire thing. It was a pretty mean burrito, I mean not very authentic but it tasted very good so there's nothing to complain about. After 5 months without it, most Mexican food will taste good even if it's a little off. Warning: This theory does not apply in countries such as India or Austria. Do not eat Mexican food in India or Austria. But it's really nice to taste other food sometimes. I've had dinner once at a sushi restaurant, once at a Chinese place and once at a Mexican place since I've been here. Don't get me wrong I love Italian food and I love Paola's cooking but here let's do the math. I have pasta 2 times a day (Lunch and Dinner), there are 7 days in a week, about 4 weeks in a month, and I've been here almost 5 months. That's about 280 bowls of pasta. As for pizza I eat it once or twice a week so I'm going to do a little estimating and say that's about 24 pizzas. Also I've lost 5 kilo's since I've been here. Odd right? In conclusion, I think I'll be going to the little sandwich/Mexican place in Venice much more often.

As for what else is going on in Italy. This semester I get grades in all my classes (: yaay! Thankfully I understand math so far. But considering it's only the second week we'll have to wait and see. I have an exchange week coming up in February or March and I'll most likely be going to Sicily or somewhere in the way South of Italy. My Italian is getting much better. When I was waiting for my train on Sunday I ran into the two most important people in Intercultura Vicenza. I was at first very disappointed because I enjoy taking the train by myself and it was way to early in the morning to speak Italian properly. However, they were very impressed and told me I have gotten much better. We then proceeded to sit in first class with a second class ticket, later we got kicked out. I got the influenza last night. Which was really fun considering I had an appointment to get my residence permit today but was too sick to go the the appointment. Also my family probably thinks they got a very sickly daughter. We were talking at dinner last night and all my brothers think it's amazing I can spend 20 minutes in the bathroom (20 minutes is not a long time). I said It was because I have to dry my hair and Romeo told me I should cut it off so it takes less time to dry, he suggested I could then sport a wig. Sorry to the boys of the Salin family I will not be cutting my hair. Also we got a puppy, her name is Lilli. She's a very good girl. However I'm still on the cat side of life here. While I was getting sick in the bathroom last night a cat joined me and sat next to me until I was finished. What would I do without these cats.  I'm very jealous to know that Seattle is getting hammered with snow. We have no snow. No snow. Not even in the mountains. Grandma and Grandpa thank you for the package (: Grandma Lou I don't have your card but I wouldn't worry because the post is VERY slow here. I hope all is well xx

Solveig!

Italy we thank you your historical pasta.

Natale & Capodanno & La Befana

It's been another month! Sorry I don't update so much. I just always have alot to do and keep forgetting about the blog..sorry. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! (: For Christmas this year I had a lovely dinner of Burger King with the family. When then came home and opened the adult's and older children's presents. Babbo Natale (Santa Claus) brought me some clothes and a new pair of shoes. Then we went to Christmas Mass. Which was actually pretty cool because they sing all the same hymns we sing just with different lyrics. So I just sing along in English. Then we all went to bed and in the morning Lorenzo opened his gifts from Babbo Natale. Next we headed over to Romeo's parents house along with Romeo's 3 sisters and all their children and who guess who was there?..yes, that's right. Babbo Natale himself, or one of Nonno Salin's very close friends dressed up as Babbo Natale. So all the kids got more presents and then we went back home and started getting ready for lunch. For lunch Paola's brother, sister-in-law and their children came. Aswell as her sister-in-laws parents. We ate Tortillini, a castrated chicken (I'm not sure exactly what  was up with that but Nonna Vittoria made it very clear the day before the chicken or rooster was castrated and I wasn't really intereseted in asking anything else), sausage with all sorts of vegtables, and pig legs. Then we had this cake called Panetonne, which is basically just a really tall cake made with lots or butter and sometimes you can get chocolate or raisins in it. I don't really care for it. To me it tastes like dry cake. But italians really enjoy it and it's the 'main' christmas treat so I've had it quite a bit for the holidays; at school, at home, at friends houses, at parties etc.

As for New Year's eve. I went with my friend Sara to a party at her friends house. There were some boys and girls from school but the rest were all new people. I thought it was funny because the boy who was hosting it parents weren't home and so this boy and his friends made 30 people a full course italian meal. Pasta, Meat, Vegtables and Desert. It might have been easier to order pizza or have the party start at 11 so you didn't have to cook for 30 people. But no the party started at 8 and he had to make dinner for us all. It was very good though. Niccolo I applaud your cooking. Then we danced and hung out until midnight you go around to every person and kiss them and say 'Auguri' which doesn't have a literal translation but I think pretty much means 'Blessings'. Romeo and Paola picked me up at about 2:30 and then we all went home and slept (:

There is another holiday here that we don't have in America. It's called La Befana (which means the Witch) and it takes place on the night of January 5/ the morning of January 6. This is the suppossed day when the wise men reached Bethleham. Very relgious people go to church on this day. But it's called La Befana because on the night of January la befana visits your house and put candy or coal in your sock. Depending on wether you've been good or bad. This year the witch didn't come to our house Romeo, Giorgio and Lorenzo went to Centro (the center of town) where the witches had set up a candy market. Romeo bought me a T-Shirt that says "baciarmi prima il mio ragazzo arriva" (kiss me before my boyfriend arrives) and all the older boys got t-shirst with witty things written on them too. And the next morning Lorenzo had ate so much candy he started getting allergic reaction so he had to stop eating it.

Other things I did on break? I went a few times to Venice (Mestre really) to visit Nick. And Nick came to Vicenza aswell. I also went to Asiago with some friends from my school to go skiing. If you've ever heard of Asiago cheese. Yes, that's where it comes from and it's a very cute town. Other than that just alot of hanging out and sleeping.

Right now things are going really well. I speak completely in Italian at home and the other day I actually spoke in venetian dialect without knowing it and Paola corrected me so that I know not to say in outside of this region. Otherwise people won't be able to understand me. Words are so funny! In Italian we have words with double meanings. The best example is the word for bird (uccello). Uccello also happens to be a word for penis. Sooo you can imagine that living in a house full of boys I've gotten quite used to jokes with the word uccello. Funny story: Nick and I broke up just because it wasn't working and he lives a ways away but anyway Paola was concerned about me and asked if I was okay after it happened and I said "Il mare è pieno di pesci." (the sea is full of fish) and she said "Sì, il mundo è pieno di ragazzi, il mare è pieno di pesci e il cielo è pieno di uccelli."(Yes, the world is full of boys, the sea is full or fish and the sky is full of birds/penis'). We both decided that saying 'il cielo è pieno di uccelli' is a much more fitting proverb for this situation (: Romeo was a bit disturbed when we told him after he arrived home.

Quick thing about what I did this morning. I didn't go to school and instead I went to Immigration Office. I would like to tell you that the Immigration Office in Italy wins compared to the Immigration Office in Delhi but now by much. But we only had to wait for about an 1 hour and 15 minutes and then we asked a guy about it because we had an appointment at 9:58 and they still hadn't called us and he was like "Okay yeah" and then he did our paperwork. So apparently if we had never asked we would have stayed there all afternoon. Then I went to the post office and got a package from Grandma Doe and Grandpa Milt. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I loved it. And after I picked it up I met Paola at the bank and the ladies in the bank we so excited about it they made me open it in the Post Office. So now Grandma and Grandpa the Italian Post Office in Vicenza know's who you are and also what you look like (They loved the picture, as did I). And Dad I have a message from Nonno Giancarlo. He wanted me to tell you that "Tutti gli avvocati sono baditi" (All lawyers are bandits). Paola and I aren't sure what he means by that; he's a little crazy. Sorry but I'm not spellchecking this because I must go to italian class so I apologize for the errors. My English is getting pretty bad. Last week I completely forgot the word Oven and could only things of the italian word for it (Forno). I think that's a good thing though (: I hope everyone had wonderful holidays and I'll try to update again soon.

Venezia & Verona

So I realize that I haven't told you guys much about my travels in Italy. I was fortunate enough to be placed pretty much smack between Venice (Venezia) and Verona. Which means for me depending on the train a one way ticket to either of the cities costs €5, €8 or €15 (Don't worry dad usually try to go for the €5 train). I have been once to Verona with some friends from school. It's very beautiful and very romantic. We visited 'Juliet's House' first. Everyone writes love wishes on the wall surrounding her house and also on every date near at her house there are hundreds of locks. I guess if you have a lover you go to Verona write both of your names on the lock, lock it and then throw away the key. It's very romantic. But don't worry travelers you do not have to bring lock's from home they sell them in the gift shop. Also there is a statue of Juliet and if you grap her boob you get good luck in love. So I did. And apparently it works (: Next we went to Il Pozzo Dell'Amore (the pit of love). Unfortunately, I don't have a very good picture of it from far away but it just looks like a well with bars covering it. Again you either put a lock on it or drop money inside of it and it will give you good luck in love. There is a sign on it that reads. "Getta nel pozzo un solo soldino, pensa un momento al tuo desitino, non ti distrarre, non far rumore, eccolo...eccolo...arriva l'amore" which translates to "Throw one coin into the well, think of a moment in your destiny, do not distract yourself, make no noise...here it comes...here it is...love".

Juliet's Balcony

love wishes.

Pozzo Dell'Amore

Notice how shiny he right breast is. Poor Juliet.

Then there's Venezia. Venezia is really unlike any other city in the world. It's absolutly beautiful. It's not the cleanest city, everything is very old and sometimes you walk by somewhere that smells like death but that's what makes is so beautiful. It's not a perfect, modern, well kept-up city. The colors are incredible. It's beautiful in sun, in rain, in wind, during the day and during the night (So far those are the condition's I've been able to experience it end). I'm sure if you lived there or visited SO much it might get a little old. But I think for me the only reason it would get old is because there are so many tourists and tourists like to walk really slow. I've actually been to Venezia three or four times because my best 'Interculura' friend (Solveig) and boyfriend (Nick) live there. Nick actually lives about 10 minutes from Venezia and Solveig lives right in the city.Each time has been fantastic. I've had fantastic food including sushi there. For those of you who don't know much about Venezia there are a couple major tourist attractions. The first is Piazza San Marco which is in the main piazza in Venice. You've probably seen it in a few movies and it's very beautiful. Especially at night because they have these really cute little lights and the whole square is lit up. During the day it's beautiful too. There are many orchestra's that play and all these little cafes. You really feel like you're in Italy. I would suggest however that you don't stop and eat from these cafes because they are super expensive. And for those of you who are willing to pay €10 for a cappuccino, go for it. I salute you. In Piazza San Marco there is the Basilica di San Marco which is pretty incredible from the outside (I haven't been inside yet). Then there is Ponte di Rialto which is the most famous bridge in Venezia. It looks out over the Gran Canal which is the biggest canal in Venezia. I've seen some other things but I don't remember the names. However one of these days I'm going to let my inner-tourist out and buy a bunch of guide-books and give myself a tour of the city. Perhaps I will make Nick and Solveig come along. I'm sure they would appreciate it. I think Venice is one of my favorite cities in the World.

From a water taxi heading down the Gran Canal.

Ponte di Rialto

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco

Gotta hand it to the Seagulls of Venice. They're all the size of Jupiter.

Photo cred to my friend Wanda. This is Piazza San Marco at night and in the rain. Also this is Nick (:

As for Vicenza. Everything is wonderful. School is kinda stressful because I need to get credit for all my classes but my classmates make it better. We are doing Secret Santa next week, so I have to think about what I'll get for my person. Also next week there is a ski race for my school somewhere in the mountains and if everything works out with AFS I would like to participate in it. However yesterday was the first day the mountains got snow. So I'll pray for more snow and that I have all the proper forms needed by Intercultura to race. I'm so unbelievably happy with my family and my Italian is getting better so I've been able to explain a lotLasica Vivere' which is the same as our phrase 'Live and Let Live'. I miss my family alot with Christmas coming up but I know I will see them soon. Also I would like to give a shout out to my big Sister who has already been accepted to two universities (: Hannah I love you more than is humanly possible and I can't believe next year you won't be at home. But I'm so proud of you. xxx