Host fam love

I haven't expressed the proper amount of undying appreciation for my host family yet and I really wanted to do so.

I LOVE my host family. They make it very easy to feel at home in a foreign place. I feel so welcome and happy and cared for. Ludovica knew I missed walking my dog and so she promised me we'd go for a walk today even though it's pouring rain.

And then she insisted on taking a picture "for your blog." Such love. She's really into taking pictures, which is good because sometimes important stuff happens and I should be documenting it.

This past weekend was a big deal in Italy. Starting with Giovedí Grasso (Fat Thursday) and going until Tuesday (Fat Tuesday), Italian people celebrate Carnevale. This is done by drinking wine, dressing up in costume, and dancing in the streets. It's pretty fun. 

Ludovica ran into a friend

Sunday - Montefiore
Ludovica wants me to add that for American people it is called Monte Flower

Tuesday - P.S. Giorgio

Sunday - Montefiore

Tuesday - Carnavale is a hot mess

Tuesday - there was a parade in our town Porto San Giorgio 

Winnie the Pooh was in Porto San Giorgio!!!!!!!!!!

Ok that's all for now. Luv y'all. Ciao.

Getting fat in Italy

During orientation I was told over and over how all exchange students get fat and its normal and we will likely gain weight. It doesn't happen overnight and it is a result of many different factors which I will now list & discuss.

1) The big one. FOOD. My entire daily routine has changed drastically. In Italy, it is typical to eat lunch at 1:30 pm and dinner at 9:00 (sometimes 9:30.. yikes). In America, I ate lunch at 11:30 am and dinner around 7-7:30. This sounds dramatic but everything gets thrown off. My body is extremely confused and needs time to adjust. In the process of adjusting, I'm gaining weight.

CARBS (deserves its own paragraph) In addition to the change in daily routine, Italians are famous for eating carbs all the time. It's a stereotype, but it's pretty accurate. We eat pizza as a snack in between meals. Pizza!!!!! In America I snacked on apples or clementines or maybe pretzels. Here, we eat pasta almost every single night for dinner and lots of bread. There are just a lot of carbs and I'm not used to it.

the absolute best

2) In addition to the change in diet, I haven't been able to exercise as much as I'd like. In America, I walked my dog every single day, sometimes up to 2 hours a day. I practiced yoga, I jogged, I was in good shape. Here, I don't have a dog, I'm not familiar with the area so it's difficult to go for long walks alone, and I feel weird doing yoga in my host sister's room. I mean, I know it's my room, too but it just feels weird to be like... ok I'm doing yoga now. It's also super frustrating/confusing how my host mother and sister stay so slim without ever exercising.

I've been on 2 runs in the past 2 weeks
it's not good

3) You feel sad ---> you eat. Going abroad is an emotional roller coaster. Sometimes I feel the happiest I've ever felt, sometimes I feel completely alone. Exchange students long for something to comfort them during the low parts. I try to only eat when I'm truly hungry but to err is human. It is important for me to find other ways of dealing with this.

Those are the three main reasons for weight gain: abrupt changes in diet, exercise, and emotions. It's not that I look significantly different than I did two weeks ago, it's how I feel about my level of fitness/body. Two or three pounds is unnoticeable to other people, but I can feel the difference.

I can't run as far. I start puffing after only a minute. My abs feel softer. My face looks fuller. Ugh. Ok I must regain control. It's been two weeks. That's enough. I need to get myself back together. Is it possible to eat pizza everyday and still look good?? I don't know. I must try.

Wish me luck. Love y'all. Ciao.

Fermo

BELLISSIMO ~ ughughugh so gorgeous

OK SO after school on Monday & Tuesday I went into Fermo to eat ice cream, see the library, visit the Duomo, and walk up really steep ancient roads. HERE ARE THE PICTURES:

OK THESE STREETS ARE REALLY STEEP
people living in Fermo have serious calf definition

me ~ being attractive as per usg

REALLY REALLY STEEP & ANCIENT

OK LUV Y'ALL

BREAK LEGS TONIGHT PLAYERS!!!!!

Italian school vs. American school

I finished my first week of high school in Italy. YES! Ok quick compare and contrast between American school and Italian school. Let's go. Andiamo.

As I mentioned before, I take 10 classes: Italian, English, German, Spanish, Philosophy, Math, Physics,  Religious Studies, History of Art, and Gym. It sounds like a lot but it really isn't. We have school from 8:00am-1:30pm. On Tuesday's I stay until 4:30 for two hours of Religious Studies. On Saturday's we have school. At 1:30 I go home and have lunch with my family. If I stay at school after 1:30, I buy pizza or a snack or something at the "bar" there is no cafeteria. Or, if I start to fall asleep in class,  I go to the bar for coffee. Last week I got so hungry during class because I'm used to have lunch around 11 so I'd also buy M&Ms. This week I'm slightly more adjusted to a later lunch.

Total hours of school per week
In Italia: 33
In America: 35

Math:
Italia = 33 = 5 hours a day times 6 plus 3 extra hours on Tuesday
America = 35 = ~7 hours/day times 5 days a week

In Italy there are no study halls or free periods. We have a break at 10:50 for about 15 minutes. Everyone goes outside to smoke even when it is freezing cold. Also - we don't switch classes. The teachers come to the class and I'm with the same students everyday. I'm in class 4B. Everyone is incredibly nice and friendly towards me I'm very lucky. I feel so accepted. I love it.

Ok. Other differences between American school and Italian school.

There are very few activities in Italian schools. On Fridays I go to choir (Hunnex are you reading this?!) and twice a month there is a meeting for the newspaper. No basketball games. No Players. The students come to school to learn for 5 hours a day and afterwards they leave to study. It's very simple. I don't think either way of doing things is better. On one hand, I liked having Players to look foward to after school. School actitivies make it easy for students to develop a community with other people who share their same interests. It's easy to feel like part of a team quickly....leadership skills... other gross things... but, I also really like leaving school at 1:30. I like having lunch with my family. I like having my afternoon free to study and go out with friends. I don't feel bored or restless like I would between shows.

The atmosphere here is very relaxed. People stop and talk to one another. Wherever we go, my Italian mother sees someone she knows or makes a new friend. At first I would get annoyed at how long it takes us to do something simple like buy a loaf of bread, but I feel myself slowly developing patience. I want to adjust to the Italian attitude of time.

I still struggle in class to understand half of what is being said. It's frusturating because the initial excitement of my arrival has definitely worn off on those around me. My classmates need to pay attention to the teacher, they cannot constantly translate for me. And they shouldn't have to. One day soon I will speak fluent Italian and everything will be easy. For now, it is the biggest challenge I've ever faced.

I'm physically and mentally exhausted, yet still have trouble sleeping soundly through the night. The language barrier makes a simple question take 45 minutes to answer. I can't easily make conversation with people - only those who speak English. I can't even make my own plans after school. Everything must be organized by others. I feel a little invalid as a human being. Not gonna lie. This is difficult.

But not impossible. I know I'm going to be ok. I make lists. I breathe. I remember how lucky I am. And I study Italian a little harder. My host family is incredibly supportive and sweet. Whenever I look sad or confused Ludovica sings "Don't Worry, Be Happy" or kisses my cheek. My host parents always ask about how I'm feeling and school and how they can help. I don't know how it's possible to feel at home with people so quickly but I do. Ah Italy.

OK I HOPE EVERYONE FEELS UPDATED. I'll add some pictures of Fermo later for those of you who don't like to read. Luv y'all. Ciao.

First day of school!!!!!!!!!

(I wrote this on Lunedi but I'm publishing it oggi.)

I made it to Porto San Giorgio in one piece. I didn't think I would make it. But I did.

I had orientation in New York from Wednesday at 4pm - Thursday at 5pm. Really boring. Not worth discussing. The plane left JFK at 9pm on Thursday night. My plane landed in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday at noon (but 6 am EST). Then I took an hour plane ride from Zurich to Rome (Fiumicino Airport). I love planes. I really do. Also Swiss Air just throws chocolate at you every 15 minutes, which I greatly appreciate.

Ok so when I got to Rome we drove about 30 minutes to the hotel for a second orientation. It was better than the New York one but still not very fun. US students annoyed me but the Argentinian exchange students were so silly. They taught me some really intricate Spanish cursing. Also, I felt very stupid because everyone there spoke at least two languages except for the American students... and the Australian but they don't count.

Side note. I kind of feel myself forgetting English.

Then I slept in Rome for two nights and on Sunday afternoon I took a bus to Porto San Giorgio. That bus ride was something else. I lost my phone briefly, an Italian grandmother fed me biscuits, I discussed Kobe with a man who spoke absolutely no English. It was awesome.

THEN I ARRIVED. I got off the bus and immediately heard my name, except they pronounce it Khai (rhymes with hi) - la. Kyla? They don't say "Kay." I don't know. It was so cute. I didn't want to correct them, but then they asked me how to pronounce my name while we filled out my Resident Permit several hours later.

They live in a beautiful apartment. I share a room with Ludovica. The bathroom has a bidet which I just kind of stare at & avoid. So European. So Italy. I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it. I just love it.

Honeymoon phase with Italy. Seriously. OH AND MY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WAS TODAY. I almost forgot.

School was awesome. I went with my mom to meet "la preside" as I have been instructed to call her, and she enrolled me in the school and helped me pick classes. I'm taking English, Italiano, German, Spanish, Philosophy, History of Art, Physics, Math, Religious Studies, & Gym. Everyone was nice. It was great. No complaints. Ugh blogging is really difficult when there are no complaints.

I've only been here 24 hours and I just love it. Ok. I know it will fade. I know I will miss my family. I know I will miss my friends but right now I just am in love. It could not be more perfect. 

Last post in America

In 40 minutes I'm leaving my house for the last time for 6 months.

It's very weird. I feel very weird. And excited and happy and overwhelmed. Very shortly I will be 4000 miles away from every person, animal, thing I've ever known. I just can't believe today is here already. I've been preparing for this since August and I just can't believe this is it.

My dog has been following me around all day. I'm convinced she knows. Dogs always know. They're smarter than most humans in my experience.

HOW TO CONTACT ME:

After Thursday night @ 9:10 pm do not text or call because my phone will not work.

I will get an Italian SIM card ASAP (probably by Monday or Tuesday) when I do we can use iMessage//WhatsApp//Snapchat for texting & chatting purposes. Also my Italian phone # will be different so don't freak out when I add you on WhatsApp and you're like WHO IS THIS?? It's me, ok.

You can always email me ~ kaylameyer07@gmail.com ~ or send me a FB message or a smoke signal.

And finally, if you want to get crazy, you can send me a physical letter:

Kayla Meyer

Via Vanvitelli n 3,

63822 Porto San Giorgio (FM)

Italia

Last minute things I decided to pack:

• Catch Me If You Can DVD because I always cry when I watch it and it reminds me of home and how much my mom loves me and 9th grade and Christmas and midterms and the idea that anybody can do anything and there is good and bad in everyone and yeah it's a flawless movie
• another pair of jeans because you can never have too many jeans
• my running shoes just in case I feel the urge to work out - you never know
• pink t shirt because I look really really good in pink
• and lastly my little American flag

Ok we officially leave in 15 minutes for JFK. It's been real America. See y'all later. 

My suitcase weighs 63 pounds

This is a problem.

Americans are classic overpackers. I'M FITTING A STEREOTYPE. Ok in other news. Last night my friends threw me the best going away party ever.

Mira + Kayla

2005--forever

ALLY! I ended up getting mad at her. But we have a tumultuous relationship so it was to be expected.

MY OTHER BLONDE FRIEND

who is slightly more blonde but she uses sun in

it isn't fair

ugh

the greatest team in the world

she sacrificed her house for my going away party

she is literally perfect

luv u molé

These lovely people got me a cake with my face on it. That's just love right there. I don't know what I'm going to do without them. Quality of the pic doesn't do it justice.

They got me a tiara!!!!!!! And a magazine with Ryan Gosling on the cover. They just get me.

I love you all. So much. Last night was my favorite night in America by far.