Random Thoughts

22/9/2013

Week 1 Done.

I feel like I have been here for longer than a week but it has legitimately only been 8 days. I started crash courses on Wednesday, joined a women's soccer team in Bologna, visited my host family from two years ago, and have hung out with friends old and new. I really like my professors, although one of them makes almost no sense and unfortunately he teaches economics... which I have no idea how to do. I guess I will have to figure somethings out on my own. At least my classmates and I are all in the same boat :P

I also went to Ikea and finally got a pillow, a blanket, and some hangers, PLUS I got a candle that smells like home. :) My mind is in this weird state where I can't wait to go home for Christmas because I love being home, but I don't really want to leave (which is really good because I have a few months yet). I am also excited to visit my host family in Milan either next week or the week after! On top of that I am pumped for soccer this week! Goodness this post is terrible, but I wanted to record some of this stuff... oops haha

It'll also be nice when I can visit Wouter <3

Anyway, I might add to this later but for now I guess I am going to go, I think my new roomie is supposed to arrive soon!

Ciao <3

Via delle Belle Arti

19/09/2013

Remember that apartment I was excited about? Well, I GOT IT! However, I have to tell you all the story about how that happened. The morning after I saw the apartment I tried to call Margherita (the landlord) but my phone didn't have credit, which was weird since I bought a plan. Anyway, I bought some credit, tried to call her, got her husband who speaks no english, got her other number, called but it didn't go through, then didn't know what to do. So, I chose to walk around the two apartments and the University area hoping I would run into her or something. When I passed the Via Marsala apartment I was looking at, I ran into Ana, the Canadian girl who lives there now. Long story short, the number I had was wrong so she gave it to me and I called Margherita to say I wanted the room. Ana was the sweetest thing ever as she let me cry and finally release the fear and frustration I had been feeling, which apparently she had been through only two weeks earlier. We then got coffee and spent some time together until I was able to move into the apartment. I cannot tell you how glad I am that I met her. I haven't seen you in two days and it feels like forever but tomorrow we have plans which makes me happy :)

I have officially been in MY apartment on Via delle Belle Arti for 4 days now! It is located right next to the university (you literally walk outside my door and the library is right there) and it gets a lot of light. I have 4 flatmates so far; three Italian girls and one French girl. Apparently I finally have a roommate as well who will move in this weekend. Before I get to today, let me pick up my story from moving into my room!

So, Monday, the day before Orientation, I got to move into the apartment I would be living in. It is under my budget and although the room is small, I really like it. Hopefully my new roommate will be someone I get along with. Then Tuesday I spent the entire day in a room with all of my new classmates. We got a ton of information concerning GIOCA (Graduate Degree in Innovation and Organization of Culture and the Arts) and we had some time to get to know one another. On top of that, the International students had a meeting concerning all of the legal stuff we need to do now that we are here. Let me tell you, I was NOT looking forward to doing all of the things I needed to. However, so far it has all gone very well. All I have left to do is finish the Permessio process in October, Pay for my apartment, get a fiscal code and enroll in the University. Two of those should be done tomorrow! Anyway, our group is 30 students: 15 Italians, 4 Europeans, and 11 “others.” I am the only American here not associated with the Carnegie Mellon exchange program. There are two Dutch people, a German guy, a Macedonian guy, a Romanian girl, a Slovakian girl, a girl from Mexico, a girl from South African, two Chinese girls, and a Vietnamese girl. We are quite the bunch. Yesterday we started our crash course and surprisingly I have really enjoyed Strategy I and Organization! Economics is tomorrow so I may be speaking too soon, but I think it is going to be a cool program.

This time in Bologna is so different than the last time. I feel better. But on top of that I have already met so many international students (and even half crossed paths with Marcello Sav... remember him?!) and feel like this time I am not in a bubble. I am immersed in a different culture. Although I really want to travel and stuff, I am excited to be part of a community. I don’t want to travel every weekend (nor can I afford it haha) but rather explore the city and get to know it better than I did last time. In five-ish days I have already realized how little I knew of the streets. I am excited. Not scared anymore, which feels really good!

The other exciting thing that happened recently is that last night I went with Ellen (the director of the Dickinson Bologna program) to play soccer on a women’s team! I am so pumped! I am sure I will write about that all year but for now I’ll just say that I loved playing and it actually helped my hurt back! SOCCER=MAGIC.

Just saying.

Ready. Set. Here weeee gooooo! Round 2!

15/09/13

When I applied to the GIOCA Program in Bologna I was extremely excited for the opportunity to return to Italy. After being accepted I was still super pumped, however as the summer continued and the legal documents cost more and more time and money, I started to reconsider what I was about to do. I mean, was I crazy? Going back to the city that was one of the toughest experiences in my life? And this time alone? This time without housing or the distractions of other Dickinson students? What was I crazy?! Then the week of, important things still weren’t in my hands and I was still homeless. The terror began to seep into my head and heart. I didn’t have time to just “be” before leaving that morning. I rush packed, too much as always, and didn’t get to say goodbye to the Watrals or Tombs. I forgot how much I realized that I love fall at the house. I had found a rhythm and contentedness doing things around the house for my parents and being productive. I had energy again.

I cried the whole way to the airport.

I should be excited right? Not freaking out. Not second guessing the incredible opportunity I have been given. But nothing I said or did was helping. Then I travelled to Oslo, Copenhagen, and finally Bologna. The travelling just took forever and of course I didn’t sleep on the plane at all but finally some relief from the anxiety; I met an Erasmus student (Aaron) on my flight from Copenhagen to Bologna. He is German and was going to Bologna for a year. We chatted the whole way to Bologna, realizing we were staying in the same hostel and have met up several times since to head to the center or find the grocery store.

In my hostel room were two German girls travelling around and a girl from Austria (also looking for a room). I got up early Sunday and headed to the center to buy a phone and I had a 2pm appointment to see a room. There was a race going on in the city center which brought a ton of people out and the Wind store was actual open so I got a phone. Which was great because I then found some numbers of people renting rooms and met up with another woman who showed me two rooms, one of which I have decided I am most likely going to take! A huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Also, I met another Erasmus student from Cairo today who played 3^rd tier national soccer in Egypt! He is pretty cool though.

We are the tasters, the very bad tasters!

My camp in Milan just ended which is really sad. I know the kids could drive me up a wall sometimes but I love them so much and could see they learned a lot. I am truly sad that I will be leaving tomorrow for Bologna and Monday for America after what 6 months?! AHH!

Last night, the other tutors and I went to this place in Sesto called Carroponte (spelled wrong...) which used to be an industrial hanger and has been converted into an outside stage. It was so incredibly cool! People just hung around in hammocks and drank and listened to music. It was so cool. We stayed literally until they kicked us out, shared some laughs, did some handstands in skirts, and just literally got to know each other better. It was seriously the coolest hang out place I have seen in Italy.

One of the other nights, which is now fuzzy in my head as it has been a while, we went to this diner style bar called Blow. We played Taboo and drank delicious banana coconut drinks. We were so obviously not Italian haha. Luckily this place was in Sesto and much easier to get to and from. I miss those tutors. I see Tania sometimes around campus but we haven't really caught up lately :( Oh well, it'll happen eventually.

Oh! So we did this play with the kids (hence the title of this post) that we wrote about chefs, tasters, and princesses. Davide's dad made me a copy of it which is great because whenever I want to see my kids I can just pop it in my computer and watch. Ask me to show you it. Because it is so cute.

This post was meant to be posted/finished months ago but I guess late is better than never!

As it draws towards a close...

I was so hating on Bologna for a while. That one post I had where I listed why I hate cities... yeah well I guess because it's now beautiful out and fun to wander around the city, I have decided I am actually going to miss it here. I mean, it can never replace how much I love grass and nature and whatnot but there is a culture and a freedom that I will absolutely miss. I wanted to write a post reflecting on my experience here. Things I have learned about the world, about Europe, about people, about America, about myself... but I feel like that's more of a conversation. I might touch on some of it but we will see. I apologize for the incoherent babble that is about to take place... welcome to the wonderful world of Heather's brain...

May 25- Literally I am sitting on my couch with the windows open and there is an accordion playing and a random trumpet jumping in occasionally... what is my life?! I will miss this. The city finally gains some life and we are leaving? How is that fair? Granted I shouldn't complain... I am in Europe for another month... but still! I am not ready to say goodbye to this place, this food, these people! All I know is that I want to come back. To Europe at the very least, but there is just something infectious about the Italians. Their passion and their love of life is beautiful. It isn't just them though. I mean I found that in the Croatians, Belgians, and Irish as well.

June 16- I left Bologna a little over 2 weeks ago and have spent the time since in Belgium, Amsterdam, and Milan. Being in Milan has been a strange experience because I only speak English with the kids but they speak Italian to me so my understanding continues to grow while my speaking stays the same, or even decreases a little. I don't want to leave but this job is so tiring. In a good way though. And I may even be staying a little longer as I might Au Pair... :)

June 19- Okay scratch the Au pair thing... I decided I wanted to see people and play soccer for the summer. Plus the family I wanted needs me the end of July which means I wouldn't go home... sad. Maybe I could come back? I haven't even left and I am talking about coming back... think I am hooked? Yes.

July 1- Back in America, spent one day in Jersey, headed to Creation, back to Jersey today and tomorrow to Cape Cod... it's so weird to be back. Surrounded by English, not having to translate in my head before asking something (which I keep doing...), and not actually being home yet... so tired. Time to finally post this one!

We are Sesto, Mighty Mighty Sesto!

I am currently working in Milan at an Alice in Citta English Summer Camp.

Oh my gosh, I am so incredibly lucky. The family I live with is so unbelievably sweet and helpful. They gave me the sons room, offer me EVERYTHING, and want me to do my own thing. The mom's only request was that I speak English with the kids, which of course I can do being that I speak english :P

The mom, Elisabetta, not only picked me up from the train in her car, but she waited 2 hours for me there because I messed up the times. I felt awful but she didn't care and just went window shopping or something. Then she told me about her epic life. She was a photographer for musical artists and music magazines. She has been to some amazing concerts. After she retired from that, she got super involved in her husband's law business (he is a lawyer...duh), runs a household with two kids, and literally does everything she can to make Sesto San Giovanni a better town, especially the schools. You should hear the things she and the other moms have accomplished. Seriously amazing.

The dad, Andrea, is a lawyer for building contracts, I think that's what it was although I don't really understand the kinds of lawyers so I could be completely off. Anyway, he also loves music. He has like 5 different guitars and plays SOOOO well. Also, he runs... and we went running in this massive park by the house and I got completely lost... so we ran an extra 15 minutes, me trying to find where we parked, and him trying to find me.... fail. I felt SO bad, but it was ok in the end.

Anita :)

The kids are too adorable for words I can't even express it. Anita, the one in my group for the camp, is 8 and such an artist in every way. From a creative mind and free spirit, to a spacey demeanor and hyperactive personality. I love her. She does drive me crazy at the camp though because she does her own thing and NEVER listens but kids are kids right? She is so talented, although she takes forever to finish any art project, she is really talented, which makes sense because her grandmother was a fashion designer, her aunt is a famous sculpture and apparently her dad can draw too. In regards to English, she is really good at it, when she wants to be. Otherwise, she can't understand a word. Again, that artsy side of her comes through :P

Francesco is the son and is only 6 so no English camp for him :( BUT he is tooo cute. I will definitely get a picture of him eventually. Woah that sounded not the way I meant it to... awkward. He doesn't know much English but he is so cute and loves to ask me how to say things and when in doubt he just says hello or makes faces. My italian continues to get better the more I listen to the kids in the house and in the camp but I am not allowed to act like I understand with the kids in the camp... although they suspect I know what they say, or at least mostly. Also, the building my family lives in has a bunch of the other kids from the camp as well as some extra kids and two of the other tutors live their as well. We tend to play soccer in the garden out back or just hang out and listen as Tom (another tutor) plays his ukulele. 

Now for the camp. I SURVIVED A WEEK! I have 9 kids I am in charge of and about two of them are really strong in English for their age, maybe not always speaking but they understand everything. Now I have learned that kids are kids everywhere, but the whole language barrier makes it a little more difficult to teach them. I mean they are so intelligent when they understand and I can really see a lot of talent in them. A quick rundown of the camp and the campers:

The day starts with a welcome of games and songs, then a lesson (story, art, games, whatever- the point is to teach some new words), then a break, then drama and "my kitchen" where they write and draw new words on these cards and put them in a box they made, the lunch, break (for us as well thank God), then art, sport and home for the kids, but meeting for the tutors.

Our group is called Pizza, because the camp theme is Sesto's Magical Kitchen.

We have all of these chants and motions to teach the kids some new words. It is actually really fun and randomly they start singing them which is fun :)  and sometimes annoying :P

Kids: (Mine)

Anita- host family's daughter. She is so talented. I wish I could show you some of the things she has done. She is wayyy better than me... awkwards

Filippo- he hosts one of the other tutors, Macy, and is solid in English. the other kids always ask him to translate stuff to me or from me. he is too sweet and has the best heart. Probably one of my favorite kids :)

Davide- he is a trouble maker but I can't help but adore him. he has a secret gift in art and i hope he continues because he is pretty good and enjoys painting a lot. the reason i say secret is because he is more of an athlete, and one of the "cool" kids. he never shuts up tho...

Luca- Davide's partner in crime when it comes to trouble making. i want to slap him so often... but he is a good kid. He lives in my building and hosts Maira (an Irish girl who is a tutor) and is a total soccer freak. which means we get along in that respect. the thing is he doesn't know a lot of english... or understand much. but as the week has gone on he has seriously learned a lot. he even tries to speak in English to me now! :)

the kids! minus valerio

Norah- this girl is too cute. She is so little and always sits a certain way. her dad is from New Zealand so she understands a lot, but she is super shy and quiet so she doesn't speak a lot, but she loves to be first in line and hold my hand. She makes me smile.

Noa- Also a cutie, she is best friends with Olivia (soon to be mentioned) and always has Olivia's shoes on, sometimes only one... they like to switch. her english is really good as well and she is just one of those kids you wish you were friends with... if that makes sense being that I am much older... i don't know she is just great. Always smiling.

Olivia- curly hair and the cutest head bands in the world. This one makes me laugh SO much. Her english is also the next best after Filippo. I guess I associate Olivia and Noa as those girls always jumping around, hugging, jump roping, skipping, etc. I can't really capture them in words which is sad, but I adore them so much.

Valerio- so quiet. He is adorable with his glasses and fashionable, but nerdy clothing. It's so great. I think he has a crush on Anita :P He is either super involved in the activities or kind of reserved. Another shy one but super smart. I think he needs more confidence but when he tries he is so great in English. Not the most athletic or artistic, maybe a musician? who knows.

Maria Sofia- I don't know how to explain her. Kind of loud but also quiet sometimes. She has a little bit of an attitude when she is unhappy but honestly who doesn't? She apparently has a thing with this kid Lorenzo... which i learned today in a park during lunch after a visit to the museum of natural history in milan.

The kids are so cute. They always show me their plate when they are done eating to make sure it is ok they didn't eat everything or to show that they ate it all. They get two course and a desert, as do i, and it's pretty good. Also, they love art. I don't know what it is, but painting and collaging, and coloring, are all things they can't resist. 

As for my other tutors, Tom is from outside London, Maira is from Ireland, Tania if from NYC/Dickinson (weird I know), and Macy is from Houston, Texas. With only five of us we have spent a ton of time together and gotten pretty close. :) We are also guided by two Italians, our Coordinator Federica and our assistant Francesca. They literally rock. So helpful and creative. Federica is super strong in Drama and Francesca in games/sports. Which is perfect because it helps us in the two areas we struggle in. 

Anyway, this is super long... so I will leave it at that. They have started to show that they are learning which is encouraging and we only have one more week! WOOO

Amsterdam

Amsterdam was surprisingly cool. Maybe it was because I went with a friend who knows the city (Wouter, yeah I know I saw him AGAIN?! crazy.) or maybe it is because Amsterdam is just an awesome place to go. It's beautiful even in the rain and has several canals. I don't know. I just liked it a lot.

So, after Bologna ended (sad) I headed to Belgium to stay with Andrej until I had to go to Milan for training for the English Camp I am currently working at. I had decided earlier to see if Wouter wanted to go to Amsterdam with me (otherwise I wasn't going to go because it wasn't one of my top choices) and when he (surprisingly) said he wanted to go I got super excited! The first day we were there we just walked around the city and it was absolutely beautiful out. I couldn't believe it.

Beautiful right?

We hung out in a park, took some pictures, saw some famous woman and her daughter, ate fish and chips (which rocked), saw the famous sign, went to the famous grocery store, and Wouter showed me all the fun facts about Amsterdam. Then we went to his friends house where we were staying and I met some of her friends. And I also got to see some old familiar faces :) Jeroen and Frank were there too! It was so nice to see them, to meet Jeroen's girlfriend (our host) and his cousin as well as some other Dutch people :) Oh and I do NOT speak any Dutch so, as I have come accustomed to doing, just read the way people said things when they weren't speaking English and tried my best to keep up. I actually like Dutch. (I say this about every language now I think...) When spoken "normally" it can be kind of beautiful. Not in the typical way, but in its own way. I want to learn it... ugh I want to learn every language.

The next morning we headed out to the Red Light District because we totally skipped it the night before, and at 10 am it's not too raunchy... although one guy said something very awkward to me... anyway, after that I said goodbye to Wouter and headed to the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijk's Museum both of which had really amazing collections. Then I went back to Belgium.

This post is terrible. I am sorry about that, but what made this trip great was the conversations and the atmosphere/city itself. That can't be captured in a post. If you want to hear more about it, ask :)