so well yeah

it had been a very eventful week.

by eventful, i mean fucking scary.

On sunday, thanks to the mistake of the Biella train station, i boarded the wrong train to Assissi. I mean, if it wasn't bad enough that i already had to catch 4 trains, by myself, in a foreign country, with a broken fucking phone, something else had to go wrong.

So there i was, in Arezzo, where i assumed my train would continue onto Assissi, when it turned back around. I ended up in Montevarchi, crying, scared and alone. Thank god, i found a nice italian boy to help me. Seriously, i owe him big time. Him and his friend helped me to call my italian non-english speaking host family, explain to them why i'was on the wrong side of Italy, and get me onto another train (for free) that would take me to Umbria.

If that wasn't traumatic enough, when i finally arrived, i found out that i wasn't allowed to speak english at home or at school (my classes were also conveniently in Italian) and i couldn't use my dictionary. Well, it has been horrible. I'm in a hard class with only 3 other students- one Irish, on Chinese and one Portugese. They're all over 35. I'm alone in the fucking school. There's only one other girl my age, and it's funny because she's also from Adelaide, but i havn't really seen her.

Well, i miss Ms D'Aloia's lessons alot, for homework each night i have to write the same amount as she would expect in a month, and that's not even a joke. School only goes for four hours a day, but each day i come out feeling like my head is about to explode, only to have to go back home and try to make polite conversation in Italian. I mean, the family is awesome- they're all so nice to me. I'm just lonely, and homesick.

Well, it will all be worth it when i finish next week- the days are just drawing on so long.

This weekend, i might catch a train to Florence or Turin or Milan, maybe catch up with some Biellenese friends. Sounds lovely,

Now, i must right a composition about the cultural differences between Italy and Australia.

urghhhhhhhhhh, i miss Adelaide.

Ps- i went to Assissi, one of the most religious cities in the world, and i brought you back a snowglobe.

so this is my last night in Biella.

Im dreading waking up tomorrow, leaving Tollegno at 10:45, arriving at Santhia by 11:30 and catching a train at 11:45. transfering from Milano to Firenze, then to Perugia, then finally Assissi, taking a grand total of 6 hours.
In Italy
With all my baggage
Alone.
To a family who speaks only Italian, for two whole weeks. Attending a special languages school, writing reports on my experiences, The Renaissance and The French Revolution. Learning Italian Grammar, table manners and hopefully raising my count (from a potential 7).

I dont know how to even begin to express what this three weeks with these 16 people did for me- ive made friends with people i know i would never have even talked to, experienced freakish hail storms, had the dream romance, developed a strong love for Italian leather, lost my phone, bought a phone, wasted money, bought countless scarfes and tights, gossiped all night long, been inspired to start cooking and gardening, danced and danced, cried for hours, laughed for hours, met random english and americans in the oddest of situations...

I have an Italian family, they welcomed me with open arms two years ago, and although the language barrier is strong, i feel so close to them. next year, i am returning. The year after, my mama, brother and i might even rent a house here for the holidays.
Italy is my favourite place in the world. One day, i will live here.

Anyway, all this sentimentality is making me cry.
I really do miss home; real salad, the Adelaide Metro, The Balls, my family and friends.

just throwing it out there

when i wrote about the americans, i wasnt implying that i slept with one of them.
by using the term "spending the night together", i literally meant that.
so yesh, no funny business guys.
end





ps, last night was pretty funny.
there are so many drunk 20 year olds at Cancello. Next time, we DONT sit with them OKAY!

i miss

sliced bread.
and my old septum ring.
but besides that, italy is perfect.
i have an italian nonna. she makes me coffee and gives me chocolate.

today we shopped lots (again), as i did 2 days ago in Milan. Italian leather makes me melt.
last night, went to the bar, twas good
tonight, Cancello club again.
i miss everyone.
getting really homesick.
i think i have 20 nights left, i never want to leave!

fra and i drive around, listening to Queen on full blast, talking about boys and who kissed who and whose gay and how lazy i am.
i actually love life.

La Vita è Bella

Life is beautiful ( note: kind of a take off of kats name mwaha)

last night i arrived in Biella, after a very long day of catching trains and shopping. that was an experience, seriously.
anyway, a bried run down of the last week :

i arrived in Rome at 6am last friday morning, and met everyone t the hotel. we proceeded to spend the day buying souvenirs, visiting various famous monuments, bonding and perving on italian boys. that night, best gnocchi i have ever had /drools.

the next day we went to the Vatican City, it was as amazing as when i saw it 2 years ago. so much walking though which i guess was good for me. that night was the highlight of my trip so far. conveniently, staying at our hotel was a schoolgroup of american, a few of who we made friends with. the hotel in rome had an amazing rooftop garden and the lot of us (about 5 americans plus 10 australians) sat together onthe rooftop for a few hours and made friends. i met aboy called alex. he couuld be defined a perfect. i can honestly say that ive never met anyone so kind, sweet and attractive in my life. he was amazing, but lives in Pensylvania. well, we spent all night together and i ended up back in my hotel room at about 4 am after a perfect night. awaking at 5 30 wasnt fun though (ugh)
although he st with me for breakfast in the morning, i never had the chance to say goodbye as we left the hotel for Firenze earlier than we had planned. this is one of those things that i know i will regret for a long time to come. i will never see him again.

firenze was amazing. visiting this uffizi and academia again was more enjoyable, as i was actually able to appreciate all the art this time. i collected lots of brochues and bought large quantitis of novely pens and notebooks from the gift shops. our hotel in firenze was nice, but it was nothing compared to rome. the shopping was soooooooooooo good, i cant even explain. i bought 6 scarfes. and 3 pairs of awesome tights (they look like henna on my legs). plus so many presents, a 90£ bag which is about $180, i (L) firenze tshrt, 2 belts, various pieces ofjewelery, a weed tin (LOL) and many other items.

okay, last night i got to Biella and sawall the italians again. it was really awesome to see everyone, even Mattia was happy to see me. i crashed last night, so tired from the last week of travel.
today we went to school. I saw Francesco. it was so worth waiting a year. i will see him lots over the next week i hope. i aw luca and all the other italians aswell and it was so great to see that they had all stayed friends. the lessons were fun, we just spoke in english.
we danced, embarassing. walkd all around town.
and now i am at home, Katerina is sitting at the computer next to me talking to friends.
Amira and Fra are behind me watching italian tv. tonight, were going to some disco thing. la vita è bella.
i miss everyone, lots. especially my mum.
now im sure i have better things to do than sit on blogger.
ciaoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!