Venezia

        On tuesday the 24th ,I went to Venezia with my host sister. The main reason I wanted to come was because I had an appointment with the "Universita Ca'Foscari" international welcome desk, which is a service for international students that want to come study in Italy. I had a brief meeting with the coordinator of the welcome desk service, where she explained all the things I need to do and documents I need to bring if I have interest in coming here to study. But before that me and my host sister stopped by the Piazza San Marco and Ponte Vecchio, which are the main touristic spots in Venezia. Those places are so beautiful, I love it!! Visiting Venezia is always nice and I can't believe that in about a week I'm not gonna be nearly as close to it as I'm now. 

          I'm almost going home, and I can't lie is a crazy feeling... There is a part of me i wish I could stay, but also that is a part of me that is happy to come back home to  my "normal life". I really can't say how I'm actually feeling right now, is very  bitter sweet. 

                         

                             

Last day of school and Dance Recital

        I had my last day of school last saturday (7th) and still can believe is already over! I had a blast this past months! My classmates are one of the most fun group of people I had a chance to spend time with! It brings tears to my eyes knowing that we are probably are not gonna see each other for a long time. I also very grateful for the way of the school welcomed me, every teacher and faculty member has been so nice to me always. I'm gonna miss my class mates so much, all the jokes and laughs. But this feelings just show that the time we had together was totally worth it! 

         Also on saturday the 7th and sunday the 8th I had my dance school recital. It was such a great experience. The choreographs   we've been working on came together pretty well and I had so much fun on stage. It's sad to thing that was my last time dancing with my friends from dance. The people from the "Dance Up" are such a big part of my experience here. I'm very thankful to my teacher, she is great! I love also the fact that I've got to do a style that is a little bit different from what I'm used to.

          I have only two more weeks here I can't believe how fast time went by!!

Verona, Valle D'Aosta and Volunteering at Venezia

           Is has been 4 months since I got here, and I can  say: best decision I ever made! It just made me realize, that even thought I've finish high school, going straight in to university

was not the right choice for me. In the past months I've had the time to mature and learn so much about a culture, a language and about myself. Living this "new life" gave me time to stop, think and  kinda organize what I attempt to do in the future. So again: BEST DECISION EVER!

           Two weeks ago was my " host cousin" crisma. This part of the family lives in Valle D'Aosta, which is a 4 hours car ride from where we live. But before getting there we stopped by Verona for a few hours. 

          Verona is one of the cutest and most lovely places I've been. First of all we went to the Arena di Verona. Is Roman Empire time arena, it follows the same idea of the coliseum. Is very nice, and they still do performances there. Afte we walked through the Main Street till we arrive to Juliet's house. It was childhood dream to see the lockers on the gate, is really pretty. Then we went to a Piazza delle Erbe from there we waked back to the arena and left, because unfortunately we did not have a lot of time because we still had a long trip ahead of us. After a few hours we got to Valle D'Aosta, it was already dark and we went straight to the house of my host mom's sister. 

           The next day my host mom took us to Courmayer, which is very small town that in the winter fills up with people that go skiing and snowboarding. Is very cool and has a great view of the mountains. Next we went to D'Aosta. The city is full of history, and very pretty. Overall was a very nice day! 

          On the next morning was the crisma ceremony, after I had lunch with all the family. They were all very fun and likable,  I had a great time with them. 

        Last Wednesday I went with my host sister's school to Venezia to work as a volunteers in the Special Olympics. This kind of Olympics is made for the mentally disable, is very inspirational to see this people happy and putting so much effort in to the sports. I'm happy that I went with my host sister, in the end I had so much fun! 

Venezia, Alleghe and Firenze

         I've been very lazy the last couple of days, so thats why this post is a little delayed ... but the last couple of weeks were very exciting! Starting up, on Monday (25^th)  I went to Venezia with my school. Around 8 we met up at the station in Conegliano, and less than a hour we were there. Venezia is so beautiful and we were so lucky to go there with such an amazing weather. The first thing we did was walk to the "Ponte del Rio Alto". Then at 12 we had this   –not so fun-  class about the opera we were going to see later on the day, but  the theater where we had the class as so beautiful thought. After we had lunch and  free time. Walking around Venezia is so cool, there is no other place in the world  like that city! We were suppose to meet everyone around 3 to see a opera, but we got a little lost, is kind of confusing walking around those little tiny streets. We fortunately made it to the “Teatro Malibran” in time, there we saw “Elegy for young lovers”. an opera by Hans Werner Henze.  I have to say, operas are not my thing, but  that one was very well put together. Finishing up, we headed back to the station to take the train back home.

         On Sunday (30th) my host mom and sister took me to the mountain in Alleghe. We arrived early in the morning and again, I got lucky, the weather was so great! The day was beautiful and was not cold at all.  A year ago I went snowboarding while I was in America. I did pretty well for a beginner… but I was nervous this time:  1 because is been so long since I’ve snowboarded, 2 I was afraid I was not going to be able to keep up with my host sister... But I think I can say I’ve done a pretty good job. I mean... I still have to learn a lot, but I’m able to control myself while going down and I did not fall that much. Everything went pretty well, besides the fact that I can't ride the "skileaf" for my life (which for my surprise is not that one you go sitting, is the one you take a cable and put between your legs.. sounds awful if  I explain like this, but is pretty much it) I fell like 300 times. After trying all the possible ways, the guy that worked there asked the ski instructor to take me with him. I never felt so embarrassed in my entire life, but  it worked and I finally made it to the top. My host sister could not stop laughing at me after that, it was so embarrassing but it was actually really funny.  By the end of the day I was so tired, but I had so much fun that day!

        On the next day ( Monday, 31^st) me, my host sister  and another girl from the exchange program met up at Conegliano to take are train to Firenze! We arrived there around 12 and met up with all the rest of the exchange students from WEP. From the station we walked to the hotel, which was not bad… Around 2 we left the hotel, got something to eat and went to the Duomo of Firenze. There we say the "Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore". After walking a little bit more we got to see the  "Piazza della Signoria", “Davide" de Michelangelo (the copy), the "Ponte Veccia" and some other really cool stuff. From there we headed up some really long stairs to see an amazing view of Firenze!  Then we walked back to the "Piazza della Signoria" and had some free time. Around seven  we went to a Pizzeria, then back to the hotel.  The next day we got to do a tour inside the  "Palazzio Veccio", which is magnificent, is  truly so beautiful! The rest of the day we had free time and at 4 we went back to the hotel, got are luggage and went to the train station. Are train was at 5 something, and we arrived in Conegliano around 8. Was really cool going to Firenze for those two days, but it was so tiering! 

            I'm halfway thought with my exchange program and I could not be happier here... and sad at the same time, because it went by so fast. My classmates are amazing and my host family is lovely ! Im looking forward to keep exploring Italy for the next two and a half mouths... I hope time slows down a bit ):. I already know I've made the right choice  by coming here. I'm living one of the best mouths of my life! I'm so fortunate to have been given this opportunity, is not even over yet  and I'm already missing it!