Sorry It's Been A While

Hello everyone! I apologize for not having updated you for so long. But things are still crazy and I am still exhausted! Anyways. Now, I shall go over the past events that have taken place over the last week.
Thursday: Well on Thursday I woke up a little late and rushed to get ready. I ate a nice breakfast of cornflakes and cake. That day I went to school and when we came back I had to go to an Italian lesson (every person on this program has to do 40 hours of Italian lessons). And so, Antonella drove me to the house where I would be taking lessons (The picture of the street is the street where I take lessons), and we go and ring the buzzer, only to be told that we came the wrong day and that next week starting Monday I would have a lesson every day. Whoops! And so we returned home and Antonella returned to work and Emanuela and I just chilled and watched Italian T.V. shows (well really they're American but Italian is dubbed in and you can hear the english in the background sometimes).
Friday: After school that day Emanuela and I stayed in Catanzaro Lido and went out for lunch and ate a panini. Then we met up with Kevin (the boy I sit next to in class) and we went to see their friend, Luca, who had just gotten surgery on his eye. We walked down an alley with crumbling buildings on either side, full of graffiti, and plastic bags and Bueno wrappers floated past in the warm breeze. Then we turned a corner and the first thing I noticed was a bar called Cortes with a picture of a peg-legged pirate on the sign. We stopped at a tall, rather nicely done-up apartment building and they rang the buzzer and Emanuela and Kevin told me that when someone answered I would have to yell "Ciao Santoro!" .....but nobody answered. So we rang again. And again. finally we just went inside and basically fooled around in the fancy elevator and ran around on the stairs and made face-prints on the clean shiny windows. We eventually figured out that no one was home and so we left and went down a few more alleys until we came to what looked like a tennis court, but really you play soccer. This is where I met many of Kevin's friends as well as Emanuela's. I didn't catch any of their names. Oh! Except Fabrizio and another Francesco. There was one person in particular that I met, who seemed to take a considerable amount of interest in my "boyfriend situation," as well as a considerable amount of interest in following me around and trying to....tickle me...? And then just before he left he says to me, "You ehmmmmmm.....you....very bootiful girl." And I say "Ummmm...grazie...oh! Ciao! Haha yeah Ciao! ciao." Yeah. So that was...interesting. Soon after many others departed including Emanuela and I and we came home to a wonderful meal and then we were off to bed.
Saturday: So after a long and boring day at school, Emanuela and I came home and ate lunch and then prepared to go out again that night. We weren't as fancy though because it was "cold" and it was raining. We went to Catanzaro Lido again, and met up with Manu's boyfriend again and had a panini...again. I had ordered one that sounded pretty good. It had bacon, mozzarella, tomato sauce, and.....eggplant! What? Oh my God. The first bite was good. The second bite....ok, a little funky. And then I am about to take a third bite when AH! What is that grey, slimy looking thing dangling out of my sandwich? Oh....crap (carefully pull alllll the grey funky things out and sneakily hide it in my napkin). After I finished my sandwich I washed it down with a nice, slightly less sweet than the American version, Coca cola. Ahhhhhh.
After that we went to a Creperia (I can't spell it) and we had a crepe full of Nutella. YUMMM!! Although, next time Emanuela wants to spend time with her boyfriend, I don't think I will go...
Sunday: So Sunday I slept until 11:30 when the sound of the on-going traffic suddenly grew louder. That morning I walk into the kitchen and I am hit with a wonderfully overpowering aroma, only to find Antonella zipping around the kitchen in a blur talking to herself in very speedy Italian. She told me not to have a big breakfast because on Sundays, they eat very large lunches. But I still ended up having a piece of cake, some cornflakes, and a pudding the Antonella wanted cleaned up.
Lunch that day was fries (basically) with fried chicken, tomatoes in olive oil and oregano, bread, and prosciutto (ham). It was incredibly delicious. And afterwards we had gelato. I was so stuffed! Then after lunch I had to dust and scrub the tile floor in my room. And then, when all the house chores were finished, we took Doriana (my other host sister) back to university (she was there, but she came back for a few days). When Dory was gone the rest of us went to a huge mall in Catanzaro and went shopping. Antonella insisted on buying me some shirts. The mall was full of fancy dancy stores with Guess and all that stuff. Not normally my style, but it's very Italian. And if you can't beat'em, join'em. So I suppose maybe while I'm here I will learn a bit on how to dress "properly."
Monday: Back to school! Joy....
Our bus arrived at the school late that morning and so, as a result, we weren't allowed in the first class. I was simply overjoyed, and suggested we go grab a coffee and come back.  NBD (No Big Deal) right? Well I got looked at like I was mental. And so, we sat on the staircase until the next class and we sat through a very, VERY long day. Then we came home and ate leftovers from Sunday, and I went to my Italian lesson. Then we ate dinner and after I was helping clean up, and everyone was talking to me in Italian and I was so confused and I randomly had a break down for no reason. So messed. But after I cheered up again and we all toddled off to bed.
Tuesday: Yesterday I woke up with a feeling of incredible sadness and I had no idea why. Absolutely no clue. But I got up and got ready and went to school, when my head began to pound. It hurt like crazy and during class I' sure I looked like I was dead. Emanuela asked if I wanted to go home but I said it was ok. I'm not THAT sissy. But she texted her parents anyways without my knowledge and suddenly I was in the car going home. On the way back we stopped at a fruit store. It was basically a hole in a huge crumbling building that probably shouldn't even be standing, overflowing with fresh fruit. After the fruit purchase we stopped at another store to stock up on Nutella (it's a verrrryyyy big thing here). When we get home we have a nice lunch of spaghetti and after we have melba toast and Nutella and they sent me straight to bed. They wouldn't even let me help clean up. I slept through my Italian lesson. When I woke up I had a Nutella sandwich and apparently ate all the grapes so now we have a CRATE of grapes here.
I slept very well last night.
Today: Today was better. I was in a good mood and I was talking and socializing with people. Gregorio told me I was crazy, but I'm not crazy. Only compared to him haha!
Oh yeah I went to the supermarket with Emanuela last night and I saw HORSE and OSTRICH meat.....AS BABY FOOD!!!! I was absolutely mortified. I literally almost died.

Anyways. Back to today! After school I went to my Italian lesson again....it was ok. And now, I am sitting in the kitchen, half writing this and half looking out the window watching the sunset over the sea, turning the fluffy clouds pink and orange. It will be dark here soon. And then we will have a delicious supper, and I shall go to bed.

Oh The Sights To See...

There are many interesting sights to see from the school bus as you pass them on your way to school.  Many interesting things indeed.  On the way you pass many houses crammed together on narrow twisted roads with the laundry all hung out to dry.  You see many happy faces, both young and old, smiling and greeting each other and laughing.  You see stylish girls struttin' it out on the cobblestone runway (A.K.A. sidewalk), while the boys stand on the corner, smoking.  You see many little coffee shops, bakeries, delis and fruit stands with old men who have tanned, weathered skin and white, white hair sitting in old wooden chairs out front.
Then you pass herds of black and white spotted sheep running amongst the trees (no they're not cows they're sheep I checked all you smart alecs out there).  And then you see the occasional crumbling castle, completely forgotten on the hillside.  And there's a sad beauty to it.
Then you are once again in a town, with lots of fancy stores with fancy names and fancy items to sell.  No doubt containing lots of labels such as Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana...maybe even Prada.  And you see the sea, and you pass multiple other schools, including one with a huge golden Jesus out front.  That one is my favourite.
After all these wonderous things, you turn one final corner and see the towering pink school in which I now attend.  And you become aware of the music that's playing on the radio.  Techno....or all that other modern...stuff.  The kind of music where you take eight bars of notes, and play it over and over and over again.  And then you add some funky sound effects that make you feel like you're aboard the Enterprise from Star Trek.  And then you throw in maybe four words and you keep repeating them in different variations.  And it's always about love or sexy women and all I can imagine is Spock grindin' it up with some super hot Romulan chick or something.
And then we get off the bus of wonders....and we go to school.
-Mikeala

A Foot Killer Night, A Morning Mix-Up, A Lazy Hazy Day, And....School

Part I - A Foot Killer Night

Saturday night, Emanuela and I left Botricello and took a train to Catanzaro Lido.  This is also the city where I go to school.  But tonight, we went for dinner.  With Emanuela's boyfriend.

Now, you must understand that in Italy, when you go out, you go out in style.  Especially when you're meeting people, and ESPECIALLY when those people are boys.  So.  Tonight's outfits were (well, for me anyways) quite stylish.  I felt pretty fancy....and freakishly tall.  Emanuela lent me a blue strapless dress/long shirt thingy and you wear a belt around the middle just under....your chest.  Anyways I wore that accompanied by leggings and some fancy accessories (also Emanuela's), straight hair......and high heels.  Oh God. So I looked very nice (I don't have pictures I'M SORRY).  My stylish look had basically been created by Emanuela so..thanks!!  Because me, being a completely unladylike bush child has no sense of style.  Emanuela wore a more simple get-up but it still looked super nice, especially when she put on her shoes.  

Of course, we were late, so I ended up trying to put on mascara on the train.  Which, by the way took several tries.

When we arrived in Catanzaro we met up with Stefano (Emanuela's boyfriend) and we WALKED to the sandwich place where we had a rather awesomely yummy panini for supper.  Although, sometimes I felt like a third wheel when we we were walking or even at the dinner table when Emanuela and her boyfriend started getting cozy.  And by the end of the night my feet were so sore I thought I'd never walk again and I was exhausted.  But it was pretty good.  Catanzaro is beautiful, it's right beside the Mediterranean. No.  I did not get pictures.  But I have HOW LONG to take some?  Yeah.  So I will Mom.  Don't worry.

Part II - The Morning Mix-up...
so.  Sunday morning I wake up, of course the whole week I have been confused about what day it was, since all of the days blurred together.  And so, as I said, I woke up Sunday morning, thinking that it was Saturday.  And today, I had to go to school.  So I get up and do my hair in a lovely fashion and put on a fresher face and choose my clothes carefully while skillfully changing my earrings.  At 6:45 I step out of my room to go and have breakfast, only to find a completely....empty.....kitchen.  My eyes widen, and I turn around and walk quickly back into my room, a sliver of doubt creeping into my mind.  I check my calendar.  ARGH! It's Sunday genius.  After rolling my eyes accompanied by an exasperated sigh and a bunch of muttering all containing the words "stupid idiot," I then put my pj's back on and pull my hair up and wash my face, and crawl back into bed where I then proceed to sleep until 11:00 in the morning.

Part III - A Lazy Hazy Day
Sunday, we did nothing, except eat wonderful food, and sleep some more.  The only way to beat the heat!!

Part VI - School...
Ah, so today we went back to school!  A barrel of fun (sarcasmmmmmmmmm).  Nah it's not that bad.  I like listening to the language and I can now pick up little bits. Strangely enough I think math is my best subject so far (which is not a good sign...) because it's a pretty universal thing.  It's grade 12 math, but I did all that stuff in grade 11...I'm pretty sure.  It seems similar at least.  But they write their equations and formulas differently so sometimes it's hard to tell.
Today wasn't as hot.  I didn't feel like I was in a steam room with my face in a hairdryer.  Today was tolerable.  Until we got on the bus to go home anyways.  But yeah, back to class.
During Philosophy (I think it was philosophy) I went and sat beside Emanuela (normally she sits with her best friend and I sit behind her next to a dude named Kevin.  He's pretty nice but we don't say anything to each other except raise our eyebrows as if to say "this class sucks."  That's all we are able to communicate).  And the whole time all we did was draw things on our hands.  I made my hand look like an elephant and I was walking it around the table.  I named him Edgar.  Emanuela made a face on her hand and when she moved her thumb it looked like it was talking.  And that was Philosophy!
The rest of my day was listening to gibberish :)
And I just finished a Nutella sandwich. YUMMMMMMM

The Past Three Days

Fewf!  I am whiped out!  There's so much going on in so little time it's hard to write stuff every day!
I will start with my third day at school.  I'm still getting used to the system.  Here, you stay in the same class with the same kids all day but the teachers switch instead.  And we go until 1 or 2 and then we go home for lunch and we have school on saturdays as well.  All I've used my notebook for is either doodling or fanning myself with (oh there is some math in there too)....since I can't understand anything.  It all just sounds like gobbledeegook right now.  Once in a while the teacher will say something to me and all I hear is "Mikeala fhdjfbdshjfhdfbdsgcdsbjfbdsfjs? hdjsfdlfdshfdslg!" and I go "ummmm..... (awkward smile and a shrug).....si...?" and then either Emanuela or Gregorio (one of Emanuela's friends, now one of my new buds) translates for me.  The teachers are either interested in me, or they don't want me in their class because I don't know what they're saying (well that's how it feels anyways).  The room is always so hot you feel like you're suffocating.  I love heat but this is almost uncomfortable, especially in the afternoon!  And by the time we come home from school I'm ready to sleep.  I'm still not used to the time change (9 hours) so I'm very tired.
So far, every day except for today we have had some sort of pasta and it's always amazing.  Yesterday we had spaghetti with bacon and eggs mixed in.  Now that may sound strange, but it was sooo good!
The other night Antonella (my host mother) and Antonio (my host dad) were very busy and too tired to cook so Emanuela and I went out with some of her friends for pizza and it was the most amazing thing ever!  I can never go back to eating American pizza.  The crust is super thin and crispy and it's not all greasy like at home, and there were kalamata olives on top which was very yummy!  All of the food is yummy!
Emanuela's frieds are very nice.  The two that I met both smoked (almost everyone here does).  I don't totally know their names.  One was Franscesco and the other one I think was....Flavio.....?  Then this other crazy guy (I have no idea what his name was) met us and he was pretty cool.  He was very eccentric.  So far he is the only Italian I know who doesn't listen to techno or anything.  Instead he listens to Bob Dylan and Bob Marley and The Doors.  Whooot!  The first thing he said to me was "bella sorella" which means beautiful sister hahaha.  I thought that was...interesting :P
That night I also witnessed the strangest thing.  We all know how in Europe it is customary to kiss someone on both cheeks when you meet.  But apparently a kiss on the lips works to.  And I witnessed two guys do it!  And they both have girlfriends!  And Emanuela said it was normal.  I thought it was weird but..ok.  I suppose it's because back home you DO NOT do that.  Here everyone is more...liberal with...sexual behaviours.  It's difficult to get used to.
The bus is also another different thing.  It's like a city bus, so it's a lot nicer than our ugly ol' school buses.  And you have to pay for it which sucks.  And it's always sweltering.  There's never air conditioning.  And if there is, you barely feel it.  It's just so hot, all the time.  But for he people here it's medium.  Where I on the other hand, am dying.
Yesterday we had english class.  I'm pretty sure that's my favourite subject.  The teacher actually likes me haha.  And she made me get up and talk about where I'm from and when I said how cold it gets everyone gasped and a murmur swept through the room :P  It was kinda funny.
Anyways, I will write more soon and I will soon post pictures but there's so much going on right now.  It will be easier when things slow down and I'm not as tired.
Anyways ciao!
-Mikeala

Second Day in Botricello

So today is my second day with my host family and things are pretty swell.  I am getting along with everyone awesomely considering there is a small language barrier.  School was better today.  I got things sorted out and I stay with Emanuela (one of my host sisters) all day in her class.  School is very different here.  You stay in one classroom all day with the same kids and the teachers rotate instead.  Anyways today was better.  I met two of Emanuela's friends. One girl and one boy.  I can't remember their names exactly, I'll have to ask again tomorrow, but they're very nice.  All I did for schoolwork was doodle because I had no idea what the teachers were saying.  Sometimes one would talk to me and I would just end up sitting there like a complete idiot.  Luckily I had Emanuela to translate fewf!
People are crazy drivers here!  They don't stop for you and they just honk at everything and they drive super fast.  It's scary!!!  Everything is so different, but it's super cool.
The food is amazing as I'm sure I've said.  Today for lunch I had pasta and it was sooo good!  And last night dinner was delicious.  We had some sort of potato dish along with meat and bread and a bowl of cucumbers and tomatoes with basil and olive oil it was amazing!
I'm still pretty tired but not too bad.  I think the heat makes it worse.
Anywhooo I should be off I think!
Ciao!
-Mik

Finally here - From flying to orientation to everything else...its gonna be a long one

Alright. So let's start with the flight.  It was long.  And boring. And I had to sit next to a scary guy who ended up getting drunk off plane wine at one point...but he helped me get through London airport, which was weird, but nice of him. London was actually pretty easy I was so relieved. However my flight to Rome was an hour late and when I arrived at the dorm one of my roomates grinned and said "Ah the infamous Mikeala who never showed up" and I thought great. Wonderful. Nah it was funny.  I ended up with 5 other roomates...there were 2 from Quebec and 1 from Ontario and 1 from France and 1 from...I can't remember haha.  But they were all very nice.  I hung out with Alyssa (Ontario) the most...but I met lots of cool other people from all over the world, including a girl from Latvia and Bosnia, a couple people from America, some Argentinians, one of which was very eccentric and a real flirt but he was hilarious...Santiago was his name. Classic. I also met some German dudes who were pretty cool.
The day after orientation we went to the airport where I had to pay 100 euros for overweight fees. Awesome. Then I flew to Catanzaro and my host family picked me up. They're so nice! But I feel so tall..for once in my life!  The house is gorgeous...Italy is gorgeous!  I can see the Mediterranean from here...and the school I attend is right next to it.
Speaking of school I started school today...it was very scary...and..awkward.  We waited half the morning for things to finally get organized but it was still messed so I followed the English teacher all day. We started off in a class with kids the age of 14..the third class had kids my age or about a year older maybe...or two..then we went to another class full of kids who were graduating this year. In every class I got asked at least once how old I was and what was my name...asked every time by a guy :/ and I also received a weird wink/nod and tons of staring...my hair got fluffed once and I even received a very straight up "you are beautiful" and I was like "ummmmmm.....grazie...." (turn away and never look that direction again) haha. yup. awkward.
After school we came home and hung out after lunch and then we went out and I saw a bit of Botricello. It's very beautiful here...but it's super hot and you NEVER stop sweating.
Anyways I need to go because supper will be soon....oh by the way the food really is amazing, except I have no idea what any of it is called. All I know is that there's almost always pasta involved!
So I will leave you all for now!
Ciao!
-Mikeala

The Suspense Is Killing Me

Alrighty.  So it's Wednesday and I leave tomorrow night.  I have reached a point where I just wish I was on the plane already.  Don't get me wrong I've been enjoying my time here.  Yesterday me and dad went to Pigeon Lake to see my other set of grandparents and we came back today.  It was nice, ate lots of good food, and I'm sure that won't be the last time I do that on this rather extended adventure!  I've enjoyed the time with my cousins and aunt and uncle and the other grandparents too it's been fun.  Dad also bought a new truck and it's pretty darn spiffy.  Whenever we drive in it I basically don't want to get out of it again.
Anyways as I was saying, although it's been fun, I can't take the suspense.  It feels like I'm worrying it to death.  It feels like either I go now, or I don't go at all.  All this waiting is driving me nuts.
I've been trying to do things where I don't think about it but everyone keeps bringin' it up soooo...it's not really workin too well.  Oh well!  One.....more.....day......
-Mikeala

And Now We Wait

So! I am in Calgary right now with my cuz and other rellies.  I leave for Italy on Thursday, so I'm just hangin out until then.  I bought a pretty sweet jacket today...a lil expensive though....
Before getting on the plane today I started having some second thoughts.  I said goodbye to my puppy who's my adventure bud, and it made me sad.  And today, just saying goodbye to everything else wasn't the easiest thing.  But I'm trying to keep my head up...I'm pretty sure it will be so awesome once I finally get there.  I miss everyone already, which makes things a little harder, but I just have to keep reminding myself that I will be coming home.
-Mikeala

Oopsies

Whoops!  I forgot to mention where abouts in
Italy I am going to!
So.  I am travelling to Rome where I will have a two-day orientation.  Then from Rome I fly to Calabria.  I will be living in Catanzaro, Italy in a small town called Botricello.  It is waaaaaay in the south, sort of near the toe, or the arch of the "boot."  I will live a kilometer away from the Mediterranean Coast!  So it's going to be nice and warm!!  It doesn't snow there in the winter, but apparently it still gets chilly, and lately I've been looking for a jacket.  Anyways!!  That's where I will be staying.  You can go onto Google Earth and find it that way or just Google it!
Pretty sweet!
Cheers,
-Mikeala

The Day Before and The Last Supper...

So. I leave for Italy tomorrow :o It's pretty intense, I'm super excited but I'm kinda flippin out....it's all just starting to hit me now.  I just spent last night with a couple of friends and tonight I am chillin with my family.  My mom has been slaving in the kitchen all day preparing perogies and peach-mango pie for my "Last Supper" It's going to be delicious!  I basically can't wait for supper.
Anyways.  Back on topic.  It didn't dawn on me that I'm actually leaving for a year until this morning when I said my final goodbyes to my friends, including my best friend Sara.  That's when I realized, "OMG! I'm actually leaving for a year!" It made me sad, but at the same time it's going to be soooo cool!
I'm getting really anxious about flying.  Ever since I watched Final Destination....I always think the plane's goin' down!  It most likely won't I'm sure.  Although, with my luck..... ANYWAYS! I'm so excited to meet my family.  I think thats one of the things I'm looking forward to the most.  I have chatted with my host mom mostly, and I talked to Emanuela (Manu for short), the youngest daughter who is 17 once or twice.  They seem so nice and I think I'm going to enjoy myself with them.  So I'm looking forward to that, and, well, the food.  Obviously.  And I mean, just the fact that I'm going to Italy is probably pretty cool, I would assume.  You know, considering the fact that it's Italy.
And so, I'm going to go now because there is much to be done before my departure at 7:30 a.m.
I will soon have many more stories to tell I'm sure!
Cheers,
-Mikeala