Sono Nervosa....

Let's start with Sunday. Sunday I ate a light breakfast of cereal. And while I waited for lunch I dusted, vacuumed, and organized my room. And then we had a lunch of delicious pasta and some potato dish which was quite yummy. Here in Italy they eat a lot more starch and richer foods. But when we have tomatoes (which is often), they're always wonderful and fresh so it's good. And after that Emanuela and I retired to our rooms. I only meant to close my eyes for a little bit, but it turned out to be a lot. And then I ended up having quite a lot of things to be done on the computer that day, so I did that. I lost track of time and I ended up being in my room for quite a while. I felt bad. When I came out, Antonella and I sat down and, on Sundays, we either have a light supper or no supper since we're still full from lunch, so we sat down and she gave me a bowl of tea. A bowl. Of tea. As in tea, steaming and steeping in a glass bowl that I normally eat cereal out of. That's a lot of tea. So we had a bowl of tea and cookies. Alright.
After that I went downstairs with Emanuela for a bit and we watched some T.V. and then I went upstairs to take a shower and go to bed.
Monday. Wonderful Monday. This is the day where I was supposed to start switching classes, but that never happened. Which was fine with me by the way. But then at the last bock I received my "schedule" and it just ruined my day. I basically take Italian for like 4 or 5 hours out of 6 one day (at least that's what I saw.....Emanuela has my penciled schedule)! I don't know I won't rant too much about it here it will only make me angry. It takes a long time to explain. All I know is that they're just making things more complicated and putting me in random classes and I still understand nothing! How is this helping? Dunno.
Today was my first day with my new and "improved" %$#^%$*&^!#~#@!!! schedule. I actually cried. I CRIED! Not in front of anyone though. It's just so ridiculous and it was so stressful. I go into random classes where I don't know anyone and the teacher is blabbing in Italian and I just don't understand anything. So I look twice as stupid now because I'm in with younger students and I still don't get it. SO FUN. I had two french classes back to back (for some reason....?) and....biology?!?! Great. Biology in Italian. THAT'S going to help me lots, thanks guys.
Ok I will stop now before I can go on. But you get the picture.
Sono Nervosa (I am....nervous. But not nervous as in scared or anxious nervous...more like irritated, stressed, annoyed nervous, if that makes any sense at all)
Cheers everyone

Mama Mia!

So after I return from Napoli I then go to school two whole days in a row! It's basically a record. Then Wednesday I missed school again because I had to go with Antonio to Catanzaro to get my residence permit. Ugh! Talk about a pain in the butt! So first we drove all the way to Catanzaro and then walked quite a way, uphill on the cobblestone streets (seriously who has that much time on their hands where they're like...Oh lets glue a whole bunch of little stones to the ground and lay them in different designs for different sections for all the streets in the entire city it will only take forever!), passing little shops and yelling people, until we got to the police station. And then they tell us that the immigration office is somewhere else! So we have to walk back to the car, and then drive to another part of the city and we get in and find out that we need a certificate from the school I'm attending here. So I wait almost 2 hours at the immigration office where nobody speaks a word of English (which I found strange since they're working with IMMIGRANTS...as in...foreigners...), while Antonio drove all the way to Lido and went to the school to get a certificate. Then I had to get my fingerprints and stuff done. Then they sent us to ANOTHER office where I had to get more pictures and then hand prints. It's ridiculous. What is this world coming to? Anyways, after all of it I was both physically and emotionally drained. It's very tiring when people are yelling at you in Italian and all you can do is stand there and look like a total idiot. When we got home I helped Antonella in the store for about an hour (more like just followed her everywhere), and then we ate a spaghetti lunch, and I went to sleep. I meant to only close my eyes for like 15 minutes. But instead I found myself waking up and looking at the clock, "$#!$%&#$%!! It's 4:00! I slept for 2 hours!" whoopsies. But I was so tired. I'm always tired. Siiiiiiiiiigh.
Today I went to school. And I found out that whenever I have french, or math,or this, or that, I have to go in with the second years! I'm so mad and confused, but mostly just super mad. I've been told a billion different things! First I was told I could take any classes I wanted. Then I was told to stay with Emanuela. Then I was told I may have to do drama. But so far there has been no drama. Then I'm told whenever we have Latin, I go somewhere else. But that never happened. Then I'm told whenever we have french I go somewhere else. Now this?! Ok seriously?! Ugh I wish I could yell at whoever had all these ideas. Like give one answer! And I ask but I never get an explanation or nobody knows for sure! AAAAAAAAAAGH! I am beyond any more words. I have nothing left to say except maybe some extreme profanity which I shall not write on my blog.
Anyways. Thursday during Phys. Ed, we did as we always do. Go to the back of an old building where there is a piece of marking tape strung across from the wall to a nearby tree used as a volleyball net, and we play unorganized volleyball which is basically just serve, and then watch the ball fly around for a second and then hit the ground. At least there's one teacher who actually likes me in this school and that's the phys. ed, teacher because I'm one of the more athletic ones there as far as I know. But yeah so the whole time we were playing I kept feeling this pinching in my....shirt........and it hurt! And then I stopped playing and I was standing with some other people and then right near my arm pit I felt a major pinch and I actually cried out and a scary looking ant/wasp thing flew away! It either bit me or stung me it was awful. But then I kept feeling the pinching in the other spot and I looked in my shirt and there was another one and I screamed and like ran around to the other side of the building and basically did the funky chicken/truffle shuffle/samba/something else and freaked out. And I didn't see it fall out but it was gone. It must have bitten/stung me like 20 times, I'm not even exaggerating. Although you could never have been able to tell, there were no marks or anything. It had been stuck in there almost the whole class. I still shiver thinking about that....THING ugh! So horrible!
And that night I went out with Manu and Dory and we went to.....I think it was Francesco's house but I'm not sure...and Flavio was there as well as some other guy and a girl named Silvia and we went into this little..music place that reeked of cigarette smoke and was filled with guitars, and had a drum kit and a pretty deece sound system. And Francesco and Flavio and the other dude played several System of a Down songs, and some Muse, and Nirvana. Nobody else knew the songs and I knew all of them except the Muse one. I was quite pleased with myself.  It was fun. That's more my style. It was refreshing to do something like that again. Reminded me of a lot of times I've had with my friends at home.
Now, I need to go to bed because it's 11:00 p.m.
Cheers,
-Mikeala

Napoli

So, the other night I returned from Napoli. Well I actually returned from Castellamare, which is just near Napoli and that's where the camp for all the AFS exchange students from Calabria and Campagnia was held. I had a blast!
My rash is basically gone now, everywhere except my feet. I'm glad that piece of poo is over. It's too bad I had it during the camp though.

Anyways, so Thursday morning I woke up early and threw a few last minute things into my bag and me and Antonio set off for Catanzaro Lamezia where I would meet with a Thai girl named Sue Sue (pronounced Sih Sih). Soon we were on the train - which was actually very nice I'll have you all know. It was pretty comfy. I actually quite enjoyed the train ride. Not only was it comfortable but the stuff you got to see was awesome. We travelled along the coast for most of the way but there were some parts where we went through the mountains. It was very beautiful. There were lots of old houses and tiny mountain villages. That's more my forte!

Sue Sue!

Once we got off the train in Napoli Centrale, Sue Sue and I were greeted by Daniela and we then went with her and caught a train to Castellamare. But we missed the first train so we had to wait 40 minutes. So during that time I got a calzone...with ricotta and bacon?? Every time I order food in Italy there's always some sort of surprise. Then we went to the bathroom and we had to pay 1 euro..to go PEE! Ridiculous I tell you. As soon as we arrived at the campus we were quickly ushered into the dining area where we ate a wonderful meal of pasta in tomato sauce followed by shake and bake (or something like it) chicken and french fries, followed by a bowl of fruit where I helped myself to an enormous and extremely delicious peach. Then we found our rooms. I shared a room with a girl from Iceland (Islandia) named Freyja, and another Thai girl named Waipapan...? Anyways they were both really nice.

That day we all gathered in a meeting room and we began orientation. And, although I was supposed to be paying attention, I was too interested in looking out the window where you could see the sea, and then Mt. Vesuvius rising up above the city.

Throughout the day we played games, and listened to lectures until it was supper time. Castellamare was the first time I have had fresh bread since I arrived in Italy and I can tell you it was absolutely wonderful.

Later that night I met lots of really cool people, including a guy from Serbia, several people from Turkey, and one from Hungary, and even one from Egypt.

Soon we were told to go to bed. The rooms weren't exactly the nicest things in the world. You would get the occasional spring sticking into your gut, as well as a flat and lumpy pillow, but I was so tired it didn't matter.

The next morning we woke up at 7:00 and had breakfast at 8:00 and had to be upstairs in the meeting room at promptly 9:00. And, if there's one thing I've learned, it's that breakfast in Italy really isn't the greatest thing in the world. Coffee, croissants in packages with weird cinnamon goo (which was really not very yummy), and some bread. Oh and lets not forget the melba toast. And carbonated water (ugh!).

So after a very boring and meager breakfast, I went and brushed my teeth and went to the meeting room. From there we were divided into 2 groups and we went out to go and see a bit of Castellamare! It was absolutley beautiful. On one side was the sea, and on the other was mountains. And we walked through narrow streets and crumbling buildings and cobble-stone streets, passing fruit stands and little stores hidden away in an alley.

We also stopped at a bar (cafe), and I got some gelato and it was like a frigid bit of heaven in a cup. And we were allowed to buy beer but I didn't know and one of my turkey friends had a Heineken and so I had a little bit of that. Yes, I had a little bit. Even the leaders were drinking it, and it's legal here so technically I didn't do anything wrong. It was quite refreshing actually.

 

After we returned from our walk we went and had lunch, where I sat with a guy from Serbia, and a guy from Paraguay, as well as Alyssa whom I've mentioned before. It was quite an interesting lunch. We had fun. After that we had more orientations and games and meetings that lasted until supper time. We also had to have an individual interview. And so after talking about Chinese school, Japanese toilettes and Italian bides, we ate supper, and had yet another meeting, and after that I had my interview. I felt really stupid since I had to have someone translate for me, but a lot of people had to have a translator so I guess it's ok. After my interview I met up with Alyssa and the guy from Paraguay as well as Mert from Turkey and a few other people and we went up to the roof and eventually everyone else came up there too and from there us Canadians (Alyssa and I) got a reputation for fun-loving, as at one point we had almost everyone laying on the ground and looking at the sky, and then Marina (from France) took a picture where Alyssa is lying flat and then I'm lying kind of on top of her (not in a weird way) and she was the pancake and I was the maple syrup. And then I was on Alyssa's shoulder's and we were running around and we all had a little dance to no music. I was told by Phoobeth (from Thailand) that I was the best. I felt pretty good about that. You know, makes a person feel good inside. Anyways finally a volunteer came out and made us all go to bed. I had a shower in the cramped bathroom. And whenever you try and raise your arms you end up banging them on the walls and stuff so everyone is always wondering what's goin' on in there. 

(From Left to Right) Alyssa, Predrag (Serbia), Me, Paraguay Guy

The next day was very long. It was all about stereotypes. The whole day. And every country had to present something...AND we had a talent show. So this took us until about 1:30 in the morning. I really think they should learn to divide the time better. It was really interesting to learn about all the countries, but sitting for hours and hours is very tiring, no matter what you're doing.

Alyssa and I presented Canada and I had to teach everyone what an Inukshuk was. It was fun letting people know about our country.

For the talent show Alyssa, Marina and I did the Waka-waka. I was not very good at it but it was fun. It was actually really embarrassing because I can't dance one bit. But it was alright. All the pictures are terrible though. Oh yeah, that night we took a lot of pictures.

Me and Sebastian from Ecuador

Me and Amr from Egypt

Predrag from Serbia

Thailand, Me, Predrag, Amr and Paraguay

Me and Omer from Turkey - sorry it's sideways

  

Alyssa and I with another guy from Paraguay

Waka -Waka

So, we were all super tired. Because we stayed up until around 4:30. Marina and Alyssa and I ended up talking to some University students that were there. But after we were finished they were all like "If you're bored we're on the second floor" and we were like uhmmmmmmm...ok....ciao!!!! And walked away very quickly.

The next day we had some last meetings and a very nice lunch and then we all got ready to leave and said our sad good -byes.

Then Sue Sue and I boarded out train and we arrived in Catanzaro very late. So I guess you could say when I finally got home I was very tired. And Monday was even worse. But it was a good trip and I'm so glad I went. It felt good to finally go and see something like that. Maybe one day I can go back and see Pompei...

Sorry...

So earlier today I may have left on a bit of a negative note. I apologize. But, at the time, things were not fun. At all. I still look disgusting and the rash isn't really any better (I don't think so anyways it's driving me nuts it's so gross), but it's decided I can go to Napoli. I leave at 7:00 in the morning tomorrow. So if the rash is still there...I guess I will just have to finally use my foundation...blech. But I will NOT be seen like this.
So I did a bunch of last minute packing and I'm sure I've quite over-packed. As usual. But I have no idea what to expect.
I also found out today that I am able to go out by myself running, or I can go with Antonio. I was quite pleased. I had planned to talk to Antonella about it later on after Napoli and once things settled down because running isn't exactly at the top of my priorities at the moment, but she got to it sooner, which is fine.
Oh and a note for all those who read the post where I said I was "swapping music with Antonio," I did not mean Antonio as in my host father, I was referring to a classmate of mine who has exceptional taste in music (one of the first). It's actually kind of cool because we can barely talk to each other but we just show each other music and stuff it's pretty deece.
Anyways I should be getting some sleep. Once again I  apologize for all this complaining.
Cheers,
-Mikeala
P.S. I've adopted the nickname Miky but they pronounce it MEE-kay I quite like it.

WHYYYYYYY?!

So, as of Sunday I have been fully recovered from my illness. And as of yesterday, I have now acquired an incredible rash that is covering my entire body including the palms of my hands, the bottoms of my feet, as well as my face and my ears (as well as everywhere else). So I look like something that should be locked up. And I am in extreme discomfort. It hurts to walk because it's on my feet and my hands itch like crazy. I just wish I could die. Or maybe come home where I will be normal again. I'm sooo angry and upset and...frustrated (as usual). And to top all these wonderful things off, I was supposed to leave for Naples tomorrow morning for 4 days. But Antonella says that if it's not better by tomorrow I CAN'T GO! So...bye-bye Naples. Because this is not getting better any time soon. In fact, after my baking soda bath, it looks worse. WONDERFUL. I am having so much fun. I love being red and blotchy and disgusting. Really it's great you should try it. Ok I'm going to maybe go to bed now. Except it's close to lunch so I'm not sure if I should. Probably not. Siiiigh.
I went to the doctor's office today with Antonella. And from the moment I walked in, I smelled cigarettes, but I thought maybe it was coming in through the open window. Nope. After he examined me he sat back down in his chair and lit up a ciggy. Wow. Ironyyyyyyyyyy. I thought people only did that "back in the day" sort of thing you know? But yeah, thought I would mention that. He said the rash was from stress. HAH! A rash like this...from SRESS?! I don;t think so. If this is from stress, I would've had this an awfully long time ago a-thank you. AAAAAAAH! WHYYYYYYY?!

Days Of Good Food And Lots Of It

So, on Sundays, we eat a rather large lunch. I'm not sure if I have already mentioned that but in case I didn't, I'm telling you now.
This Sunday I woke up around 10:30 and was out of my room closer to 11:00. I have no idea why I'm still just so, utterly and absolutely exhausted, but I am. Anyways so I go into the kitchen where I eat a small bowl of Special K Red Berries (which is actually pretty yummy in a weird sort of way). Normally, on any other day, I would probably have 2 large bowls of cereal and possibly something else, just because of the fact that I won't eat again for another 6 flippin hours. However, today I would be eating within the next hour or two, and it was going to be big.
So, the moment arrived where we all sit down to eat a very huge lunch. And today's lunch was so grand and so yummy that we invited "Nono (Manu's grandpa...Antonio's father. He lives above the store too but downstairs from us)" to come up and eat with us.
Once we were all seated and ready, Antonella put down plates with a heap of steaming lasagna down in front of us, accompanied by these lumpy looking things which was really cheese and some green things deep fried in batter (deeeeeeeeelish), bread, and home made potato fries and sausage with rosemary. And then for desert was an exquisite selection of pastries (not home made though...who would have time to do all THAT in the morning?!). I thought I was going to explode I kept getting offered more delicious things and I had to try it all....I felt like that really huge guy off of Monty Python "The Meaning Of Life" where he eats like...everything and the waiter is trying to get him to eat just a tiny bit more (I was not offered a "wafer thin mint" though), until he does...and then he explodes. I almost died.
After Emanuela and I finished hanging laundry, we went to her room where we chilled and watched TV for hours, just laying in bed. But it really didn't feel that long. I think it was because I fell asleep. And then Emanuela leaves for a moment and comes back with a Nutella sandwich for each of us, and we munch happily while watching a bat rip the head off of a really disgusting looking spider. And shortly after we went upstairs and had a couple hot dogs and cleaned up some leftovers in the fridge for supper, and I retired to the shower, and Manu went to bed. I was still full from lunch.
Monday morning I woke up super hungry, even though I had two bowls of cereal called Kellogg's Nice Morning. I even brought a snack with me to school and after I ate that I was still hungry. When we returned home from school I scarfed down my lasagna so fast I practically inhaled not only my meal, but the plate as well. I think Emanuela felt the same way because a while later, we decided to go and make pancakes, so we did. It was quite fun, And the pancakes were good. Not quite as good as Canadian pancakes but they were good enough for me!

Sorry some of them are sideways

And THEN after pancakes, Antonella came home and made dinner which was left over sausage and fries, as well as bread,  prosciutto, and tomatoes in olive oil and oregano. I was soooo full.
And then to top things off Emanuela painted my nails blue and stuck little flowers on them so whenever I go to type something I freak myself out.

I realized that lasagna here seems like turkey dinners at home. Because you eat it everyday for what seems like ever, after the big day. Because we had lasagna again for lunch today. Which is fine with me!!

And now I'm sitting here, it's about 4:20 pm with my blue nails hammering away on the keyboard busy with blogging and answering emails and looking up suggested songs from Antonio and loading pictures. AAAAAAGH! Oh and Emanuela just got home I think from her math lesson. I'll have to check.
Anyhow I suppose I will say goodbye for the time being!
Cheers,
-Mikeala