Many people, both Italians and Americans, ask me what is culturally different between The United States and Italy. There is one thing I can say about this: Saturday school. I took my weekends for granted in America, but now that I have to attend school 6 days per week, I miss the extra hours of sleep that I could gain on Saturday mornings in America. Fortunately, there is no school this week, and I have been hibernating. I recently began my Italian lessons with my fellow AFSers (Nico from Austria, and Sebastian from Paraguay). This class is significantly helping me to learn Italian.

For the past week my "grandparents" from Sicily have stayed in our house, and made delicious food for everyone. Nonna (Grandma) has taught me to make Carne alla Pizzaiola (Meat Pizza), which is basically thinly sliced beef simmered in tomato sauce with mozzarella, oregano, and Pecorino (cheese). Each day is a new recipe and a new possibility.

In the States, one of my usual snacks is raw sweet bell peppers. I consider this normal, perhaps other Americans think otherwise. So I asked Milena to pick up a few red bell peppers from the market, and then next day she came home with three gigantic, deep red, fresh peppers. I didn't waste any time waiting, and took one bell pepper, sliced it, and took a bite. When I looked up, Alice and Marco were looking at me as if I were crazy. To be brief, let's just say I've been labeled the Pepperoni Freak of the family (Pepperoni is Italian for bell pepper). Eating raw bell peppers is not normal for Italians.

A few days ago I made Tagliatella with Milena and Marco (homemade pasta). It was delicious! I'm planning on finding a little pasta machine to bring home with me to Arizona.

The picture I have posted above is from a walk Massimo took me on at the top of a hill where he used to live.

One Week Down

Many words can describe this past week: anticipation, nervousness, excitement, awe, exhaustion, and satisfaction.
Anticipation:
I didn't know what to expect before I arrived here, whether it was the food, the people, the architecture, or the weather. The family AFS chose for me is perfect. My host sister, Alice, is very similar to me. Most importantly, we both can sleep long on Sunday: the one day of the week that there is not school. Alice's boyfriend, Eduardo, is easy going as well, and patient with my basic knowledge of the Italian language. My host father (Massimo), and brother (Marco), do not speak much English, but it does not matter because we get along just fine. Milena (host mom) and Alice serve as my Italian- English dictionary when I do not have mine at hand. Everyone in my new family is very kind and understanding towards me, and I hope they enjoy me as much as I enjoy them.
Nervousness:
My first day at Italian school was a bit overwhelming. The Italian school system is different from The United States. For every subject the students remain in the same classroom, and the Professors rotate from class to class. During the week the classes that I am enrolled in are: Italian, English, Spanish, Latin, Physics, Biology, Math, Geometry/History of Architecture, Physical Education, Philosophy, and Italian History. Did I mention that every class is taught in Italian? Jenna+Italian school= confusion. The only classes that I can partially participate in are Spanish, English, History of Architecture, Physical Education, and Math. One aspect that I am looking forward to is being able to switch into a higher math course (derivatives) because I have already learned the material that Alice's class is learning. This week I will begin Italian lessons with Intercultura (Italian AFS), so I will be able to understand more and make progress.
Excitement and Awe:
Though school can be a bit overwhelming, I love meeting new people. I hope soon I can make an Italian friend of my own (without the assistance from Alice). On Saturday night, Alice and a few of her friends, and I, went to the Piazza and ate Doner Kebab while exploring a Chocolate Festival/Market with Chocolate from all around Europe. I enjoyed the Florentine architecture very much, especially il Duomo. Later that night we returned to Eduardo's house and passed out for about an hour (Alice and I really gorged ourselves on chocolate).
Exhaustion and Satisfaction:
Perhaps I am not aware of the current culture shock. I am feeling at home, and want to keep going out and exploring, but my mind and body think otherwise. My schedule goes as follows: wake up at 6:30, school until 1:30, eat lunch, nap for 3 hours or other static activity at home (such as watching some cartoon with Marco in Italian), eat dinner late, shower, then sleep again during the night. It feels as though I am always tired and hungry! But this is not a problem because I am enjoying myself all the time. If I am hungry, then I can eat more delicious Italian food (which is not always Spaghetti, Ravioli, Pizza or Pasta. Though the pasta is really great.) Yesterday my host family had a pizza party (they have a pizza oven in the basement), so when I return to Arizona, perhaps I can make everyone some true Italian pizza.
Pictured above is me preparing a pizza to go into the oven.
Arrivederci! You will be hearing from me soon!