I just wanted to inform you all that I am now living in Aversa. Things were not working out with my past host family so I have switched. Things have been to a good start. Aversa is closer to Naples and the coast, so I might be able to go to the ocean more. My host sister is 14 and loves Zach Effron, my host brother, whoes name I cannot remember is 9, my host mom is a teacher and my host dad is a doctor.
I am trying to upload picutes and I am trying to start a Youtube Channel with some of the other kids in Italy and once I have that up and running I will post the link on the blog. Thnaks for reading!!! I love you all
Aly Oliva
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
September 2010
My last few days in the U.S. I was busy packing things, making plans to see my friends and family, and realizing my dream was coming true. Earlier in July my friends planed a surprise party for me. I had an amazing night and realized just how amazing my friends are. In August I had my own little shindig with friends and family. The last weekend in the U.S. I also saw many for my friends and family. That Friday I went to school to visit teachers and attend the first Masque and Mime meeting of the year. At the meeting we prepared for the flea market, which was the next day. That Saturday I went to the flea market and friends over for a campfire. We roasted marshmallows, pizza, and cheese doodles. Sunday, my last full day in America, I spent time packing things, seeing my aunt and I had family over for dinner.
The next morning, Monday September 13th, I weighed my luggage again, repacked something’s, covered things in my room so they wouldn’t get dusty, wrote my first journal entry, and just did things around the house. At 4:30 my mom and I loaded my things into the car and we picked up my Grammie and Poppie. We stopped at Subway to get sandwiches to eat at the airport. After Subway we headed down to New York City. While in the car I talked with my aunt, texted a few of my friends for on last time for 10 months and before I knew it we where in New York City. My Grammie and I headed inside to see if we could find the other ASSE exchange students while my Mom and Poppie parked the car. When I went inside I sound the group and I talked with the ASSE rep who was flying with us to Germany. She told me to get my tickets and check my luggage in so Grammie and I went online. I had to check my carryon because it was too big, but luckily the women did not charge me for it.
Once I had my tickets in hand Mom and Poppie can in and the ASSE group was going to go through security and wait at the terminal. I waited with my family and ate dinner, Subway, and waited for my Dad to come. A few minutes later my dad was there and we walked over to security. I hugged everyone and I was doing well, but then I finished hugging my Poppie and I just started to cry. It was so hard and I had to hug them all again. I pulled myself together and went through. They waited there until I was on my way and could not longer been seen. My terminal was one of the first ones so I did not have to walk far. I found the group and started talking to two other kids going to Italy. They were both going to Naples so I knew we would be taking the same train.
We boarded the plane around 9:40pm. The plane ride was about 6 hours and very boring. I could not sleep because the woman sitting next to me kept poking me with her toes while she slept and the man in front of me had his seat all the way back for the entire trip. I listened to my iPod for a little bit, read, watched the movie on the plane, which was like Step Up (a street dancing movie), but British. Once we landed in Germany it was around 11:30 in the morning. We got our passports stamped and we headed to our gates. We departed with our ASSE rep who traveled with us and we adventured into Frankfurt our selves.
We all stayed together until the Spain group left about three hours before we needed to leave. We went to our gate and just sat together talking about Italy, our host families, each other, our expectations, and what we were scared of. The plane to Milan was much smaller and they served really gross sandwiches. In Milan we got our luggage, only one girls luggage was left in Frankfurt, and we went through the doors and met the two ASSE/BEC representatives waiting for us. Once we were all through we went outside and loaded our luggage and ourselves onto this little tour bus. For the hour it took us to get to the hostel we practiced Italian and enjoyed seeing Milan.
At the hostel we found our room, clamed our beds and headed out for dinner. We went to this cute, little Italian restaurant, which we ended up having every single meal except one. While there I had two different kinds of pizzas, lasagna, pasta, pastries and blood orange juice. The next day the group from Australia arrived and we started orientation. We took a bus tour around central Milan and went to the castle that is there in Milan. The next day we finished orientation and had free time to shop, visit the duomo (cathedral) and do whatever. I spent my time walking all over central Milan with two other girls trying to find a gelateria called Grom; the best gelateria in all of Milan. After walking for about forever and asking at least 10 people we finally found it!!!! It was the first gelato I had the whole trip and it was wonderful; most defiantly worth the walking.
After Grom we walked back and waited at the duomo for the other students in our group to arrive. We walked back to the hostel and spent our last night showering and packing. The next morning we all got ready to go to the Italian restaurant except for one girl who had to leave for the airport because she had to catch a plane to Sardinia. We all waited down stairs with our luggage and once everyone was down we walked to the bus that was taking us to the train station. We took pictures with each other and enjoyed each others company because in a little over an hour we would be saying goodbye. At the train station we waited together and around 11am the group going to Naples; a group of seven including myself and two going to Rome, left the group and went to find our train. Once we found the train, getting on was a whole nothing thing. Our suitcases were the size of the aisle and people just wanted to get by, but there was no place for us to go. Once we were able to get our luggage put away, we sat together as a group and began our four-hour train ride to Naples.
Not much happened on the train, but I was able to take some pictures of the landscape and the group I was traveling with. Once in Naples we all unloaded our luggage and ourselves and headed towards the station. My host family was walking towards me with a yellow sign. I was so happy, but so nervous. I have worked so hard to get here and dreamed about this for so long!!! We walked back to their car and I noticed Mt. Vesuvius in the distance and we drove to Maddaloni. There we bought some school supplies and then went to this little food store and bought some things. We then went to Valle di Maddaloni and I was finally able to put down my bag and relax a little. I handed out my host family gifts and before I knew it was time for dinner. The first night there we had pizza, but this pizza had French fries and hot dogs on it! It tasted good, but a little weird to see.
Things with my host family have been slow, not much to do really. Wednesday and Thursday, September 29 and 30, I did not have school so on Wednesday my host sister, a few of her friends and I went to Caserta, a town close by, to visit the Reggia or royal palace. We only went to the back garden, but the garden is huge!!!! I have seen pictures on Google, but it was still breath taking!! I had so much fun getting out and enjoying nature. I loved seeing the clean, green grass and I just wanted to take off my shoes and walk in the grass. That night there was a festival for the city, the reason I did not have school, so I went to that. I did not go on any rides, but I walked around, looked at the vendors and watched this band play. My host sister’s cousin plays the keyboard in the band.
Today is October 1, 2010 and I miss seeing the tress change. Autumn is my favorite season and I love everything about it. I love Halloween and I am excited, but I know things will be different here, but isn’t that why I came? To live life and learn new things and learn about another culture? Thank you all again for subscribing to my newsletter and I hope you have enjoyed reading this and seeing the pictures. Until next time: Love you all!!
The next morning, Monday September 13th, I weighed my luggage again, repacked something’s, covered things in my room so they wouldn’t get dusty, wrote my first journal entry, and just did things around the house. At 4:30 my mom and I loaded my things into the car and we picked up my Grammie and Poppie. We stopped at Subway to get sandwiches to eat at the airport. After Subway we headed down to New York City. While in the car I talked with my aunt, texted a few of my friends for on last time for 10 months and before I knew it we where in New York City. My Grammie and I headed inside to see if we could find the other ASSE exchange students while my Mom and Poppie parked the car. When I went inside I sound the group and I talked with the ASSE rep who was flying with us to Germany. She told me to get my tickets and check my luggage in so Grammie and I went online. I had to check my carryon because it was too big, but luckily the women did not charge me for it.
Once I had my tickets in hand Mom and Poppie can in and the ASSE group was going to go through security and wait at the terminal. I waited with my family and ate dinner, Subway, and waited for my Dad to come. A few minutes later my dad was there and we walked over to security. I hugged everyone and I was doing well, but then I finished hugging my Poppie and I just started to cry. It was so hard and I had to hug them all again. I pulled myself together and went through. They waited there until I was on my way and could not longer been seen. My terminal was one of the first ones so I did not have to walk far. I found the group and started talking to two other kids going to Italy. They were both going to Naples so I knew we would be taking the same train.
We boarded the plane around 9:40pm. The plane ride was about 6 hours and very boring. I could not sleep because the woman sitting next to me kept poking me with her toes while she slept and the man in front of me had his seat all the way back for the entire trip. I listened to my iPod for a little bit, read, watched the movie on the plane, which was like Step Up (a street dancing movie), but British. Once we landed in Germany it was around 11:30 in the morning. We got our passports stamped and we headed to our gates. We departed with our ASSE rep who traveled with us and we adventured into Frankfurt our selves.
We all stayed together until the Spain group left about three hours before we needed to leave. We went to our gate and just sat together talking about Italy, our host families, each other, our expectations, and what we were scared of. The plane to Milan was much smaller and they served really gross sandwiches. In Milan we got our luggage, only one girls luggage was left in Frankfurt, and we went through the doors and met the two ASSE/BEC representatives waiting for us. Once we were all through we went outside and loaded our luggage and ourselves onto this little tour bus. For the hour it took us to get to the hostel we practiced Italian and enjoyed seeing Milan.
At the hostel we found our room, clamed our beds and headed out for dinner. We went to this cute, little Italian restaurant, which we ended up having every single meal except one. While there I had two different kinds of pizzas, lasagna, pasta, pastries and blood orange juice. The next day the group from Australia arrived and we started orientation. We took a bus tour around central Milan and went to the castle that is there in Milan. The next day we finished orientation and had free time to shop, visit the duomo (cathedral) and do whatever. I spent my time walking all over central Milan with two other girls trying to find a gelateria called Grom; the best gelateria in all of Milan. After walking for about forever and asking at least 10 people we finally found it!!!! It was the first gelato I had the whole trip and it was wonderful; most defiantly worth the walking.
After Grom we walked back and waited at the duomo for the other students in our group to arrive. We walked back to the hostel and spent our last night showering and packing. The next morning we all got ready to go to the Italian restaurant except for one girl who had to leave for the airport because she had to catch a plane to Sardinia. We all waited down stairs with our luggage and once everyone was down we walked to the bus that was taking us to the train station. We took pictures with each other and enjoyed each others company because in a little over an hour we would be saying goodbye. At the train station we waited together and around 11am the group going to Naples; a group of seven including myself and two going to Rome, left the group and went to find our train. Once we found the train, getting on was a whole nothing thing. Our suitcases were the size of the aisle and people just wanted to get by, but there was no place for us to go. Once we were able to get our luggage put away, we sat together as a group and began our four-hour train ride to Naples.
Not much happened on the train, but I was able to take some pictures of the landscape and the group I was traveling with. Once in Naples we all unloaded our luggage and ourselves and headed towards the station. My host family was walking towards me with a yellow sign. I was so happy, but so nervous. I have worked so hard to get here and dreamed about this for so long!!! We walked back to their car and I noticed Mt. Vesuvius in the distance and we drove to Maddaloni. There we bought some school supplies and then went to this little food store and bought some things. We then went to Valle di Maddaloni and I was finally able to put down my bag and relax a little. I handed out my host family gifts and before I knew it was time for dinner. The first night there we had pizza, but this pizza had French fries and hot dogs on it! It tasted good, but a little weird to see.
Things with my host family have been slow, not much to do really. Wednesday and Thursday, September 29 and 30, I did not have school so on Wednesday my host sister, a few of her friends and I went to Caserta, a town close by, to visit the Reggia or royal palace. We only went to the back garden, but the garden is huge!!!! I have seen pictures on Google, but it was still breath taking!! I had so much fun getting out and enjoying nature. I loved seeing the clean, green grass and I just wanted to take off my shoes and walk in the grass. That night there was a festival for the city, the reason I did not have school, so I went to that. I did not go on any rides, but I walked around, looked at the vendors and watched this band play. My host sister’s cousin plays the keyboard in the band.
Today is October 1, 2010 and I miss seeing the tress change. Autumn is my favorite season and I love everything about it. I love Halloween and I am excited, but I know things will be different here, but isn’t that why I came? To live life and learn new things and learn about another culture? Thank you all again for subscribing to my newsletter and I hope you have enjoyed reading this and seeing the pictures. Until next time: Love you all!!
My New Blog
Ciao Everyone!!! As you can see I have created a new blog for my newsletter subscribers. I was unable to just send you all an email because it was too big with all the pictures and everything I wanted to tell you. Here I will be able to write as much as I want whenever I want. I will be updating every month, sometimes more. I will be adding pictures and videos just for you!! Before I get into telling you all about Italy, I would like to say thank you! Thank you to everyone who has signed up for my newsletter. Thank you for everyone who has supported me and helped my dream come true. It felt like yesterday that I was talking with my mom about being an exchange student at the end of ninth grade. At that time I was not serious, but enjoyed thinking about what could happen. After becoming part of the AFS club at Ketcham and meeting the other exchange students my interests went to whole new leave. As they year went on our friendships grew and I really got to know them and ask them all sorts of questions. Not until the end of tenth grade did I know for sure that I wanted to be an exchange student. I brought it back up with my mom and of corse she said no again. I looked into different programs and started compaing and picking countries. My first choice was Italy without a doubt. For so many reasons Italy kept popping into my mind. Then late in the summer I started to apply. At first I applied to AFS and then YFU, but then Ms. Sarna, a guidance counsler who also ran the AFS club, told me about ASSE.
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