Random Updates

Hey! So I'm guessing if you are a regular reader of this blog you probably hate me. I mean it has been almost 3 months since I last posted (besides my last one). But I don't have internet often ok! Just calm down! And it hasn't been super exciting these days for the most part so I don't have a whole lot to write about.

There have been lots of birthdays so happy birthday to: Katie, Kasia, Dad, Silvia, Basak. All of my family members get a birthday video for me that I stay up until 3am to make and upload. They are supposed to upload to this blog automatically but it's not, obviously. If you want to see them you can go to my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmZQSmV1xhO_fWEv_Xx84Wg

We have a lot of traveling going on this month. The last week of March we are doing something called Exchange Week, which is a week that you can go to another part of Italy. It's supposed to be one of the best parts of exchange and I'm so excited! I'm going to Padova (in English, Padua). I have talked to my future host siblings and already love them! My program includes a day in Venice and a day in Verona! This Sunday we are waking up bright and early to hike a mountain so maybe in 2 months I'll tell you about that on here. From Saturday to Wednesday we were in a town called Terralba. We were in different host families and it was lots of fun! We visited an old castle where the only interesting thing was an adorable, wonderful, majestic white fluffy cat that sat on my lap (and my lap only heh). We went to the "Sartiglia" in a town called Oristano where they dress up and ride around on horses like medieval times. It was interesting but the on and off rain sort of took away most of the fun. Speaking of traveling, here is a big CONGRATS to my host sister Silvia! She found out she is going to Russia for foreign exchange next year! I'm so happy for her. In Italy it isn't a certain thing if you will be accepted into the program, so when she found out it was a major relief. Have fun in Russia, Silvia!

Valentines Day was spent with my gorgeous Italian boyfriend. Hahaha yeah right. I ate nutella crepes and went to bed early. But that's nice too. The weather is amazing. Most of the time it's the perfect balance of warm and cool, with lots of sun and nice breezes. It makes me feel like I'm on vacation. And now it is acceptable to be like this because it's March. But a week ago I was like what. Yes it still rain more than any place I've ever been but I can deal with it. Another awesome thing is in January I got another Christmas package, and this one was even better. It had all the Harry Potter movies, Friends season 1, Christmas cookies, chips and salsa, Amazon and Itunes giftcards, and lots more. I was so surprised, I couldn't believe it! Basically I have the best family ever. Then in a Valentines Day package I got the Lord of the Rings movies. And let me tell you, nothing cures homesickness like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.

Time is flying by way too fast. We only have 4 more months left here. It's not enough! I keep having dreams that I go home and my cats hate me and it's awful. There are times where I can't wait to get back home, but most of the time I'm freaking out because it's so short of a time left and there is so much I want to do still. I think what I'm most dreading is the end of being an exchange student. It has been such a surreal experience that can't be experienced any other way. I'm really going to be sad when it's over. But I can't think about this anymore so...

Ciao lovies!

I'll be home for Christmas...

 ...if only in my dreams. This might be the hardest thing I've ever done, being away from my home and family during Christmas. I was warned. Everyone said it's the most difficult part of exchange, and they were right. But you don't understand how much Christmas at home really means to you until you are spending it away from family, in a place without snow, and different traditions. Don't get me wrong, I'm really excited to have Christmas with my host family and friends here. Also I'm completely thrilled to have a vacation almost twice as long as I do in Minnesota. But not matter what, it's just not the same without family. So if you are home for Christmas, appreciate it. If you aren't home, I feel you.

It is really weird to be here with such a difference weather. In Minnesota it is -20 with lots of snow. In December this is what I'm used to. Lots of cold, snow, and ice. But here in Cagliari it's the opposite. Really, it feels like spring to me. It isn't normal to be able to get hot in December! Today walking in to school the grass was being mowed. This is a summer thing in Minnesota and seemed so wrong. The weirdest thing is that this year is colder than usual for here. I can't even imagine a normal winter when it's even warmer. I used to wish for snow because I miss it but now I have no expectations. I will absolutely die of heat in summer if I'm warm now in December.

So just some things I've done lately... I've finally started getting letters sent to everyone. I love writing and getting letters but it's 2 euros for each letter so as a poor exchange student I can't afford to send a lot. I sent a package of Christmas presents to my family and now just hoping it arrives in time and intact. I also received a package a Christmas presents that I was really excited about. I found an English section of a bookstore and bought a book I'm really excited to read. I've sprinted to multiple buses, making it to some and missing some. Mariana and I have watched 9 episodes of American Horror Story and now we are waiting in agony for the next episode in January. We did some baking. And that's pretty much it.

Ciao lovies.

(Update: If you didn't figure it out, this was written before Christmas and I just now got to uploading it so I'm so sorry about that. It happens when you hardly can get your computer connected to the internet. Christmas was great and it was really interesting to see all of the differences and similarities between my normal Christmas and my Christmas here. Also Mariana and I finished American Horror Story, season 2 and 3. In case you cared.)