Siamo Finiti!!

Today was the last day of language class! It's bittersweet. Our teacher was so amazing and we were the only class that was that close to our teacher. It's nice to be done with 5 hours of language a day and waking up at 7:30am too. Pina, our teacher, was crying for most of the class and hugged us all at the end. She told me that she recommended me. I'm going to miss her so much! 

Later we're doing our presentations. Ours is amazing..way more serious that many of the others. After that we're totally done! Tonight is going to crazy..our last night in Salerno. 

Indietro - Tiziano Ferro

I just finished the culture class final exam! It was very easy but we have been studying non-stop for 24 hours. Tomorrow is the language final and our presentations then we're done!! I think tonight we're going to eat at the buffalo mozzarella restaurant - so good!! Now, gelato and no studying for a couple hours.

L'Ultima Settimana

I have kind of been slacking on this blog thing. I have so much that I want to remember and say but every time I get around to posting, I'm either tired or forget everything. So, for the next week I'm going to try to update it as much as I can.

So, this is our last week in Salerno! It's unbelievable how fast the time went but the same happened in Rome and London. A month just isn't long enough to soak in the culture. You get one little taste of what it's like to live abroad then you have to go home. This has really been such a great experience because I have now lived in the northern, central and southern parts of Italy and have developed a pretty well rounded view on the culture of the country. I know that non-profit work isn't going to involve my specific knowledge of Italy but I have definitely noticed a difference between people who have had international experience and those who have not. I've said it many,many times that I love home but my time abroad since I was 10 years old has molded me into who I am and how I want to spent my life after graduation - and Salerno just added to that.

We're rapping up on the grammar in Italian class. I feel like I have learned to speak so much more but the grammar is just a repetition of what I learned at Temple freshman year. It is kind of disappointing that I didn't really learn that much new grammatical skills. This is the my last week, probably for a very long time, that I will ever speak Italian. I have no room in my schedule next semester then I graduate. Kind of crazy..

The culture class has been so interesting too! We're actually learning about real Italy not just textbook Italy. Yesterday we talked about the family structure and today about the media. Their political system is so incredibly messed up - it's hard to understand. A few days ago, Berlusconi called the head of the Italian something of Industrial Engineers a show girl. In the US, that would never happen!! Not to sound ethnocentric but there are standards of politics that are international and it seems like he is exempt from them.

As for the trip itself..I think that I thought that this trip would be more like Rome was. I thought that I would make friends like Kelsey and Ali who would be essentially my rock during the trip. . Literally everyone came here knowing one person except me. Everyone told me before I left that it wouldn't be a problem and reminded me that I found my best friends the same way. Socially, everyone is very nice but still somewhat exclusive. For example, I just found out that there are 6 people in a group for our culture project. There were supposed to be 5 groups of 4 so they would be even. Now, I have to work with one other person because they decided to be a group of 6. Not to whine, but it's not fair. I guess I'm just a little disappointed about that part..

Now I'm at the 'study abroad stage' where I miss home and everyone there but I don't want to leave here! On Saturday, we're going to Rome until Wednesday. Not to sound...ungrateful? but I lived in Rome so I'm not exactly looking forward to those days. And, yes it's sappy, but it's going to be weird to be there without everyone. Hopefully I'll get to show everyone a couple places that we used to go...we'll see.

Discoteque #2

So last night we went to the discoteque again. It was insane! There were so many people but we got the same special spot to ourselves so we had a place to go without being touched by all of Italy. We danced on the beach again and on the dance floor until literally 6:00am. So amazing! I love Italy so much!! 

It's noon now and, after 5 hours of sleep, we're going to the beach.  

Napoli

Today we went to Naples! Before we went everyone was saying how its so dangerous and not to bring bags, sunglasses, jewelery etc. soo I was a little bit nervous to go there. We had to meet at 9am (after going to sleep at 3 that was too fun) and we took the train to Naples. It's kind of a dirty city but the old buildings are so beautiful. Almost all of the main streets are lined with immigrants selling the same fake purses and other little things. There are also a lot of gypsys in Naples but we didn't see them on this trip. So basically, we walked around for a longgg time, saw a couple buildings, ate pizza and got back on the train. Long day and a lot of walking but it was cool to see the city.

Tonight we're going to Dolce Vita again- very exciting! Hopefully tomorrow we'll all wake up in time to go to the beach unlike last Sunday when we just got up for food and went back to sleep a couple times.

This is the last weekend and only one more week left of class..the time is going so quickly!

Bosnia!!

A couple days ago I got the itinerary for Bosnia! We're only going to be in the country for 10 days but we're doing 5 camps and 2 picnics. So exciting!! We're also spending the weekend in Sarajevo so we can explore and actually see the city. And ahhh the most exciting thing about the whole trip (for me at least) is that we're doing a camp in Srbrenica for handicapped kids. This was the town where the largest massacre of the entire war happened and it looks like the war ended yesterday. I've read a couple books about the massacre and its so incredibly exciting to be able to see where it happened first hand. Its going to be so emotional and alot to take in but I have never been anywhere like that.

Anyway, we don't have class tmrw so that we can go to the market...and the beach. Only 1 more week of class left! This went so quickly..soon we'll be in Rome then home - craziness!

Discoteque

So, it's 1pm and I just woke up. Last night/this morning was insane!! Around 2am, we went to the discoteque in the town over from Salerno. It was craziness - there were soo many people (mostly guys). It was called Dolce Vita and it was like a beach dance club. They gave us like a bucket of drinks which were gone in about 5 minutes from the bucket touching the table. In these clubs, girls can't go anywhere by themselves because the Italian guys are so aggressive. I walked around with Beth and one of the guys from Salerno that we came with for a little while. We danced on the beach for like an hour - it was surreal! He walked us around all the differant dance floors. There was a little bit of drama though. Some guy stole one of the girl's purses right off her arm. It only had her phone and a little bit of money but she was ok so it wasn't a big deal. We literally danced until the sun came up. Around 5:30am, we left and got breakfast. I have never eaten/loved pizza at 6am! I think we're going back next weekend for Angela's birthday.

Pigri

I've been a little lazy with the blog lately. So much has happened this week though - hopefully I can  remember everything. 

On Wednesday, we had a seminar in Italian hand gestures. It was really interesting that they actually talk with their hands. 

On Thursday, we went on an 'adventure' to a buffalo mozzarella factory. I love Italy and have had so much fun here but this was seriously one of the worst days yet. We took the train to Paestum which was not the stop that our 'guide' from the school thought we were getting off at. It was beautiful - the view of the mountains was amazing. We walked for about 20 minutes and started to figure out that he had no idea where we were going. He took us past the ancient temples at Paestum which were pretty cool. Then we walked for another half hour (about 2 miles). He kept asking people where the place was which was another bad sign. After about an hour, we got to a factory. Turns out, this is not the place we were looking for. "We need to walk for 5 more minutes" which means in Italian time another half hour. It was about 90 degrees and I was wearing Old Navy flip flops which were melting into the pavement. We finally got to the right factory. We saw how they made the cheese and met the buffalos (who were kinda stinky but still very cute). They gave us a sample of the cheese and ricotta. Then we walked back on the 'shorter path' that we could have taken all along that took 20 minutes to the train. What a day..

On Friday, we had to watch a movie at school after class about immigration. It was rediculously long and boring but the story was kind of cool. It was about an orchestra of immigrants in Rome and how they came together to save the Apollo theater. 

Last night, we went out to the gay bar again. It was so much fun! The bar is so chill and the people there are really nice and want to talk to us. After that, we went to the crazy piazza that we went to last weekend. Everyone was dancing and the DJ decided to play all songs from Grease for 'the Americans'. 

Today, we went to Amalfi and Ravello. It was seriously the most beautiful place I have ever been. The bus ride was a little interesting. The roads are all on the cliffs of the mountains so it was a little spooky sitting like five feet away from the cliff. But, the town was really pretty. We saw 2 weddings. How cool to get married in that kind of place! 

Tonight, we're going to a discotheque outside of Salerno. I've been to a couple discos in Italy before and they're always pretty fun. No class or anything to do tomorrow but hopefully going to the beach again. 

La Spiaggia

Today was the best day yet! We woke up a little late and took the bus to the beach in the town next to Salerno called Vietri. It's on a mountain so the walk down was quite interesting. The beach was a little bit rocky but it was great. The sun barely goes down until about 6pm so you can tan all day. No mom, I did not wear sunscreen. But, I'm super tan soo mission accomplished. This beach was surreal. I don't think I'm going to be able to enjoy Belmar as much anymore.

Last night was kind of crazy. We went to one restaurant and waited a half hour to sit down, another half hour to order and then they told us that the pizza would take 40 minutes to make. Ended up getting pizza somewhere else. Then, we went to a really popular piazza near the hostel. There were SO many people! It just looked like a sea of heads. We went to a bar called Alcohol Cafe (tacky yes). After a couple drinks, we decided to go home. But, first we stopped to get Kebab. Oh my gosh. This was the best thing I have ever eaten. I later found out it was lamb which kind of creeps me out but it was so good. I got meat, french fries and ketchup.

Tonight we're going to a restaurant that only uses mozzarella from buffalo milk. I have some homework to do too. Tomorrow is back to class!

Rilassarsi

It's finally the weekend! We go non-stop here so it's nice to do nothing today. Everyone went to Pompei but I went there with Kelsey and Ali so I passed on that. I slept til 11, went to the grocery store and did laundry. I have so much reading to do for class too..we'll see how that goes.

Last night we went out with our babysitter. First he took us to a gay bar like around the corner from the hostel. It was really small but the beer was cheap and the bartender didn't suck like the rest of them in Salerno. The bartender actually worked at the liquor store that we went to so he remembered me. We ended up getting dinner at a kind of fancy but the amazing restaurant. I could eat gnocchi sorrentina everyday!

The gender dynamics are so weird here. We were walking down the street and 1. there were no girls. only guys. 2. a guy can stare, make comments, whistle, bark (yes, bark) at a women and it's ok. In the US, that would never happen. 3. These men will hit on anything. A bald older guy was offering to bring us to the bar and buy us a drink. Hello, I look like I'm 12 - so creepy. It's pretty uncomfortable to walk down the street at night dressed semi-nicely.

Not sure what we're doing tonight. I think possibly going to a discoteque with our babysitter (Stefano). Tomorrow is our first day off! (Well, everyone else's first)

Accendino

Last night we went out to dinner and got actual steak. I'm getting a tad sick of eating carbs all the time so it was really nice to eat meat. After dinner, we went to this pub called "Black Tulip". Our babysitter brought us there. Turns out he brought his boyfriend too! Che sorpresa! Anyway, we had a few drinks and decided it was a good idea around 2am to find the beach. We found it but there is garbage all over the sand and in the water. I went in the water a little bit - I'm from Jersey, I'm used to dirty water.By the way, everyone was speaking Italian. I guess the alcohol gave everyone a little more umph to not speak English. We went home around 3am and woke up for class at 7:45!

Class is getting better. We only speak Italian so I'm getting my confident to speak and try out different words. Tomorrow our class is going out to dinner with the teacher.

In a couple hours we have the culture class. We have tons of reading for that but we'll see how much I get done. How can you read a textbook in a place like this?! Our assignment for tomorrow is to go to the market and either observe or talk to the people.

Imagine di Salerno

I'm finally uploading pictures! Salerno is gorgeous. It's almost surreal.

If Facebook worked then I would upload them there. PS. For all you who make fun of me for being addicted to Facebook, this month without it is for you.

Classe Italiano

Today was the first day of class! 4 hours without English = I better be somewhat fluent by the end! There are three girls from Germany in my class and one of them is from the town over from where I used to live. (once again my world is so small) One of them told me that she loved my simple American name.

Last night we went out to this pirate themed place..very interesting. We have kind of a babysitter who was pretty wasted after one glass of wine. He gets paid to walk us around and drink wine...sign me up for that job! I had a margherita..well a couple. Little too salty but it's nice to be able to have a drink.

The school is having a party for all of the students with 'soft drinks' for us now.

Finalmente Qui

After an extremely long flight to Rome (a couple glasses of wine..) then a little tiny plane to Naples and a bus to Salerno, we're here!! The town is beautiful. I have never been anywhere like this. Everything is on a the sides of the mountains. It's raining today (boo old navy flip flops) so we didn't get to really see that much but hopefully tomorrow it will be better.

Tomorrow, we're being placed in the language class from an oral and written test. ahh I hope I remember my Italian from freshman year/high school. I was reading the Italian newspaper on the plane so I'm not too too worried.

Will post pictures later!!