A lot has happened in the last month. I think the most important thing that happened was that I reached the halfway point of my exchange. I can't put into words how it feels to be halfway done with this year. It's surreal. I would like to thank again my family, the Messners, and anyone else who allowed me to come on this exchange.
Going back into January, one night I went to Rotondella for a bonfire for Saint Antonio. There we ate a local food named pastitz. Another night we went to a local restaurant, Colorado, for a game night. And we won! What was the prize you may ask? Well it was a mini deep fryer of course! In the rest of the month I received my Christmas presents from my family and went to a few more parties.
In the beginning of February kids from Germany, France, and Holland came to a town nearby for a ten day exchange. I did not go to school those days, instead I went and helped with them. None of them spoke Italian, so I was able to speak English a little. We explored Montalbano together and I got some great pictures. They were all very nice, and now I'm friends with a lot of them on Facebook!
Even though it is 60°F here, we did not go to school because the heat was not working. Instead we went to the beach! I could live there if they would let me. It's honestly the best place on earth.
I also found out that for one week I will be going north to the city of Trento! One day we will be in the Alps and a different day we will go to Venice! Also I get to go with my friend Giullia who is from Brazil! I can't wait.
Friday was Valentine's Day and I went to my friends house with the other girls from my class for a party. It may have been the most fun I've had in Italy. I can finally speak Italian and so I'm able to connect with my friends more than I could at the beginning. We ate, drank some wine, and played Just Dance. I brought my peanut butter, which received mixed signals. There isn't really peanut butter in Italy so it was some of their first times trying it!
Last night I went bowling and played laser tag with some friends. Usually I am the worst person at bowling, but somehow I was able to beat two boys and Velia, without using the bumpers! I had a final score of 75... But my team won laser tag 130-22! I hope we can go again sometime.
I know that there is more that I'm forgetting, but it was a really jam packed month! I can't wait to see what these next five months will bring!
