I Love Nutella

Correction: Will someone tell me why I don't eat Nutella at home? It has been brought to my attention that it exists in the U.S. by numerous people. I have lived all my life without this elixir? Ridiculous. 

The Workings of a Good Week

After the difficulties of last week, it is with great joy that I can say with certainty that this was a really nice week. The bike really freed me up, helped a ton, and I have been able to go to the pool a few times. It is truly amazing how the need to "burn off steam" manifests throughout my day. I reach a point sometimes, usually right after lunch, where I am so frustrated, tired, burnt out, sometimes angry, that I know I just need to get myself moving, get myself woken up and relaxed. 

The pool is a really fun experience. Getting the system down, which makes it a lot easier, and am building up in my strength in the water. So relaxing and fun to swim, the best being when my timing works out that the sun is setting out the window of the pool and reflecting off the water. The ultimate! 

I have discovered the cappuccino. I like them better than espresso's, and have had one a day, at school. Want to learn how to make them right, so I can have them at home!

Some very good news: My school is taking a trip to Emilia Romagna for a week, and for some reason I assumed I couldn't go, but yesterday I mentioned it to my mom and she gave me the greenlight, so on April 21st I will be taking an overnight ship from Palermo to Rome (so cool), boarding a bus to Romagna, and spending a week exploring that region  of Italy, including the Republic of San Marino, Urbino, Ravena, Bologna, Rimini, and more. So excited about that! 

On Saturday I go to Verona! I am leaving early morning and spending a week. AFS organized it all, and I am really excited. Am going to see Milan, Venice, and I'm sure a million other amazing places. 

At school yesterday a teacher came in to our class room and smacked a kid on the back of the head much harder than I expected. Then he did it to another kid, and another. Italian punishment! Hilarious and fascinating. 

I'm off to work out and then later later go to see "La Matassa,"  an Italian comedy with two Sicilian actors. We're seeing it really late, and I am expecting it to be really funny. Ciao!

Zander

P.S. 

Reading: "The Last Temptation of Christ" by Nikos Kazantzakis (Loving every word), and "Fiabe Italiane" by Italo Calvino

Listening: "All Songs Considered" NPR Podcast (Free, and awesome music, new and old)

Watching: "Weeds" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"

Three Signs of Old Italy

On Monday I saw three beautiful signs of old Italy. 

1. As I was sitting at my desk at school, looking over at the hill across from my school, I saw an old man in big rubber boots moving slowly around, stopping to pick something from the ground. I asked my classmate what it was, and they replied "funghi." An old man picking mushrooms. 

2. I was riding my bike right near my house, and saw another old man stopping to pick something from the side of the road. I stopped and asked him what he was looking for, and he said "verdura." Greens. And old man picking greens on the side of the road.

3. I rode my bike farther, and there was a big commotion ahead of me on the road. I rode past the traffic, and came across a frantic shepherd trying desperately to get his goats off the road. The goats were jumping on cars, getting chased by guard dogs, and running into driveways and off the road as the shepherd (pastore) yelled in his guttural goat language to no avail. A goat-induced traffic jam.

Speaking of bicycle, I forgot to announce that I officially am in possession of a really nice mountain bike, generously loaned to me by my friend Sergio. It frees me up so much, allows me to go farther and faster than on foot. Thank the lord! The week has started off really well, went to the pool yesterday, and the beach today! Had a cappuccino while sitting on the deck of a beach cafe watching the waves. Perfection. 

I go to Verona on Saturday!

Zander

The Sky is Really Nice Here

This Week is Over / This Week Begins

I knew at the start of this week that it would be an odd one. My new friends from AFS departed from Sicily on Sunday morning to their various homes around Italy, Ditte, my good friend and Danish exchange student who lives near Favara left for her week exchange in Parma, Ulriche, the German exchange student in Favara left for Rome for a week, and Kaja, my English speaking buddy, and Canadian exchange student in Favara left on Monday to go home to Vancouver. I mentally prepared myself for a strange and possibly lonely week. 

I decided that the only way to keep my mind off it all was to stay really busy, and to make sure I always had things lined up to do after school. It turned out to be not as bad as I thought, maybe because I was battling other, more immediate challenges that manifested this week. 

Since I haven't been able to run because of the shin splints I have depended mostly on just working out in my room, which is great, and I love being able to listen to music and having the ability to do it whenever I want, but it certainly gets boring. I need something where I am really moving, where I can just burn off the steam that builds up so high here sometimes. I had been hearing a lot about the local pool, famed for its cleanliness and nice water, but had never gotten around to checking it out. The problem is it is too far to walk, and my family can't always take me, so it is not the perfect situation. I got rides a few times this week, and it was wonderful when I could go.

The pool is surprisingly clean, and wonderfully wild. While I swim laps kids are doing cannonballs over my head while the swim instructors are chasing them around with a whistle. Just to get in the water is enough to make me feel relaxed. I am trying to figure out a more surefire way to get there- possibly the bus system, but I was told there is no bus to the pool. 

The Italian is coming all really well. This week, since I couldn't speak English with Kaja, I really spoke in Italian the whole time. I even refrained from reading my English books, (until yesterday when I couldn't resist, bored in school). I am fascinated at the complexity of the verb conjugations in the Italian language- it is amazing how many different situations warrant different verb forms. "Napolean had two wives" translates as "Napolean ebbe due mogli," while "I had a weird experience when I was three" translates as "Avuto una esperienza strana quando avevo tre anni." All forms of "to have": Ebbe, avesti, avessi, avevo, ebbero, ho, avete, abbiamo, etc. etc. It's pretty amazing. I see a lot of beauty in it, while those who are learning English are fascinated by the simplicity of our verb conjugations. " I had a cramp," "Napolean had two wives," "I had a coffee this morning." We're lucky! 

Well, I think this will be a lazy Sunday. I slept until 11:30, and just ate a massive lunch: 1. Lasagna with spinach, 2. Salad, 3. Pork, 4. Fresh bread, 5. Pineapple with honey. We always eat pineapples on Sunday, I find that funny. 

Ciao!

Zander

This Week's Photography

Arrividerci Kaja!

Oggi abbiamo detto “arrividerci” a nostra amica Kaja. (Today we said goodbye to our friend Kaja). Siamo molto tristi, pero speriamo che lei tornera a Sicilia per il estate. (We are very sad, but we hope that she will return for the summer). We miss you already Kaja!

All Good (Great) Weeks Have to Come to an End

It is strange to be sitting here remembering last Sunday evening. It was my birthday party, and we were at this time heading over to the King Bar for pizza and cake and gifts. I knew that the week was going to be busy with Intercultura organized adventures and explorations, but I had no idea what I was in for. I remember going to sleep Sunday night really late, feeling strange, feeling like a new chapter wasn't beginning, but only an old chapter ending. I felt uneasy about it, and couldn't get my head around it. 

Monday started off like all the other weeks, being tired at school. I had been out late the night before, and really just wanted to go home to nap. It was a day of transition- I remember saying to Kaja that I felt scattered. That night I got everything into order, posted pictures on the blog, cleaned up my room, worked out. I was feeling more prepared for the week ahead.

Tuesday was amazing, very possibly the best day I have had my whole time here. We bussed to Palermo, a city both beautiful and exhilarating in that around every corner is another thing to see. I got to know the exchange kids that were here with Intercultura from around Italy better, making friends with kids from Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica, Turkey, Austria, China. We entertained ourselves by exchanging funny phrases in our native languages, teaching eachother games, talking about our experiences living in different parts of Italy. On the bus ride back I sat with Marilia, a Brazilian girl, and we exchanged music, talked about life in Brazil and the U.S., Barack Obama (of course, comes up in every conversation I have!), and life here in Italy. It was wonderful.

I felt the fatigue and exhausted of so much stimulation, so much to see, so much excitement in being with this global delegation of kids all in the same situation, all away from home, all in Italy. I slept so deep each night, and woke up each morning confused of where I was because I was snapping out of such a deep, deep rest.

This week I started the habit of eating a nice, normal American breakfast out on the balcony, usually alone. I stand drinking my tea, eating my cereal, looking out at the countryside and the ocean. I love when the horizon (orizzonte) is clear and crisp, when I can clearly define where the sky ends and the sea begins. It is chilly in the morning, but the tea is warm, and there is no better way to start off my day.

Wednesday we went to the "Valley of the Temples," and as if I wasn't overwhelmed enough with the amount of national diversity there was in our group, we were joined by about fifteen other Intercultura kids, all visiting Sicily with the week exchange program. I talked to some Americans which was interesting, they had both been here for the full year. It was interesting to see the different levels of capability there were in speaking Italian. I was lucky to have studied a little beforehand at Fox Lane, and I am proud to say that it is coming along well. 

The whole week I was thinking about how similar we all were in the group- the dynamics were exactly the same as those in a group of only Americans, only Italians. We laugh at the same things, are intrigued and excited by the same things, enjoy good music, get grumpy when we are hungry. It makes me feel good that there are kids just like me all over the world, literally from every corner. And some of them ended up in Sicily, with me, seeing the same things, tasting the same foods, laughing at the same jokes. It makes the world seem not so vast- in a good way.

By Thursday we were a team, the little sub-friendships that inevitably form in a group had formed, and we enjoyed a sense of comfort with each other. Exploring Agrigento, a city I had been to but not seen much of, was a wonderful experience, marked by some perfect moments; laying on my back half asleep in the courtyard of a convent, eating a panino overlooking the ocean in the sun, listening to a band play "the Girl from Ipanema," and hearing the history of the song from Marilia, eating gelato watching the sun set. A day doesn't end better than that.

Friday I became a legal immigrant in Favara.

Saturday we partied. At school there was a going away party for Kaja, which her class had threw in her honor. We ate pizza and talked and had fun. That night there was a party at Sergio's country house which was excellent. We danced and hung out and saw the moon rising. I saw a shooting star and got really excited. 

I was scared that today was going to be such a depressing day, my friends all leaving, Kaja leaving tomorrow, everyone bumming out. It turned out to be a great day, which is suggested in how tired I am writing this right now. 

Took a shower, but it was cold, now I am cold, and I want to go to bed. 

Buona notte!

Il Presidente

Posters in Agrigento

Becoming a Legal / Temporary Immigrant

Its 1:16, and I am sitting out on our balcony in just a sweater. The sky is a really beautiful light blue, and there are only a few wispy clouds in the sky. I am warm and comfortable, enjoying the sounds of the cars and life six floors below me. This morning when I woke up, I came out here to the balcony to eat my breakfast, (cereal, tea, banana), and the line on the horizon was really sharp and clear, and I could see little white specks of boats out in the distance. I knew it was going to be a beautiful day.

I am officially a legal temporary immigrant in Italy. This morning we went to Agrigento to the police headquarters loaded with paperwork, passports, pictures, signatures. We waited around for a while, watching the uniformed men move slowly around the office, and finally they were ready for me. I gave my fingerprints which was fun, each finger pressed on a little green scanner. We waited for everything to be processed, and sat out in the sun; I played solitaire on my phone and won. We were told to go over to another building where I would be “inspected” to make sure I was healthy, and to record my height, weight, etc. Outside the office there was a long line of African immigrants, all men, waiting to be processed. In Sicily there is a large population of North African immigrants, since we are really close to the northern coast of Africa. It appears as if there is little to no contact between the Italians and the Africans, and I have heard a lot of racism in school, which is odd because I am attending “Liceo Martin Luther King,” and the president is always bragging about the value of diversity and acceptance. There is not one black kid in my school, and only two Chinese- brothers. Most of the Africans I see here are selling cheap sunglasses or fake designer clothes on the street. I can’t imagine how difficult life must be here for them, without the language, any resources, a reliable job.

While we waited we went to a café down the street. When Maria asked what I wanted, I said something very typical of Sicily. They gave me a delicious pastry with sweet ricotta on the inside, and an espresso. Totally perfect snack.

Returned to the office and was “inspected.” Gave my hair color, eye color, height, weight, and information. I was fascinated with a poster up on the wall with really old mugshots from what looked like the 40’s and 50’s. Some of the creepiest faces I have ever seen- right out of a horror movie. Most of the hair on the people was out of control, there eyes were bugged out and some crosseyed. One guy was completely bald and really skinny, with deep set eyes. Looked like an Edward Gorey character. I was so curious about the stories behind each picture. I wish I had my camera!

Its been a really fast, really busy, really good week. Tomorrow I am hoping to talk to Simon in the afternoon, then I am going with some friends to the beach. I will go to the pool starting this weekend.

Ok- I am going on a walk with Gerlando. Ciao!

This Week's Multicultural Madness AFS Propaganda / Tourism Adventures

Birthday Pictures

Busy Busy Busy!

Hello. So it has been a while since I have sat down to write on the blog, or at least it seems like a while. It has been hanging over my head, especially because so much has been going on here, so I am excited to have some time to let it all out.

So, this week, AFS students from all over the world who are currently doing what I am doing (living in Italy with AFS) came to Sicily to experience a different part of Italy. It has been one of the most fascinating and overwhelming weeks of my life. In Favara, my town, my friend Kaja (Canadese) is hosting a really sweet girl named Lu Qi who comes from China, a friend named Carmelo, who lives here in Favara, has been hosting Luis, a Chilean, and a good friend of Gerlando is hosting a girl from Austria. In Agrigento there are some girls I have made good friends with, one from Brazil and one from Costa Rica. Also in Agrigento there is a girl from Turkey. We have been together most of the time the whole week, and it has been really amazing to see how similar we all are, even though we come from all different corners of the earth. 

Tuesday we woke up bright and early and took a bus to Palermo, a two hour drive through magnificent green, rolling hills. I listened to "This American Life" on my iPod, which I am getting really into. The program this time was about "Plan B," the idea that so many people end up doing something that they didn't initially expect. Highlight: John Hodgeman's program in which he talks about the man whose job it is to live in "Cuervo Nation" (which I just found out is an actual official nation in the Carribean, only 8 acres) and get people to party. It was a hilarious but at times serious piece. I really enjoyed it. 

Palermo is a terrific city, despite the violent history involving the Mafia. Every corner you turn there is another beautiful plaza with big white statues and cathedrals and churchs everywhere. It really looks in some parts like old, old Italy. We saw a beautiful old theater, and actually got to sit in for a little while on an orchestra practice, which left us all in silent awe. The best part of the day without a doubt for me: I was exploring the massive Cathedral by myself, photographing the statues of Jesus and the hundreds of saints, studying the intricate architecture and ornate gold work. I saw a sign for the "Tombi Reali," which means "Royal Tombs," and read the names of the kings whose tombs lay in the next room. My eyes moved over "Frederick II." I felt like I recognized the name, and realized that this was Frederick II, the falconer who literally wrote the book on falconry, which we have referenced in the past, and who is considered the greatest falconer of all time. I got so excited, paid the one euro to see the tombs, and got to explore around. It was so cool to remember that he had lived in Palermo. Great thang. After, we went to another beautiful Norman church, which was more in the Greek Orthodox style. Lots of beautiful mosaic and depictions of the saints. By that time we were really tired, but the day had just begun! We had lots more to see. We boarded the little bus, and headed for the towering mountain that leaves Palermo in shadow. It looked light something right out of "300," sheer white cliffs, monasteries at the top, and a huge statue that we could see silhouetted against the beautiful blue sky. We drove up to the top, and hung out for a while at the peak by the statue, taking pictures, and having a really good time dancing to the music that a car was blasting at the top. Everyone's spirits were really high and positive. So many nations represented, all having a blast. From there we went to the other side of the mountain, where there is a famous grotto which used to home a hermetic nun, that has now been converted into a church right in the side of the mountain. It was pretty amazing. Bought some creepy postcards of mummies at a souvenir stand, and drank the most delicious fresh squeezed blood orange juice with a little lemon. We drove down the mountain to a beach town on the other side. Ate some amazing Nutella gelato and met some local kids who were doing Techtonic dancing on the beach (Simon you would have shown them up hardcore). On the way home I sat with the girl from Brazil, exchanging music and talking about politics and life in Brazil and the U.S. It was pretty interesting, and the moon was full and beautiful. I came home and passed out. 

Woke up Wednesday morning after a sleep that was so intensely deep that I forgot where I was in the morning. Crawled out of bed, took a quick shower, enjoying the light streaming into the bathroom, and the hot mate de coca. We boarded another bus which took us to Agrigento, the bigger town nearby, where the head of the local AFS chapter met us in an awesome white Defender. He drove us to meet up with a big group of kids, also AFS'ers, some of whom I knew from my primary orientation in Rome. The "multi-culturality" of our group was extended to include Finland, more from Chile, more from Brazil, more from the U.S. (Maine and North Carolina, good interesting kids), and some other places I can't remember which is sad because it was amazing. Will try to remember later. All together we explored the "Valley of Temples," a valley incredibly rich in ancient archeology. We saw the Temple of Concordia, the Temple of Hercules (which has a crazy ruin of a statue of a giant which I thought was really cool), and walked through an ancient city and garden, where we were all surprised with what we described as "heaven." Picnic tables set up with a ton of great, local Sicilian food, including olives that would impress my mom, fresh cheese, freshly picked blood oranges, and fresh bread. We all ate like Americans. At one point, I heard one of the American students badmouthing the local cheese, saying that it was not as good as in the North. Maybe I felt some sort of Sicilian nationalism, so I had to ask him to stop, which he politely did. It was pretty funny, and made me feel proud to be living in Sicily. 

One of the things that has been really great about being with all of these kids that are here from all around Italy is to hear about how Sicily is compared to the rest of Italy. The biggest thing that I have heard, and something I have definitely noticed and appreciated, is how friendly, warm, and animated the people are here compared to in the North. That really makes me feel proud and lucky to live here. When you are walking around the streets, people will come and talk to you, say hi, joke with you, something that supposedly wouldn't happen in the north. 

I get really jealous when people tell me that they live ten minutes from the Alps, where they go skiing every day after school, but then I realize, wait, I live ten minutes from the beach, where I will go every day when it gets warm. The grass is always greener on the other side I guess! 

Some bad news: I have shin splints developing, so I cannot run. I can continue to work out, and I found out about the local swimming pool, which is supposed to be pristine and have warm water, so I am going to start to swim. I am still sad that I can't run. 

Today we went to Agrigento and explored. The weather was magnificent, fluffy little clouds that floated across the sky, the sun shining on the ocean, making it light blue and warm looking. My favorite thing: we saw an amazing church, really one of the prettiest churches I have ever seen connected to a convent. The light was amazing, and walking into the walls of the convent I felt like I was entering some sort of paradise, the sun beaming through, the arches old and beautiful architecture, benches to sit on, cyprus trees towering over us. I laid on my back for about ten minutes watching the clouds and the cyprus trees swaying. I could have stayed there for hours. I didn't bring my camera today, just saw and will remember. 

I am back home finally, and am so happy to have spilled this out! Its been busy busy busy, but I have had a ton of time to explore and really live. I am having a great time- this week has been an amazing experience. Will write tomorrow and post some pictures later today.

Listening to: "All Songs Considered" NPR podcast

Reading: "The Last Temptation of Christ" by Nikos Kazantzakis

Liking: "Huffington Post" and the new GQ

Ciao! 

Birthday! (A little late)

Hola Ciao Hello Howdy What it do!

I apologize for not posting anything for a few days, I’ve been busy turning 17 and stuff. I am writing this from my bed, it is Monday night, 10:13 p.m., and I am utterly exhausted. I needed to write though, or else I would feel like the day was incomplete. The last two days have been the busiest and most intense days in a while, probably since my first week.

On the night of March 7th I was watching “Weeds” on my computer in bed when I looked at the clock and it said 12:07. I thought it was funny: well, I’m 17 now. For 7 minutes I’ve been 17. I don’t feel any different, I don’t look any different, but I’m 17! Sweet!

I awoke the next morning after a really nice, deep sleep (in which I dreamed about driving souped up golf carts on sand dunes, pretty fun) to Maria and Gerlando knocking on my door, carrying a tray with a bacon, egg, and cheese, a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice, and a big cup of hot tea. It was amazing! Mama Andrea had given Gerlando the idea, and told him how to make it. It was truly delicious, and they watched me eat it in polite disgust, because the idea of eating “eggs like that with meat” for breakfast was a pretty strange idea to them. I devoured the sandwich, drank the tea and the orange juice, then opened my present from home-home.

It was one of the best gifts I have ever received- wonderful in its simplicity and its usefulness, it was a glorified care package from Bedford, filled with things that I love, things that I miss, things that I can use here with joy: many packs of gum, the new GQ (which I have been reading carefully and slowly, almost like rationing), toothpaste, the first season of “Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” cookie dough, dried fruit, a clipping from the New Yorker on Che Guevarra, the Pine Needle (Pine Island’s newspaper), and a funny and sweet card. I have already gotten use out of the toothpaste, gum, and GQ, and cannot wait to start “Its Always Sunny in Philidelphia,” make the cookies, eat the fruit, read the other stuff. Thank you family, it is a perfect gift.

Feeling full and ready to start my day, I invited Gerlando to go out on a walk, since it was beautiful out (FINALLY! Just in time for my birthday). We walked to the abandoned house that I really like, felt the hot sun, and picked up his scooter from the mechanic. At one point I had to take off my Dad’s cashmere sweater because I was sweating! The first time I can say that! We returned home, I showered, got dressed, and practiced my speech for the exhibit of the photo contest that I entered a few weeks ago, which ended on my birthday, with a ceremony up at the castle, in one of my favorite parts of Favara.

This week, four or five AFS students from northern Italy came to Favara to see another part of Italy, a program that Intercultura (AFS Italy) organizes, that I will take part in at the end of March when I go to Verona for a week. A girl from China, a girl from Austria, a girl from Turkey, and a boy from Chile all came to the exhibit with their various week long host families.

The calendar in which my photograph is featured was presented at the ceremony. It was printed really nicely, which I was excited about, and I was also really happy to see all of the great other photography that was submitted. Really nice stuff. I had to make a short speech describing the idea behind my photograph, which I will post later.

Returned home with a Comune di Favara fancy key chain, a calendar, and yellow flowers (for Women’s Day). Ate a big but quick lunch, and rushed to the computer to talk with the fam!

Got to talk to Simon and Dad, which was really great, up at the ski house. Really happy to see them, looked like they were having a great boys weekend. Then talked with Mom at home for a while. I felt so content with our conversations, it was like another birthday gift from them. We decided that we aren’t going to talk until the Wednesday after this Wednesday. I think it’s a good thing- keeps my mind on the mission. Sat out on the balcony reading the GQ, studying every picture, reading every bit of text, feeling the hot sun on my head and face. It was so nice.

Then we went to San Leone with all the AFS kids. I got to catch the last glimpse of the sun going down. I felt like it was a good day, a full day, a nice way to start off my next year. Ate gelato at a gelateria all together, then raced home to get changed and go to my birthday party, at a restaurant nearby.

The party was really fun. Ate a TON of pizza, talked and laughed with my AFS friends, and best of all marveled over how many nations were represented at the table! Denmark, Canada, Germany, China, Chile, Italy, the U.S., France. It was remarkable! Opened gifts, got some wonderful stuff- one of my favorites a Sicilian style hat, like the old men wear.

Although I felt exhausted and my eyes were dry and tired, we went to catch the end of another kids birthday party at the edge of Favara. We got there, said hi, saw some friends, then decided we should go. We had no ride, so we walked over the hill that is Favara to Kaja’s house, then back home. I ended up going to sleep at 2:30, and waking up at 7:30 to go to school. Gerlando slept in, and I went, because the principal wanted to have all of the visiting countries represented, which turned out to be five minutes in his office talking. I was exhaaauuusted the whole day (today), and am so ready to turn on my iPod to my new sleep mix (Moby and Brian Eno ambient stuff) and pass out.

Tomorrow I go to Palermo with the AFS group. Do some tourist-y stuff, but I’m sure it is going to be fun. I have to wake up at 6:15. Bahhh. I better get to bed, I will post this at some point tomorrow, along with some pictures.

Hope all is well! Zander

 

Rain Over the Sea

Not a great photograph, but gives you an idea of what I am talking about below...

Good Rain

This morning when I pushed away the curtains I was presented with a grim panorama. Puddles had formed everywhere- all over the construction sites, on roofs, on balconies, in every dip in the road. I felt tired, but moved quickly so that I could have time to eat a bowl of cereal and drink some maté de coca, which my mama kindly sent in a package.

I sat eating my breakfast, looking out the big windows in the kitchen / living room. The rain was pounding against our balcony, and gusts of wind beat against the windows. I had the thought that possibly our building was going to fall over from topheaviness, since the only inhabited floor is the top!

Over the Mediterranean, I could see miniscule patches of shiny, rainless areas, moving as slowly as the clouds across the turbulent waters. I enjoyed watching the rain over the ocean, being able to see where the heavy spots were, or where there was none. I watched some news, which I am starting to really enjoy here, because I can understand tidbits of information. There was a program about how Barack Obama’s hair is turning grey- if nothing else the fact that there was a program about this all the way in Italy is indication of his importance! He looked serious and noble speaking to a crowd, his brow furrowed, his eyes showing nothing but concentration.

Maria gave me a massive yellow umbrella, definitely the largest umbrella I have ever seen. I reluctantly took it, saying that I didn’t really need it, that I had a hat and hood, but she insisted.

School was enjoyable today. Each day is getting better at Liceo MLK because I can understand a little more of what the teachers say, and the teachers are all really sweet and patient with me, often stopping to address me personally to make sure I know where we are in a textbook, to clarify a fact, a word, an idea. I appreciate it so much, and I think they appreciate the time I am putting in to learn the language and material.

Big news! I had my first oral interrogation yesterday in Italian class, taught by one of my favorite teachers, Professoresa Quaranta. I was to explain the reform of Italian “Commedie del Arte,” a 17th century form of entertainment. The reform was led by Carlo Goldoni (… era nato in Venezia in il anno 1709…) and progressed with landmarks such as the play “La Dona del Garbo,” in which every cast member had a written script, a new idea at the time. It was actually pretty fun; I was exhilarated to be able to explain this in Italian. At the end of the interrogation, I received a round of applause, and a perfect 10 in the book! Obviously this ten was a confidence booster, because I know my grammar was pretty iffy, but for my first time I think I did a good job. Wanted to share that landmark with you all!

So, today in school I spent a lot of the day looking out the window at a yellow tree across the road that was swaying violently in the wind. Leaves were blowing off, and at some points I wondered if it was going to fall over! The whole class stopped a few times to marvel at the power of the rain and wind- I couldn’t help but laugh, it was just so intense.

Got home, ate a really nice lunch of pasta and salmon. Spent the afternoon studying verb conjugations for my tutor. Walked over to the tutor’s house in the rain, and recited the many, many conjugations that I had studied. Did pretty well, but it is so intricate, and often pattern-less, so I had to struggle through a few. We ended up having a long conversation of college, life in America, New York City, etc. It was nice to just have a long conversation in Italian, especially with someone who knows a little bit of English so that I can explain things as much as I can in Italian, and if I can’t, he can help me translate.

Returned home, in the rain. Worked out in my room listening to the NPR podcast “All Songs Considered.” Really awesome, they had a program on Brian Eno and David Byrne’s new album. Totally free, and with hours of music available. Really excited to have discovered this!

Showered, got dressed in pj’s, and am planning on watching a movie later. I’m totally content just hanging out, listening to the rain, writing, relaxing. When else in my life can I do that?

Hope all is great on the homefront. Miss you all.

P.S. Listening to the newest Death Cab for Cutie album, "Narrow Stairs," and I would strongly suggest it. Favorite song so far "Long Division."

Mercoledi

Buongiorno! The day started out beautiful. It seemed even more beautiful because I looked at the weather yesterday and it said rain, “brutto tempo.” From the balcony I saw the hazy distance and knew that it meant rain in the afternoon, but for now it was blue skies and wispy clouds high up. Note: in Italian there is a word for the color of the sky, “celeste,” and I think that is really nice. As I sat in class, I looked out the window constantly. The sunny weather held out until about 4:30, when it got dark and cloudy. The rain wanted to come, but it held out for a few hours, leaving us in a purgatory. I was ready for the rain! I wanted the sky to let it all out, to clear. The wind was intense all day, banging doors open and closed, pummeling the windows, whistling through the construction sites. Dramatic and intense, all leading up to the storm.

Two really good things today:

1. One of the photographs I submitted to the “Concorso Fotografico” was chosen! The competition, which ends on my birthday, Sunday, has an exhibition of all of the work submitted, and the winners (that’s me folks) will be presented! I am so excited. It’s a great birthday present. I’m not sure which one of the three I submitted was chosen, but I’m really excited. Supposedly there are a lot of people that submitted, and only twelve were chosen, so I’m proud.

2. Gerlando, Marco, and Maria were going to the post office, which is located high up in Favara, right next to the Castlelo Chiaramonte (from the 12th century), so I said I’d come along rather than stay in the house. It is my favorite part of Favara, old, crumbling, but beautiful. The high plaza, as I have written before is jokingly called “where the old men come to spit,” is magnificent. Breezy, lined with trees, and wide, the plaza is my favorite place to go. Today, when everyone was in the post office, I walked around the plaza really slowly. There weren’t that many people there, a few old men walking to the café at the far corner, which is a real old Italian café. I stopped to listen to the thousands of birds that buzzed in the trees. They were extra loud today because the rain was coming. I just stood there, listening, watching the trees sway in the wind, thinking. Thinking about Favara, thinking about home, thinking about college. It was like I was in a trance. The sound of the many birds, the wind, the street lights that had just turned on. It was the best point in my day. Just thinking. I needed it.

I came home and worked out for a while, listening to my iPod on shuffle. Showered, and here I am. It was a day of ups and downs, but now I feel a tranquility that greatly contrasts with the angry wind blowing outside.

Note: Saw Maxie today on Skype, and she looked so grown up, with a new haircut and jacket. Really proud of her.

School Today

Started doing some funny drawings of kids in my class today, so I thought I post a few. Also did a cool design, kind of dedicated to Simon, because its in his style. Its funny to see how we have influenced each other. Not running today. Kind of bummed about that, but my body needs a little rest. Its hard not to go out though! I'm in a good routine. Talked to Dad today, great, got to see the prints he's been doing, which are unbelievable and huge (!). Cannot wait to print with him in the office when I get home with some of my new photos. Enjoy these! Ciao.

A Hazy and Warm Day in Favara

I lay awake in bed this morning for what seemed like a long time. Usually, that is the time when I get bummed out, thinking, half dreaming, wanting home. This morning that feeling never fully came. I felt it biting at the back of my head, wanting to come in. I didn't allow it. It helped that my window was cracked open, a nice, warm breeze streaming in. The light flooded in earlier, telling me it was almost time to roll out of bed. I told myself that I didn't need to start today off like that. I could get through it. My Bose headphone cables were wrapped around me because I had fallen asleep with my iPod on shuffle, a dangerous game, because just as I was dozing off a song from "Hustle & Flow" came on, some good dirty South rap, just the perfect thing to wake me up and scare me. It was pretty funny. Changed to Yo La Tengo, and fell asleep to their cd "And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out," one of my favorite albums of all time, hands down. I have fallen asleep to it countless times, and love listening to it in a half awake state. Perfect music. I strongly recommend. 

So I woke up feeling good. The weather was nice, the mate de coca was hot, and I felt clean and sore (in a good way) from yesterday's long run around Favara. 

The running is really fun. Whenever I tell anyone that I run in Favara they get really confused. "Where?" "Pretty much all around." "Its so ugly! And the cars drive fast." "I know but its alright." I've run the last three days really hard, each day pushing myself farther and faster. I love coming home at the right time when the light is hitting the bathroom, so the steam is lit up. Being clean and exercised has always been my favorite feeling, and I have been able to have it every day pretty much! Getting into really good shape. 

Off to school in our Fiat Panda. We were a little early so we took a long route. Everything opening up and lit up by the morning sun, very nice to see. Got to school, sat in the class alone for a while, opened up the windows and shades to let the light stream in. Read a little in "the Grapes of Wrath" until some classmates arrived. Chatted for a while in the morning sunlight, then had two hours of math. 

Being a "Liceo Scientifico," my school is really intense with the math. We have it every day, and frequent Chemistry and Biology, which I am not officially taking, because its just too hard to understand and too intense. I study my verb conjugations and write in my Italian journal for my tutor those periods. Math is really tough. Trigonometry, but done at light speed, and with much harder variables and situations. I struggle through it. I do a little better in Algebra, because it is pretty similar to stuff we have done. They just do it all really fast. 

Hung out a lot for the rest of the day, studying and reading, and drawing. Highlight: talking with my English teacher, Mrs. Spinello, about "The Grapes of Wrath." She has read it in Italian, and seen the film a long time ago. She told me here it is called "Il Furore" (the Fury). We talked about it for a while, really fun.

Came home on the bus with Gerlando, ate a big meal of sausage and potatoes. Read in bed for a while until I was digested enough to work out. Worked out for a half an hour then had to go to the tutor, where I did a translation for English class, a portion of Robinson Crusoe, into Italian. It was actually pretty fun to do. I enjoyed it. You can really see how a voice is lost through translation, and I thought of how much I love reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez, but how much is lost when it is put into English?

Ran, sweat, showered. Talked with some friends of Maria for a while about everything; Favara, homesickness, my week in Verona, my birthday, etc.

Hung out for a while, downloading some music from iTunes, a Moby cd, an episode of the Office.

Here I am! I am off to bed to read and watch some tv on the computer. 

Ciao for now.

Zander Bernard Abranowicz

Feels Like Spring

These are from a walk today around sunset. Great light.

ONE MONTH IN

Its been one month folks. I think I have come a long way from my first week. It is just starting to feel like home, the bathroom is no longer a mysterious, dark cave that I fear to use. The kitchen is no longer a foreign place, where I can't find glasses, cookies, cereal, spoons. My bed is mine, the Audrey Hepburn poster on the wall is mine, the books next to the bed are piling up, just like at home. I was thinking of writing a list of what I have done- it is a nice thing to think about. Here we go:

-I have read 3 books: Grapes of Wrath, Boys from Dolores, The Great Gatsby

-I have gone on a run almost every day

-I have done pushups/situps every day for the last two weeks

-I have learned a great amount of Italian

-I have read a short story by Pirandello

-I have eaten gelato four times

-I have been to the sea four times

-I have eaten a big lunch in the country

-I have taken thousands of pictures

-I have made two completed short videos

-I have kept my blog updated consistently

-I have talked to my parents and siblings on Skype

-I have listened to the new Andrew Bird album, "Noble Beast" about fifty times through

-I have made four new playlists

-I have slept past 11 a bunch of times (!)

-I have written two short stories

-I have read a short story by Luigi Pirandello in Italian

-I have had one oral interrogation on the French revolution, and did pretty well!

-I have eaten one fish

-I have made some really good friends

-I have sat on the balcony reading a good book with a cup of tea, watching the sun sink down over the sea

-I have had to speak Italian in front of a whole assembly of kids, and didn't pee my pants

-I have worn my dad's cashmere sweater to bed most nights

-I have received one letter in the mail, one package

-I have learned to use my Canon G10 very well

-I have watched "Weeds" a bunch, rewatching and downloading

-I have played some Guitar Hero

-I have watched "I Am Legend" "Yes Man"  "Saw" and "Benjamin Button" in Italian with no subtitles

-I've had a darn good time.

Thanks to all who have been reading the blog, I really appreciate it, and its fun to do. I miss you all very much, and I calculated that there are 16 weeks left (and 5 days in July) until I return. I am going to make those 16 weeks the best ever. Ciao!

Final Days of February

It's been one month in Favara! Hallelujah!