Winding Down

**I apologize for the change in font...blogger is being difficult lately so bare with me for now**

It is officially my last day in San Demetrio Corone before Kristina and I head to Positano to meet up with my family.
Last night a family in town threw a festa for us with a dj, too much food and some odd fashion choices...

I couldn't be happier to have one last night here to drink and party with the locals. They have been nothing but amazing (with some exceptions) and I will never forget them.

Obviously I've spent most of this blog talking about how lucky I am that I ended up on a program with some of the most amazing people I've ever met but here I go again...I just can't help it. I love them...

Last night over some beers by a gorgeous pool in the mountains of Italy my friends, Gabby, Tali and I decided that without the people in this group this trip wouldn't have been nearly as amazing. Don't get me wrong...we're in Italy so we can't complain but there were definitely some aspects of this trip that would have been awful if it weren't for the people around us.
We couldn't be more different from one another but somehow we all click.

We talk everyday about how we are going to see each other all the time at school and I really really hope it isn't just talk....because I don't know if I can live without these people now that we found eachother.

To the other people in the 2011 Calabria program, thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this trip absolutely amazing. You've made me laugh, think and become a better person. I'm expecting drinks, bbqs and lazy days together back at URI...no excuses...you're stuck with me forever <3

Migliore Amica

November of this year my best friend, Kristina and I decided we wanted to go abroad during the summer. We were sick of sitting at home all summer working all day and missing Rhode Island.

But there was no way we could go abroad during the year and miss nights at Charlie O's and sushi at Peking Tokyo! So summer abroad it was! We researched and found two possible programs, Greece or Italy. Greece was only two weeks long whereas Italy was four. Italy it was!

Now 8 months later and here we are sitting in an apartment in San Demetrio Corone, Italy studying for our final Italian exam. We only have four more days here and it still feels like a weird dream.

Not going to lie, I was a little nervous about traveling to a foreign country with Kristina. She's my best friend but traveling with someone can change your entire relationship.

In every relationship people fight and disagree and we are no exception. I couldn't be happier to have gone on this trip with someone like her. We definitely rely on one another for support and understanding at times where we are struggling but we can also hang out with other people on the trip and not feel jealous.
We know each other almost too well but if anything this trip has made us accept each other's flaws even more.

A lot of people may look at the two of us and think how are they friends? We couldn't be more different but that is what helps us to never get bored. I don't want a best friend whose exactly like me....that would be boring....




To be honest, I think we are both a little insane and that is what keeps us hooked. You need someone who can (sometimes) understand your insanity, love for food, pet peeves and general outlook on life. Even if you don't necessarily agree with their every opinion.

Kristina, thank you for putting up with my shit and being there for me in the last two years when I'm having my mental breakdown. I couldn't have asked for a better best friend especially to come to Italy with me. This experience wouldn't have been nearly as fun without you. I know your probably going to read this, do an awkward giggle and make fun of me but after this trip and the couple of fights we've had I appreciate you more than I ever did before. Can't wait to travel with you and my family for the next 10 days...it should be a whole other experience.



Heres a little throwback from the good ol' days....

Cause I Got Broken Bones

It is love <3

Heres an interesting question.....if you were in a foreign country for a little over 2 weeks and "broke" your ankle, what would you do?

Would you tough it out and experience the country from the view of a shopping cart lovingly pushed around by your good friends or would you cry on an airplane U.S. bound?

On the 4th of July after we were done shooting off sparklers and fireworks with our new Italian friends, we had a couple of unfortunate events occur.
First, Kristina got her foot burned by one of our many sparklers. As small as the burn looked no one can say that it wouldn't hurt like hell. So we ran to the nearest bar and washed it off then continued on back to get some more drinks.

Then, on our way back two of our friends ran past saying something about Allie, one of our good friends on the trip, having to go to the hospital. She had been doing an Italian dance we all had just learned called the "Tarantella" aka the tarantula dance (youtube it) and had landed on her foot wrong.
Next thing we all knew she was being shipped off to the local doctor and the whole night had taken a very sad turn.

There were many "12 o'clock" rumors ,as we like to call them here, floating around about how bad it was, if she was going home, what the doctors had done etc. All we could do was wait.

In the end, Allie had gone through a somewhat hellish night where she was stuck with doctors who couldn't do anything official, didn't speak english and weren't very sympathetic to her at all. All in all, it was the last thing someone going through an immense amount of pain should ever go through.

To this day, we still don't fully know what she has done to her ankle. What kind of meds she needs or how serious it actually is but Allie has toughed it out and I couldn't be happier to have had her with us through this whole experience.

Somehow through all of this stress and frustration for Allie we have all only grown closer. I admire Allie more than anyone on this trip for toughing it out for as long as she has. Shes gone through hell and back yet still had the ability to have a smile on her face and joke around with all of us. Shes crutched up and down the hills of Southern Italy in order to swim with all of us in the gorgeous blue Ionian Sea. Shes sat for hours on a sweaty bus with a gross cast on her ankle so she can be told that shes going to have to crutch a couple miles to see the church in Leece or get to see her friends cliff jump into the ocean.

Through it all shes kept a smile on her face and even gotten to have one too many house specials from Bar Centralle.
Last night on our tour of the Senatore Vini Vineyards in Calabria, Allie's foot started to get swollen again and she had to go to the hospital.
On our drive home Allie mentioned she didn't want to be "annoying" anymore with her ankle.

I hope that she knows that she will never be a burden or annoying to any of us. With or without her accident she would still be a very important part of this wonderful group of people. We ALL wish we could go back in time and make it any of us that was doing that stupid dance instead of her.

Timmy, the name we have given her bum ankle, has been a bit of a nuisance but at the same time a great edition as well. He has brought many laughs on those long, hot days.

Allie, I know right now that everything may seem like shit from this trip but I hope you know how much you mean to all of us. I admire you so much and can't wait to continue laughing and sharing good times with you back in Rhode Island. Most importantly don't ever forget the good times you had here and your new amicas <3

Heat is Making Us Loca

The heat in Italy is making all of us crazy! I no longer need to blow dry my hair because two seconds outside and I'm good to go for the night...and sweating off 20 lbs from all the pasta we consume here.

Obviously I have loved everything about being in Italy for the past few weeks but there have been a couple of stand-out things that have really kept me interested.
1) the people in my program (as if I haven't said that enough by now...)
2) the locals and their kindness towards us, most of the time
3) the new music and how they sing along in english even though they don't really know what it means
4) the food
5) and finally finding out about our culture versus theirs

First to start the MUSIC HERE IS AMAZING! They all love house music which up until this past year wasn't my favorite but what can I say, I'm a sucker for a good beat. Even if they don't speak english you mention the name of a dj and they are smiling ear to ear. They eat it up. Its a refreshing way to feel some sort of connection to the locals who can sometimes feel like aliens.



Even if you don't love house music. Even if you would rather hear something with a softer beat and an acousitc guitar, you have to appreciate finding some sort of universal language. It really doesn't matter what language a song is in, everyone can sing along and that is really amazing.

Second, the food. What can i say? Everyone should expect that when traveling to a place like Italy the food is going to be absolutely amazing. It has been above and beyond any of my expectations. I have yet to have a disappointing meal. Even though I am getting sick of the same crossiants and paininos for lunch and breakfast everyday, their ingredients are beyond anything you will ever find at your local Panera Bread.Check out that lasagna...first night's dinner and its only been up from there. To some that may look like a blob of mush but it was absolutely delicious. I don't know if I'll ever be able to eat pasta the same way again (LIE).

Third and finally, the Italian culture in comparison to ours.

I have already mentioned how I feel about the way they treat women...that hasn't changed. However, I have gotten time to find out more about how they view us and our culture. They all watch us like we are unicorns even after we've been here for 3+ weeks. I don't know if that will ever change. Its not something you can get used to either.

I ask all of them to be "honest" with me about how they feel about Americans. Of course, I haven't heard anything negative yet...which is boring but I guess its better that way. What I have heard is we talk wayyy too fast for them even if they understand english. Our language is a lot harder to learn then most languages because we shorten almost all of our words and have words like pneumonia and bologna that don't sound anything like what they should...
I can feel their frustration from miles away. Apparently we Americans like to make everything as difficult as possible for the rest of the world. SHOCKING!

Tonight we are off to an olive oil factory to see how everything works and have what I am assuming will be another amazing dinner.
Till next time here xo

La vita è bella

Today in film class we viewed the film La Vita E Bella, Life is Beautiful. When taking Holocaust class my senior year of high school I saw this movie but I do not remember feeling nearly as moved by what I saw as I did today. I had to hold back tears at least three times throughout the movie. I highly recommend the movie to anyone whose in the mood to laugh, cry or even learn something new.

I don't think you need to be Jewish to be able to appreciate the movie in anyway. There is humor, reality and drama. There is a sense of empathy you feel for the characters for what they are going through. Also there is the beauty or the sacrifice the characters make for their families. It truly makes you question if you were in the same situation, what would you do? Would you allow yourself to be abused in order to protect those you love? Would you suck it up and allow these people to treat you like dirt because of your religion or would you stand up for what you believe?

On to a more positive subject....

In the last few days I have been dying of heat and coming to accept the fact that my time in Italy is coming to an end. I'll never be ready to leave this place but more I won't be ready to leave these people. I know we will see eachother on campus and have fun reunions at Charlie O's and Bobby G's but it still will never be San Demetrio.

In this heat we've been forced to sit inside and pretend we have air conditioning. Luckily, Kristina and I are living in the up hill apartment which according to stories we've heard is a much cooler and ideal situation for sleeping and basic living needs.
We sleep through the nights with our beautiful little fan, don't have construction next door and no giant wasps flying at our faces at all hours of the day. Yet we still find ourselves sitting in this sweaty, humid, bug-infested apartment just so we can spend time with our friends. Screw the giant hill we have to hike! oh...and they live above a pizza place....guilty
Last night we made pasta at the "mama's" house from scratch. I have to say I didn't love the pasta because I've come to love the "al dente" style that we've been treated to everyday and this wasn't it but damn do they know how to make chicken cutlets!
Needless to say, we are eating very well here. Tonight we are getting treated to penne a la vodka, some sort of beef, and grilled veggies. I am soooo excited! I love these family style dinners where we are all "forced" (as if they would really have to force us to spend time together) to sit together, drink, eat and talk. I can't say there has truly been one night that I have dreaded going to dinner. I love sitting outside of Dantes restaurant with the other people in the program and laughing till I cry.

Now it is 5 pm and I'm in desperate need of some pizza! until next time xo

It isn't about where you are...

This past weekend we went on an overnight trip to Puglia. It is a region of Southern italy known for its amazing beaches. Not that the beaches in Calabria aren't absolutely gorgeous (especially compared to those of Narragansett and Rehoboth) but these beaches took your breath away.

We arrived in Puglia Friday afternoon to a view that looked straight out of a movie. I still think that I am living in a green screen. We immediately went to the beach to get our bronze but couldn't spend too much time because we had a special dinner planned at a co-op that makes only organic foods. A place my family would eat at everyday if we lived here.

After walking down a long dirt road and through what most definitely smelled like a horse poop we were surprised to find a gorgeous outdoor patio restaurant. Although after a long day at the beach we were all craving seafood we were still just as happy to feast on appetizers of bruchetta, some random fried dough that reminded me of hushpuppies from eds in rehoboth, and delicious grilled veggies. After that we were served some of the best bolognese I have ever had. Needless to say, I was very satisfied.

The next day we drove throughout Puglia to 3 different beaches. Each more beautiful then the last. The first was a regular sand beach, then a rock beach and then finally a sand beach that appeared more like a lagoon. We had lunches of seafood pasta, grilled veggie salad and a pastry filled with tomato sauce and cheese. Kristina will never be the same after that pastry. We swam all of it off in the clearest, warmest waters i have ever been in.

I loved every minute of being in Puglia, even when I was sweating, cleaning water off the floor of our hotel room from the shower flooding and killing the millions of ants around our room. However, if there's one thing I figured out it isn't about where you are when traveling it is about the people around you. I am very happy to be back in San Demetrio but especially with the people I am in this program with.

There have definitely been moments on this trip where there have been fights and frustration but at the end of the day I can honestly say this is an amazing group of people here. I don't go a day without laughing until I cry or learning something new that makes me appreciate them even more. I know that these friendships will last forever.

I have also learned that even if the view from my balcony isn't of turquoise colored water of the Ionian Sea it doesn't matter. At the end of the day the people of San Demetrio Corone are some of the kindest people I have even come across. They treat us like equals and even when we can't understand what they are saying to us they carry on a conversation with us as if we have lived there our whole lives. After these next two weeks I will honestly miss the people here.

Till the next time I find time to get my butt down the hill xo

Pictures finallyyyy

Finally found a way to upload pictures to my blogger! My friend's apartment has internet so i will probably be able to blog more often!

I am still having the time of my life here and I have no idea how to describe where I am or how amazing it is. Everyday is a new adventure and even though it is the same people from the town every night, they never cease to be amazing. Some are very creepy and cross the line often but most of them are just amazed by us and all that is America.

The most interesting thing to me being in this town is the way the women act in comparison to how we act. They never wear shorts or skirts! Even when its hot as hell outside you won't catch them showing off their legs. It makes me sweat just looking at them! Also they do not drink or walk into a bar without a man by their side.

While having a conversation with one of the young locals who speaks english the other night he told me his girlfriend was home because he didn't like when she drank so she sits at home and waits for him to come back. Needless to say, I was disgusted.

If this trip has taught me anything so far its not only do i love learning about other countries and cultures and seeing them in person but I also couldn't be prouder of my independence and confidence in myself. I don't need to be accompanied by a guy to order a drink at the bar and I will never need to be. I will always pride myself in my freedom and ability to be my own person.