Greetings :)

Ciao!!

Oggi, voglio parlare di saluti. Today, i want to talk about greetings.

Here in Italy, greetings are sometimes different than they are in America. In America, family and friends greet with a hug, and others greet with a handshake. In Italy, the people greet with kisses on the cheek. Different people have different amount of kisses. Some kiss three times, some twice, and some only once. Somtimes, it is hard to know which side to go to and how many times to kiss someone's cheek. Usually, both people go to the right!! Haha, i would hate to go the wrong way!!! :P Some people on the other hand do not go for a kiss on the cheek until they know you better. One time, i tried to hug someone and they were very stiff. Hugging is not something that they usually do, but it is used sometimes! I am starting to get used the tradition of kissing on the cheek, and i am afraid that when i go back to America, i might accidentaly kiss someone's cheek. Hahaa! :)

Bellissimo cielo!! <3

Thanks for reading!! :D

~Shelby Kenville

23 Days of Observation

Ciao!!

Today, I want to write about all the changes I have noticed throughout my 23 days in Italy. Since my school is an art school, it is much more relaxed that American schools. For example, in storia dall'arte, my friend was doing my nails and the teacher did not care. Also, in Italian class, my other friend and I were making paper airplanes, drawing cartoon characters, and making paper snowflakes. Instead of yelling at us, the teacher grabbed one of our paper airplanes and lit it on fire!!! It was sooo funny. :) 
Another very big difference in the schools is that the kids are allowed to smoke. During interval, the kids go outside, and around 80-90% of kids smoke. I am definitely not going to start that habit. 
Students also have a very friendship relationship with the teachers. A lot of the time, depending on the teacher, they joke around and yell with the teacher!! It's pretty hilarious. 

There are also a lot of differences in the family. People here yell at each other a lot more!! At my big family dinners every Sunday with about 15 people, there are probably 20 conversations going on. People have to start yelling to make sure the other person hears them. It's definitely very fun and interesting!!! 

There are a lot of very subtle differences here, but i love it so much.! As far as the language is going, I have good and bad days. Some days, I am able to talk better and understand more than some other days, where I barely understand anything. But, my friends are all very patient and nice!! They have also given me about 13 songs for my iPod in Italian :) I love listening to them, and am able to understand and sing some on the songs!!! Well, as, I have stated a bunch of times, I LOVE IT HERE!!! :)

Thanks!!!

Ciao!! :)

Sofia, me, Jennifer <3

~Shelby Kenville

17 Days! :)

Ciao!! :)

I cannot believe I have been in Italy for 17 days. This is absolutely crazy. I have made so many friends from all around the World through the past 6 months of orientation and 17 days of my stay here in Italy. I know that I will be making so many more! 

It is a hard thing to describe, the relationship between foreign exchange students. Back before I left for Italy, I went to about 4 Rotary meetings. There were (i believe) 12 inbound students from other countries, and I was one of 4 outbound students leaving for another country. Though we only met 4 times for about two days each, the love and friendship for each other was very strong. I will never forget any of my friends that I have met through the Rotary. 

This weekend, I had my first Rotary Meetings in Italy. I met about 15 new friends, that I am sure will also last a lifetime. I cannot wait for our group trips around Italy taking place in the near future! But, this meeting also had one very important rebound student. Silvia, was a foreign exchange student last year in Ohio when I was preparing to go to Italy. We became very close because she was from Italy, and I was going to Italy. When we found out I would be only twenty minutes away from each other, we were stoked. Yesterday, I got to see her in her country. It was amazing. 

Rotary is the best way to make connections with people all around the world. All the students truly know what we feel like. There are really no words to describe the roller coaster of emotions associated with exchange. I know people from about ten states, Canada, Czech Republic, Norway, France, Finland, Mexico, Spain, Brazil, Germany, Belgium, Taiwan, and of course, Italy. These friendships are different than any other friendship I will ever have, and I am so grateful!!. 

Thank you!!! :) <3

 Taiwan, Germany, AMERICA! :) <3

Silvia and Me :) <3 <3 <3



~Shelby Kenville

13 Days in Italy.

Ciao :)

So, I have been having a blast here in Milan, Italy. In all the meetings i went to for the Rotary, they always talked about culture shock. Nothing here is that surprising to me. It is all wonderful and I love it. But, the shock of school is starting to sink in. Today, i was completely lost in all my classes. I did not know what was going on the whole day. The teachers were having me do work, and it was embarrassing because i do not know how. I knew that classes such as Italian and History would be hard, but even Math is different. All the words and numbers are different, and it is very hard to understand. The kids here are more advanced, so i do not know how to do the work, and when the teacher tried to explain it, i do not understand what she is saying.

I know that the next couple weeks are going to be really hard. But I have a great friend that i can talk to!!! :) So, hopefully, the next couple weeks will go by quickly so that i can start to really enjoy my stay here in Italy. Thanks!!!

~Shelby <3

Initiation Day at School

Ciao!

So, today was my first day of school. Since I'm 'special' as they say, I went in at 10:30 and left at 11:30. I am in class 3AF (tre ah effay is how you pronounce it.) I walked into my class with my 'tutor' in the lead, and all the kids were looking at me. So then he started introducing me, in italian of course, as the new American exchange student. All the kids were looking at me as if i were som

e magical being. hahaha :) It was molto molto imbarazzante (very very embarrassing.) Tomorrow is my first real day of school... I go in at 8:00 and leave at 2:00... Here, the kids stay in the same class all day and the teachers change classes... It's very different, but I still LOVE it here! :) 

Ciao Ciao :D

My New Home

Ciao :)

My first few days in Italy have been wonderful. I have met many new friends, and have been picking up the language pretty well for only being here 4 full days. I have started to almost automatically count in Italian!!! :) I know that i will be having good days and bad days, but that is all part of the journey. I start school on Wednesday, so that should be interesting.
Today, i went bike riding with my parents in a park, similar to Central Park in New York. It was very very big and beautiful ... :) I absolutely love it here :D

Arrivederci per adesso. ;)

 Giulia and Irene :)

Michela and Me :)

The girls here are absolutely gorgeous :D

~Shelby <3

My First Day.

Ciao!!!!

I landed in Milan, Italy just yesterday! I was so confused and I had no idea what to do with myself. I had to wait for my bag and questions were running through my mind like, "what if they don't like me" and that sort of thing. Well, my family had a sign for my name on it, and they were all very excited for me to be here. My sister, Alice, speaks good English, my mother speaks a little English, and my father does not speak English at all. I have been speaking a little bit of Italian, but for the most part, I am listening and understanding.

My house is gorgeous. It's so different than any house in the United States. I love everything here. :) It is so beautiful and different. The cars, the houses, and the people are all unique and beautiful! :) I can not wait to start school next week, and meet new friends. Tonight, is fashion night were people go to Milan and get dressed up to go to stores such as Prada and Gucci. You have to wait in lines and you get free drinks. :P Guess which 16 year old girl is going!!? ME!!!! I can't wait. :) Thank you for everybody that helped me to get here.! Ciao for now :)

 My room. :)

The new house

~Shelby