Sorry for the delay in posts!!

Ciao tutti!

I have had a lot going on in the past couple weeks, so I am very sorry for not posting in so long. I will try to catch you up the best I can. 

First, I have went to a Holiday Concert inside the Duomo di Milano. It was very beautiful. There was a little orchestra and a choir. It was very long and cold inside the church, but very beautiful none-the-less. 

Secondly, I have officially seen the painting by Leonardo di Caprio "The Last Supper." I, Shelby Janae Kenville, have seen this incredible painting inside a church with my own two eyes. It was such an amazing thing to see. The painting itself is a miracle considering that during the bombings, this wall with the painting of Jesus and his 12 disciples was the only wall left standing. I am very honored that I was able to see this painting and learn some cool things about it's history. 

The rest of the week just consisted of ice skating and hanging out with my friends. I still can't believe I'm really here and having this experience. I have met so many awesome people and I hope that I will be able to maintain relationships with at least half of them :)

I do have to admit that this experience is very complicated for me. I have had multiple problems within the three months this year. I know there has to be a reason for these unfortunate series of events, and hopefully someday I will figure out what it is. But I am still loving it here despite the difficulties. I REFUSE to go home early, I REFUSE to let anything keep me from learning Italian to the best of my ability, and I REFUSE to let anything ruin my time with my friends here. Hopefully soon, all of this will pass, but for now, please pray for everything to get smoothed out, because there are a lot of complications. Thanks so much for reading and I will update with pictures when I can. 

~Shelby Janae <3

First SNOW in ITALY!! :)

Ciao tutti! :)

So yesterday, I was with my friend and it started to snow for the first time!!! :D It was so exciting!! I have seen snow fall before, but just seeing it in Italy made it so much more exciting and beautiful! 

I just had to buy a winter coat because I walk around the city with my friends so much that I was always freezing!! There went another 40 Euros. Haha :) Well, here are some photos of the snow!! :D

 Eating Gelato in  0 degree weather. (Celcious) I'm intelligent ;)

Grazie! Ciao!!! 

~Shelby

3 Months in Italy!

Hey everybody, 

I have officially been in Milan, Italy for 3 whole months. I arrived September 5 and it is now December 5. I still wake up in the morning and can't believe I'm really here. I am really learning a new language and culture and making a ton of incredibly amazing friends! It's so surreal! I have laughed uncontrollably and I have cried. I have wanted to just curl up on the couch and watch t.v. in ENGLISH with my mom and I have wanted to stay out until 3 in the morning (wait, I did that ;) But this experience is so amazing and I can't imagine what I'm going to be like when I'm finished. More confidence? I don't know. But I do know that my Italian is developing very well and I will have friends and family here forever. 

With the Christmas season starting, I know this is going to be difficult, but I hope to push through it and have a great Christmas with my family!! 

 Albero di Natale!

Pretty, huh?

Merry Christmas!!!

~Shelby <3

Daily Products in Italy

Ciao tutti! :)

Okay, so I know before I arrived here almost three months ago, I was asking myself questions like, "Do Italians use Q-tips," or "Do Italians only have wine glasses?" I thought they everything, even little things were completely different. But, for the most part, there are only subtle differences. 

1. The toilet paper is colorful!!! There is pink, purple, blue, and white with blue flowers!! I just think it's so cute. It's just like American toilet paper, just colorful! 

2. Other Toiletries: Toothbrushes, toothpaste, Q-tips, make-up remover pads, make-up, perfume, and soap is the same. They don't use anything super freaky for toothbrushes (or not brush their teeth at all;) It is all pretty normal. Deodorant and feminine supplies are different however. A lot of people use spray of deodorant or the liquid deodorant; it also is mostly 'nature' smells, there isn't anything (that I have seen at least) like, my personal favorite, Cocoa Butter Kiss, or Vanilla, or any scents like that. Feminine supplies: (not meant to gross anyone out, this is only for informational purposes.) Here in Italy, most women do not use tampons. Pads are the supply of choice. I don't see the normal 'Tampax' commercials on T.V. but commercials for pads instead. Just a different cultural thing I guess...
The main thing with Products in Italy is the names. All the names are different. There is no Crest or Suave here ;) 

3. Jeans: Oh my gosh, I am in love with the jeans here!! They are so comfortable!!! I can't explain the difference, but I definitely prefer Italian jeans to American jeans.

4. Around the house wear: Here, everyone wears slippers or Crocs around the house. They don't go around in just socks or with nothing. It's very different, but I have just started doing the same thing!! Now, when I go back to America, I need to buy some slippers!



I recently just realized that the Italian word for conditioner is "Balsamo..." Now, this is weird because my town included the name Balsamo. Just thought I would add that little tid-bit in here ;)

Well, I am still loving it here in Italy!! I am really really developing in my Italian and I cannot wait until I am fluent!!!!! :) <3 <3 <3

Apparently footsie pajamas aren't normal here. Thanks mom. 

 This is going to be me soon. Senza i baffe... ;) (<<Without the mustache)

Grazie per la lettura, 

Shelby Kenville

Phones in Italy!

Ciao tutti! :) 

Okay, so phones here are a little different... For example my phone number is +39 345 726 9156

Weird right?? Yea, it's totally different. But I'm pretty proud of myself that I memorized my number within the first two days I got it AND memorized it with Italian numbers. But anyway, I have a blackberry, which are very popular. Some people have iPhones here, but they are about the equivalent of 1000 American dollars. (about 600-700 Euros) It's absolutely crazy. I would NEVER pay that much for a phone, but hey, they're Italian ;) They also do't buy very good cases for their phones, so they don't look as nice as they do in America... 

A lot of people also have the INDESTRUCTIBLE Nokia phones. I haven't seen one in so long, it's quite refreshing. I crack up every time I see my friends texting without a full keyboard. It's just been so long since I haven't had a keyboard... I guess I'm spoiled like that :) But anywayssss, hope you were interested in the technological side of the cultural differences. :) I will write again soon!!! :) <3 

 Love my Converse! <3 ALLSTAR FOR LIFE!

 So true. Receive my money, then realize i have to buy something expensive... :P

 Oh yes <3 Check-mark!

 heeheee <3 Cute :)

 I refuse to let this happen. THAT is why I am officially on a diet and I have started Athletics (cross country)

Yes, I, Shelby Kenville, am running for a sport. I know, it's incredibly surprising... 

~Shelby Kenville <3

The Differences in the Bible!!!

Ciao tutti,

Recently, I saw a children's  Christmas book quoting the Bible. I noticed that it said "Matteo" and I figured that that must mean "Matthew." I decided to search for all the Bible Chapter names on the Internet and was shocked by what I found. Read for yourselves!!!!!! ;)

English:                                     Italian:

Genesis                                      Genesi

Exodus                                       Esodo

Leviticus                                     Levitico

Numbers                                    Numeri

Deuteronomy                              Deuteronomio

Joshua                                        Giosue

Judges                                        Giudici

Ruth                                           Rut

1 Samuel                                    1 Samuele

2 Samuel                                    2 Samuele

1 Kings                                      1 Re

2 Kings                                      2 Re

1 Chronicles                               1 Chronache

2 Chronicles                               2 Chronache

Ezra                                           Esdra

Nehemiah                                   Neemia

Esther                                        Tobia

Job                                            Guiditta 

Psalms                                        Ester

Proverbs                                    Salmi

Ecclesiastes                                Proverbi

Song of Solomon                        Ecclesiaste

Isaiah                                         Cantico

Jeremiah                                     Sapienza

Lamentations                              Siracide       

Ezekiel                                        Isaia

Daniel                                         Geremiah

Hosea                                         Lamentazioni

Joel                                             Baruc

Amos                                          Ezechiale

Obadiah                                      Daniele

Jonah                                          Osea

Micah                                         Gioele

Nahum                                        Amos

Habakkuk                                   Abdia

Zephaniah                                   Giona

Haggai                                        Michea

Zechariah                                    Naum

Malachi                                      Abucuk

-                                                Sofonia

Matthew                                    Aggeo

Mark                                         Zaccaria

Luke                                          Malachia

John                                           - 

Acts                                           Matteo

1 Corinthians                              Marco

2 Corinthians                              Luca 

Galatians                                    Giovanni

Ephesians                                   Atti

Philippians                                  Romani

Colossians                                 1 Corinzi

1 Thessalonians                          2 Corinzi

2 Thessalonians                          Galati

1 Timothy                                  Efesini

2 Timothy                                  Filippesi

Titus                                          Colossesi

Philemon                                   1 Tessalonicessi

Hebrews                                   2 Tessalonicessi

James                                       1 Timateo

1 Peter                                     2 Timateo

2 Peter                                     Tito

1 John                                      Filemone

2 John                                      Ebrei

3 John                                     Giacorno

Jude                                        1 Pietro  

Revelation                               2 Pietro

                                               1 Giovanni

                                               2 Giovanni

                                               3 Giovanni

                                               Guida

                                               Apocalisse

I just thought that this was so interesting!!! I mean, I never really thought about the Chapters in the Bible would be different. Well I guess you learn something new everyday!!! :)

Thanks for reading!! :) <3 <3

~Shelby

Pictures.

Hello everyone! (figured I would change my introduction up a bit ;)

So this post is basically going to be pictures... Today, I went to the Picasso Museum! It was so incredible to see the paintings that Picasso himself painted!! I never would have imagined that I would see something so significant and historical! Unfortunately, pictures were not allowed... After that, I went to the Duomo di Milano but not just the outside; I went to the top and inside. It was absolutely breath-taking. Lastly, I went for a two hour walk just by myself around a little part of my town taking pictures of the beautiful Autumn trees! :D 

 Breathtaking. 

 So tall and elegant!

 Great day visiting. So worth walking up a million stairs and 7 Euros!

 <3

 The floors inside the Duomo

 A beautiful window!

 Inside... 

 Great tree!!

 Pretty leaf!

 So incredible!

 <3 I love Autumn! 

 Even in Black and White it's beautiful!

 Happiness!! :)

 No one can ever change what this experience has done and will do for me!

                                       

Friends <3 <3 <3 

Thanks for being so loyal to my Blog!! :) Can't wait to keep documenting how everything is going here in Italia. Love you all! :)

~Shelby Kenville