Strikes!

Hi guys! This past week has been a full of new experiences for me! I think the most noteworthy one was probably going to a strike. In Italy, public school students are upset with the Prime Minister for cutting funding for public schools and giving that money to private schools, so they organize strikes. Last Friday, I went with my class to protest with them against the government. So many students in the area came out for this, and they just skip school to do it. It was so unlike America and I'm pretty sure I just stared the whole time at everything going on. It was cool to see that these students took an active view on politics in their country, because rarely at home do I see this, unless there are huge issues that hit close to home. The pictures below are from the strike and one of me and my class. As you can see in one of them, at one point all the students sat down in the middle of an intersection and blocked traffic, and it was such a feeling of this is weird and I wonder what American kids would do if we had strikes every couple of months.
Another thing I have been getting used to lately is riding a public city bus, which I know sounds like nothing, but coming from Tennessee, where I don't even think there are buses, to riding one almost everyday is a lot different. It's great though, because I have to use my Italian and speak to the students that have helped me or ask where something is, and it has helped me become more confident in my speaking. It is the greatest feeling when you say something in another language and people understand!
Other than strike, it has been pretty quiet. I did go to a big Sicilian family dinner and it was just like a movie! 4 courses and loud talking and laughter, plus some of the best pizza and pasta I have ever tasted.
This week has brought many new and exciting experiences in my life, and I'm so happy to be here, but I miss everyone at home and cannot wait to see you in June!
-Kailey
P.S sorry for the skipping around, I had too many thoughts I was trying to organize!

Uphill to the Church

Hey guys! Sorry it's been awhile, I have been a little busy! Today at school, all the classes walked 2 or 3 miles (uphill might I add) to this church nestled in the hills past San Benedetto (where my school is). The point of this is to have a mass once we get to the church and pray for the school year ahead. You did not have to go in if you didn't want to, but it was recommended. It was so cool to see this line of people that took over the whole street, and I loved that the school took a day off just to walk and pray for the year ahead. This week and the past week have been much better for me. I am still homesick and miss my family and friends, but it isn't this mad desire to pack up and go home, and I am encouraged. Learning Italian is a whole other story, though. It's a beautiful language, but actually speaking it is difficult. My host family has been incredibly helpful and patient, and even though I feel like I'm getting nowhere, I think there is progress. I can understand basic sentences and yesterday I even read a bio on Italian Wikipedia and understood the main theme of it! It's little things like that that are especially encouraging. At this point, I can recognize more words reading, than listening, and my understanding has gotten better. I am working on speaking everyday with my host family and friends.
       Last Sunday, I visited the village of Ripatransone, which is where my host mother's family lives. It was my first big Italian Sunday lunch and I thought it was just like a movie. Ripatransone is this medieval village perched on top of a hill and looks just like a postcard (I included a picture below :) They even had a little farm with chickens, a pig, rabbits, sheep, turtles and a dog. The past two Saturdays that I have been in Italy I have gone to the center of San Benedetto (where my school is) and walked around with friends, a lot like people go to Downtown Franklin on the weekends and get coffee and ice cream and go shopping.
Overall, these past two weeks have been great and I look forward to many more here in Italy! I hope everyone is doing well at home!
-Kailey