First Couple Days

Hi Everyone! Thanks for reading! So on Sunday I arrived in Italy. I met my host family at the airport in Rome, and they are some of the nicest people I have ever met. My Italian skills are pretty much nonexistent and this family has been very helpful in getting me to understand what's going on. Already I've noticed that there are many differences between here and America. One is that people in Italy, especially at school, are so welcoming to outsiders that it is hard to not feel included in daily life. Another is that meals are shared as a family a lot more than in America. Everyday I have eaten with my host family for lunch and dinner, which I'm sure part of it is because I just got here but I think that in Italy families spend a little more time together. I also have noticed that Italian kids speak many more languages than English kids do. I was so blown away by how the girls in my class can speak to me in English and then be nearly fluent in French and Spanish as well as Italian. Here, life is a little bit more relaxed. I have not felt rushed out of the door at all, which is a new feeling too. I hope you guys are all doing well, and I miss everyone back home! :)
Till next time!
-Kailey

Pictures :)

I think it's about time to put up some pictures of where I'll be living next year :)

Most of the Abruzzo region, where Martinsicuro is, is national parks and has scenic views and castles with medieval towns

4 Months and counting

Hi everyone! My name is Kailey Navin and for my senior year of high school I decided to pack up and move to Italy as a foreign exchange student for 10 months! In just 4 months and 17 days, my plane leaves for Rome. I'm so excited to share this experience with you and I hope you enjoy my posts. Italy to me means beauty. All the history of the Holy Roman Empire and how Italy has evolved over the years fascinates me. I adore the culture and welcoming nature of the people and cannot wait to live day to day life there. Three years ago, I went to Italy and Greece with the Latin Club at my school. It was an incredible experience (since I had never been overseas), but as charming as Greece was, my most fond memories were from Italy; specifically Rome. The grandeur and extravagance of the Vatican left me speechless. I had never seen such detail in one building, and to be surrounded by the art of Michealangelo and Bernini was a little mind blowing. It was amazing how there could be a Gucci store on one side of the street and the other side holds the Coliseum. One of my favorite parts of Rome had to be Piazza Navona (It was the one in the Angels and Demons movie with Tom Hanks). At Piazza Navona, our group got time to walk around and see all the street artists, who were so nice, and just explore the area. I saw a church with someone's head still preserved a box! Although those things were great, what I really loved was the carriage and carriage driver outside. I am a horse person, and judge people on how well they take care of their horses. So, outside the church, the driver stops, grabs a brush and begins to show a little Italian boy how to brush the horse's leg. It was so sweet to see the care that went into this horse. The horse was well taken care of, relaxed and stood completely still for the boy. This is why I love Italy. Thank you for reading and I will talk to you soon!