Honey, I'm Home...

500 steps to the top and I can see my
whole kingdom from here

Ciao Bologna, sono Natalie. Piacere! I don't care if it's too soon to say it - I'm in love, I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it. This is my perfect city.

Some host
mother/brother lovin'

I'll be honest - this first week was filled with every emotion imaginable. I was excited and exhausted, content and confused, baffled and beaten, lost and loving, hot and helpless. Excuse me, have I stepped into the daily life of Emily Miranda? Not interested.

The first thing to see in Bologna is quite obviously the very old and very important Two Towers. By important, I mean these towers are the symbol of the city and by old, I mean older than your grandma... the Medieval-Era kind of old.  Oh, and that "leaning" look you think you see is completely accurate. The construction makes you think it's going to fall (or you will as you climb it) at any minute!

I have a week to myself before school starts. This means Federico (my host brother) and I have plenty of quality time, all day every day. We have lots of fun trying to create as many games as possible that don't require reading/speaking. Let's just say I'll be putting my card and hide-and-go-seek skills at ease for a little while - they have been overused. However, our bike rides and adventures in the park were a great way to help me get familiar with the area.

Got 'em! 

He's my #1 bro. The first day I arrived, he had Post-Its all over the house of Italian words. My little teacher still springs a surprise quiz on me every once in a while. Other lessons include how to find the best gelato, set the table (so he doesn't have to) and catch these little lizards all over the city.

Things he loves: American music, whistling, Callipso (our cat), singing all the wrong words, ice skating, monkey bars and gelato

Things he hates: peanut butter and the skin of apples

Reasons he reminds me of home: He always has to "go to the bathroom" as dinner clean-up starts. If you've ever had dinner at the Miranda Mansion, this should remind you of someone....

I'm more quiet than I have ever been. It can get really frustrating to have all these clever things to say and no way to communicate them! The important thing is to keep my head above the water. Whenever I find myself giving up a little, I eavesdrop on someone's conversation to learn something new. So what if I say something wrong? It's better than not saying anything at all. Also, there is no better way to learn a language than throwing someone in a school/family/city where it's all there is to hear. Carla usually notices when this is getting me down so she gives me a kiss and a, "Ciaooo Natalie!" :)

Hey, meet my beautiful family.

I'm lucky and I know it.