I'm home.

Hello everyone.

I just wanted to let you all know that I am home. I made it safely. I landed at JFK airport around 12:15 pm Sunday, July 5th.

Since being home, I have realized many differences between the culture I was living in and the culutre I was born in. It has really opened my eyes even more to the diversity and cultures around the world.

At the final orientation in Rome, someone told us: "Your experience isn't over; it is just beginning." And now I see what he meant by that.

I have jumped out of my (american) shoes for 10 months, choosing to use those of the italians... I saw their point of view on the world and many other things.. and now that I am in my shoes again, I can see the world like I used to but I can live in a different manner. I can now choose to live in my shoes but keeping in mind the diversity of the world and the different points of view/thought.

This experience has truely been amazing and a once in a lifetime thing.

Thank you to all those who made it possible!!!

Ciao for now,
Heather

2 weeks

Hey,

So, I officially leave in 2 weeks from today. My friends threw me a surprise party yesterday so that was fun!

I can't wait to see you all and tell some stories.

These last 2 weeks will be hard, but memorable as well.

If feels like just yesterday i got here...oh well

Ciao for now!

Heather

its almost over... :(

Hey guys,

well school finishes tomorrow and i leave for the USA in about 26 days.. this month will be a real roller-coaster of emotions. im happy to be going home, to see my family and friends, and sad at the same time cause i dont want to leave my other friends and family here. in fact, i showed my class a powerpoint that i made of the past 9 or so months and most of us started crying as it marks the beginning of the goodbyes for us..im about 99.999 % sure i will cry tomorrow at the end of school, then as well at the party my friends are planning to throw me, and when i actually leave.

I have truely had the time of my life here in Italy and i will remember this experience for the rest of my life. i have made so many amazing friends and we are sure to keep in touch, as most of them are planning to come next summer to visit me!!! =D

i have learned so many things about cultural differences, the world, and myself.. i can now say that i view the world with new and different eyes. this view of the world is so cool and diverse i cant put it into words.. its something you can see only when you experience this cultural exchange i have done.

i dont know what else to say other than the fact that, i will see you all very soon!

ciao for now,
Heather

Photos of Croatia

Here are some random photos of my day trip to Croatia.
I hope you all like them.

Ciao for now,

Heather

things going on in my life

Hey,

Tomorrow I'm going to Croatia with my host family! Although, we have to be at Trieste around 5:50am to catch the bus, so we have to leave the house around 5. Which means I have to get up at 4am.. ewww. lol anyway I'm looking forward to that. Next Saturday, is my host sister's birthday, so we'll be celebrating that. Then the week after that, thursday to sunday (28-31), I have my last orientation with AFS. It's going to be sad, cause some of the kids are leaving early cause they have signed contracts to work this summer, so they need to leave earlier. So, this is the last time I'll be able to see all AFSers (in my area atleast)... :(

My school ends June 10th!!!! I've already taken my last spanish test of the year. Math, Italian and chemistry I only have 1 more to take. We don't have finals or midterms here!!!!! I've heard the last week of school we don't really do anything!! lol NICE.

I finally finished all the Italian lessons after school. I took the final test yesterday, so I'll find out the results next week. I can't believe everything is coming to an end. It's sad and exciting at the same time.

Well I'll see you all soon (i think about 50 days till I come home)

Ciao for now,
Heather

recent news

So I think I got confused. May 2nd isn't a holiday, so I don't know when there "july 4th" is for them. I'm thinking it could be April 25th like I thought.

This past weekend (friday-saturday) I had a lot of fun. I slept over a friend's house. We played AMERICAN FOOTBALL!!! My friend knows some missionaries (who are American), so we got some friends together and the missionaries and played some football. Of course the Americans crushed the others, but it was a lot of fun. Then we moved to basketball, where the Americans crushed the other AGAIN. I think its just in our blood. lol.

Then yesterday, Sunday, there was the 16th Bavisela in Trieste. It is a marathon from Gradisca to Trieste which is competitive, then there is the non-competitive which is from Miramare to Trieste center (about 8km, which is 5 miles) which about 50 of us from AFS did. All the other people had a pink t-shirt on (which we got) but we wanted to represent AFS, so we are wore a bright yellow AFS t-shirt and handed out AFS flyers. it was fun.

i think thats it for now,

ciao for now,
heather

info on a few holidays..

Hello,

so i messed up before. April 25 is celebrated because it is when Italy was freed from WW2, so they celebrate it as the ending of the war for them. "il giorno di liberazione".

This friday, May 1, is also a holiday. it is the day of workers or something like that. and also May 2 is a holiday, which is there holiday like our July 4th.

so this weekend i have a 3 day weekend!!!!!!! this past weekend i had a 2 day weekend!!! (which is normal for USA i know.. but i havent had one in a long time).

i think thats it for now

ciao for now,
heather