I could never explain to you all the feeling of this whole adventure I’m attacking. I wake up each morning in a room not my own, in a house of a family I am not related to, with a cat I cannot stand (allergies don’t help), and with very little stress. I go to school in a class of great kids who don’t speak my language, taught by teachers who sometimes try to, in a school far from similar to that of mine in California. I meet up with other kids, the only ones who can relate with my situation, and go on a thrilling adventure to Italy.
Okay well, not all the time but that’s what we’ve just done. On Monday, we trained to Rome. Pretty dull day up to about 4pm. We just sat in a train sharing recent experiences with those we hadn’t seen in a while or had never really communicated with before. The kids from farther away slept since they had to wake up quite early. After we settled into the hotel, we set off into the city for a short time, returned for dinner and set off again. At night, I wandered to the Colosseum with some others. It was AMAZING. Smaller than I had expected but still beyond me.
The next day, we took a tour to the Vatican! Man, was that awesome. The day was beautifully sunny. Our tour was in German so it was extremely easy to fade out. We walked through the museum, took pictures, “oo”d and “ah”d, and had a great time. I enjoyed some pizza for lunch with my group followed by some gelato. We dawdled and wandered throughout the city and enjoyed the sun. After dinner, I went the Trevi Fountain (whatever it’s called in English). I didn’t throw any money, though. No regrets. On the way to the fountain, we met a Canadian couple who helped us find it. They were hilarious and said they liked being away from their new kid so they didn’t have to say “what the pickle” instead of the explicative. Made my night.
Wednesday consisted of a tour to the Colosseum. Though there were some complications, we got in. The tour guide refused to pay so she stayed behind (I don’t totally understand). So our group leader took us through. When we stuck with the other group’s tour guide and listened (it was English), he got mad and wanted us to go through faster, even though we had nothing to do beyond that. Basically, without this man, it would’ve been much better but shit happens. After the Colosseum, we passed through another part of Ancient Rome. I can’t remember what it was called but it had very pretty stuff. A lot was under repairs, unfortunately. We split up, got some pizza and gelato and went into the capital building. It then hailed! And it hailed hard! Then stopped, sunny again and we ventured on. We all got back for dinner then I went with two others to see an Amphitheatre at night. It was a cool adventure.
Thursday was in a train. We dropped our stuff at the nicer hotel and went to Venice! We just wandered around a little. Saw the Rialto bridge and San Marco’s square. Not much this day.
Friday was amazing. Started out with a tour (this time we got it switched to English). The only reason it was in German in the first place was because our group guy doesn’t speak anything but German. Since Italy was on strike, we didn’t have boats or buses most of the day so the tour was really cool. At the Rialto, I switched groups after my group guy insisted we continue on and I still wanted to take pictures and listen about the history. You know, like the stuff my parents and Rotary paid for? I dislike him oh so much. Anyways, the tour was interesting. Afterwards, I went throughout Venice with another student. It was EPIC. We went all over Venice. I got my Italian espresso yummm. I took a gondola ride with some other exchangies and got a decent price, too. More wandering, ice cream, and dinner back at the hotel. Just hung out in the hotel after that.
Saturday was just trains again. More talking, sleeping, and card-playing.
It was a great week with some pretty cool people. I can say I am so very glad I was able to go!!
-Eddie
