LYUDMILA-Month 3 : The Visit

  June 23rd - 21 p.m.

     

I really couldn't figure out that my parents were arriving! That week had gone by really quickly because I had spent all my days thinking about it. Even though the evening before their arrival I was lying on my bed with my eyes open and the time had never gone on: I was trying to imagine the emotions I would feel on the next day! I couldn't describe my delight especially because I had been missing them so much and I was really curious to see their reactions visiting such a wonderfull city as Sidney : they had never been to Australia!

I actually had to go to school but I was waiting for the ringing of the bell that marked the end of the lessons.

Finally ,the bell rang and I reached Christopher, who was waiting to take me to the airport.

While I was setting out and greeting him,there were Greta and James kissing in the school garden I hadn't thought of them , my heart was still pounding.

On the way to the airport there was a lot of traffic,I couldn't wait anymore. I was so impatient that I had thought I was driving crazy: I had shouted at others cars for all the journey.

When we finally arrived at the airport, the plane had just landed and I met my parents . They were still at the luggage claim area, but when they got out and saw me, they hugged me for such a long time long I almost got choked!

They were really excited in particular my little brother

Alexander who had never flown before.

They were eagers and glad to meet my host family. While we

were going home,I told them what I had organised for our

weekend togheter:the Opera House, the Rocks, Bondi Beach,

Manly,Canberra.. and shopping in Pitt Street, George Street and

Castelreagh Street!

I was anxious to see their faces when I would take them to Bondi Beach: the most amazing beach in Sidney and in Australia. I hoped they didn't want to spend so much time at the Opera House: it was fantastic indeed, but one visit was enough for me because I had alredy been there and I had taken a lot of photos.

That evening,my mum and I went for a walk along the sea front and she told me I had matured so much: I looked more self-confident, indipendent and able to get through problems and different situations! I felt like a real Australian girl!

I can't think my homestay is 2/3 over, I really don't want to go home, there everything is boring and dull : I love Sidney and I wish I lived here with all my familiy. But there is a problem : my dad hasto work ; in addition doesn't like the sea because he can't swim, he hates being in the nature and he doesn't love animals either. We are so different!

I will miss Amber,I have never found a friend like her.I'll also miss James,my crush, I had never fallen in love before even though he hasn't so much as looked at me.

What a shame! I will enjoy these few weeks.

Veronica Rigodanza

NINA - Last Week: Going Away

December 23rd - 11 p.m.

Dear Claire,

                  How are you? I’m so excited, I’ve just arrived at home, my real home, here in Barcelona. After three long months, I’m writing to you from my small room again…You can’t imagine how I feel! I have to tell you so many things, but I’m going to start from the final week.

The last days in Italy were fantastic. After shopping in Verona, I spent a day with my host family in Sirmione, a nice town near lake Garda. The quietness of that place helped me to relax and to think about all the experiences I had done in Italy. I remembered the embarrassment and the astonishment of the first period, the happiness when I met new friends, the terror of the earthquake. All these things have changed my personality, I ‘ve grown up and now I’m more responsible and self-confident than before. For the whole  week, I didn’t know whether to be sad or happy. I would have missed    Italy, but I was glad to see my family again. These thoughts were interrupted by a beautiful surprise: my classmates told me that they had thrown  a party for me. We went to Anna’s house and there we had lunch all together and then we danced. They also gave me a book with   photos and   notes as a memory of the experience. I’d never had more fun in my life.  I was really touched by this ‘’going away’’ party because I didn’t expected it. I won’t ever, ever forget them, they have been so amiable with me.

going away party

That evening, on my way to my host family’s home, I was thinking about the past three months had spent in Italy. I started thinking about all the little things that I was going to miss about Vicenza and the Italian lifestyle. The very first thing that came up to my mind was coffee! When you get acquainted with Italians,  you’ll definitely  be invited to have a “thousand coffees”, because having a coffee together is not just drinking: it  is a social rite  . Moreover, the famous Italian “happy hour”: when the working day is over, between six and seven o’clock, Italians   meet in bars to have a spritz together, eat some chips and chat about their day. On Fridays, during the “spritz time”, you can really feel the week-end is starting up! Streets are full of people and their voices are like music: that’s the magic of the Italian language and its harmony! I remembered when I got to Vicenza in September and I saw people having the “aperitivo” for the first time; they were sitting at bar tables in the beautiful frame of Piazza Dei Signori, with its magnificent Basilica Palladiana,. I also loved Piazza San Lorenzo, Corso Palladio and Piazza Matteotti with the famous Palladio’s masterpiece,  Teatro Olimpico.

spritz time

So many memories and feelings: the smell of the delicious Italian pizza and genuine tomato sauce for spaghettis when you pass by small restaurants or pizza houses and the smell of the fresh bread very early in the morning when you pass by a bakery. If you’re lucky enough to be one of the first customers, you will taste fantastic just baked Italian bread! And then, the surroundings, which are simply amazing: the colors of the flowers on the balconies and on the tables of restaurants and bars, the lights of the small clubs that illuminate the darkness of the night, the flavour and the simple look that make Italian meals so special..

That evening, when I was walking home, I hoped that all those beautiful memories would stay for ever in my mind like many little pictures hanging on a wall.

And guess what happened when I got to the airport and saw my family? I greeted them with a “ciao!” and I hugged all of them crying! In my soul mixed feelings were fighting: I was finally home with my loved ones, but a little piece of my heart was already missing Italy and all my friends and my host parents  . With may parents I  talked about the Italian lifestyle, meals, routine, things I saw, people I met.. And as I remembered all those beautiful moments, I realized that words can’t tell how this experience has changed my life. The only thing I know is that I’m seriously thinking about going to visit them in summer with my family. That would be great!

Now I have to go back to my routine but I’m aware that the world out there jas been looking a little bigger    since I got back.

This has been a long day: with the flight and all these emotions   I feel exhausted, so I’m going to bed.. I’ll write you soon, goodbye for now!

 Noemi Beatrice Bildiroglou

 Nicola  Bazzan

KIMBERLEY - Week 8: Celebrity

Dear Diary,

This is my eighth week in Australia and after I vented to my mother ? last week I feel more self-confident. These last two weeks have been amazing. First of all I had my first date with Ben; everything was fantastic. We went to the cinema to see the last Steven Spielberg’s film ; after that   then we watched the sunset lying  on the beach. It was so romantic. Eventually, he took me home and he kissed me on my cheek.

On day of the week there was a big surprise for us: the Australian celebrity, Ian Thorpe, came to our school to make a speech. Ian, who is one of the most successful swimmers in the history of the Olympic Games, came to our school to talk about how important sport is for teenagers. He collected great success among the students, especially when he recalled his wins, in particular his five golden medals in the Olympic Games. After the speech, Ian came to our group. There were Neah, Kate, Nerissa and me, and he gave us an autograph, and we  shivered with excitement. I’m thinking how jealous my friends back home would be.                                         

                                                          

Finally, yesterday afternoon, my mum called me to know how I was and at the end of the phone call she told me she IS coming to Australia next week; unfortunately my father can’t come because he has to work hard these days. At first I was shocked because I couldn’t believe her words, but after a few minutes I realized that I wasn’t dreaming and it was all true. I was very excited so I ran downstairs and I told Eliza  about the news, Eliza hugged me so tightly that she made me feel at home.

Now it’s time to plan several activities, so that I can show my mother around this fantastic place in the best way. This morning, during breakfast, I asked Holly to give me some advice about what I could plan for my mother and she gives me some tips. Then, in the afternoon, I stayed all the time with Eliza to plan the next week. In conclusion we decided to visit some other important cities in Australia such as: Sidney, in particular the Opera house, Adelaide and the capital city, Canberra. We also wanted to visit Perth but it is too far from Melbourne. After the sightseeing I want to show to mother the fantastic Australian sea.

                                                            

I’m so nervous but I can’t wait to see my mother.

Enrico Gaspari

NINA - Week 8: Celebrity

December 3^rd, 7 p.m.

Dear Claire,

Two more weeks have passed and I have so many exciting news to tell you!

First of all, I felt immediately better after the last time I wrote you, maybe because I knew that a celebrity would come to speak at my school and when I heard that she was Penelope Cruz, I forgot all about being homesick. The actress has come to Italy to make a film in Rome but she is been spending some more months in this country to promote it in various cities. “To Rome with love” is an upcoming romantic comedy film composed of four episodes where the protagonists are some American tourists in the capital city. Penelope talked about the plot and different related topics. After this interesting speech I even got to meet her and I got an autograph! I was so nervous but the beautiful actress made me feel at ease and noticing my Spanish accent, she wanted to know something about my stay here in Italy. I’m sure that when I come back to Spain, Lola, Pilar and the others friends will be so jealous! 

Furthermore, a few days later my mother told me that she was going to come and visit me next weekend and now I’m really impatient to see someone from my family. With my host family I have planned several activities to do with my mum around the place that has become my new home. I decided to go sightseeing in the centre of Vicenza, showing her the main monuments and buildings that I’ve recently seen such as Andrea Palladio’s Teatro Olimpico, the oldest surviving enclosed theatre in the world as the guidebook say, the Basilica Palladiana, a Renaissance building in the central Piazza dei Signori and Palazzo Thiene. 

Andrea suggested that we spend an afternoon close to nature at Parco Querini (how sweet!) and Lucia said that I must absolutely have dinner in a restaurant where my mum can have a taste of Vicenza’s cuisine with traditional dishes like the Baccalà alla Vicentina, made from stockfish and served on or next to polenta, or rice and peas. I am looking forward to seeing my mum and show her around Vicenza. I’m sure she will enjoy this city. 

By the way, Francesco is calling me because dinner is ready so I must go. 

See you, Claire!

Martina Scortegagna              

BLONDE-WEEK 6:HOMESICK

November 2^nd, 10 p.m.

Dear Claire,

I’m here in my bedroom and I want to tell you about the last few days. I had the opportunity to spend more time with my host family thanks to Halloween holiday and once again they have been so understanding. Actually on Friday I felt really homesick: I know, I’m having fun and learning a lot, but three months suddenly seem a very long time. As I didn’t want to worry my host family, firstly I talked to my parents on the phone. That made me feel a little better and I said goodbye to them as cheerfully as I could, but when I hung up I wished I could just go back home immediately. Lucia, however, had noticed I was really sad and she tried to involve me in the preparations of a little party. Lucia, Chiara and I have carved three pumpkins, we added some candles to create the right atmosphere. Then we tried to improve our culinary ability by making Spanish cakes: los panellets! They weren’t perfect, but this time I didn’t cut myself!

 

The Halloween party with all the family was pleasant and Francesco made fantastic roast chestnuts as we do in Barcelona! Andrea and Chiara introduced me to so many relatives of theirs: their grandparents Angelo and Maria, their grandparents Antonio and Ludovica and lots of cousins whose names don’t remember! For the whole evening I listened to their gossip and every kind of stories.Actually I was able to understand  more than a half of their words. There were also two boys(I think two of the lots of cousins they have) who spoke a perfect English and I had fun chatting with them, but when I went to bed I was exhausted!

I tried to sleep, but my dreams were full of pumpkins, relatives from everywhere and panellets!

On Sunday morning, I don’t know exactly how, I was again homesick and I burst into tears…luckily my family is really patient and also brilliant: after some minutes they found a way to cheer me up. They had been thinking about getting a pet for some weeks and they thought it was the right moment to do it: they told me about their idea and we went together to a pet shop. There we looked around wondering which animal would get on with Sissy: another big dog was too demanding and we weren’t sure of cats. Finally we found a hamster and we left the shop with him. Sissy seemed to get on the new entry and we set up a perfect home for him. The last thing was the name: after discussing for some minutes I suggested Ricky, like an English friend of mine and they all agreed with me! It was been incredible the sweet way we discussed: jokes, coalitions and…a good laugh! I think Italians love making noises, but at least here they prefer ending up with a good laugh!

Today, after school I spent some time playing with Ricky and now I’m in a really good mood because I feel part of the Bianchi family.

Goodnight Claire!

Debora Carolo

LYUDMILA - Week 2: Getting Around

This is only the second week I have been in Sidney,  but I feel it like home. The subway, the difficulties with the new city, the language, the new school and the new classmates don’t terrify me like a week ago. In addition, the family is so friendly and in these days I’ve  started to get more familiar with their daily life. I really like living here because in the morning things are so different from Moscow, because of the school and the new activities I do, (and I love new experiences) and in the afternoon I love watch Jennifer helping Mark with homework stay with Amber!! I'm  so happy with  this new friendship.  The first half of the week has been perfect, except for Friday, which was a totally disastrous day!! At school I've met many classmates and  they are really friendly with me, except for one girl. Her name is Greta and she is the captain of the cheerleader team of the school. She is one of the most popular and beautiful girl in the school and obviously she is a close friend of James’, the guy of my dreams!!   Greta  doesn't to want be only a friend to him...she wants more! Like me she wants to be her girlfriend  and for this reason she does everything  to discredit me. Friday morning was terrible because she made fun of me all the time and James was there, too !

When I got back home I was quite sad and a bit nervous! I sat to the sofa and I watched the television all   afternoon!! Even when Mark  arrived (he wanted to to play with his new play station)  I didn’t let him use the TV and so he ran off crying!!

After dinner I apologised with him for my behavior,  but he sulked  until the following day. Christopher and Jennifer saw that I was a bit sad because of my argument with Mark and they also saw that something at school had  happened ;   for this reason they decided to take me to around the city at the week end and  to show me some of the major tourist spots.

First of all we went to the Opera House. It was fantastic and I took a lot of photos. Then we went to Darling Harbour; it is a nice neighborhood full of shops and nice restaurants. After a lot of shopping and a substantial lunch,  we visited the Sidney Aquarium and the Sidney Zoo, with fish and animals from all over the world.  

                                         

On the way back home we went to Port Jackson, the largest harbour in the world and finally to Bondi Beach, where people surf all  year round.  There I saw something unforgettable:  James was surfing and when he came ashore,   he waved me helllo. I'll never forget this!! The most poupular boy of the school   greeted me, the "beetroot"!! That's incredible!! I definitely love Australia:)  

                                                                                                  

                                                                  

Matteo Fontana

IN BETWEEN- WEEK 2: GETTING AROUND

June 30th, 00:30 p.m.

Dear Diary,

this is my second week in Melbourne with my new family. Everything is ok but

yesterday I had an argument with Eliza because I forgot to clear the table and to

tidy up my room. She was right because I should have done it, but I think she

had been too aggressive with me, I didn’t deserve it! At home I’m not used to

doing the housework because we have a cleaning lady, so she can’t expect me to

do everything by now. As a punishment for that, I have to

clean the stables for two weeks . She is too strict and she should employ a

cleaning lady!

Two days ago I went for a walk with Nerissa along the beach; there we met some

friends of hers. Among them I saw a handsome, tall, sunbathed, muscled boy and

I asked Nerissa who he was and she told me that he was her brother: unbelievable!

She introduced me to him and we talked for a while, I think there was a great

feeling...

At school I have also met other guys; I hope they’ll become my friends: Neha,

an Indian girl who attends the biology class with me, Paul, Jesse and Mark,

who play tennis with me in the afternoon, and Keira a nice girl who lives in my

neighbourhood. They are very kind to me and with their help everything is easier!

In fact living here is amazing and I really like it because it's like a new life; I love

the climate, the beaches, the Australians , my new family.- Nevertheless it is not so

easy for me. Starting off a new school is difficult for everybody and sometimes I

feel a little unwelcome, especially last week when those rude boys were pulling my

leg, but with my new friends' help I feel more comfortable .

As I had never been in Melbourne before, my host family took me on a

sightseeing tour of the city. So yesterday morning we went to Queen Victoria

Market, a huge open-air market full of traditional and ethnic stalls. We spent there

one and a half hour and then we walked as far as the public zoo which is a 150-

year- old zoo were there are several animal species. I really enjoyed seeing the

penguins because it was the first time in my life, they are so sweetie and funny!

At lunch we had a sandwich at the zoo café and in the afternoon we went to the

Immigration Museum.I loved visiting it because my host family told me their

story: they are the descendants of British immigrants, it means that we have the

same roots! That's why they are so understanding with my cultural shock!

Later on we went for a walk in the harbour and we had dinner in a restaurant in

Federation square which was not far from the market. Everybody was pretty tired,

so we called a taxi to go back home. On our way back home I saw something that

I will never forget: injured kangaroo in the middle of the street. The taxi stopped

and we got off the car. The animal had a major wound on its right leg and it could

not move at all. Adam called the vet and we waited for him for twenty minutes.

At midnight we eventually got home and everyone fell asleep immediately!

It was a beautiful day, I discovered a lot about my new city and my host family,

I'm so happy to be here...

Federica Bertagnin

NINA - Week 2: Getting Around

                                                                                                                                 October 7^th, 10 p.m.

Dear Claire,

How are you? Is the school going well?

Here everything was great but, on Monday afternoon, I had a brief argument with my host family. I came out of school and I ran home because I knew that the wedding of Juan Carlos  Borbon’s son,  Felipe, was going to be broadcasted at 3.00 o’clock. I was interested in seeing his bride, her   wedding dress  and if   they had invited  any celebs. When I got home, however, I saw seven men glued to the TV watching a football match. I absolutely hate football matches!! I immediately thought: it’s just like home; when there’s a match, my brother invites all of his classmates to watch it.  So, I come close to   Francesco and I reminded  him that I had told him a week before that I would have liked watching this wedding. Nevertheless, he said that he hadn’t noticed it written  on the calendar. I had forgotten to do it. But I didn’t want to give in so, like a tiger, I ran to the TV and turned it off. As soon as I did it,  they all furiously shouted at me to turn it on. So my host mom arrived and she   proposed going her friend’s house. I turned the TV on and followed her. Over  dinner I asked my host father if he was cross with me but,  surprisingly, he wasn’t.

During the second week at school I met some students from the other classes. On Thursday, after Philosophy class,  I went to the school  library to revise some notes. It is quite nice and cosy,  not crowded as the one in Barcelona. I took a seat in  opposite a boy called Tom who at once  understood that I was a new arrival  at  school so, we introduced each other. I spent a lot of time talking about my new experience in Italy:  because of that I didn’t do what I had planned. He was very fit and he told me that he had practiced  athletics up to a year before, but now because of his girlfriend, he is forced to spend all his free time with her. Romantic, I thought. On the following day I saw one of my classmates, Luisa, kissing Tom.  And it was clear to me why he was forced to give up   his passion: Luisa is the most moody, competitive and  jealous girl that I have ever met, but also the prettiest in the school. I hate her!!!! The first time we saw each other was at school and she told me arrogantly: “What are doing here? Go back to your country, we don’t want foreigners here !!!”. I would have liked to strangle her but, she was rescued by the English teacher. Apart from this episode,  I really like my classmates and I also like living here.

The following days went by very fast and my relationship with my host family has got really good. Last  Saturday they organized a sightseeing tour around Vicenza. Firstly they took me to the Olympic Theater. It was absolutely fantastic. The most interesting thing are the seven streets which represented the city of Thebes. The first performance was held during the Carnival of 1585. 

Then, we had lunch at a farm house where we ate typical food: wonderful!! I really liked    the stockfish.  During the way back, Francesco took a shortcut to show me the “Villa Rotunda” which, with the Basilica and the Olympic Theatre, are the most popular buildings by Palladio. The villa was built in 1570.  In 1591 it was bought by Capra family.

Finally, tired but happy,  we returned to the city centre for an aperitif. We parked our car not too far from the town centre. When Francesco got out,  a man dressed in black  approached  him, and pulled out a gun from under his coat. At first I thought it was one of his friend who was simply joking,  but then   I saw that he was   terrified and before the robber could say  a word, Francesco  gave his wallet  to him. The robber ran  away leaving us speechless. A few days later, we would have discovered that the robber  had been  arrested. I’ll never forget this experience, I have never been so afraid  for myself and for someone at the same time . 

Now I must go. It’s really late,

Goodnight Clare, I’ll write to  you tomorrow.

Giacomo Filippo Segato

LYUDMILA - first week:culture shock

Friday, 23 march 2012


My first week in Australia has passed and I’m terribly homesick.

Jennifer and Christopher are kind and Mark and Amber are really friendly. During this week Amber and I have become close friends: we talk about school, boys and sports. I’ve also started  school: I’ve  noticed that is very different from my school in Russia. The school building is very big, there are lots of subjects and classes. Students must know how to get organized   and how to choose different courses: it’s like university!! I don’t know what to study, I’m following Amber like a shadow and I do the same classes she takes, even if I know that it is wrong. In Russia you don’t choose because the course of studies is fixed. Here we finish classes at four o’clock p.m. and we go swimming or surfing: the only problem is that in Russia we don’t swim or surf because we almost don’t know what a sea is. In addition I often get sunburned because my skin is white and delicate,  so I am as red as a beetroot! I must wear a t-shirt and so someone has started to pick on me and call : “Beetroot, beetroot!!” I’m furious: yesterday I had a temperature and I layed on my bed crying.

Today I feel better: my back doesn’t “burn” anymore. Amber promised  she will take me to Opera House: my friends told me that it’s amazing! during this week I’ve also improved my English, even if I still have problems to understand and talk  .. Sometime I wish I could fly and go back to Moscow, just for one night: talk with Aleksandr, tell mum and dad everything about  my problems and then return back here. I know that Australia is a great opportunity for me and then here there is…..James: that’s the name of the guy of my dreams, my charming prince. I saw him at school, during lunch time and since that moment I haven’t  stopped  looking at him: he’s like a drug! He’s so handsome: he has very short blond hairs and green eyes. There’s only one problem: he is the most popular guy of my high school, the captain of the rugby team, so I don’t know what to do to conquer him. Don’t forget that I’m called “beetroot”! Today Amber is not going  to school, so I must go along Sidney alone. There is a lot of traffic and the subway terrifies me. In Moscow I take the bus in front of my house and I’m at school in twenty minutes’ time. So, if I’m not going to write anymore you should know that I definitely got lost in one of the large streets in Sidney! Now I have to go, Jennifer has cooked her delicious pancakes with syrup: they aren’t like our “palacinke” but they are really good!

Riccardo Vinci