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