Jelly Fish

Everything and everyone here in Italy is chill. Everyday we go to the beach (incredibly nice) and EVERYONE wears skimpy clothing. I think Ive seen 2 one piece bathing suits and 3 long shorts for boys (which isnt a bad thing considering the fact that every young italian has a rockin body). But no matter what the size people flaunt what they got here. Its so wierd how to me it sounds like people are saying hfdkjshfkjhdaskfha when they are actually having a complete conversation. Ive actually gotten a lot better at understanding what people are saying its producing the words thats hard. Yesterday when we were out in a boat Beatrice, my little host sister, saw something scary in the water and everyone kept yelling MEDUSA MEDUSA but I couldnt see it so Im thinking that Im about to be eaten as a shark. It turns out Medusa means jelly fish and Beatrice loves to say jelly fish now. So other than my beach adventures last night we went to the gathering of all of the kids in the Carrara sculpting program. I couldnt believe my eyes when we entered the coolest art room ever. I felt like I was going to the opening of an art exhibit of a famous artist. It was nice to see the kids from America and here about their experiences. One got in a car accident where the car flipped completely over and crushed his hand on the first day. After that me and my two host families walked around the center of Carrara at night. It was the most beautiful sight in the world. Its ine thing during the day but at night its absolutely stunning. Colored lights line the night skies and lit up marble statues are featured in the streets. People sit outside and the restaurants lined on the streets and music hums in the background. I hope everyone has the chance to experience a moment when they want to cry because everything feels simply so right. I knew I was in the right place at the right time. Other than my cheesy moment with the world we ended the evening with gelato and a tour of the marble museum. Now what I am really excited for is the Italia vs. Espagna game Sunday night shown on a huge screen in the town center (: (: (:

Molto Buono

Today is the second day in Italy. I have already eaten the best sandwhich of my life (which consisted of  the most delicious meet in the world called specs), seen an italian woman on the side of the road in just a thong, and a fat old man in a speedo. Nonetheless, this is such an amazing and beautiful place. It is crazy how much there lives are focussed on togetherness. First we play a game where everyone lines up in a circle (boy girl boy girl...) and suck on a post it note and pass it to the person next to you by having them suck on the post it note in your mouth. THEN we played a game where boys line up on one side and girls on the other and one person in the middle. The girl on one side must kiss the boy called before he can kiss the girl in the middle. Thankfully I was wearing shorts because it got very intense and a girls dress went completely up revealing everything each of the 3 times she was called.... These games were ridiculous but extremely fun. Now the food... God the food is bloody delicious. Each meal served with bread, a plate of pasta, and a meat and vegetable dish followed by the BEST DESSERT EVER. For dinner today the dessert consisted of what seamed like a scoop of vanilla and chocolate ice cream. OH NO in was a cake pastry filled with chocolate and vanilla mousse surrounded by a thin layer of ice cream. Now, all of you reading this may be thinking dear god how fat is Grace going to be by the time she gets home but there is absolutely no snacking here so I don't think I'll be too bad...hopefully. The language here is so awesome to listen to I really wish I could speak it. There is an old man here with us named Paulo and he's so precious and old but speaks very little English so it's hard to communicate by I try REALLY hard to understand his italian cause I just want to be a friend, I think he likes me because I try so hard to speak a language I don't know a lick of. Anywho, the internet sucks here but the rest of the art sculpting kids and I will be leaving Thursday morning so I wont be here much longer so I might get better internet soon. Ciao!

Now or Never

Tomorrow I leave for NYC. There are so many emotions that I am facing such as excitement, confusion, nervousness. I have absolutlely no idea of what is yet to come but I kind of like it that way. I like the idea that there is no possible way of knowing what is going to happen so there is no way to anticipate. I just have to let things happen when and if they do. I also like the idea that no matter how much history you have with certain people or a town you can just pick up and start over and that's exactly what I'm doing in Italy. No one there has any idea of who I am or what I'm like and it's refreshing knowing I can become whoever I want to be there. I need to trust it, just trust what happens and realize that I am exactly where I need to be. I need to do whatever I feel is right and trust that it is right. Try new things, don't worry the consequences (I don't mean doing drugs Mom) and act without hesitation. Now is the time to try new things, do something out of your confort zone because this is the one chance we have. And tomorrow is just the beginning...
Did I just sound cheesy? Woops

To Pack or Not to Pack

I leave for NYC in 2 weeks! Then 2 days later I fly to Zurich then to Rome. Ahh! I haven't even started packing. What clothes should I pack? What gifts should I bring my host families? Do I bring a hair dryer?... And how am I supposed to NOT wear sweats out in public? It's basically the only things I wear here.And then we get to the big problem of the fact that I don't speak ANY Italian...that's going to be a problem. There's absolutely no time left and I am totally unprepared but I am sooo  excited!