Cibo di Italia.... Questo Mi Piace

The title is TERRIBLE Italian so don't judge me! I tried to say... Food of Italy.... This I like... I know it isn't perfect and it probably never will be... but hey I'm learning some ;)

So this past weekend we went to a festival known as the Feste di Torrone. It is the most famous festival in Cremona because Cremona is known for it's Torrone! It was created here! :) It is made of honey, sugar, nuts, and other delicious things. I actually like it alot.

This is Torrone... It doesn't look so great but I promise it is good! So this is what the festival was centered around!


Also a TON of exchange students came to the festival... so I got to see all my lovely exchangers and meet some new ones as well. There were kids from Sardinia and it was pretty cool to hear about the differences in the south. They stayed the whole weekend so we got to spend a lot of time with them and show them the city as well! It was great! Now I will ppost a few pictures to excite your visual senses ;) Creative statement I think. <3

 This is just a small idea of how we all act in public... From left to right, Tessa- North Carolina, Chris- Missouri (repping the midwest ;)), Me!, Esther- Germanyyyyyyy! <3 Love these kids more than anything!

 My lovely friend Connor! Yes we are really this weird.. Breadstick mustaches are typical occurances at dinner in public. That's what us Midwest kids do... what can we say? ;)


 This picture KILLS me! I think it is so freaking funny! This is Kenneth from Sardinia! He is originally from Washington! He didn't know I was taking this and that is why it is SO funny!

 My girl Anna! From New York! Love her to death! She lives three hours away which makes me sad... but spending the weekend with her was awesome! :) Come visit me soon love <3


 Chowing on some cannolis with my girl Gwen, from Seattle, Washington :) Literally the BEST Italian food I have had... I could have ate 1,000.


 If this doesn't describe my eating problem... I don't know what does... ;)


 Not this weekend... but this was the 50 euros we found lying in the street... so what did we buy you may ask? Food... DUH! <3


That's all for now! More to come soon! Love and miss you all! <3 Kari!


***Ciao ragazzi! Ci vediamo!

Milano for a day.

Well as you can tell by the title... I went to Milan for a day with Kayleigh, another exchange student. We went with her host family to shop!!! Every girls dream of course ;) And let me tell you, it was like I was in heaven. Almost cried walking in Zara... it was sad. But I had an amazing time and managed to make it out without breaking my bank! I will post a few pictures from our trip. But this post will be short and sweet :)

 Kayleigh and I in front of the Galleria!


 Louis... yes this is real life and yes it was like being in heaven. However I couldn't bring myself to go in for the fact that I would leave completely depressed.



 Just about the only store I could afford.. But it was SUPER cool! Loved it!


 The entrance to a 5 story Zara... aka, the gates of heaven.


 Abercrombie model... Oh heyyy gorgeous. ;)

 Inside the Duomo, seriously breathtaking.


 Kayleigh and I, outside the Duomo... Yes, it really is as beautiful as it seems. Actually way more beautiful in person. I can't explain it.

Well that is all for now. I have more on Facebook if you are curious! I will post soon! Until then, ciao ci vediamo belli ;) -Kari <3

Realizations!

Okay, I have had a longggg month. Lots of rough times or things that seemed like they would ruin this experience for me... But I am still breathing and alive to tell you that nothing in the world could ruin this for me. Stupid boys and dumb drama back home means nothing to me because I am here. My mind is in Italy and that is where it needs to be. I wanted to write a post because I know you all love reading them ;) and also because I need to let you know of a few things I have come to realize in these past two months. Things I think I should've known a long time ago, but was too blind to see.

Here goes nothing,
1) Life goes on. I say this to myself constantly... and I always try to convince myself it is true but I have never believed it until now. People will break your heart and life will leave you in the dust... wondering what the hell is happening. We all have these experiences when we are pretty sure our whole world is crashing... but what I've come to realize is that these things are so minor in the long run. Move on and breathe because it does get easier. I have had some of the worst nights here where all I want is to be home... nights where I honestly didn't sleep because all I needed was a hug from my mom, but the next morning I wake up and realize where I am... I walk out and see the tallest bell tower in Europe. I wake up to someone speaking Italian. I eat cookies for breakfast because that is normal here. I go to school and make new friends every single day.... I couldn't be more lucky. So I have realized that dwelling on the past gets me no where.

2) The friends who stay by you when things are going bad are the ones who will be there for you when things couldn't be any better. My best friends back in Kansas have stuck with me through all of this and this whole roller coaster of emotions. I have put my friends through so much to get to this point and I owe them my life for all the support they have constantly given. Thank you so much Harley and Paige... I love you girls more than anyting and I miss you more than words can say. Along with them, the friends I have met here will be lifelong friends and I know that. Connor, Kayleigh, Tessa, Regan, Lenny, Esther, DeWayne, Gwen, Ilsa, Josiane, and Tianmai... I love you guys so much, You have been here to laugh and cry with me and every single one of you means the world to me. The main point of this is to say thank you. I have realized that I could not have better friends to get me through this crazy, whirlwind year I am in.

3) A realization that has been two months in the making.... I AM IN ITALY! I am living my dream... and I couldn't be any more exstatic, probs spelled that wrong, to be doing so. Anyone who has helped me get here is forever in my heart. I say this a lot and maybe it is getting a bit redundant, but I couldn't get here without all the help I have recieved. So thank you everyone, even if it is simply just giving me well wishes and staying updated on my life. Thank you sooooo sooo much. You have improved my life and changed it for the better and I cannot thank you enough.

This post was mainly because I finally have realized that life is perfect for me right now... no matter what happens, I am in Italy and that isn't changing anytime soon. I think this is making me a better person and showing me that life has challenges you just have to run at them knowing you ocan make it... Thanks for reading my blog and listening to me rant constantly :) Hope all is well wherever you are at! Love and miss everyone! More post soon to come. Happy Halloween and best of wishes to everyone! <3 With much love and thanks, Kari.

*Ciao a tutti, grazie mille per questo experienza. Te amo. <3 Mi Italiano e` molto horribile. Mi dispiace. :)

Red

The title of this post is Red, because Taylor Swift's new CD came out and it is the best CD I have ever heard in my entire life. I love her more than words can describe. Literally obsessed... it's creepy. But anyyywayyysss! Back to the whole reason I am posting... well frankly it's because I live in this place called Italy ;) I can't even describe how much I love it here... I don't think I would trade this for anything. I know I say that alot, but I really mean it. I love it more than anything here... and everything that makes this difficult is outweighed by the pure beauty of this country. You don't understand beauty until you live in a place with soooo much history and architecture, and mountains, and the sea... and grapes, and Italian people in general. Never in my life have I met such amazing people. I will always have a special place in my heart for Italians... I think after this I will consider myself part Italian. I hope my children will get to experience something like this because it truly has changed my life. Two months in and I have learned so much not only about this place, but myself. My confidence has been boosted a thousand percent.. I am so much more open and I love being around new people now. I honestly am a completely different person in a totally good way.

Now lets see, I feel like a lot has happened since I last posted, but honestly, so much happens in a day it is hard to keep up. I already posted some pictures of Monterosso but none of the scenery really so now I will post a few of those. FOr those of you who don't know, Monterosso is one of the five towns in Cinque Terra. They line the west coast of Italy along the Mediterranian sea. It is the most beautiful place I have EVER been in my entire life. So here are a few pictures... :)



This is the view from near the top of a mountain overlooking the sea. And yes the water was that blue. No editing done :)

 One of the towns in Cinque Terra, soooo beautiful. I took all of these pictures on a small digital camera and they still look this beautiful.... that is how stunning it truly was.


 Proof I was actually here ;) Me reppin' K-State! You're welcome Molls <3 LOVE YOUUUU!

So there is a few pictures so you know just how truly beautiful it actually was there. Now I will post a few random pictures of random things I do in this lovely town of Cremona <3

 My two favorite people in this lovely country :) Connor and Kayleigh!!!! We went to a school party and lets just say it was practically a club lol. So we are nasty looking cause it was soooo hot in there. But it was sooo cool to see how Italians have fun. Definitely something new hahah.

 This gives you an idea of how many people were here... about 800... yep. My mom was a little concerned when I showed her lol. But I am very proud to say I didn't break a single Rotary rule! You should be proud of me Robert and Stephen! I always follow the rules! :)

 Me going down a slide... I love this picture... it shows how crazy the exchange students act in public lol.


That's about all the pictures I have for now! And I am Skyping my mommy so I gotta goooo! Until next time <3 Kari!

Still Neglecting...

Sorry guys, my camera seems to hate me and refuses to let me upload pictures... So I will post my top 5 fave pictures from this amazing weekend in Cinque Terra. And will share the lovely video that my lovely Tessa made <3 I can't even explain how beautiful this place was. I want to go bac so bad. But for now I will let the pictures speak and I will create a REALLLLYYYYYY long post soon... Promise youuuu! <3
 EVERYONEEEE! Four districts and 55 crazy students.... Love these kids <3


 Literally obsessed with this picture. The water was SO SO SO blue! And I am seriously considering on using this for a senior picture. Compliments of Tessa's camera and Regan's photography.



 Love this because it is soooo photographic. Me and Chris and Connor and Kayleigh. Love themmmmm <3


 Same people :)

 My girl Tessa, the most amazing photographer I know <3 LOVE YOUUUUUUUU!!!

 All the lovely ladies and Connor... we make him look soooo good! ;)



 Love this picture too. My cartwheel sucked but I loveee the background... Nothing like seeing the Meditteranian as you cartwheel... And Connor ruined it... cool jerk.

And the videoooo! Watch and enjoy. Compliments of Tessa <3

None of these I can take credit for lol. So thank you Tessa and Regan for all these lovely pictures! <3

Neglecting to Post Excuses. :)

Okay guys, here is my lovely excuses to why I have been neglecting to post...
-Too lazy.
-Too busy.
-Too hard.
-Too much gelatto.
-Too much to do.
-Not enoough time.
-Too many pictures.
-Too many people to see.
-Too many plans.
-BEING IN ITALY!
So I sincerely apologize that I have neglected you all. Love and miss you and I promise to post as soon as possible. Right after my lovely trip to Cinque Terra this weekend :) Which happens to be this.....

So you can see why I won't be posting this weekend. But I promsie to update with many pictures as soon as physically possible! MUCH LOVE! <3 Kari

When Latin Gives You Lemons

So right now let me just tell you how pumped I am. I wake up superrrr lateee from pure exhaustion. My host parents and I went to a violin concert last night and it lasted supperrr late so I barely got much sleep. I practically want to bang my head against the wall, not kidding. SO I wake up and rush through my routine knowing school is going to kill me today. I am praying that the day goes fast and I can just go home and sleep. I get to school, already wanting to jump out the window... I hate Italian school. Luckily I had English first period. I love my English teacher so I wasn't complaining. Then after Latin.... boo. I hate it. But I found out that they were taking a TWO HOUR TEST! If I had to sit through that class for two hours I was going to jump out the window. Don't doubt it. But thanks to my lovely English teacher they sent me to the computer lab to screw around and get on facebook while the class took their test!!! :) So currently I am in the computer lab, loving life :) So I figured I would give a few more updates and pictures since recently I have been slacking a little bit.... :) Sorry 'bout it. I am a busy girl! But here goes nothing.

Let's talk food, shall we? American's have a veryyyyy wrong idea on Italian food. We always assume that what we eat at Olive Garden is the real deal. But let me tell ya, it definitely is not. Of course there is pizza, and pasta, and gelato. That is all very true. But there isn't Alfredo, which I was actually pretty dissapointed about. And there isn't spaghetti and meatballs like we know and love. The pasta is different, but so much better. And the pizza is 20 times better. Pepperoni here means peppers... so don't order that. And the only cheese they use is Mozzerella. So no three cheese or 15 meats or all that crazy stuff. but here there are at least 50 kinds of different pizza at every pizzeria you go to. And it is all SO good! The other day I wanted a change, so us exchange students decided to take Connor's word that this Turkish place was amazing. Turkish food... something I have never tried. So we went and had sandwiches. The place is called Kebob and the meat is literally a massive Kabob that they shave off of. I asked what the meat was and Connor refused to tell us until after we ate. So being the daring person that I am... I ate it. Turns out it was 80 percent lamb.... I almost cried. I felt really bad. But let me tell you, it was the best sandwich I have ever had. And that is no lie.
So here is a lovely picture of me eating this sandwich....  I look suppperrrr cute. I know ;) The creepy looking guy in the background is the Turkish guy and he was AWESOME. Although he was disappointed we didn't speak Italian or Turkish... Lol.  This is the sandwich we ate. Courtesy of Tessa's AMAZING photography. But it seriously was sooooo good!  And a lovely picture of Kayleigh chowing down. She will kill me for this. I think it's a cute picture ;)




Moving on, because I knowing seeing that sandwich made you all soooooo jealous ;) Uhmm... I feel like I haven't posted a picture of all the exchangers yet, so here is one from some supppperrrr boring dinner we were forced to go to ;)
 From left to right, Tianmai-Oregon, Connor-Missouri, DeWayne-Arkansas, Josiane-Canada, Regan-Minnesota, ME!-KANSAS <3, Tessa-North Carolina, Esther-Germany, Lenny-New York, Kayleigh- New York, and Ilsa-Texas. That is all of us that live in or around Cremona! :) I love all of these people, as I have said many times.


Okay, now I want to be serious. As an exchange student, everyone says you have that moment when you are like, oh my gosh, this is where I am supposed to be. Like this is the point when they realize that all of this is real and it is their life. Although I haven't had that EXACT moment yet, last night I had that feeling that what I was doing and where I am is exactly where I need to be. I finally realized that i could not be more lucky. I complaing soooo much about how hard the language is and how hard school is, but I realized... I could not be more lucky and God has blessed me beyond belief. Many people don't get this experience to travel. they don't get to see the world simply because they aren't given the opportunity. And the fact that the opportunity was laid at my feet blows me away. Before this I never would have said, I am going to travel, I want to be different. but now I know that being different and traveling is something I should feel privileged to be able to do. I cannot thank everyone enough for everything they have done to get me to this point. Any person who has made this a possibility will forever be in my heart. Rotary Youth Exchange is something I wish everyone could experience and I am so glad that I am a person who gets to be apart of this. I am truly blessed.

Here are a few pictures of the people that made this a possiblity <3 Thank you guys so much. And to people not pictured, just know that I am equally as thankful for your support as well.
 My friends and my boyfriend gave me more support than I could have ever asked for. They sacraficed seeing me for a year, so that I could live my dream and I thank them so much for that. I am truly blessed to have such great people in my life. Thank you guys and I love and miss you more than anything.

 This little girl right here helped me so much to get to this point. From countless hours of sitting outside stores fundraising, to her just telling me how much she loved me and how she was so excited for me... She was such a big help in making this a possibilty. I love you Kell and I miss you <3 And everyone tell her congrats on finishing her cross country races, that is a sport many people can't do and this little girl is a pretty good runner ;)

 My big sissy <3 I love and miss her almost more than anyone else, no offense ;) She is my rocka dn this girl is the one who told me that no matter what I could do it. She constantly told people to help me fundraise, she told me when I was doubting it, that it was what I needed to do. She has been there for me when I didn't think I could make it this far. I lvoe her so much. Thank you Molly so much <3

 The man who made this a dream for me. Along with Stephen Wheatley who I don't have a picture of! Don't think I am forgetting you Stephen! :) These two men did everything they could to get me here. And I am so thankful for everything they did. Rotarians truly are the nicest people I have ever met.
 My parents. They did everything in their power to get me to this point. From fundraising to countless hours of telling me I could do it. If I doubted it they told me that I could and I love them so much for that. Thank you guys, so much.

 My aunt and grandma. They gave me more support than I could ever ask for and I am so grateful for that. Thank you guys so much and I love you and miss you like crazy! <3

So there are just a few people who made this dream a possibility. I have to go now, but thank you all so much for your constant support and love. <3 Best wishes, Kari <3