Ciao!
So after 25 hours of travel in cars and planes and a lovely 8 hour layover in Rome, I am here in Italy!
My host sister Elo and her boyfriend Samuel came to get me at the airport and we returned home. It was amazing coming back to the family I had left 3.5 years ago. I feel like I left just yesterday! My mom and Dad are exactly like they were when I left and we fell back into a rhythm of teasing and learning like we did so long ago. The most touching part is that they saved my slippers. In Italy, when you arrive home, you always take off your shoes and put on slippers (Guests borrow a pair of guest slippers), and when I came home, they had my slippers waiting! They had kept my slippers because they knew that sooner or later I would be back. I almost cried.
The house has changed a little bit. Elo only has one bed in her room instead of our bunk beds and they have a great new couch in the sitting room. Also two flat screen tvs! Haha. The Apartment is quite small but I forgot how easy it is to live there. There are five rooms, the Kitchen, Elo’s room, the sitting/dining room, my Parents room, and finally the bathroom. Also there is no central heating but instead a stove in the hallway when you enter. The size of the house is surprisingly perfect and I don’t feel the need of more space even when we are in 4.
My Italian is coming back even better than I thought it would. I thought it would be a lot harder but I am loving all the practice I can have! I am sleeping in the Room Elo and I shared and she is sleeping on the couch.
Last night we ate pizza and I got pizza con Frutti di mare. Pizza with fruit of the sea (sea food)! Oh how I missed the food! Tonight I will be at Samuel’s house for dinner. I have eaten there many times and I am excited to see his family again. The only problem with his house is the wine. At the Romanini’s (my house) we drink acqua frizzante (fizzy water) with just a dash of wine for flavor. At the Sanazzaro’s house (Samuel’s house) we drink straight wine. Hopefully after all my years of practice at college I will manage not to get drunk at dinner like old times!
Today my parents are hard at work at their shop (hunting and fishing store) and Elo is studying hard for her exams. University here has exams mid January to mid February. How horrible! That would sure ruin Christmas break! So Elo says she must study until 4pm (ish) and then we are going shopping! While I have been away Gravellona Toce has built a mall! WOW!
Now I am going to go take my first shower after such a long journey. I have to make myself have a “bella figura” good figure or just present myself well. On the way over I was the most underdressed at the airport so I have to make up for it now I am here!

So I am writing again and it is midnight. I went to lunch with parents and Elo in town. Then I went to their shop to hang out. They are vry busy because they sell fire works and everyone shoots them off at new years. Then I went to the cafe' that I always went to when I lived here. I saw soooooo many friends and it was sooooo weird. Then later Elo and I went shopping and I got a cell phone and a har straightener. All the sales here don't start until the 2nd of january so we will probably shop again.

I did not eat dinner at Samuel's house and instead we are going on saturday. Insead I had dinner at home and then Elo samuel and i went to the bar for a little bit just to go out. It was nice justbeing out again.

Tomorrow is a new day! Ci senitamo!

Abroad Blog part 3

So this is my third attempt to keep a blog while abroad. Hopefully I will be a bit better this time....

So if anyone ask this is where I will be posting pictures and writing about Italy.

Love you all!

Baci means kisses so just remember I am sending you baci from Italy!