Merry Christmas - Buon Natale

I know I am a day late, but I hope you all had a Merry Christmas filled with family, friendship, and fun. I miss you all but I will be home faster than you know it. Only 6 months remain left in my exchange; the first four flew by!

Have a wonderful end to 2012 and a great start to 2013.

A presto!

AF

December 21, 2012

Ciao a tutti!

According to the Mayans, my current location in the world is going to come to an end in about an hour.

I'm going to stay up and see what really happens.

The countries east of me have shown no sign of any catastrophic events taking place, and I expect that to continue for Italy and all its inhabitants (including me).

If the world does come to an end, I just want to say thanks to everyone who has affected my life whether that might be good or bad because you have helped me get to where I am right now. I am here today and I'd say I'm content with life at the moment, so for this: I thank you all.

Have a nice day everyone.

AF

Lydia Banks

Post #50 goes to the coolest and kindest exchange student I've ever met: Lydia Banks.

Lydia is a fellow Rotary Youth Exchange Student from Canada. She is currently living in Corleone, Italy.

Lydia came to my host city along with the other Sicilian exchange students for the Santa Lucia festival but she stayed a few extra days so we could do some extra tourism around Siracusa since she did not come last month when the rest of the group did. We saw Ortigia, an Archaeological Museum, and ancient walls in Belevedere (a small city just outside Siracusa) that used to surround the entire area. We went out in the evenings with Mats and Poppaea (other exchange students in Sicily) to eat pizza, walk around, and talk with each other.

Lydia, thanks for being so kind to me and I hope I can come visit you at some point over the Christmas holiday break. I really enjoyed having you as company. See you soon.

Fall.

AF

Santa Lucia

Ciao a tutti,

I attached a video so you could truly see the great number of people were packed into Piazza Duomo (the avenue in the video), but I'll give a brief summary of the day.

It started when the other American who is also in Siracusa, Mats Hanson and I welcomed the other exchange students who are also in Sicily. We met all who were planning on attending, went to an archaeological museum, and then headed for a cafe where we ate lunch. After eating we all walked to the apartment of Siracusa's Rotary Club President's home (the place where I shot the video). We watched the procession, ate supper, and then most of the exchange students went back to their host cities.

Enjoy the video.

Until next time, ciao!

AF

I AM ALIVE!

Ciao a tutti!

Yes, I am in fact alive, I just haven't a whole lot to say since I've been on a pretty regular school schedule the past few weeks.

Happy birthday mom! I love you and I miss you!

There is less than three weeks until Christmas! I can't wait!

Have a beautiful December everyone.

Ciao for now!

AF