After a month of school, I have officially decided that school in Canada is WAY more fun. Maybe I have a biased opinion, and maybe it will get better once I can, ahem, understand what we are actually learning about, but my observation as of now, is that there is absolutely no stimulation for the students. Everyone works hard, and studies hard so maybe that is an improvement to the Canadian system, but honestly I like being able to move around in between classes, and get know know more than just the 21 other people in the class, and be able to get to know the teachers, as you can go in for extra help in the mornings, lunch, and after school in Canada. I like doing activities in class, Mr. Lines' stimulating lectures, having lunchtime to socialize, and looking forward to traditions with the school such as graduation ceremonies, prom, sunrise, sunset, pep rallies, grad-napping, extracurricular sports and programs. Also, if we thought gym class at Pen-Hi was a joke, we didn't know the meaning of easy gym class. We only have an hour a week here, and the gym which is about the size on the old South Gym at Pen-Hi, is split between 3 classes, meaning there is no organization whatsoever, and the 35 minutes we have to actually do anything, is spent playing an unorganized game of volleyball or shooting basketballs. One thing I have noticed is that I can no longer speak French, when the mind is immersed all day in learning Italian, and considering how similar the two languages are, when the teacher asks me anything I say "Si.. I mean Oui" literally every single time, and I forgot words such as "peut-etre" that I should not be forgetting.
This week I learned how to ride a bicycle with an umbrella, which I should note takes serious skill, and honestly doesn't keep you all that dry. I learned that Italians are very honest about themselves, because when asked to write a paragraph on their strengths and flaws (English class, so I understood), they did not hold back, some explaining that they are jealous, others explaining that they are bossy and moody when asked about their flaws; which was extremely refreshing, as I can honestly say that if we were asked to write about our flaws at school in Canada, traits like jealousy and moodiness would probably not be stated, as it is a little too honest.
On Saturday, I got some drinks with some friends from school, and then went to Casomai, the local discoteca. It is much the the clubs at home, I would imagine, except being the opening night of the season, it was literally jam packed, impossible to move. Oh right, and it doesn't open until midnight, music doesn't start until 12:30 and most people stay until 4 or 5 am, but considering we eat dinner every night at 9pm, I guess that makes sense. The discoteca was fun, for sure, I went with Luca, his brother, and my exchange student friend, Milla. I was happy to have her, as I'm pretty sure I would have been alone, had it not been for her, but I am still at the point in this exchange that when I got home, I thought "Yeah that was fun, but it would have been soo much more fun if my friends had been there". I think that feeling with subside, though, with time.
Also, on Friday, the four Rotary girls living in Trieste came to Udine for the afternoon, and I can't explain in, but somehow rotary students just connect, right away, and I felt more comfortable with them, then I have with almost anyone so far. It was a comforting feeling, and the trains make seeing them fairly easy.
On Sunday, I went to a cute little town in the mountains with my host mom for an art show focusing on angels.  Udine is in the center of various small towns, some in the mountains and some near the ocean, all of which the teenages come to Udine for school. Not that I have been to Austria, but this town reminded me of stereotypical Austria. We went on a walk, which turned into an hour and half hike, but it was well worth it, as we ended up at a church way up in the mountains. The gloomy weather only accentuated the overwhelming peacefulness of the church, and the panoramic view of mountains and other surrounding mini-towns. It was beautiful to say the least. The angel art show, although the guide spoke too fast for me, was an incredible cultural experience, as there is honestly not too much culture like it in Canada. The paintings and sculptures were incredible, and I could feel the history seeping out of them. It would have been nice to know the story behind them. I, also met a family from London, who had just moved to one of the mini-towns with their 3 young kids. They said it was nice speaking real English to some, which made me feel happy because that is exactly how I feel sometimes.
Maybe this time in the mountains, or sitting next to someone in class who blows his nose every 5 minutes, caused it, but somehow I ended up with the worst cold I have had in a long time. My host dad keeps saying " I though Canadians were strong people" which eats away at me a little considering I have always been a strong person, and have gone to school and continued on daily life having a cold or not. The truth is, school here doesn't matter, so why not just lie in bed right?
After being here officially a month, it has definitely been far from easy, but I am becoming slowly more comfortable with life here. It has definitely made me realize how much I love Canada, and the way things are done there. I really like Italy, I honestly do, but Canada is still my home and I love it there. With my being sick, and my stuttering being the worst it has been in a long time, speaking a new language all the time is incredibly exhausting. Good thing is it such a beautiful language, because it's a pain in the ass! I will never understand why it is important to have masculine and feminine EVERYTHING, for goodness sakes.