Novembre!!!!

Wow! I can't believe that it is already November! It is amazing how fast time is flying. On first thought, it doesn't seem like I have been here in Italy for practically two months, but on second thought, I realize how many things I have done, how many different foods that I have tasted, and how many hurdles that I have jumped over. Now, I understand practically all the Italian that is spoken around me. I only have trouble when people speak really, really fast. They really only speak super fast when they are excited about something, for example politics. For me, I find that to be a huge achievement. When I first arrived here, I barely understood anything. All I did was follow people around and nod/shake my head. I knew the basics...hello, goodbye, how are you, what is your name...etc... Now, I can actually converse with people. Mind you, I do have to stop and think many times, I don't have all of the grammar down, and I make numerous mistakes, but considering that I am speaking another language, I don't mind. :)

Yesterday, the first and the day after Halloween, was a day in which people commemorate the deceased. I guess that you could sort of relate it to the Day of the Dead in the Hispanic culture, but it not the same. We went to the cemetary where my host parents relatives are buried. All around the entrance to the cemetary, vendors were selling thousands and thousands of flowers. Inside shops, they had boxes of candles for people to put outside of the graves and tombs. We bought yellow and white flowers and a candle. As we manuvered our way through the cemetary, I was looking at everything. I know that this may sound strange, but I have never seen a more beautiful cemetary. When you walk in the huge iron gates, there is a large gravel area. From this gravel area, there are numerous gravel or paved paths leading to other parts of the cemetary. There are tombs around both sides of all of the paths. Facing forward while walking in, there is a hill. On top of this hill, there is an enormous tomb of some incredibly wealthy family! I have never seen a tomb so large. In front of this tomb on the side of the hill, there is a garden. You know, one of those gardens that is manicured and designed? It was really beautiful. It was a sunny day and the inside of the cemetary was very green. There were trees, bushes, flowers, grass...When we got to my host mother's family tomb, we took time to clean off the stairs in front of it. There was a fig tree growing and we had to saw it off with a key. We lit the candle and put flowers in a vase. Then, we moved to my host father's fathers grave. We cleaned off the top and put flowers in two vases at the base of the grave. All around us, people were doing this to their deceased loved ones. I thought that this was a wonderful way for people to remember their loved ones and to celebrate their lives. From my background, this was completely different, so I enjoyed being a part of it and learning how Italians remember their ancestors.

Hah! Another new thing with me, is that I am officially learning how to cook Italian food! The food here is absolutely to die for, so I am thrilled that I have the opportunity to learn. This way, I will be able to cook Italian food when I return to America! I have a notebook where I am taking notes and I always watch my family when they cook. I will eventually start helping more, but I have to learn the techniques first. :)

More next time! :)

Ciao a tutti!
Rebecca