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From Abroad

Wow. What a ride it’s been. When I left January 20th I had noooooooo idea what I was getting myself into. How much I’d grow as a person, how much I’d see, and the number of great friends that I’d make. CIMBA not only gave me the opportunity to go and see part of the world that I had not seen before, but it helped me find myself as well.

Thursday I finished with my finals (ughh. NOT FUN OR EASY) and that night we all celebrated at the pizzaria and the bar in town. I went to bed that night dreading the next day… I really did not want to say goodbye to all my new friends. Friends that don’t just live an hour or two away, but friends that live in like Iowa, Kansas, Florida, Alabama…

Friday I got up early and Iwona and I pretty much sat outside all day saying goodbye to everybody. All in all, it was pretty much just a cry-fest. My friend Jamie was the first to leave. And as the day went on more and more of my friends got on the bus to leave for the airport. We had our last lunch in the cafeteria, we bought our last tabbacchi sandwhich, and took my last walk around campus. 10 of us stayed the night in Venice because our flight out was on Saturday. It was a good night to end with. We went into the city, finished up gift shopping, and had a great dinner. I’m actually mad at myself for not exploring Venice more when I had the opportunity.

Saturday morning we woke up at 6:45 because my friends Amy and Alicia were leaving to go catch their plane. Again, the cry-fest started. Once they left none of us could go back to sleep and we laied there talking about the first time we met each other, the first time we arrived at CIMBA, and we watched videos that we all had made throughout our stay in Paderno del Grappa. The morning just seemed to drag on and on, and finally at 11:15 the rest of us left to go to the airport. One by one people left us until there were just 4 of us left- Me, Iwona, Sarah, and Lauren. We all were on the same flight to Chicago. We bought a few bottles of wine at the airport to take back with us (which were taken from us when we got to Chicago because those security people are mean- grrrrrrrrrrr I was so mad at that), had our last scoop of gelato and boarded a flight to Frankfurt, Germany. We ended up getting to Frankfurt at 4 and had to stand in line to go through security to get on a USA flight for so long that we JUSTTTTTTTTTT made our 5 flight. We were pretty much the last people on it. (ps. USA security is the worst- I’d defintely take an EU country over ours in that respect). After almost 9 hours- no sleep- 2 movies- and some gross airplane food… we arrived in the United States of America. I started singing America the Beautiful in the airport but Iwona and Sarah made me stop because they said I was being embarrasing… whaaaaaatever. Lauren went to meet her family in Chicago, Sarah got on a flight to St. Louise, and me and Iwona boarded our LAST FLIGHT to Pittsburgh. We FIIIIINAALLLYY arrived at our final destination 15 hours after leaving Venice. We were greeted by hugs and kisses, by our family and boyfriends- and we both were very happy. Of course Iwona’s one suitcase didn’t end up making it from Chicago to Pgh, but they told her they’d deliver it to her ASAP.

That night I finally went to bed around 3:30am and I woke up at 6:30am not being about to sleep anymore. Ahhhh stupid time difference. I got up and made omlettes for everybody- something that I definitely missed. I spent the day with my family and at 5pm I passed out. I had every intention of waking up around 8, but woke up at 6:30am once again and I have not been able to fall back alseep. I better get on a normal sleeping pattern soon!!!!!! So now It’s 8 am, but my body thinks it’s about 2 in the afternoon.

Wed I’m going back to Morgantown to see all my friends and I can’t wait! :-)
I really am happy to see all the people that I have missed, but just looking out my window I miss seeing the beautiful Dolomite Mountains and the georgeous italian landscape. Come this weekend I’m going to miss hoping on a plane or train and going to a new place. I really miss just walking down the hall and seeing one of my friends, or just going and sitting outside at the vending machine with them.

My study abroad adventure was everything that I could have wished for and wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more. It’s so hard to say what my favorite place was because everything I saw was so different from the next. If you’re a business, communications, or journalism major – I HIGHLY SUGGEST STUDYING ABROAD WITH CIMBA. This program really fine tunes every detail that you could want, gives you so much traveling time, provides you with great professors for classes, and sets up an environment that is unlike anything that you will ever experience. It’s so sad that this semester is over- but I look to the future with so much enthusiasm. There is so much of the world that I have left to explore- and I will explore it.

Thanks for reading my blog over the last 4 months!! I hope it was entertaining for you and I’m so happy I got to share my experiences with other people!! Thanks to WVU too for giving me the chance to blog! I have some greeeeeeat footage too that WVU will be using to make some video diaries – so everybody make sure you check them out!

Arrivederci e grazie mille!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ciao <3 Julie!

The lovely WVU girls

Wow. What a journey it has been over the last 3 1/2 months.
I start my finals tomorrow… 3 tomorrow and one on thursday
Friday I’m leaving my school in Paderno del Grappa for the last time and were spending the night in Venice.
Saturday our flight leaves here at 2:30- go to Franfurt and leave there for the states at 5.
After a 9 1/2 hour flight we’ll land in Chicago, spend 2 hours there and FINALLY make it back to Pittsburgh at 11:30 (which would be 5:30am in the time we’re used to)

This weekend was so much fun! We had our final formal dinner on Friday at this ammmmmmmmmmmazing place. They had a cocktail and appetizer hour outside for an hour before the dinner. Awe I loved it!!! My favorite part of the dinner though was the fruit dessert… I LOVE THOSE THINGS. They’re definitely my favorite pastry of Europe. I want to learn how to make the glaze they put on the top of them!!!!!

Von and I with Al Ringleb

During dinner this one kid, David from Uconn, played a song he wrote on his guitar about the Founder of our school Al Ringleb. It was such an awesome song and it incorporated a lot of things that we did throughout the semester. It’s on my youtube page. If you search for “What If Al Was One Of Us” if should come up. It was such a great night!!

Hanging out up on the fields

Saturday we all hung out on the fields of our school and played games and all kinds of stuff. It was such a great day and that night 105 of us went to our final European Disco about 20 minutes away. It was sooooooooooooooooo much fun!!! The club was so classy and they had a band play for the first part of the night. It was so funny to see an italian band playing american songs!!

At the club.. I’m gonna miss these girls SOOOO FREAKING MUCH!!!

Oh my goooooooodnessssss. I haven’t had allergies since I was little- but because we’re right at the foot of a mountain all the pollen comes down and gets trapped right where we are (or so the people in our school’s office tell me) and I seriously am like DYING. Uggggggh. My head is so congested, my eyes are so red and swollen people keep asking what’s the matter cause it looks like I’m crying- and I can like hardly breathe … great way to have to study for finals!! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooo.

DISCLAIMER: Finals here suck just as much as finals at WVU do.

I still have a few days left here so I’m going to live it up!! After my last final on Thursday I think a bunch of us are going to go to Bassano for a little bit one last time. It’s so sad to think that in one week my life will be so different again. I wish that everybody I loved could just come over here. I am soooooooo excited to see everybody though!!! YAAAAYYY!!!!! But I know once I get back in the routine of things back home (which by the way… hopefully I’ll have a job for the summer) I’m really going to want to come back. I mean I’ve been traveling every weekend and always doing something here… that is one thing they do well- keeping us busy. Whew. I think I need a nap after this semester. ha! Apparently the summer program is so much different then the semester program. I guess they have class during the day and they plan like day trips everyday to places- and trips on the weekend to go to places. They said that you don’t get as close to everybody else in the program like you do during the semester. But I know there are a bunch of people coming from WVU over here this summer- I hope you guys have so much fun!!!!! Maybe I’ll come back with you! haha!!

Well I better stop procrastinating and go study!

Ciao <3 Julie!

ps. here’s a pic of the toliets in the gym area… I remember when I first got here I wrote about them, but I finally got a pic… um yeah… a little weird huh??

So this Italian man I met on the plane ride home from Germany had a few questions for me that he had after he visited America for business last year…. I had to try not to laugh when he was asking me them (if you lived over here you’d think this was more funny because we complain about the lack of ice, the small cars, and how nothing is ever opened all the time)

But this is what he had to say:

Question ONE:

Cute Italian Man: “So I’m sitting in a resturant with my friend and I ordered a coke. First off. Why is everything in America so big? I order a hamburger… it’s big. I order a coke… it’s big?”

Me: “I don’t know. That’s just how it is. ha”

CIM: “So she brings me a coke WITH ICE!! (makes a weird face) and I was already cold so I didn’t want the ice. I didn’t want to be rude so I was just going to drink it fast. So I started drinking it and I put it down on the table. I turned to talk to my friend and when I turned back around it was FILLED UP!!!!!! (makes this surprised face)”

Me: (trying not to laugh so hard because in Europe nothing has free refills and they charge you so much for even a glass of water)

CIM: “Why? Why did she fill up my glass again? I didn’t even ask her to!”

Me: “Well… ha.. umm… because we have free refills on cokes”

CIM: “I mean- Did I have to pay twice? In Italy if you order a coke you get one coke. If you want another one you have to buy another one?”

I then went out to explain that coke had free refills… he then proceeded to ask me if PEPSI also had free refills. I was trying so hard not to laugh.

Question TWO:

He started talking again about how everything in America is so big…

CIM: “Over in America you have automatic cars! I had never driven one of those before. I was driving and I forgot that I was not in a manual car and I went to shift the gears and I pressed the break and my car stopped and the person behind me crashed into my car… why don’t you have manual cars too?”

Me: “We do. We have both.”

CIM: “But what I really don’t understand about your cars is why are they so BIG!?”

Me: “haha yeah. The cars over in Europe are definitely smaller.”

CIM: “My rental car was so big I didn’t even know what to do.”

Me: “What kind of car did you have?” (thinking he was going to say a SUV of some sort)

CIM: “An Impala”

..... apparently to Europeans the Impala is a HUGE car. HAHAHA!!!

Ciao <3 Julie!

Before coming to Europe I had never ever riden a plane by myself… but now I can say that I have successfully traveled – by myself- from one country to another one without even thinking about it. This past weekend I went to K�ln and Leverkusen, Germany! Back in Pittsburgh we had neighbors who moved from Germany for a few years to work for Bayer and then moved back 5 years ago. Since I was in Europe it they invited me to come stay with them! It was such a great weekend! It was awesome to walk out the doors of the baggage claim area and see people I knew waiting for me!!

Saturday we spent the day in K�ln. We took a train into the city- which was only 15 minutes away from their house- and walked around the town all day. The K�ln Dom aka the Cologne Cathedral is the main attraction in the city. It’s huuuugggeee and beautiful. The city is one of the more modern cities I’ve been to in Europe- but still had some older buildings that gave it that European feel. There were tonssss of shops and there was even one that I found called Gold Kraemer (which is my mom’s madien name!). It was a beautiful day 28 degrees – which is about 86-88 degrees F- so there were tons of people out. They took me to their favorite bierhaus- Bierhaus en D’r Salzgass. I told them to order me the typical meal and the bets kind of beer. Well. I’m going on record about this- the beer I had was honestly. hands down. the best beer I’ve ever had. In K�ln they brew beer a special way. It’s called k�lsch beer and it’s sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!!!!! (My second favorite is Pilsner Urquel in Czech). I had this huge pork thing with potoates to eat. OHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhh german food. It was delicious!!!!!!!!!!! I loved it!!

Sunday we spent the day around their town of Leverkusen. It was only a 10 minute walk from their house – and it was so cute!! I realized that germans ride their bike EVVVEEERRRYYWHHEERREE. There were so many people out riding around.
After spending the day walking around there we went to a park on the Rhine River. It was once a garden show that they made into a huge rec park. It was beautiful. I could have spent all day there.

Since they came to Pittsburgh they fell innnnnnnnnn love with the Pittsburgh Pens. So the day we were in K�ln we had to take the train to go pick up their car because they were getting a decal put on the back. All over their house were pics of Pittsburgh and Pens stuff- I loved it. I was so happy that I got to go stay with them- I didn’t want to leave!!!

Also they live right by the autobahn so I can now say I’ve rode on it!!
I realllllllllly liked Germany so much.
I’ve already decided that my next trip back to Europe will be this:
Munich, Berlin, Probably a stop back to Leverkusen to see Merten and Patricia, Krakow and Warsaw Poland, and Istanbul Turkey(so I can be in Europe and Asia at the same time!).
If you wanna go just let me know- haha!

Ciao <3 Julie!

Everybody please pray for the 4 students over here that go to Vtech.
My one friend has been notified that she knew someone who has died.
Two others have been notified that they know students who were injured.

These fellow classmates have become close friends of mine and to see them going through all this sadness is so hard. Being so far away from everybody that you need the most- this is definitely a very hard time for them. We will be holding a moment of silence at 3pm and we will be having a candle light vigil at 8- the same time VTech will be holding theirs at 2 over in the states.

Please pray for them… they need all the prayers that they can get.

Ciao <3 Julie.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed that I would have spent Easter Sunday is Africa?! This trip was amazing… I experienced a lot of things I hadn’t experienced before.

Sad that we’re missing Easter Dinner back home…
but we can’t be tooo sad because we’re in AFRICA!!
The resort did have a pen of bunnies right in front of the restaurant with a sign that said happy easter! haha.

Thursday night we left Venice and had a layover in Frankfort for a few hours. There we got a german beer and pretzel (both equally as yummy) and then hopped on a plane to Tunisia, Africa. It was pretty much amazing. Arriving in the airport we all were so excited to be on a new and different continent. In Tunisia the locals speak either Arabic or French- so all the signs were in both languages. It kind of looked like a scribble to me and then had a french translation below it. I had never been in an Arabic country before so it was really interesting to see the language lit up in lights on the sides of buildings just like everywhere else. When we went through customs all the people seemed very nice and we were glad because we were a little nervous that since we were American they may not be the nicest towards us. Once we got our bags we proceeded to the van that we had arranged to pick us up. Well. Ok. So there were 16 of us- a driver and another guy with the driver and they brought an 8 person van. So 18 of us squeezed into this 8 person van and off we went. We stayed in Tunis which is the capital, and the President’s house was right by our resort… therefore, every 100-200 meters or so there were cops standing on the side of the road. Wellllll… our van got pulled over. ha! The driver ended up PAYING OFF the cop and then away we went to our resort. *WELCOME TO AFRICA! *ha.

Our resort was very nice. We were the only Americans there (with the exception of one, she was from Seattle, but now has since moved to England). In the cities around where we were all the buildings are white with blue shutters and doors- so that’s how our resort was as well. Our resort staff was real fun as well. I think they just liked practicing their english on us- so they alllllways were around talking to us. The 16 of us has such a great time doing all the dances by the pool that they taught to everybody. Ha! Since we’ve been back those songs are all we keep singing and we’re always busting into those dances. haha goooood times. goooood times.

The first day we were there a bunch of us decided that we thought a great way to see the sites of the city would be to go ATVing. It was an excursion that our hotel provided- so we took them up on it. My friend Jamie and I rode on one… she had driven one before- but I had not. Joeii always talked about how growing up he always four wheeled and since hearing him talk about it I’ve wanted to do it – So I was excited to be getting to do this! Jamie drove for the first half and then I drove of the second. It was soooo much fun racing them down the beach next to the Mediterranean Sea, through little forests, and right on the streets of Marsa and Carthage (two of the towns).

The second day all 16 of us decided to ride camels! It was funny cause the first time we had been out on the beach we were just laying there, relaxing- enjoying the sun and all of a sudden my friend Maggie yelled “Oh my gosh – guys! There’s camels walking right next to us”. And sure enough- there were some camels passing right on by!
Riding the camels was soooooooooooooo much fun!!! They took us all along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and then they led us back in the forest where there was an African Hut set up. They made us mint tea (awesome) over a little fire and we sat in the hut and ate this authentic bread stuff that is a typical snack. They also let us dress up in African dresses and take pictures and put this henna on our hands that was supposed to give us good luck. It was seriously one of the best afternoons ever- it was just so interesting to be thrown into the culture and given the chance to really experience it.

The third and final full day we had there we really wanted to go to the market to get some cool African jewelery… buttttttt of course the staff said the one we wanted to go to was closed, but gave us directions to another one instead. A short walk, two buses, and about 45 minutes later we finally arrive to the “market” they sent us… yeah. It was a mall with a wallmart type of store in it. Since we had gone to all that trouble of getting there and because we were all sweating like ridiculous (because it was so hot) we decided to go in and check it out. Now. I can honestly say that being there was the most uncomfortable, most awkward, most “get me out of here I don’t want to be here” moment I’ve ever had. The President has passed a law banning women from wearing all the dresses and head dresses that cover everything but their eyes- but there are still some older woman that wear a little bit of that. Us walking through the mall must have been very interesting to them because they took no reservation in pointing and starring at us. I honestly hated the feeling that I felt there. It was the first time that I had ever felt that I DID NOT belong there. So, needless to say, we did not stay there very long and proceeded to go back to our resort. We were bummed out that we didn’t get to go to the market, but there was a shop on our resort that had some really cool things in it- so we all didn’t go away empty handed (I’m sure we could have got the stuff wayyyyyyyyyyy way wayyyyyyyyyy cheaper though had we went to the market).

So all in all it was a greaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat trip. So much fun, so much sun, rode two things I never rode before, and had a way uncomfortable moment. I loved Tunis, Tunisia Africa and I would sooooooooooo go back in a heartbeat!!!!

Ciao <3 Julie!

Ps. 16 days til I come home!!!!

I AM SO EXCITED FOR TOMORROWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our flight leaves tomorrow at 7:30 and we get into Africa about Midnight. I CAN’T WAIT!! It’s gonna be awwwesome. I just know it!

My friend Amy’s mom and Aunt came to visit this week and the last two nights we’ve had soooo much fun with them! Last night we went to the local pizzaria. There staying in a small town near by Asolo, Italia- which in fact is on the top 1000 places to go before you die list. We went to their apartment today (oh man… SO cute!) and we hung out- ate some cheese, bread, and wine and then went out to a delicious dinner of lasagna at this place which is famous for its lasgana… and of course finished the night with some gelato. They had this violet gelato- made from real violets- like the flower!! Amy’s aunt got it the other night and said it was her favorite thing ever… I tried it. It was really different tasting. I can’t even compare it to anything I’ve ever eaten. It was so nice to be in a family setting- different pace then what we’ve had here. I’m so glad her mom and aunt came and I got to meet them… It was a great night!!!

I’ll upload some pics of it once the internet here stops being annoying and actually lets me upload them!!!

ciao! <3 Julie!

Today we attended a really interesting lecture on the EU and it’s institutions. I really didn’t know much about it and I learned a lot. I never realize that the EU has put more rights in place for the citizens in the EU than we have in our constitution back home. Hmm… something to think about.
Plus the man who put it on was pretty entertaining- including techno music and prizes into his lecture.

Yesterday the final exam schedule came out- man. It’s so weird to be thinking about taking finals in a place other than WVU. I miss taking classes in good old Morgantown!! I do have to say- being away from it reassured me that I made the perfect decision in choosing to go to college at WVU. I have 3 finals on our Wed of finals week and 1 on Friday. . . I don’t even want to think about those yet. ha!

I’m so excited!! I have a webcam interview with Mylan tomorrow. I realllllllllllllllllllllllllllly hope I get this internship. I would love love love to work for Mylan. So wish me luck on that one!!

No big deal or anything… BUT I’M GOING TO AFRICA THIS WEEKEND!!!! I cannot express to you how excited I am about this. And I also cannot express my excitement at the possibility that I may get to ride a camel.

Ha- funny thought. Today I was walking back from the gym and I was walking along the one main road listening to my ipod. And I realized that out of all the cars that were passing I was probably the only person listening to country music. Life in other countries is so different. Me and my friend Jamie were talking today and I realized
I’M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!! wooohooo! I can’t wait for the 4th of July! Ha.. I’m such a dork. lol.

I’ll update soon… just thought I’d write something brief before I was off to class since I haven’t written in a while.

Ciao <3 Julie!

One month and I’ll be back in the good old US of A.

Am I sad? yes.
Am I excited? yes.

I love love loveeee it over here but I can’t wait to get home and:
– Hug my family and friends
– Give my boyfriend a kiss
– Cook!
– Eat an omlette
– Drink a COLD glass of milk
– Have a bowl of ABC soup
– Drive my car
– Have convience back in my life
– Hang out with all my friends back home!!
– Sleep in
– Wash my clothes in a washer that actually will get the dirt all out
– Go to Walmart (haha.)

My Hott Family. Love you guys!

Me and my Mountain Mamas! Miss you girls so much!

Me and my awesome roomate Steph doing the robot… we love it. I miss you!!!

Me and my baby. Love you so much Joeii <3

What I’m going to miss the most about living here:
– The awesome sandwiches everywhere
– Authentic food
– All my new awesome friends
– Traveling
– Papa
– Gelato
– Just picking up and going somewhere every weekend
– Cheap wine!
– Meeting crazy people from all over the world
– Living in a completely different culture

I was thinking about it today… it’s kinda weird- but when I was a freshman living in dorms I lived in a corner room on the 4th floor. And now that I’m back in dorms I’m living in a corner room on the 4th floor again! haha.

I wanna give a special BREAK A LEG shout out to my sister.. I’m missing her first part in our high school’s musical this weekend! N- I’m so proud of you and I really really realllllllllly wish I could be there!! LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

Yaaaaaaay Mountaineers!! NIT Champs!!! wooohooo!! I sooo wish I could have been in Morgantown last night to watch the game! I did wear all my dubv gear yesterday so I was representing all the way over in Italia!

Tomorrow we have a school field trip- we’re going to Redipuglia to see the WW1 memorial. They said if you have roots in Italia then you will definitely see names of your realtives on there. That should be interesting to see. Then we’re goin gto Castello di Miramare- which is a castle right by sea. Then we are going to Treiste, Italia. After that me and a bunch of people are going to catch a train and spend the night in Jlubjlana, Slovenia. Dr. Peace said it’s definitely a city to check out- so I’m excited to see it!!! It should be a fun weekend!!

Ciao <3 Julie!

TENERIFE, CANARY ISLANDS- SPAIN = greatest place in the whole wide world.

I felt so guilty just LAYING on the beach for 4 days. We had been to Spain before when we went to Barcelona, but this place was more the way i pictured Spaniards to live. Bright colors, loud music, beautiful scenery. It was greeeeeeeattt!! Von celebrated her 21st birthday here and what a way to celebrate!

About 30 of the students from here at CIMBA went and we all stayed in an all inclusive resort. Now going from grungy hostels to staying in an all inclusive resort- we all thought we had died and gone to heaven!!! Because of the volcanoes on the islands the beaches are black sand (which I had never seen before) and the rocks and mountains made the ocean just SO beautiful! It was fun to swim in the Atlantic ocean from the other side!

The Canary Islands are so close to Africa that the resort manager just kept saying… “you’re pretty much in Africa.” Actually- next weekend I am going to Africa!!! We’re going to Tunisia. I’m so excited!! My coach Deby says that her nephew studied there and said the music and culture and everything is so much fun and awesome that he didn’t want to leave!! I can’t wait! I want to ride a camel… They had them in the Canaries, but we didn’t get to ride them!

Over all our second travel week – Rome, Pompeii, and Canaries- was ammmmmmmmmmmmazing!!!!!!!! So much fun! So much culture! I LOVED it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ciao <3 Julie!