Ciao Italia!!!!!!

I just thought I would do a quick post to say that Im here and I am ok!!! I have been soo busy with everything here! I will write more in the next week and post pictures :) Tomorrow is my first day catching the bus by myself to school so I need to go to bed!

Buonanotte!
 Shanté

Goodbye...

 So This is it I believe. My last post in America. I will not have access to an actual computer until the night of September 11th. I cannot believe how far we have come!!! It seems like only last week I was crying that I wouldn't be going due to my tuition, and now look at me, packing my bags and saying goodbye!!! I went to my school for the last time yesterday and everyone gave me their words of wisdom. I loved Ms. Slak's! Here is how that conversation went:

 *As we are hugging*
      Ms. Slak: "Remember, be good"
      Me: "Yes"
      Ms. Slak: "Be safe"
      Me: "Yes"
      Ms. Slak: "....."
      Me: "Wait a second! You need one more thing to say! You can't end it with two!"
      Ms. Slak: " Oh ok, ummmmm ok Be True.... to the red, white, and blue!"


   No matter if they were funny, serious, or just simple, each goodbye had the same message " You will have the time of your life, and I am so proud of you."  I just can't believe this is really the last time I will see all of my friends until next year. So now you may ask, what is my schedule for the next few days:

     Saturday, Sept. 3rd (Today)- Spend my last day with Kenya and Joey/ Finish my packing
     Sunday, Sept. 4th- Have my family going away party ( not doing a going away party with friends)
     Monday, Sept. 5th- Leave for New York City via road trip with My Mom and Rose (family friend)
     Tuesday, Sept. 6th- See NYC with mom and spend our last day together
     Wednesday, Sept. 7th- Leave mom and go to Orientation with the other AFSers
     Thursday, Sept. 8th- More orientation stuff and then departure flight from NYC
     Friday, Sept. 9th- Lay-over in Zurich Switzerland and then Land in Rome
     Saturday, Sept. 10th- Welcome orientation in Rome
     Sunday, Sept. 11th- Leave for Host Family via train and see them for the first time at 5:36 PM

Here are some Photographs from my last day at North High School:

( RANGER FOR LIFE!)

(Hodges, Me, Jackson... I Will miss these guys)

( One of the coolest girls I know)

( Mr.Blair!! I will miss you!!!)

I will be posting again most likely after my first few days there. I love everyone here and I will miss you so much! Just remember, It isn't goodbye, it's see you later.

Ci Vediamo America <3
  Shante'
   

 

Italian Lessons From My Host Sister :)

 Today was the AFS Picnic in my region! I had such a great time! They even had a pretty little sign about us 3 leaving for an exchange :)

     (That's me: Shante'-Italy!)

 One of the best moments of the picnic was meeting my host sister Lucia!!! I found out I have been saying her name wrong all this time! It isn't Lucia like (Lew-see-a) it is Lucia like (Lew-Chee-a)! She said I can just call her Lucy though :) We practiced my Italiano and I found out I am worse than I thought I was :( Here are some of the things she taught me:

                                                                  Ho Fame- I'm Hungry

                                                                  Ho Sete-   I'm Thirsty

                                                                  Ho Sonno- I'm Tired

                                                                  Sono Stanca- I'm Tired

                                           Puoi Ripetere Per Piacere- Can You Repeat Please

                                           Puoi Parlare Piu Lentamente- Can You Speak More Slowly

( Lucia and I, Is it me or do I look like an Amazon!)

Probably the most fun thing of the day was the Bingo game! All the new foreign exchange students had to go around finding people that matched the description on there board. So under "Going to Italy", they needed my signature! All at once, they came up to me saying "SIGN THIS PLEASE!" "WRITE YOUR NAME HERE!" and I felt like a celebrity giving my autograph! It was practice for the future when I will be signing autographs on a daily basis ;)

All of the other AFSers were soo nice and I really appreciate the amazing welcome/going away party!

                                                                    I <3 AFS!

Ciao :)

  Shante'









HAVE A PIECE OF ITALY IN YOUR HOME!

If any of you out there would like to host a foriegn exchange student from Italy, please contact me ASAP! A girl from my host town of Mantova needs a host family or she won't be able to go! Her departure date is Sept. 2nd. I know many people out there want to share in my experience, and this is the perfect way! This young lady can teach you so much about her cultural, while learning our own :)

If you are interested, or know of someone who may be, contact me at:

 Email: shantefencl@yahoo.com
 Phone: (216)355-4777
 Facebook: look up Shante' Fencl

Grazie!
 Shante'

These Last Days are the Craziest

I Can't Believe that I have only 16 days until I am at the gateway orientation. This whole "exchange" seems like something that you just talk about, but isn't really going to happen. I realize now that it is! I have been trying to pack and buy things that I need. Here is a picture of my luggage:

(Small one is the carry-on and big one is the checked of course)



 All of my friends are going to pick up their schedules this week and school starts on Monday. It is somewhat bitter sweet, but I'M GOING TO ITALY! I have been going lots of places with friends so here are a few photos:

(Joey and I at bowling)

(my attempt at bowling)

( Keileigh and I at the Lake County Festival)

( Standing next to a cow)

*Just noticed that in a few days my pictures won't have American flags in the background*

   I went shopping today for a few outfits, but I was not successful. I don't think I am going to buy winter stuff because I need room in my suitcase for other stuff, and I can buy all of that in Italy. I did get my host sister Cristina her gift today! I still need to get the rest of my host family gifts, but it is sooo difficult. I want it to be thoughtful and when you are trying to find something for people you have never met but already care so much about, IT'S HARD! I just want to find something that represents where I'm from and at the same time, something they would like.

   Ok, That is the end of this post! Back to the pain and agony that is packing!

Ciao <3
 Shante'
   


                                    

Paid In Full!

 It has been a long and winding road, but WE MADE IT! Thank you again to everyone who has helped me along the way. I don't know what I would've done without all the help. I'm so excited that I don't have anything else to post. :)

Grazie...

Crazy Days

Since my last post, I have got a lot accomplished! I got my visa, paid almost all of my tuition (still waiting on one more donation to go through), ordered my contacts to be here in the next week, gave my health form to the doctor and will pick it up later today, went to my school and gave them my sending school questionaire ( and found out I will get full credit for my classes abroad), and watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 again in theatres!

I think that is a lot!

As the day until I leave gets closer, I realize that there are going to be a lot of people I will miss. When I first applied with AFS, I  didn't think I would miss this many people! I have grown closer to just about every friend I have. Two of them, Kenya and Joey, I am with almost everyday. Then there's Meghan, Ashley, Laurianne, Melanie, Keileigh, Stephanie, everyone from Academic Decathlon, the North High Drama Club, my teachers, lots of others, and most of all, my mommy... I don't know how I will function without her.

I know that all these people will miss me too, but I also know that they are sooooooo proud of me.

I love you all :)

Ciao <3