Giulia's parents visit and updates :)

I know, I know....months later yet another blog from me. LOL! I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Giulia's parents. They are so cute and loved everything. Now I know where Giulia gets her fashion taste from --her Mom! They loved shopping here and getting to know us as a family.They brought us wonderful gifts and couldn't do enough for us. Katia was like my buddy. She loved me LOL!  In April, I met her twin Elly, who is literally just like Giulia--mannerisms, wanting to pay for stuff,etc. It is way cute!

Since April, Giulia has been busy with school, homecoming,etc. It is hard to believe as I write this that she will leave at the end of the month. Like I said before, all the girls we hosted were great and wonderful, but Giulia was different. She was polite, wanted to pay for us, told us "thank you" many times, had fun with us,etc.I could go on and on really.....

It's been FOREVER since my last post!

Hey everyone!
I apologize it has been forever since my last post, but we have been VERY busy with Giulia doing things with her, taking her here and there,etc. I have been busy working as a substitute teacher and she always asks how my day is and how the "children" are. If I don't get an assignment in the morning, she says "Ouch!" LOL. It's cute!

Her English is definitely improving and it is hard to believe it is going to be April already.When she leaves in June, I will definitely miss the little things--asking to turn on the radio and changing it when commercials come on, laughing her head off at Wipeout or one of Dad's comments, loving tacos,etc.

 Her parents are coming on Friday for a few days, so I am excited to meet them and I know Giulia is excited to see them. I will definitely blog when I can :) I'm still saving my money for Italy in the summer or if not then, perhaps Christmas.

Thank God we hosted again :)

It is now October and those in Welcome Families are either moving to a permanent one or are staying with the WF. I am thankful we weren't a welcome family and are a permanent one instead. Sure, we are 7 years apart in age, but we are getting along VERY well--playing Wii, shopping, being funny together, etc. She is very polite, respectful,independent,studious,etc. Sure there will be ups and miscommunications throughout the year and yes every student we had has been different, but Giulia is great in her own unique way.

I am looking forward to the rest of our year together, travelling together and taking her places, going shopping for things I don't need with her LOL,etc.

Homecoming 2010

This past Saturday, October 2nd, Giulia went to homecoming with another AFSer from New Zealand. They are budding a romance for sure :-) Giulia looked beautiful in her Jessica McClintock dress (I call it a "Giulia' dress because it is SO like her!) and Steven looked great with his tuxedo. We took pics at my house then they went to a friend's house. I went to the Nickleback concert with my friend. It was SO loud but awesome too :) Note to self is to bring earplugs next time LOL. Pics and videos on my Facebook profile.

Mentor vs. Willoughby South football game

This past Friday ( 9/24) we took Giulia to her school vs. the school that Steven ( my Dad's person) plays on. Steven is from New Zealand and my Dad is his liaison. What a game it was! It started at 7:00 and didn't end till 10:30 LOL. It was a "Can You Top This?" game going back and forth in between the two teams. The final score: Mentor (48) Willoughby South (47). It was a bummer South lost but a great game regardless. She is going to homecoming with Steven. She is VERY excited and already has a dress and accessories. The dress is such a "Giulia" dress.

Since she has been here, we have had our mis communications and what not and good times as well NOT that it wasn't before--it just improved :) We are enjoying her VERY much--she is funny, very polite, sweet, tries new things (loves tacos and grilled cheese) and tells us about her country when we have questions. She even showed us her house and OMG! it is belissimo (beautiful in Italian). Me and her enjoy playing the  Wii together and she LOVES kicking my butt in tennis and I LOVE kicking her butt in bowling :) I am looking forward for more great moments together and of course travelling. Even though I have been to Niagara Falls so many times, its great because in a way it is "fresh" with a new person and seeing the USA through their eyes as well.....

I am VERY VERY happy we decided to host for a full year once again :)

Grilled cheese 9/15 at Panini's

Today, Dad took Steven (his AFS person) out to dinner, Mom had an AT meeting, and so what did me and Giulia do???? Go out to eat! We went to Panini's ( the same place I took her when she arrived!) and she had a grilled cheese for the first time and loved it! She thought it was really good and in the parking lot, she told me when we go out again she will get...guess what? ..grilled cheese LOL. I was craving a buffalo crunch wrap and I had theirs once so I HAD to get it again LOL.

 She is enjoying swimming at the YMCA both laps and synchronized swimming as well as Zumba with me. She finds Zumba funny!

TTYL bye!

AFS meeting and being here a month already!

Time sure flies by when you have an exchange student living at your house :) I remember like it was yesterday meeting Giulia at a local volunteer's house for the first time and how I knew we would have a good year as usual. She couldn't believe it either! She told me in the car on the way home from the mall that she doesn't want to leave--- its ONLY been one month! Oh Giuly!

We had our first AFS meeting tonight. It went rather well. It was short, sweet and informative. the students signed up for their presentations and since we have 20 kids and not many months-- we will double up which will be nice.The more kids the merrier! Pics up soon :)

Chili and perfume

I didn't have an assignment today at a school, so I got up and went shopping :) I bought a really cute PJ set and sweater  from Aeropostale (saved $70) and got $75 for donating many of my CDs I will no longer listen to (it went in the Katie-goes-to-Italy to-visit-Giulia-soon- fund!) and later this evening , Giulia had chili for the first time and enjoyed it. Then since homecoming is soon, she wanted to go buy more perfume and it took her a while to decide getting "high" off some of the perfumes LOL. But she finally settled on SJP (Sarah Jessica Parker). It was the least expensive and most cute....she also bought nail polish and more bands from Build-A-Bear. BUT thank God she was with me for I lost my keys along the way (how can I be that ditzy?!) I was panicking and we went in all the stores we went to which was like 3 only to find I left them at store #1 20 minutes and sweating later.... SO to celebrate my "finding" we got ice cream LOL.

AFS Orientation

Nana came and stayed with us for a few days since we got back from PA. Nothing much happened in between, so no stuff to post. Sorry :(  Yesterday (9/11 ironic isn't it?) we had the fall AFS orientation where the 26 students got together and had meetings all day then went to Fun-N-Stuff to play. I wasn't there for I had a meeting later that evening, but heard it went quite well. Fun-N-Stuff seemed fun for the kids and there was plenty to do. Both were far away so Mom/ Giulia didn't get home till midnight...long day! Pics are posted on FB--Mom took my camera! Yeah!

Back from PA--met the grandparents

Nothing real special happened since the 31st. We just got back from PA this weekend where Giulia met the grandparents for the first time--she thinks they are real sweet! It was also our parents annniversary so we went out to a delicious Italian resturant and found out over the weekend she loves "I Can't Believe Its Not Buttr" and HATES cinnamon with a passion! LOL! She tried one of my Nana's apple squares with cinnamon in it and was like no thank you! Bout low and behold, she likes peanut butter which most exchange students hate due to the texture. We (Dad and I--Mom helped Nana prep dinner) took Giulia to Pittsburgh and she loved it! She enjoyed the Just Ducky tours and was scared to go up the incline, but did it. We took pictures and she wanted to pay for literally everything which was really sweet! But things we do as a family in general, either Mom or Dad pay.....she was bummed BUT I let her pay for lunch though LOL. She is really sweet, independent, polite,etc. I think we will have a great year.



I realize that if I update everyday it would be nuts for both me and the readers. I will most likely update from now on just "new " things/ vacations,etc.

Nothing real special

Toady was just like the title---Giulia went to school, I slept in, worked out, had lunch, hung out,took Giulia to meet her liaison and picked her up from swimming at the YMCA. We had stuffed shells with ricotta cheese which she seemed to enjoy. We also know what vegetables she likes/doesnt like.....Ha!

AFS Picnic on Saturday/Sunday/Monday

We had our first gathering with host families, liaisons, students and friends at a local beach to welcome our new students. It was great weather with comfortable water (some students disagreed including Giulia), great food, great fun, and meeting new people. We palyed Global Bingo where students had to ask other students'/host families/ chapter presidents if they knew X or Y. It was fun! We took a group picture and we have  a large group this year of 26. Not all came for various reasons but it was fun! I think Giulia will make some friends with AFSers--she seemed to become friends with a Thai girl which is great. I think overall we will have a great year filled with diversity.

On Sunday, I had to work and Giulia went to the mall with girls she met from a party the night before. She had fun! I came back from work and took a nap, had dinner, and watched the Emmys--surprises there!

Today, Giulia went to school and I met my student teaching college advisor for lunch and Giulia had more homework then usual--American Government and Math, which is not that bad. She has a test tomorrow in American Government and says she studies in Italian (translates from English to Italian) to study. Cool! We also had ribs (she never had ribs) and she enjoyed them. She is excited to meet the grandparents in PA. We are going back this weekend for Labor day. Speaking of which, I will not have computer access there,so updates will come next week.

First football game

Giulia went to school as usual while I ran errands--got some GREAT deals at the mall :) Then I came home and had dinner, then Giulia and my rents went to a football game. I am not a big football fan so I didnt go and she almost didnt go cause I was gonna be by myself, but I told her I  LOVED that and she was like ok... It is Giulia's first one :) She is excited!

I love experiencing "new" stuff with her like eating tacos and tuna for the first time, buying back-to-school stuff,etc. It is way exciting!

Eating tacos for the first time and getting used to her mannerisms

Hey everyone!

Today, Giulia had school and I had some phone calls to make and I had to get up early..GRR! But its ok....later I went for a walk and came back in time for Giulia's bus. She had a good day and had Physics homework. She did that while I took a "pesarino" or nap in Italian. It was good! Then Giulia went to the YMCA to swim onlyu to realize she forgot her bathing suit.....I was going to pick her up anyway, so I just stayed and read my "Italy for Dummies" book LOL. Then we went home and had tacos--Giulia never had tacos, so it was an adventure --we put so much stuff on it and she was like "no....its SO beautiful"...LOL one of her mannerisms.....but she liked it. She also never heard of cupcakes and thought it was hysterical when we explained to her how cupcakes are really big in the US now as a replacement for wedding cakes.

Speaking of mannerisms-- we already are beginning to catch on "oh...it is SO beautiful..." "thanks so much" , "what can I help you with", or  "I'm going to go to X or do X". It is WAY cute! We are having an AFS picnic this weekend where we meet the other AFSers, so we are looking forward to it! I will write how it goes.....

Got my parents an anniversary gift and running errands AGAIN

Today was a lazy day. I slept in, Giulia went to school ( had a good day), went for a walk, and then ran errands. I almost got into a car accident because of a jerk who didnt see me because of my "blind spot" and went into my lane! GRR! I honked the horn for if I wouldn't have...CRASH! But thank God I was ok...anyways...

I went to get my parents a gift certificate to a expensive restaurant where we live and the good thing was that not only could me and Giulia split the cost ( I paid half, she paid half), but they could choose the restuarnt they want to go to for they are "parent restaurants" in a way to each other. So taht is cool! I had her pay me when I got home :p and signed the card. They will enjoy it on their anniversary which happens to be on Labor day. We will be out of town that weekend, but there's always next weekend or whenever....

Dad is helping Giulia with math for he is the math "guru"and I am SO not! Ha! I believe it will go quite well....

Giulia's first day of high school in USA!

Today was Giulia's first day--she was quite nervous, as to be expected, but I gave her a "Good Luck" card so that helped I believe. She said her day was quite long but good. She is taking 5 classes and has math homework tonight :p But it looked quite easy.... I helped her organize what school supplies she needs for what class and tonight we are planning on going shopping for them. She has classes with some of the other exchange students,which helps,and ate lunch with her friend Carlo ( the other Italian boy) and met Alexandria from Germany who was with EF.

It seems like she will have a course load with chemistry, honors algebra, Brit. Lit, and physics, but it will be good and challenging for her I'm sure. Many of the exchange students say that high school in America is way easy compared to their home country schools and are surprised kids "dont care" and fall asleep in class!

In other good news, I passed my second test that qualifies me to become a teacher, so now it is "official" :) I just need to meet with the chair of the education dept at my college and fill out paperwork to get my license. It took me several times to pass as these tests are VERY hard and Giulia saw me crying and she was like "OMG Whats wrong?" but when I told her, she was VERY happy for me and dried my tears and hugged me! It was cute!

Arrivederci!

Giulia's pasta and running errands

Toady, we ran errands, very simple, and went to her high school to drop off paperwork. She is nervous about starting school, but I told her all exchange students are and that she will love the school! I still cant get over how good Giulia's pasta was last night! It was simple rigatoni with a light marinara--she pulled all the seeds out of the tomatoes and had a VERY light sauce--I didn't know this but she said she would have ate more pasta IF we had it for lunch and we didn't...we feel bad for I think we may have offended her accidentally, but dinner is our main meal here and she doesn't eat much and eats much more at lunch, which is their main meal in Italy and perhaps all of Europe too. I don't know.... BUT for lunch she had her pasta and I was happy she finished it for she made it and I felt bad she didn't eat much of it.

She does not eat much overall, but maybe its because she isn't use to eating a big meal around 6:00ish--maybe that will come with time, who knows. We are looking forward to Giulia cooking us more pasta or whatever!

Pasta from the kitchen of Giulia

Hey!
Tonight , we will have a special dinner! Giulia will make us rigatoni pasta-- we are very excited to see what she comes up with! I will definitely let you all know how it is.... We also went over the handbook in the afternoon of AFS rules and it went well. We played the Wii Sports in the afternoon and now she is taking a nap.....

Talk to you all soon :)

Shopping and hanging

Hey everyone!
Today, we went to get Giulia her bacpack for school--tote /messenger back really--she was being picky about it, but finally found one at Victoria's Secret and I got a sweater/jacket there and its way cute! She also got sunglasses that were $80--according to her in Italy, those same glasses would be $120-- so she saved  abunch of $$

Later, we went out to Don Tequila and she has never been to a Mexican restaurant before so I had to explain to her nachos, tacos, burrito, fajitas....it was long..but she enjoyed what she got. I then had to go to a meeting and we were gonna go bowling but the meeting went over, so I just came home after and we played on the Wii.

Baseball game and hanging

After sleeping in and hanging out, we took Giulia to see where I worked-- Lake County Captains baseball stadium--farm team for Cleveland Indians.We got free tickets because I am an employee there and they had great seats. They ( my rents and her) came in the 5th inning and stayed for the fireworks. It was difficultexplaining to her what was going on in between innings for there is so much LOL. But itw as ok :) Fireworks were great as usual! After work, we went to Cold Stone Creamery. She had her first one :) She liked it!

We are planning on putting together a book for her via Shutterfly of her year here with us which will be great and much cheaper then scrapbooking. These same photos, or most of them, are on my Facebook profile (name Katie Caporossi in AFS 2010-2011 album) so feel free to check em out and comment if you wish!

Laterz!