The Beauty of Unification

Ciao amici!

Yesterday, I attended a 5K race called "Race Against Racism" in the city, where approximately 4500 people came out and ran in support of anti-racism and multicultural tolerance. My mom, who works at one of the companies sponsoring the event, ran in it. I chose not to run, mainly because I'm fat and it would be horrifying. I did watch, though. First of all, if you have never seen the takeoff of any sort of race, it's probably one of the coolest things you've ever seen. The people in the very front booked it out of the starting point, and the runners just kept coming and coming, followed by the walkers. I really wish I had videotaped it, because the flow of energy that came from the street to the park I was standing in was astonishing. My favorite part, though, would have to be the man running with the American flag hoisted above his head the whole entire race. This man had gray hair and wrinkled skin, I'm guessing around his early 60's. So I snapped a picture of it, edited the crap out of it, and it came out like this:

Whoopee.

The first runner came in to finish 13 minutes after the race started, which is when I totally gave up my hopes at ever running a successful 5K and hit up the french fry stand. Just kidding, but holy crappoli, that was insane. IN-SANE. Few runners came in after that, mostly one at a time, probably 30 seconds between each. At this point, I walked down and stood on a wall overlooking the road. This is when the track runners, athletic college kids, and little, elementary-age kids with buckets of energy came in contained in herds of 6 or 7. Everyone on the sidelines was cheering and clapping, which was awesome, seeing how our cheers got them to finish it out strong. Also, I had forgot to mention something that touched everyone around me. There were numerous people running the race, though I hadn't noticed this at first, but they were sporting Boston shirts. A lot of them were Red Sox or Patriots shirts (of who I can't stand either team), but you could see that they were running in honor of them. They all had blue and yellow ribbons, too. 

The biggest thing in this post though is that everyone in this race, running, walking, or spectating, was brought together by social acceptance. No one was rejected or sneered at due to their ethnicity, race, or home. The beauty of unification is probably one of the most amazing things we as a country have provided throughout the years, from the American Civil War, to the Civil Rights Movement. Out of everything that has gone wrong in our country, the little things give you hope that everything has the potential to go right.

Youth Group Trip to the Poconos!

Ciao amici!

It's been a couple days since I've posted here, and there's a logical reason why. On Friday night, my youth group and I trucked it up to northeast Pennsylvania to the mountains, where we would stay until Sunday afternoon. The ride up there was painstakingly long, almost 4 hours with rain pouring down the whole way there. We got to the cabin around 11 or 11:30, and I assumed we would just go straight to bed after everyone divided amongst the rooms. But no.

To give you a little visual, we had 4 rooms, each with 2 sets of bunk beds, a queen bed, and a full bathroom. There were only 16 of us total, so we had some extra bunk beds. What we ended up doing with them was anything but sleeping, though. We ended up stripping 3 of the mattresses and building a slide down the staircase with them.

After about 30 minutes of sliding, climbing, and taking each other out from the knees, we took the mattresses back up stairs, ate junk food, and went to bed. 

When we woke up the next morning and ate breakfast (we go hard when it comes to food) and had one of our three lessons for the weekend. After that, we set up the coolest, most epic game of "the floor is lava". If you're over the age of 18 and don't know what this game is, it's when you set up something like chairs, pillows, couches, etc. and hop from object to object. If you touch the floor (the lava), you die. So we set that up with 30+ dining room chairs, but instead of running around until you fell, we played freeze tag. It ended up looking a little something like this...

Excuse my horribly evil cackle when my youth leader misses the chair halfway through the video.

Just a recap of the stuff that aren't major enough to write a paragraph and bore you to tears, I'll list the notable fun things we did/happened.

1. We went mini-golfing, where we were the only ones. My youth leader, who loves to golf, set up on the 13th hole and tried to hit them into the 15th hole. We ended up hitting a golf ball against a large rock, into the sky, and off a cliff. OOPS.
2. We ate dinner. While eating, we had 5 deer in our front yard, about 20 feet from our door.
3. We made crepes. I forgot to mention, we had a French exchange student with us. She was awesome! So we all made our own crepes, and she taught us to flip them in air. I was one of 2 people who could get a double flip out of theirs, thank you very much. 
4. We made a mosh pit of pillows and mattresses and watched a movie. 
5. We ate the crepes we made the night before. Ice cream crepes, ham and cheese crepes, nutella, peanut butter, strawberry, chocolate crepes....

And that's about it.

Looking towards Italy, I got my Passport in the mail today!!!!! Eeeee, it's so little and adorable. On Friday I also got a load of paperwork from AFS, which is more like a gigantic fun research project. YAY! I SERIOUSLY LOVE RESEARCH!

Arrivederci!

Pet Peeves

Since I'm using this as a personal blog as well as a travel, I have decided to write about one of the things I've been thinking very deeply about: my pet peeves. Tonight at a meeting for my youth group's mission trip to Nashville, we were discussing our pet peeves. Mine were odd and they were very long, so here they are.

1. Slow Walkers. Today, as I was hauling to get to my locker and back to class before the bell rang, I got stuck behind 4 couples holding hands and walking at the same pace grass grows. I am thinking about installing a slow and fast lane for this school. If you want to snog with your boyfriend/girlfriend, do it NEVER. At least when everyone can see you. Earth to love birds, around corners of school hallway intersections where people can and will run into you is NOT acceptable. 
2. People who cut you off while you're talking. I'm sorry, did the middle of my sentence interrupt the beginning of yours? Your "hilarious" little comment can wait.
3. Immature kids in my classes that laugh at serious things. Lately, we've been studying China in my World Cultures class. The imbeciles in my class laugh when the people in the informational videos speak Chinese because apparently the sound of something foreign deserves to be made fun of. I mean really. Secondly, if you are making stupid noises, talking, texting, or all of the above during a presentation, we can not be friends.
4. Bad grammar. If you are above the age of 10 and have a Facebook, for the love of all that's holy, be weary of what you're trying to say. If you spell "Pennsylvania", "pensilvannia" I will snap. Only mentioning that reference because I've seen it more than once. 
5. When "gay" and "retard" are used to describe something. People in this world are indeed homosexual and mentally/physically challenged. The words "gay" and "retard" shouldn't be used to describe your friends, your phone, your xbox, anything. The last time I checked, Call of Duty was no where near homosexual. Every time I hear someone say that word, I cringe. 
6. Americans who blame everything on the Middle East. Nuff said. 'Murica.
7. People with no respect for culture, history, or the arts. I'm sorry, but the last time I checked, you're part of a culture, you see the arts every day, and you wouldn't be here without the grand historical events that made us what we are today. Put some big kid pants on and learn it.
8. People who cut in line. All the time at lunch, people will deliberately cut in line. Not because their friends are there, just because they are too impatient to wait an extra 5 minutes, maximum. A few weeks ago, being the freshman that I am, was almost to the counter when a sophomore came up and tried to cut right in front of me. YOU ARE AN UNDERCLASSMAN JUST LIKE I AM. Last year at this time, you were here. 
9. People who think they're God's gift to creation. I am a theater buff, and this happens ALL THE TIME. When the wrong person gets the bigger part, you'll never hear the end of it. Even 2 months after the final performance. Then there's the people who talk because they think they are helping others and others enjoy it, but in reality, we are mentally setting their soul on fire. 
10. Chipping nail polish.  I am one of those people who when they get one chip on their nail, they have to scrape off all 10 fingers worth of polish. So yes, I am that jerk that leaves my paint chippings all over where you are sitting and your desk. 
11. Biased history books. You really don't see much in the textbooks from the 70's, more on websites. You try and do ONE report on nuclear power and all that comes up is how awful it is and Chernobyl. Really, people. Get it together.
12. The song "Heart and Soul". This is the song I believe is every musician's nightmare, because everyone who doesn't know how to play piano, knows this bloody song. If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's probably best. You've had to have heard it before. It makes my heart cry.
13. Small, loud, obnoxious dogs. If you own more than 3 dogs that are all under 50 pounds, shut them up. Eleven at night is not the time to have howling contests.
14. Ignorance. Do I NEED an explanation?\

Last but not least.....

   15.Taylor Swift. I literally have wrote a 20 page book titled "Why I'd Rather be Kicked by a Kangaroo Repeatedly in the Head than Listen to Taylor Swift". It has gotten so horribly worse over these years. I liked her at one point when "Our Song" was the biggest hit out there. Pretty sure that was fourth grade. I also had a Hannah Montana obsession back then, so you see where my priorities were. Along with the woman and her ear-demolishing music, come her devoted fan base. They will buy into anything she has to offer. My new personal favorite? The semi-brand new song "22" that made me CRY. Flat out CRY. It was so dang horrible I cried. As soon as she said hipsters. Where has this world gone....I don't know. I'm just praying they don't love her in Italy as much as they do here. 

Learning Italian

Ciao amici!


Two days ago, I started learning basic Italian through a program on duolingo (which is a totally rad site to learn basics of the major world languages). Although it started to spit out weird sentences like "She is not a woman", and "the monkey reads the book", it rocks. Every time I get too many wrong, it makes me do it over again. Super effective. I'd rather do it than homework!

What actually has been bothering me is totally different. Pardon my mini rant coming up, but it has to be put out there. When I first found out about my scholarship, I posted it everywhere. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, called a bunch of family members, and emailed some of my teachers who knew about me going out for the scholarship. I had to work for the scholarship and so did the 29 other kids who got it. AFS isn't a vacation, it's a learning advantage and adventure. You become part of a family, not stay in a major city (unless you're very lucky) and you definitely don't stay in a hotel. You go to school, you learn the language, you eat, drink, sleep pure Italian culture. So please, if you want to go somewhere to eat different food, hit on foreign boys, and dress like an American, please do not tell me about how you want to be an exchange student. I've spoken with many people about the pains of going abroad; homesickness, not speaking the same language, schoolwork, bonding with new families, learning their culture, losing your Americana... learn the difference between being an exchange student and being a tourist.

Sorry, it had to get out there.

But anyway, Italian is fun until you start mixing in Spanish. But it does help. Gotta love Romantic languages!

Arrivederci!

A story about talking so much my throat started to hurt.

Ciao amici!

I just got back from a Potluck Dinner with 100 AFSers (people involved with AFS in some way, either a future/present/past exchange student, a parent, or volunteer) to socialize and meet eachother. It's the most intercultural experience I've had since...ever. In the two and a half hours I was there, I befriended to Italian girls, a boy from Japan, and a whole mess of others.

The purpose of this dinner was for us to learn more about traveling, and other cultures. Let me start out by saying everyone was SO NICE and outgoing. I felt right at home. We played that game everyone plays at least once on the first day of school, where you walk around and ask people questions from a list, and if it applies to them, they sign their name. No one was obnoxiously shy at all. If anything, the American kids were the shyest out of all of the people!

Most of the kids from different countries had accents, but a few were so fluent in English, I couldn't tell they were foreign. Especially the European students. They were very open and physical, most giving hugs even though they have never seen you before in their life. Which is awesome for me, because I love hugging and meeting new people. The one girl from Italy was amazing, also one I didn't even know was foreign until she told me, being so fluent in English. She told me all about how awesome Italy will be and how school will be. Apparently, American school students aren't nearly as excited about when foreigners come for the year. Italians jump on the chance to be friends with a new foreign kid. Also, their physicality is very obscure from the perspective of an American. Here, we are so reserved around people we don't know, even the people we go to school or work with. It was explained to me that as long as you're decently friends with a person, they will openly touch your butt or something that would be classified as totally wrong here. She told me a story about how she made the mistake of being in an American school and doing something like that, and the girl wouldn't look at her. It was hilarious.

I would have stayed and talked to all the others for eight more hours. Everyone was so accepting, even when I was one of the youngest kids there. I wish I would have talked more to the others, but everyone was in such deep conversation that I didn't want to leave, or interrupt another group. I'm currently on cloud nine with all of the thoughts and people I met. This is actually happening. I'M GOING TO ITALY!

AH! ARRIVEDERCI!

About Me (how exciting!)

Ciao amici!

When I first made this blog, I made it just for the purpose of having it while I'm in Italy. I feel extremely lame just keeping it stagnant and empty until then, so I'm going to blog about my last (a little less than) 5 months in the States. I really do want to blog on this more, so I'll try to balance it out with my school work.. In all honesty I normally spend my evenings on Pinterest and Twitter, putting off all schoolwork until ehh....10 o'clock. All that matters is I get it done, right?

Okay. If you read my very first blog post, you already know I'm Kara Richards. I'm fifteen, and I'm a freshman in my local school district. I live in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. If'you're unfamiliar with the area, it's one of those places you drive through, and after you get out you think "woah, that was boring." And fall asleep. I've lived here all my life, in three different houses, all within about 10 miles of each other. Currently, I'm living with my mom, brother (Jack, he's 11), and two dogs, Tia and Roscoe. My parents are divorced, and my dad lives about 5 minutes away. That's enough about that.

I really do enjoy school, except for the immaturity and lack of obedience I deal with every day ("HAHA, he said "sex"!!!" in science class is NOT acceptable anymore, kids.) I take all advanced courses, and I must say, it's much better and I don't have to deal with those people.....shudder. My favorite subject is Spanish, mainly because my teacher is awesome and I've learned so much this school year. Math sucks. And so does Lord of the Flies. Sucks to your ass-mar, Piggy!

Hobbies, hobbies, hobbies. I don't play sports other than gym class. I'm really a home body, and spend my life staring at either my TV, laptop, or smartphone screen. I really hope that someone is with me on this, but I AM ADDICTED TO DOCTOR WHO. I'm not going to let this go into a sixteen paragraph entry on why I love the show, because that has a full capacity of happening, so I'm leaving it at OH MY GOD I LOVE IT. I am also a fangirl of Sherlock. But, aside from my nerdy little fetishes, music and world culture is my life. I have self taught myself piano and guitar, and I sing anytime that I think people can't hear me (in which most of the time, they can). I also write playscripts for my school's drama club, and I was in the school musical, The Wizard of Oz. I was the Mayor of Munchkinland, but I can say that the experience and people I met were better than being any other part. I rocked those seven lines, too.

Uh, let's see. I have a fascination with world languages and I want to learn as many as possible. I can also name all the countries of the world, all their corresponding flags, and about half their capitals. Ironically, I have no idea what I want to be when I grow up, though.

That's about all I can think of, for now. In 5 months, I'll already be in Italy (woah baby). I really do hope you enjoy this blog, and I try to spice it up a little so it's not like reading  "what did you do this summer?" writing each week. Thanks for reading if you did, and I hope you continue throughout my journey, so we will share the excitement!

Arrivederci!

Check In

Hello whoever has stumbled upon this blog entry!

It's hard for me to believe that in 5 months, I'll be in Italy. I just finished up a ton of paperwork for my trip to present to my schoolboard. I also have started self teaching myself basic Italian and conjugations. I hope to be able to practice in my afternoons, since I haven't been having much homework lately. Sorry that this is all boring stuff that I'm doing, but once I know more, I'll post more. Hope you enjoy following along for the next 15+ months! :)

Arrivederci!