Rebecca's last post :(

Hey guys,
Well, it's been almost two months since our trip to Italy. I know everyone has gone their separate ways- just like I did after you all left - but I hope that the memory of this experience will live on in your consciousness and expand your possibilities. I know it has done so for me.
If I had to reflect on the cultural difference that I thought was the most striking about this experience, as I look back on it, I would have to say that I feel the Italian people are so much more open emotionally than we in the US. To us, it's so important to be professional, come across well, take care of details, and show how together we are. I felt our film showed this, as well as our itinerary for your travel.
For the Italians, though, I felt that what was more important was the opening of your hearts to us- through all those amazing dinners where you just talk and talk... through the shared bus rides together... singing together, drinking together... And it was even a little scary for me to feel that gentle pressure for me to open up my heart to your friendship. Thank you so much for this truly moving experience. Friends, I'll see you again this coming summer!
Strong hugs for everyone,
Rebecca

Greg Andrews' Thoughts: "We came as friends...but we're leaving as [a] family" by Karla Frias

This is Greg. I finally have a chance to sit and type up my blog post about my experience. I'll try not to make it lengthy (yeah right...this is a soliloquy ;p ).

For clarification...I did not post while in Italy. No disrespect, but at the time I had a chance, I instead found a nice exhibit that features a quite comfortable chair. I'll leave it at that but if you check out Facebook, Ms. Karla posted a...ahem...self-explanatory image of me in the very comfortable chair.

I did post my pre-trip expectations but I had quite an open mind to the trip. I am very grateful to have viewed a Lamborghini while there, although in my excitement I called the vehicle a Ferrari. I also am thankful the hot and cold water knobs aren't switched around :-). The entire trip was very amazing. I remember talking to Chris and he said it best - every minute was maximized! Even the drive from Emanuele's house to wherever our destination may be was nothing less than marvelous. True, those trips made for a great time to nap (lol) but the view was unbelievable - it's like something one reads from a story book. The trip to Genova was the best. I was amazed at how the towns were arranged in between the mountains. Totally cool.
Here's a few cultural highlights for me:

• I made my first purchase with a Euro coin and Euro bill! So cool!
• I walked on and touched a real ancient Roman road and gate! How many people can say that (a lot...LOL!)
  
• I like the circle/turnaround structures that are used instead of a 4 stop signs or traffic lights. That setup is advantageous. I've seen those structures when watching the Tour de France but seeing is different from experiencing. Maybe when I'm President...ha!
  
• The direction of traffic is the same. I thought people drove on the left side of the street but I talked to someone and and they said left-sided driving exists in very few countries.
  
• The driving was also strange at times. Our driver was great but those in traffic were...questionable. For example, in America, its illegal to pass someone while going uphill or if there's a curve ahead. While traveling through the mountains on two-lane, bi-directional traffic, people passed us at will regardless of curves or if we were going uphill.
• I saw REAL Italian motorcycles!!! No offense to Harley Davidson, but I thought that was cool. And some of the full body outfits the motorist had on was wicked cool!
  
• One more thing about the driving. I didn't notice any yellow lines. In America, we have white lines on the right and yellow lines on the left to help with orientation.
  
• The herd of cows passing through the town while we were dining was extraordinary. I may be wrong but I don't think cows pass through towns over here in America.
• Small cars dominated the traffic. When speaking to the US Consul, he said it's because gas is more expensive and smaller cars are more fuel efficient. I didn't know that.
• He also shared some information on the school system. The educational system is governed by the Italian government. That is quite interesting. I can't even imagine the effect on booster clubs and alumni associations if the government completely took over education (excluding the No Child Left Behind Act).
• The number of Mercedes, Audi and other what I would deem "foreign" cars was amazing. In America such vehicles are luxury vehicles and over in Italy, "everyone" has one. As was explained to me, the cars are made next door, so to speak, and therefore are considerably less than the prices in America. It didn't really dawn on me that we're in the place where they make "foreign" cars. Duh! Which leads me to ideas on procuring a Lamborghini...
  
• The number of apartment buildings (or the like) was astounding! Even major cities/metropolitan areas such as Dallas/Ft. Worth, Chicago, pre-2005 New Orleans, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, DC, etc don't have that many apartment buildings in the same area. I think this really hit home to me when we traveled to Genova. There were several places I saw an estimated 40 - 60 buildings. I thought they were business buildings or a small town but closer inspection revealed evidence to suggest they were apartment buildings - there were clothes hanging on a clothes line. Wow.
  
• The visit to Vallauri was educational (no pun intended). Students get to EAT in the hallways! Wow! And the students stay in the classroom while the teachers move from one classroom to another. Double-wow! And you can have wine and beer at school and not be kicked out!? Triple-wow!
  
• The view from the Cinema was breathtaking and revealed the influence of the royal families that had lived in Torino. North America eschewed royalty so there aren't any castles or palaces here. Nevertheless, they are places of beauty and splendor. I didn't realize how enormous a palace could be. I guess those childhood stories were right after all ;)
• I recently posted on my Facebook that my tastebuds have been spoiled. I wanted to eat and eat and eat and eat and eat...you get the point. I don't think there's a word that can vividly describe how scrumptious the food was. Each and every morsel melted in my mouth! Pure simple elegance. Example, the bread with the melted cheese in it, the lightly baked bread (both of which we had while in Genova), the smoked meats and pies from Emanuele's house, and many more...all of them were delicious yet simple. Best of all, I was able to accomplish another goal - to have lasagna in Italy! We went to a cafe following our egress from the Cinema museum that served a variety of food. Having eaten three plates of food I was approaching full when someone (I think it was Jennifer or Chris) came back with lasagna. I went and cut out a large portion and ate it. Sadly, when I went back for more, there was none left. In America, there is an expression: the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. I can definitely see why this is true. I've fallen for Italy!
• Cookies at breakfast? Simply marvelous.
• The vegetables/side dishes are served AFTER the entree! Whoo-hoo!
  
• Nutella! That has to be some of the best chocolate I've tasted!
• The deserts were divine. I am infatuated with the Italian version of meringue!
  
• Personally, I don't think Starbucks wouldn't survive in Italy.
• I don't recall seeing a Giorgio Armani store, but I wasn't altogether paying attention for such a place either.
• I met Giorgia's mom! Super-cool lady!
  
• Last but not least...I like the good luck thing for males ;) LOL!

There's so much more I can say but I've got to get back work. I'll leave off with one final subject.

The people (parents, teachers, officials, etc) we met were nothing less than wonderful. There was natural awkwardness for me because, though I can read basic Italian, pronouncing the words was a challenge because I picture the word in my mind but the way a word is spelled isn't necessarily how you pronounce it (those "ch" words are a major hurdle). Several times I couldn't keep up with a speaker - they spoke to fast for me to catch every word. However, when I asked whoever was close by to help me translate a conversation, the "chosen" mediator would step in and help! No one made me feel like I didn't belong. Many thanks...

...which is why these and other benign acts led me to quote Karla. To me, Karla's statement summarizes best my thoughts for this trip. I know I don't look Italian :D but I really felt as if the whole trip was a family reunion. In America it's known as Southern hospitality. This was an exquisite and life-changing experience. Thanks to all those that helped make this possible.

Cheers,
Greg

A new world, the american world by Andrea S

Hi, this is the report of a new world that we found thanks to MCCA project "Not just another brick in the wall": the american world. This cultural exchange helped us to improve our english skills and we have taught the American team some Italian. We have grown closer to our new American friends. Now, I miss them, though they have not left Italy yet. This has been a great experience, because we now understand another culture and a life that is different from our own. I hope this experience will be repeated next year, because I think it is important to stay connected.

Andrea S.

something about Andrea P 's feelings

Hi to everyone,
I think I'm really lucky to partecipate in this project.
I've learnt very much thanks to american students and I hope it has been the same for them!
I met lots of funny people and I enjoyed the few days with them.
Thank you to all the people involved in this amazing experience!!

Andrea Polato

Emanuele's AMAZING entry

Hello from Infini.to Planetarium!!!!

I am with my American friends.
Today was the premiere for the Italian showing of Not Just Another Brick in the Wall project, which we have collaborated on for over a year with the team from Louisiana in the US.
The premiere was very great. Our classmates came to watch the movie and had a great time. My schoolmates really enjoyed the movie, which made me happy!!!!
I hope you will be able to see the movie too.
Thanks to Rebecca(Sci-Port Planetarium), Giorgia (Infini.to), MCCA, Vallauri School and Louisiana School for this experience!!!!

Goodbye!!
Emanuele

Such a wonderful expierence!

Hi to everyone! I'm Adele and I will write something about this expierience with american guys in America and Italy.
I think this has been such a wonderful expericence and all of us has learnt very much about their culture and their way of life. We've a lot of fun together and I hope we will repeat it. The only thing I would like to underline is that, although the differences between our two ways of thinking, we found out many friends and we started to get along with them! It has been the best cultural exchange I could do!!! So thanks to all and (I hope) see you soon guys!!!!

Love
Adele

Chelsea is in Italy

We have just seen the premiere at Infini.to. Italy has been loads of fun so far. Everything is so pretty. The food is amazing, and I am completely in love with gelato. American coffee will never be the same after drinking so much expresso. I think I will look into learning Italian. The language is so pretty, but it makes my head spin when everyone is speaking a language I don't understand. I only get bits and pieces from knowing some Spanish. Merritt and I are working on the documentary of the Italians in America and will be done our jobs soon enough. Very happy to be here. Ciao!!

Chelsea