Ready for Italy (I hope)

Alright. In a few more hours I will be on my way to Italy! I'm very excited about this trip and look forward to eating a real Italian cuisine (Italian is actually my favorite type of food). This project has allowed me to come into contact with a really talented pool of youth. Plus I was able to upgrade my social networking skills so I can keep up with their pace...LOL! I'm really amazed at how the film worked out. I hope we, Sci-Port, can carry out another project along the same lines. I can go on and on about all the posititives but I think I'll summarize by saying I am grateful to help out and I appreciate the opportunity.

While the Italians were here, I learned how to speak some Italian words, and, to self-deprecate, how to NOT speak some Italian words :-). I found out Emanuele enjoys hot and spicy food like I do, which was a big surprise to me because I'd heard of all these great meals/victuals that originate from Italy, and not once had I imagined their being hot sauce available. WOW! (BTW - thanks Emanuele for keeping the toothpick on your tongue long enough for me to take a picture.)

One thing I expect when over in Italy is to try to not to embarrass myself when we go walking in the Exilles. I would REALLY, REALLY, REALLY like to visit the Lamborghini plant in Sant'Agata Bolognese (FYI Lamborghinis are my favorite cars. I've loved them since childhood). There, I said it. I finally got that off my chest. I am looking forward to meeting all the VIP's. What I hope to bring back is a better understanding of the Italian culture and their customs - I'm mainly focused on the food.

The premiere was truly an unforgettable experience. I think it's the first time we've done a teen-only event at Sci-Port (or it is since I've been there). I thought it was great to see our young adults in Sci-Port - hopefully this is a spark to several to come back and a way to showcase Sci-Port is a facility that addresses all genres of age.

OK...I'll stop blogging now. Have to save room for the others :-P

Greg Andrews

Ready to Depart!

It's 7:30 am and I am ready to start my long journey to Italy. Over the past year I've learned a lot about teamwork, movie-making strategies, and scripting. I am excited to see my Italian friends for one last time. However, if I learned anything from this project, it is that I can still keep in touch with the Italians in America. I am sure that I'll learn a lot and have a lot of fun in Italy! Well I have to go soon. See you in Italy!
- Felipe Hernández

About to venture to Italy!

Hey everyone, it's Chase. The project thus far has been quite a ride but successful, I think, overall. The premiere was smashing, especially with the unexpectedly large number of guests! I am very excited to see what it will look like in Italy. We definitely learned a lot from our new friends and expect to only continue learning as we head over to their hometowns. It was interesting to get a glimpse of the unfamiliar culture in the context of our "every-day" one and it will be even more interesting to see how we react once we're in their world. The experience has been unforgettable and still isn't even over!

-Chase Whitney

So much fun!

The Italian team came to the US a couple of weeks ago, and it was so much fun! We learned so many new things from each other! No peanut butter in Italy?!!?! The premier of the video went great, everything worked well and looked great. We had a good turnout as well. I didn't expect to see so many people I didn't know to be there! This will be a visit to remember for sure.

I head off to Italy tomorrow with the whole American team! I am very excited and nervous! I hope the traveling goes well! See you in Italy!

-Ethan (American Team)

hot and cold water taps

Hey Everybody! I was laughing at Greg's post from a little while back. While I was showering at the Y-M-C-A I was in a stall next to Manuela and Adele and I had to laugh when they were asking each other which one was hot and which was cold. The cold just has a "C" on it, which in Italian of course would stand for "caldo"- HOT!!
I enjoyed so much the Italians' visit here to northwest Louisiana. I think my favorite part was the creative meeting. It was stressful and tense, but I loved listening to you explain why you did what you did to show each other your culture. That was hard, but revealing.
Another of my favorite things was when the facilities guy at the boys' dorm said to me, apropos of nothing, "These Italian kids have no bubble around them. They just want to know you and for you to know them." I felt that way about all of you Italians- very little barrier to have to break down. Thank you for sharing your culture, your songs, your personalities with us!
I'll see everyone soon- A presto!
Rebecca

Uploaded Pictures from Trip

I uploaded the images from my phone of the "Italians in Louisiana" trip to the Facebook account. Many thanks to Emanuele tagging people in the photos. That was a big help! If you haven't joined the facebook page, please do so soon. Also, if you want to add in any image, by all means do so!

See everyone next week!
Greg

PS...I'm working on uploading video footage. It takes quite a bit of time, so be patient please.

A success!

Yesterday the "premiere" at Sci-Port. It was amazing! Oscar is become a star of US cinema! Straight to Holliwood?!? eleonora