Christmas in Bagnoli

It is now Christmas Eve and I am currently sitting at my Italian familys house. Aniello is kind enough to lend me his computer to check my email, etc. A lot has happened this month. Finals finished in Florence which meant the end of the semester festivities, moving out and the worst part of saying goodbye.

Florence had about a foot of snow fall the Friday before almost everyone was scheduled to fly to go home. We all thought that it was a parting gift from Florence but what we soon discovered as the airports all over Europe were shutting down that we were going to have a hectic departure. Many flights were canceled leaving people stranded and struggling to get home for Christmas. Many friend had to take a train to Rome or Venice to wait to get on new flights to the States. For some it took days for them to get home and many did not get their luggage until after they arrived. As I know all of my friends have arrived to their respective destinations safetly. As happy as I am for them to have gotten back alright it is still very sad for me. Some friends I was not able to say goodbye to them because of such short notice of the airports being shut down and flights being cancelled. I was glad that Emelie was stuck in Florence for a few extra days because it gave me more company in Florence while I waited to travel to Bagnoli. Even though it was at expense to her traveling comfortably and getting to Mexico sooner it was nice for me. Even though we still had a few friends that live in Florence it was a comfort to have her there and staying in the same hotel.

Our friend helped us move out of our apartment which was more difficult that I thought it would be. That apartment was the most amazing apartment I have been able to live in. Beautiful and large and it was home. Due to the craziness of the airports shutting down my friend and roommate Jackie was unable to take my suitcase to CA for me so I resorted to shipping my belongings home since I would be traveling and no one wants to be toting a large suitcase and a backpacking backpack around the world. After talking to my Mom yesterday I find out that I think that it has already arrived home! Its a great feeling to know that all your belongings are safe at home.

So on Wednesday the 22nd my friend helped me run to the train station to catch a 7am train to Naples that I almost missed! Again being in such a rush I was unable to say a proper goodbye. I have not decided yet which one is worse, a proper goodbye or being unable to say much of a goodbye. It was a hard feeling to leave Florence. I think it would have been even worse if it were not for being so busy. I wish I could take Florence and everyone associated with me where ever I go. Just thinking about it makes me miss it more.

I arrived later that morning at the Naples train station to be met by my cousin Aniello. The same cousin that made sure me and my friends two years ago were taken care of. We spent the day touring Naples and eating pizza. Naples has the best pizza in the world. It is a well known fact and if you can ever get a chance to come to Naples you should just to have its pizza. I was extremely nervous to come spend so much time alone with my family only because my Italian is not what it should be. But between Aniello remembering the English that he learned in school and me speaking all the Italian I know and lots of patients we have been doing remarkably well. After eating our amazing Pizza we picked up my backpack from the train station and we drove to Bagnoli.

Here I am staying with Aniello at his parents house. I have a room and everything. I think I am staying in their daughters old room. I cannot express the gratitude and warmth I have received since arriving here. Dominica (Aniellos Mom) has made it her job to see that I am constantly fed and constantly eating! Manga Manga Manga! We drink a lot of Italian coffee, EAT A LOT, and tour Bagnoli and its surrounding towns. Aniello has been so great and has taken me to see much of our family and to see the wonderful women that helped me find my family and to communicate. It has been incredible that everyone has remembered me! Every home I enter I am fed sweets, coffee and tea. I try to talk in Italian with a lot of help from Aniello. Grazie Aniello! I have gone to dinner with Aniellos friends and tonight we will eat with his sister and her family. She has some gorgeous children. It is Christmas Eve and I have been well taken care of. They are constantly asking me if I need anything or want anything, if I was or am cold, if I would like to use the computer. Aniello takes me everywhere telling me everything that he thinks I may want to know and tries so hard to speak in English. His english is so much better than he thinks it is! And  if we both do not know the same word we usually can figure it out.

Tomorrow is Christmas. I am happy even though I am sad about the end of Florence. I am just glad that I am being kept busy. I wish all of my family and friends a Buon Natale.

I think my next stop will be Cambodia instead of Cairo. As much as I want to go to Cairo I think that it is going to work out much better if I do not go. Everything happens for a reason and I think where I am suppose to go next is Cambodia. Cairo I will met you another day.

Ciao!