Padova

     Just twenty minutes away from Venice is Padova. Really nice, old, small and beautiful town. I spent my time there with my parents and sister this weekend which I must say was great as I haven't seen them since they brought me to school at the beginning of the year. We got there on friday so there was no time to do anything but we had to take a tram to get to our hotel (but it's only one line so it wasn't that difficult).
     On saturday we went all around the town to explore all parts and I think that one day was exactly enough. Not only that we saw many basilics (and there is quite few of them and all are extremely huge) but we also visited the Scrovengi Chapel which houses a remarkable cycle of frescoes completed in 1305 by Giotto. The part which I couldn't miss was shopping. Not only as there were normal shops which I haven't seen for ages but also many cosy vintage shops all around the town with very cute products - old clothes, jewelry or shoes.

The biggest square in Italy in Padua

    The only minus I literally felt on this trip was the weather as it was extremely freezing and even my parents were surprised that it's even worst than in England (not even counting that it was raining the whole time)! However when I got back to school I found out that the weather is even worst due- Bora!!!
                                    BUT IT'S SNOWING BACK AT HOME!! :) so jealous !

Open Day + Sustainability Afternoon

     Having Open Day this weekend was in the end actually exciting!
There was loads of stuff happening around - tours, workshops, experiments and our amazing show!
Not that many people came but what made me feel happy that even people going around were stopping by just to have a look. It was very nice atmosphere as we had a great weather after quite a long period
of time!

    On monday we had "Sustainability Afternoon"with a short presentation where I found out that there is actually no translation for this word in my own language. However to make it clear what it means - it's not only about the environment as most of the people think but also about economy and a social life. I was part of organization of a workshop which was based on British TV serie Dragon's Den. All our groups had to represent their business how to improve sustainability in our school, for example having a club where the most you dance, more energy you get :)

BORA

If there is a shock then it's the weather!
My second years would probably say that this is nothing but for me it's enough. I have one year experience in England but I didn't expect that my experience in Italy is going be much more rainy. And not only that - BORA - very strong wind is coming more often every day! And there must be a reason why even in Wikipedia the bora in Trieste is mentioned :O

Sea, adrenaline and sickness!

Barcolana Regatta - Trieste

Isn't this really beautiful?

    Yesterday, there was 44th Barcolana in Trieste - Big sailing event!

It was really nice to see all the boats and loads of people going around. Also good food in stands which was smelling everywhere, however after a while it started to rain and honestly I can't say that heavy rain like that is always something to enjoy. (Although I love storms) 

But this festival is just case of people who can actually sail, but me? 

It's my Core activity but I really need to persuade myself to go there. Let me tell you my experience from the last time to understand why. 

     It's freezing and I have even difficulties to get up from my warm bed in the morning...but outside? When there is like 99.9% chance I'm gonna capsize? No, thank you! 

     But sometimes we just need to force ourself.  It might look like a really easy thing to do, but if there is strong wind - almost BORA, it's really hard. You need to bare in mind so many things and your speed is increasing every second while the wind is changing direction even faster. If you capsize you need to use all your strength to put the boat back. If it turns 180° the other direction you might even expect to dive for your sail. Your adrenaline increases so fast in your blood that I must say I'm happy if I'm still alive in the end... but also that I've done it! :) 

Becoming dependent on..

COFFEE, SUGAR and CINNAMON

Duino

 The Castle

My residence - Fore
The best one, with the most people and next to the sea :) 

La Piazza 

Fine Settimana

    There is always something to do - at least so far, because there is not only one place to explore around here. Let's start with Friday- we would usually go somewhere in local place to sit with people and chat. Saturday - that's usually more interesting. Sleep until lunch :P and then going out! Trieste is very nice city to go. It's not typical Italian city as the cultures are really mixed, but that's why it has its own magic. I will put more photos after this weekend as I'm going there for Barcolata Regatta (Sailing competition) 

But there are other options - going to a restaurant (sometimes it's good to have a really good meal), local bar - Mickey's to dance or just not to do anything!

    We're starting to have cold weather now, but at the beginning it was really nice to rest in Porto where you can even swim or just relax. 

Trieste

Porto, my ugly face and cut hair! 

How about some night life? :P 

My Honeymoon-to-be place

Venezia!

There must be a reason why I went there two weekends in a row! And I know it sounds cheesy if I say I want to have a honeymoon there but I just love that place! :)

I guess it's the atmosphere or maybe I'm just boring person, but if I say that it's one of the most beautiful cities in the world, you need to agree with me. If not, you haven't been there :P

I can't really say much because it's something you need to see and be part of.

                   

       Saint Marco square and water :) 

Me and my Finnish friend Alec

Just a bit yellow photo (i was told it looks better like this :D)

 with my Spanish-American friend Melanie

My second time in Venice with my friends from my english school
(but that's another story)

(Still-not)Ordinary Day

So, how does my casual day looks like?

    3 alarms clocks in the morning to be sure that I will wake up as I probably went to bad only 4hours ago. First block still bit sleepy and then just depends on my schedule- full or maybe one free block, but no more because with 7 subjects that's very unlikely. Czech, English, Philosophy, Art, Bio, Maths, Italian - enjoying Philosophy the most - coffee, biscuit and discussion. 

Mensa - pasta, ragú....

    In the afternoon it really depends on the day, but I'm trying to stay busy all the time. It can be my community service, but I'm gonna talk about that other day as it deserves a whole post and the same goes for Sailing! :) So then it can be theater, frisbee, choir....

    In the evening it defers every single night, but there's always something do to or to talk with someone. But this is only during the week days...how about the weekend? 

Chilling in Porto with Tori (Brinese)

BUT, yes! We also study :) 

My room, sharing with two roommates 

- Caitlin (Scotland) and Namuun (Mongolia)

Pictorial part of my new life

Piece One Day

With my boys - Finland, Netherlands and Belgium! 

                                  

The Beauties of Venezia

 The Czechoslovakia girls

First Post, First month gone...oh no! almost two

      It's already more than a month since I first came here, but I think that I still remember my first impression quite perfectly. It was the end of August and I just turned 17. Still feeling quite young, full of experiences from my summer but without any expectations of how it's gonna be like to study in United World College in Italy. That was the thing which I was taught - it's better not to expect anything and not be disappointed later on. This picture was the only one I actually searched for:

   And surprisingly it not only looks better in real live but it's just something which I can't describe without really showing it off in person. 

   The thing is that I don't want to talk for ages about every single detail so all I'm going to say is that when I got here I was welcomed from everyone and it was very difficult to remember every single name plus country with it. Now looking after that problem after a month it seems quite silly because there's no reason to be upset that you shook a hand with someone even 3 times. Now I know almost every single name and to be honest more than a name. 

    Days were passing really fast - intro week full of new discoveries every single day, first classes, new teacher, new faces again and again. New language, new friends, new countries and again new and new names. Everything we went trough was so new for us and it wasn't even important if- in a good or a bad way.