Thursday, June 23, 2011

The time has come...

Today marks my last day and night in Siena, and it is very hard to imagine I will not be here tomorrow at this time. My friends and I are leaving for Roma in the early a.m., in which I will have time for one last cappuccino, and then we catch our flight for Prague!
I have learned so much about myself and others while being here. My sister told me yesterday to "live it up to the fullest" for my last day, but I think I have lived it to the fullest all of my days here. Time is a precious gift, and you don't want to hold back from things that will leave you with lasting memories.
Tonight is our program goodbye dinner, followed by goodbyes to new friends we have made here, and one last hoorah in the Campo and other favorite spots. This experience has been more than I asked for, and I will definitely be back.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

DAUGHTERS Be Good To Your Fathers Too

Happy Father's Day!

Black Butte 1991
Christmas 2010




Because I am not able to be with my Dear Dad today, I am sending my love from across the pond!

I am















Thankful
For
All
That
You
Have
Given
Me,
Shown
Me,
And
Taught
Me
Ti Amo!/I Love You!


I admire your humility and faithfulness to our family. I am one lucky daughter!
Xoxoxo Kenzie

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Andate Siena!

Thursday May 5th – Sunday May 8th.
Couldn’t have picked a better weekend to stay in Siena! After a go go go weekend in Roma, a weekend at home was just what we needed to get refreshed. Thursday was Cinco de Mayo and we brought it to Italia!
Mere and me.
When we were out dancing at Baron Rossa we requested ‘Teach Me How To Dougie,’ and to our amazement the dj played it! Every Italian looked at us as we danced in a circle.
Friday, we layed in the gardens and relaxed. That night we went to a rock concert in the fortress, and it was quite the experience to listen to rock music in Italian.










Saturday afternoon we went to a last minute calcio match at our stadium to cheer on our A.C. Siena team vs. Torino.
This game was a big deal because if we won or at least tied, we would move up to the A League. The sun, the atmosphere, and friends made for a great combo.
Siena was up 2-1 almost the entire match, and then Torino scored a last minute goal to make it 2-2. When the clock ticked to 90 minutes, the crowds and team went wild.



















The players ran around in their tidy blackies.
Afterwards my friends and I ate in the campo and the fans came through shooting canons and orange smoke while singing the fight song. That night there was a free concert under the bell tower in the campo, which we attended. The players sung on stage and somehow we got out pictures taken with them. Periodically they broke out in their chant, “Che bello รจ quando esco di casa Per andare allo stadio di tifare al Robur.” Roughly translated: “How good it is when I leave the house to go to the stadium to cheer the Robur.”

Monday, June 6, 2011

Meant To Be

I was late walking to class today and what do I see but a Prague shirt. I am meant to go to all these places. See you in three weeks!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Amsterdam Here We Go!

Before my friends and I left for Barcelona, a guy passed by me in our Wednesday market with an "I Heart Barcelona" shirt. In Barcelona, I saw a Hard Rock Dublin shirt, which was part 2 of our spring break. Lastly, a few days ago in Siena I saw a an Amsterdam shirt. I'm a believer in signs and all these signify we were meant to go to these places. Barcelona and Dublin = great successes. Amsterdam, we are ready!

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words" - Donna Robert.

May be a cheesy quote (haters don't hate), but I like corny and it really applies. Since being here my friends and I apply lyrics to all of our daily routines. Yesterday, one friend said, "We are like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants; only we break out in song." Today I sang the A.C. Siena calcio fan song aloud in Italian class. Ci piace cantare!

Anche (also)...walking home tonight I saw a blonde middle aged woman dying with laughter, surrounded by her best girlfriends and husbands. At dinner tonight, my friends and I discussed how we maybe would have never met each other if it weren't for this trip. "Strangers are just friends waiting to happen"- Steve Klaka. It makes me think that things are meant to be and without a doubt we will be eachothers lifelong friends. I hope in years to come some study abroad girl looks over to see us being our typical hysterical selves!













Friday, May 27, 2011

Help A Stranger Out

One night over a month ago, my friends and I were heading home on a Siena bus after an exhausting weekend of travel. We met a young English guy who didn’t know what to do or where to stay in Siena, but we suggested some places and invited him to hang out with us that night. Recently, he sent us a thank you. One of my friends blogged about this as well, and I have been meaning to share this for awhile. This is a lovely life lesson in which you never know how many people can be affected from one small kind act.

"hi, i never really got back to you all to say thanks for taking me out in Siena, and helping me find a place to sleep. i really appreciate it.
You've got some great photos up of Italy that make me pretty jealous i diddnt have longer to stay and explore more of the country. I suppose ill have to go back some day and do it properly - but then, i think like that every time i go somewhere new, and its a big world, theres not enough time to go everywhere.
By the way, do you remember that map you gave me of the town? my original plan was to keep it as a souvenier of that part of my trip, but i met another traveller in Volterra who said he was visiting Siena, and i thought he needed it more than me, so i gave it to him. i spoke to him on facebook when i got home and he said he gave it to someone else aswell, as he was leaving Siena. i think its pretty cool that its changed hands so many times and helped a bunch of people. a lot of times you'll never realise how far down the line your actions can affect other people.
hope you're all well and the sun is shining
Magnus"