Said No To Ice-Skating! Learn My 1st Italian Recipe!

23rd dec :-
It's holiday! That means 2day got no school! I woke up early in the morning and have breakfast as usual with host family! After that, I followed my mom to Acqui Therme(29mins drive from Cassine) where my mom office was located! She show me around the town coz she work as tourist guide their! My comments, it was a wonderful town with full of historical building such as Aqueduct, Roman castle, etc...!(picture at fb).

The leftover Aqueduct! (search wiki for more info)

At the Afternoon, I have lunch at home and visit my friend/neighbor house(Marco house) to showed them what can a Malaysian boy(me) play the instruments(Piano, Violin, Percussion). For your information, I'm a great pianist, violist and drum major at my school! I learned the music instrument since I was nove(9). How cool is that!
P/s: Marco is 16year old(same as me) who is a great musician in a music band in Cassine. I also learn smtg from him too!(picture at fb)

I wrote it in Chinese too!

 

I hate this things!

In the evening! Around 6p.m, I followed my host sister(Esther) to fetch Antonio at the railway station at Alessandria. Antonio is a friend of Esther who studying in the same college with her at an University at Torino! Antonio will stay with us for 3day and 2night at Cassine. Yeap! That's mean I have a room partner now! After that, My sis and I along with Antonio went for ice-skating at Alessandria. It was my 1st time went to ice-skating coz I never have an experience skating b4. It was quiet embarrass though! I fall down many times(It's hurt a lot) and all the people laugh at me! Even kids can skate! Hate them...
P/s: This was my 1st and the last time I will go to ice-skating! Basta! No more ice!



24th dec:
Today is a very busy day! Antonio and I woke up early in the morning and follow my mom to Acqui Therme(daily routine) to buy the things needed for Christmas! We given the item list that need to buy and we shop quiet a lot at Acqui! There was a huge supermarket at Acqui so we decided to shop at there(Pictures at fb). Honestly, it was like a shopping heaven there! There was a lot of branded/famous shops that can only be found here in Italy! Owh man, The item also in a reasonable price! Mi piace! Other for that, Mom also told us to buy a Christmas present for Esther and do you want what we bought for my sis(Esther)? A red scarf of coz! Hope she like it!
After that in the evening, We went back home, have our lunch and learned my 1st Italian desert/ice-cream from my mom and sis! Wanna know what is it?

A Tiramisu!

 It's easy to prepared it and all we need is the ingredient!

The recipe is more the less like these.

This is it's look like when it's done! (15min preparation time)

Simple right? I gonna make it when I return back to Malaysia!

Christmas eve in the evening, I was so tired and I don't have time to rest! We going out again to Capriata D'orba. Weird name but I have fun at that place! This is the pl;ace where you can see the old time people at Europe lifestyle such as you can see most of the Italian culture here, daily routine of European people(ect logging, sewing, dancing, shepherding the lamb, forging the war equipment...) It was a very interesting place but I don't have much photo of it coz I lazy+It's raining+I'm tired! Sadly, the place/event only took place on Christmas eve! Overall, that day was a very tiring day!

This is some of the picture I manage to take. A traditional Italian music instrument!

P/s: Buon Natale/Merry X-mas everyone!

Ciao ciao~

An Unexpexted Invitation! Lunch Party Before X-mas!

It;s ice nor snow! Sadly~

I tell my story briefly in this post for my 1st few week stayed with my host family. 

19th dec -:

The vine plantation on the mountains.

Cassine Town Hall(more picture of Cassine at my fb)

Wake up late in the morning, eat my home-cook Italian breakfast & be ready set off to meet other peoples/neighbors in Cassine. I take a walked at the village with my dad Giuseppe around the village and ups to the mountain! I saw a lot of vine trees(grapes plant) & wine factory as I walk up to the mountain. This is b'coz near my village, there was a agriculture estate which is very important resources for the economy in Italy. It is also one of the largest production of vino(wines) in whole Europe! Fantastic!
P/s: You can see the wines only cost 8euro+...(Still sound mahal for me). Wonders how does it taste? Lolz~

20th dec -:

My seat with welcome poster! So nice!

I learn some Italian work at here! Grazie!

My 1st day at school! I was place in a language school called Liceo Linguisto at Alessandria (30min drive from Cassine). Short to said I was welcome with open handed by the Headmaster, Prof(teacher), and Student in there! So surprise there also writes a welcome sign on the classroom(See picture) In italian: Bevenuto Faizan! I'm so amazed! It's true! Italian are kind and caring! Love you guyz! My classmate so happy coz no lesson on the class b'coz of me xD.
P/s: I showed them some picture about Mas too! Them love it!

21st dec -:

We have a small welcoming party here!

Some of my classmates!

2nd day at school! I woke up early in the morning (6a.m everyday) to catch a bus to school! This time my parent can't drive for me to school coz I'm in independent now!. Uiseh! Btw, just wanna share with you guys! The bus from my home(Cassine) to my school(Alessandria) cost 2.20euro's! Ma mamia! That mean 2.20euro's x 4.125 = RM9++! E molto caro! But at least the bus ride was comfort! I was accompany by a friend of mine called Ilaria(who was going to school with me too from Cassine). She will guide me to the school everyday so I won't get lost searching for the right bus or get stuck with the bus driver! Yarh! Another thing, She was a nice yet lenglui too! xD
P/s: As usual, I make many friends at the school and go back home my bus. Again no lesson in school! Spend almost the school time talking about me and Malaysia! This time I teach them some Chinese/Mandarin word! Hee~(See picture)


22nd dec:

The crazy Italian Waiter! I think he was drunk.

My classmate! (mostly gurl!

Last day school b4 x-mas! I was invited by my classmate to have a pizza for lunch! Wow, an unexpected invitation! So surprise its only my 3rd day to school and I was officially invited by everyone in the class to have a Christmas lunch with them at a famous pizza restaurant in Alessandria! Cool! We have so much fun on the restaurant and the waiter is so funny/crazy about me! (my classmate saided the waiter is from southern of Italy) You know whats that means? People in southern Italy a bit crazy compare to the northern Italy (where I live). It's a truth!
P/s: I ordered a fish pizza(halal one) and I can't finish it all! Come'on! Italian pizza is totally different from the one at Mas! It's ways toOoO huge for me! No wonders European people is much bigger than Asian people! Haiz~

Welcome to Cassine! Home Sweet Home!

A welcome poster made from peoples at Cassine! (Sausan & Amal)

A 9hours ride on the train! Stop at Alessandria train station and greets ciao to everyone in the train! Yet here am I! Home sweet home! I finally meet my host family as I came down from the train! We hug/kiss each other and go home by machina(car) 30min's to Cassine. It was freezing out there as the weather is windy and cold! But no snow! Geezz...

We talk a lot while in the car to home and my host family are so anxious to know more about myself! We talk, talk and talk while my stomach was gloaming for food! xD(Luckily my mom & sis speak well in english) ;) After a while, I arrived at my Italian home! And what a surprise! I was greeted with warm heart by the neighborhood in Cassine! (See pictures) I was amazed! P/s: I lived at an huge apartment! =)

Owh! I so glad... My bed... (Mi piace)

The dinner was already served & buon appetito everybody! (I was hungry that time xD)

Mom Pinnucia and my sis, Esther!

Sausan, Amal & I (My next to door neighbor)

A cookies house! For me!!! (Already in my stomach by now xD)

Finish our dinner! And said buon notte and get to sleep. (Extremely tiredlaH!) 2morrow is a holiday (NO school) so I can wake up late for 2morrow! Ciao~

I'm in Roma! Arrival Orientation Camp!

The hotel we stay for the orientation.

.

The main hall where our orientation took place!

Arrival orientation (17th-18th Dec) -:

This was my fav part! As we arrive at the hotel.
We were divided by 4 groups and be given AFS name tags each!
I was in the 1st group(red) who going to take train to my host family house
for the day after the orientation(18th dec)...

I'm in the 1st gorup with some other Afser friends from MAS.

Here's some explanation about the grouping orders:

Group 1 (Red tag) : Going to travel by train leaving from the hotel at 8.15a.m.
Group 2 (Green tag) : Going travel by bus leaving from the hotel at 1.30p.m.
Group 3 (Yellow tag) : Going travel by plane leaving from the hotel late in the evening? (depend on your hosted state)
Group 4 (Blue tag) : Will be pick by their own host family at the hotel.

The volunteers who was volunteering us at the camp! Love u guyz!

We were brief by the AFS intercultura volunteer at the hotel...
and also learned some of the basic Italian words/body language with them!
We enjoyed our 1st real Italian food at the hotel!
And experience our 1st snowing weather in ROM! Fantastico! Dream come true eh... Photos up next!
Lastly the most important things!
We can rest/sleep/eat as long as we wanted until we depart to our host family!
I met 2 friends from South Africa too! (White people of coz)
The next day, we were split/leaving from each others on that day (18th dec) and went to our own host family!
This where the real journey began! I encounter a lot of troubles in the train...
as I and one of the volunteer accompany some of us! But finally! We safety arrived to our own host family!
My travel time from Rom-Alessandria : 9hours++ (It was a bumpy ride in the train and yet crowded with people)

Snowing in Roma! Moldo Freedo!

There was no right or wrong! Only differentlah! Afs Maslaysia!

Everyone is here!? Someone still missing...

The bus we taking to the train station.

Until next time! Arrivederci! Ciao~

Take Off! To far far away lands!

Departure From Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok-Rom (12hours++) -:

And on the same day, said ciao to our host family and departed in the evening at 9.00p.m from KL...
Arrived at Rom, Italy at 6a.m in the morning! The world/time is totally different from Mas!
Estimate traveling time in the plane: 12hours++
Plane that we take to Italy:
Thai Airplane (Its was so damn damn boring in the airplane!)
G.M.T time saving at Italy +1 while in Mas is +8..
It' was a tiring journey for us! Thx god in the plane I sat with some of my AFSer cool friends!
Krystle Loh next to me! and the rest! You guys rock! xD

After we arrived at the airport at Italy...
We took our bags/luggage off and walked to the airport to searched for an Afs.
We located it and We were greeted with open handed by the AFS volunteer!
Sadly the weather was cold (+2'C) but no sign of snow outside!
And last, we took a bus to the arrival orientation camp at a hotel in Rom!
A lot of photos has been uploaded at my facebook!
A wonderful view of Roma, Italy!

Here We Go! Pre-departure Orientation!

Pre-departure Orientation in KL

Pre-departure orientation (16th dec) -:

Venue: Hotel Maluri Cheras, Petaling Jaya...
Date : 16th Dec     Time : 9.00a.m - 2p.m

Short to saided!
It's was awesome!
I met many new friends from Malaysia
who going to Italy same as me as an AFSer Mas...
Them are so cool and warm to each others...
Overall, all of us have fun together...
The pre-departure orientation was on the morning.
And we departed from KL to BKK then to ROM at the evening...
Its was a tiring day yet memorizing moments with my friends.
P/s: I also met some of the AFS Jesnesys's returner from Japan for 2weeks!
All of them are so happy with their own experience!
No picture on here, I'm so sorry!

Owh, Mi Dispiace! For the delayed post!

I was quiet bz lately since I arrived at Italy...
Apart from the orientation... I travel a lot in these last few days!

And today it was already the 7th day I was at Italy since I left MAS...

I have so much thing to be done here... And have almost no time to update my blog...

B'coz of the preparation b4 Christmas with my host parent & friends...

So... lets forget about it and get back to the track...

Firstly, I took a lot of photo right here at Italy...

There'r a ton of it here at the camera...

I wish I can upload all of the picture here... But I can't

Its take a longer time and time is wasted...

So if you wishes to take a look of it...

U can try on my facebook...

Here's the link:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/5zann


Stay tuned!

3 weeks at Kuala Lumpur!

Hi ging... It's been awhile I haven update this blog... crap.. Ever since I arrive at KL. I can't stand a chance to go online. But now! Pheeww...! Finally, I'm back to the track! Currently online at cyber cafe. I stayed at my aunt house at Shah Alam for now. No computer and no Internet! Argghh... but at least my family and I went a lot a place during our stay at KL. We went a lot of interesting place. Last week, we went to sunway lagoon. we had so much fun although the entrance fees per adult is -undefined-. wow! um'caro(means expensive). I also have fun with my friend from my hometown Imran. We take many pictures too! I upload it later... Furthermore, I also had bought whole full set of winter cloths(damn expensive larh!), and some other thing such as Malaysian recipe book, gifts for my host family, and some others materials about Malaysia for me to represent my country during my stay at Italy soon!


Talking bout my trip at KL. there are so much I want to share it here. But due to limited time. I can't share it all for you. Another time perhaps! HAHAH! Good news coming up next! Recently there are news for AFS... U wanna know wat? The pre-departure orientation has arrived! So relieve when the postman delivered the letters straight to my aunt house at Shah Alan!  The letter contains my departure letters along some preparation b4 the trip to Italia! I gonna list it for detail on my next post! So stay tuned. Picture will be upload later. For now! =) Ciao~

Departure Letter!

It's been a quiet long time I haven update this blog. But yet, there'r still no news from AFS about my departure letter to Italy and further information about the orientation that will be held on the 16th Dec b4 we depart to Italy. So I called the officer in charge at KL. The AFS officer saided... The letter will be arrived late b4 we depart b'coz AFS Italy haven prepared a hotel for us to stay for another orientation during we arrive at Italy... Lets hope the best for us!

Today, I will leaving my hometown, Tawau. Along with my family and kakak to KL. I will spend 3weeks at the peninsula(semenanjung) MAS b4 the orientation at KL start! 1st destination, Sunway lagoon! Gonna have fun there and go for shopping for my winter cloths at the famous sunway pyramid! I gonna miss home very much! especially my huge and pro computer! Not forget about my crazy Friends at Tawau too! Love you all lar! Take care yar and don't talk bad about me! Jaga kaw! xD


I already packed my things and ready/waiting to fly. Oh yarh! I also bought some little present(Tawau made) for my host family at Italy. Wanna know what is it? Nope! I'm not telling ya! It's suppose to be a secret! I'm sure my host family gonna love it very much! Wokeyh! That all for now! See ya later! I got a plane to catch! Ciao~

A Call From Italy!

NOTHING MUCH! Just wanna share with you all. Just now my sis called over from Italy. SOOOOO exited yet nervous to talk with her! AGAIN... Hahahaa... She tell me that peoples at there will be ready for winter this dec... You know what's that mean? It's MEANS! Italy will be SNOWING soon! YEAH! Hoho~ I'm so anxious to snowing weather b'coz for my whole life... I never experience snow b4... Oh yarh! That's remind me! At Italy, the temperature is starting to drop. My sis saided that 'when you at Italy during the winter, you need to wear at least 4 layers of clothes with scarf over your neck b'coz the weather at Italy was estimated will be reach -6°c(even colder that the refrigerator) on this dec'. Wow, can't wait for that moment! 

Other from that, we also talk about foods. She wanted me to teach her cook Malaysian food. MamaMia(means OMG)! Hhahaha... For your information: *Honestly, my cooking isn't that good*
A few days ago I just made bubuchacha(A kind of Chinese food), it taste like boobooo( thumbs down... ) cha cha( very bad in Chinese ). Hhahahaa... Sure scorch one when I cook! ~xD! If you guys happen to know some special recipe from MAS. Kindly share with us at here coz I really REALLY desperately! Need to learn some Malaysian recipe from MAS b4 I depart to Italy!... Kay~ I think that all I wanna share with you guys... Sorry, no photo for today! I swear to you all after I arrive Italy soon. This blog sure flooded with picture! :) 

That's all guys, thx for listening & stay tuned for more update! Ciao~

Type text or a website address or translate a document.

Cancel

Listen

Host Family!

From the left :  Sorella(sis),Zie(aunt),Papa(dad) & the sitting one is my Mamma(Mum).

Yohooo...! GUESS WHAT?! I now have a host family in Italy.....Wow, I'm a little too excited to talk about it. And the most exciting thing, my advisor (Mr. Marvien) didn't think I would find out until September! Coz my family called me b4 the AFS letters arrived at my home long time ago... Cool isn't? Hahahaa... Btw,
Here's the details:


My Family : Botto Oldrini
Papa : Sir. Giuseppe Botto (57)                             Occupation : Director
Mamma : Mdm. Giuseppina Oldrini (56)           Occupation : Tourist Guide
Sorella (Sis) : Mrs. Esther Botto (22)                  Occupation : Student

Address : Via Moglia 9/b, Cassine, 15016 Alessandria, Italy,
(Probably at the northern region pf Italy, Between Torino & Milano)

I also just e-mailed my host family recently & we talk a lot about the life in Italy & families at there. Whew....I really really really am SOOOO excited & nervouse to meet my family in person! Does anyone have any questions for me? or, anything you want to share with us? Just drop comment on this blog.... Until next time then! Ciao~

Introduction!

 
I'm foreign exchange student with AFS spending 6-8 weeks in Italy (Dec.-Feb')in the year of 2010-2011. I'll try to share my whole experience as an AFSer to Italy throughout this blog(if only i'm not lazy laa yarr! ). Lolz! The blog will be updated regularly throughout my stay in Italy soon, along with new developments before my trip, such as preparing for Italy, news on host family and so on. This blog will save me from a life of carpel tunnel – which I am bound to get if I write everyone of my family and friends! I’ll update as much as I can, including pictures and my life as a Italian student. So please seat tight, relax and enjoy the show! Stay tuned for more updates!

P/s : Thanks to everyone who has guided me to create this blog! Ciao~