Cruz(in) Catania

If there was one thing I could tell people about my sister city Catania, it would be the ambience that the city holds. I know that it is a very broad generalization about the city, but I couldn’t seem to find a better way to describe it. Catania is such a sublime locus; the city itself has this atmosphere that makes you feel lost in the history that is embedded within it, but it is also the people that help mold that aura into something which you can find nowhere else. The people of Catania, ensure that the city is one of a kind by just being themselves; friendly, lively, hilarious, accepting, and much more. Together, the city remains historically beautiful but it is the people which modernize it and creates its unique beauty and ambience in our world. 

My time in Catania, has been absolutely the best I could have ever asked for or experienced. It wasn't only the city itself in general that made this experience memorable and amazing, but also my counterpart, host family, and all the friendships I created. When I arrived I was afraid that I wasn't gong to be able to fit in but in a matter of days I felt as if I belonged to this city. So when it was time to finally go back home, I wasn't ready. Although I wanted to stay much longer I knew that all my newfound friends would be arriving with us at our homes in a matter of days. And the guys and I would then be able to, hopefully, give them an unforgettable summer as they did to us. When I asked Martina if she was ready to come live with me, she responded that although she is nervous she can't wait to meet my family and friends. After that, I asked Martina about what she wanted to do when she arrived in Phoenix and all that she would say is to let herself be immersed into my life and what the city had to offer. I thought that this answer was the best becuase I would be able to make a list of all the things we could do and from then be able to plan accordingly. So far as a cohort, we've agreed to take a trip to the Grand Canyon and possibly other places, but what seems to be interesting Martina, Matteo, and Edoardo the most seems to be the food! For example, when Eric, Beck, and I were talking about some of our favorite foods- like mac & cheese or chicken and waffles- they stared at us as if we were making these dishes up. Martina and I were able to make a list of all the food places I wish to show and take her to, and we're both looking forward to that.

Reyna and the chocolate factory/ museum. 

Although Catania and Phoenix share many similarities- such as the prickly pear cacti and the always sunny weather- there are also several differences that the two have. Three things that Catania has that Phoenix does not are: 1.) Table Tax: Here in Catania there is no "tax" like we have in Phoenix, where we pay (usually) .08 cents on every dollar we spend; anywhere and everywhere. But here the only type of "tax" that has to be paid is for when you go out and eat and decide to sit down at the restaurant. It usually cost anywhere from .50-2 euros. Side note: The napkins here a way different than those we have at home, becuase here in Catania, the napkins have more of a wax paper feel to them which makes them better at absorbing grease and dirt. They also remind me of blotting tissue papers. 2.) Military personal everywhere with Automatic weapons in hand: This should be self explanatory, but it's not that common to see the Army with rifles in the streets of Phoenix. Yet in Catania and Rome, it's an everyday thing. 3.) The sea!

Let me start by stating the obvious: THE FOOD HERE IS AMAZING! I was so excited to try all the different types of food that Catania had to offer, and so far it has not once let me down (some of my favorite dishes I posted pictures of them above). The pasta here is so good, especially the typical pasta dish bucatini all'amatriciana; which is pasta with tomato sauce, eggs, and chunks of prosciutto. Aside from the amazing pasta dishes, there are some wonderful chicken and beef dishes as well. Such as a fillet of beef with a Barolo sauce or chicken marinated in an orange and tomato paste. But one of the foods that surprised me the most was the Italian version of grilled cheese! It is two slices of thick bread with mozzarella inside, and it is dipped into an egg wash and then coated in bread crumbs and fried, and let me tell you I will no longer eat a grill cheese the same way. As for desserts I haven’t really had many except for the typical 7 veil cake. It is a mouse type of cake with crunchy cocoa bits in the center and is coated in dark chocolate. I think the thing that I will miss the most from Catania will be the food. 

We have just came back from a trip to Rome! That has been my favorite experience that I've had becuase I've always been interested about Rome and the history it has. And being able to share this wonderful experience with some amazing friends has been surreal. On Friday we left around 9am and had a very long car ride to Rome. We finally arrived around 6pm and had dinner with Mateo's parents and brothers at a wonderful restaurant were Eric, Beck, and I all had Bucatinni al Amarticiana which is a typical Italian pasta dish. On Saturday we walked all around he heart of Rome, from the Altar to Italy, to the Coliseum, to being able to walk through ancient pathways and ruins that was once the city of Rome. Although it was very tiring at no point did I want to stop, I wanted to keep exploring and taking in all that the city had to offer. On Sunday, we went to Vatican City and had the chance to hear the Pope give a prayer! Since my family is religious, we've sometimes watched the televised version of the Pope giving a Sunday Prayer but this time I was there in the flesh listening to the Pope. After we went inside the church and the entire time I couldn't believe the architecture inside the church. Everything was so carefully painted and chiseled and I couldn't believe that someone with such talent could create something so godly. There was also the marble statute of Mary holding Jesus that Michael Angelo created and it looked so lifelike that if you were to grab out and touch it you might have been able to feel the texture of the robes. Then we decided to climb over 500 flights of stairs to reach the very top of the church and look out over the city. After Vatican City we walked around and visited Nova Plaza and saw the exterior of the Pantheon. We ended the evening with going out to eat at restaurant and seeing a street performer play with fire. Since we had to park a whiles away from where we were we decided to walk back but on the banks of the River where at night it had become almost like a boardwalk that you would find in California. We played some carnival games and after winning some prizes we made it back to our hotel. Today we left, sadly, but on our way back to Catania we stopped at Carlos the III palace. We rode on bikes across his 25 acres estate and had a race to the top of the hill. After our bike ride we went inside his actual home and toured the very delicately designed rooms and made jokes about who's room was who's. I felt that every time we entered a new room that that was the most beautiful. The ceilings were my favorite thing. You would look around and see the gorgeous walls but the real artwork were on the ceilings. I felt like a child in awe when I would look up. I made a goal today that when I would own a home of my own I would have my ceilings as pretty as the ones I saw today.

From the moment I arrived to Catania, Martina and her family have been so extremely kind to me. They have gone the extra mile to make me feel at home and cared for. Martina’s family consisted of her mother, father, younger brother, and younger sister. Her mother speaks English but at times has trouble trying to translate words. Luckily, since I am a native Spanish speaker and Italian is similar to Spanish, we are able to communicate through that aspect. Together we have learned how common the Spanish and Italian language really is, and have taught one another different and new words. Martina’s younger sister Emma, however, has been teaching me only Italian. Since she is still very young, she can’t speak English and rather has made it her duty to teach my Italian, so now I can name several items in Italian with ease. During Dinner, Emma whispers to me across the table different words in English and expects me to say the words in Italian. At dinner I have noticed some similarities and differences as well. Such as they drink water from bottles and have specific cups assigned to the family members (the adults have elegant glasses and the children have smaller painted glasses), but they always make sure to eat dinner as a family. Much like we do in America. 

Yesterday was the first day that Martina, Eric, Edoardo, Beck, Matteo, and I got together. We met up for lunch and ate in the stunning Giardino Bellini, and from there walked around the central part of the city, where we visited several of the tourist spots. By far, one of my most favorite spots was the visiting the church Duomo. The architecture was stunning, I couldn’t believe how well preserved it was. For dinner, we all went to a Mexican restaurant where memories of us all crying from eating a whole green chili were created. I have been here less than a week but even so everyone around me has made me feel accepted and cared for. I couldn’t have been paired with anyone as kind, as lively, and as funny as the Catania cohort!

I have never been outside of the United States, but there I always felt like I belonged. It was my home and I understood how to live there and where to go. Yet, when I arrived to Rome I felt out of place, there was so much that I had no clue about, and there was this terrifying pressure that I felt that I needed to fit in becuase I was going to be living here. So after a days worth of traveling, I was finally able to arrive with Martina (my counterpart) and her wonderful family. They took me in so kindly, and even created a sign to welcome me to their home. While Martina’s mom cooked, Martina and her younger siblings and I talked the entire afternoon about our differences, and most importantly, our similarities. I couldn’t have asked for a better first day.

Not even a month ago did we, as the Phoenix Sister Cities Youth Ambassadors, take an oath for the city of Phoenix and graduated. I have been awake  since three in the morning, arrived at four to the airport, checked in, and  am now currently writing this and anxiously waiting to board our flights. 

I am less than a week away from boarding a plane that will take me to Catania, Italy, and I don't believe that this is really happening. Not only am I scared but I'm overwhelmingly happy becuase I knew I wanted to be a part of this program for years and my dream is finally coming true. I can't wait to begin this blog and present my summer adventure to the world.