Roma to America

Hello First Grade!

This will be my final post from Roma! Chocolate and I spent the last two weeks in Roma visiting the sites. We have enjoyed our time with my family but now we have to leave. I believe Chocolate is ready to see Lauryn and the rest of the class. But for myself, I'm not ready to go. I'm going to miss Perugia and the rest of Italy so much! I hope I can come back soon. Until then, I am excited to see all of you! Just a few more days and I will be graduating from college and I'll come and see you! :) 

Gage, I hope you have a very happy birthday!

Love,

Ms. Deppen and Chocolate

5 Days

Hi First Grade!

It is my last week in Italy. I can't believe that on Friday Chocolate and I will be traveling to the United States to graduate! Last weekend, we went to Perugia one last time see my roommate and my friend. It was so hard to leave! We had our favorite pizza and our favorite gelato before we left! 

This week we have one trip to Florence and then just a few days in Rome to pack and do some last minute shopping! We will see you soon! 

Love, Ms. Deppen

PS: Only 5 days until Gage's birthday! 

Goodbye Perugia, Hello Roma!

Hi First Grade! 

In the last two weeks I have finished my studies in Perugia. I packed all my bags and my room is empty. Today, I traveled from Perugia to Roma to meet my family. My grandma and two aunts have arrived. We are staying in a beautiful apartment and Chocolate has her own room! Our interent is very, very slow! So I can't post any pictures. :( 

I can't wait to see all of you! Won't be too much longer!

Love, 

Ms. Deppen

Sicily!

Hi First Grade! 

This weekend chocolate and I traveled to an island off of Sicily called Favignana. We had a very relaxing time. It was a great way to end  classes. We walked around the island, took pictures, laid on the beach, and tried some calamari. It's was delcisous. Here are some photos from our trip! Enjoy!!!! 

Love, Ms. Deppen

Our ferry to the island. 

A dog, I named Otis at the beach. 

My friends -Jessica, Asia, Abe, & I. 

Fresh fish being sold right next to the sea! Caught that day!

Our hotel!

View from the beach

The girls! Jessica, Susanne, Asia & I! 

Chocolate eating gelato! She begs me every day. Usually we have one right after lunch and then another before dinner! 

Chocolate trying Calamari! YUM!

Cinque Terre

Hi first grade!

I feel like I haven't written to you in so long! Chocolate and I got very busy with school work. In the next week, I will finish classes. I can't believe my time in Perugia is coming to an end. This weekend we took a break and traveled to Cinque Terra. Cinque Terra is five little costal towns in the north of Italy. We traveled by train and stayed in Vernazza. It was beautiful! When we first arrived we went to sit on the beach and walked towards the trail to take in the view.

Chocolate and I on the stone beach!

My friends and I on the beach! No white sand in Cinque Terre!

Chocolate taking in the view of Vernazza. 

On Saturday, we hiked to the next town. We were told it was an hour and a half hike. It took us four hours to get to Monterossa! It was very steep and many of the paths have been washed away because of rain. In 2011, Cinque Terra had a terrible flood that created many landscapes. The amount of rain they normally get in a year, they had in two hours! It is still a beautiful place but they are constantly rebuilding the place.




Although, I don't like to hike... the views were breathtaking!

Chocolate taking a break from our 4 hour hike! 

Once arriving in Montesorra, we had lunch and of course, gelato! I even found a necklace to remember my time in Italy. At the end of the day, we didn't want to hike back so we took a ferry back.

The view on the ferry. 

Coming back to Vernazza by boat. 

 It was Chocolates favorite part of the trip. We sat right at the front so we could see everything and even got spritzed with water. Next weekend we are traveling to an island off of Sicily! Can't wait to share pictures.

Miss you so much!
Ms. Deppen

Paris

Hi First Grade!

This weekend Chocolate spent Easter in Paris. She travled with my very best roommate, Susanne. Susanne has a friend in Paris and stayed with her for the weekend. Chocolate saw many beautiful things including the Eiffel Tower, Pont des Arts where lovers put locks on the bridge, the Louve and the famous Notre Dome. Susanne said Chocolate enjoyed every minute of it! There was so much to see and do! Sadly, Susanne forgot to grab a photo with Chocolate because she didn't want her to get lost. I'm glad she didn't lose her!!!! Enjoy the photos from Paris! 

Remember! 

And the best for last!

Gubbio In A Day

Hi First Grade!

This weekend Chocolate and I traveled to Gubbio with a friend. Gubbio is another hilltop town in Italy. It was our first time going by car. No worries -we wore our seat-belts and our driver was excellent. After a 40 minute drive, we arrived in Gubbio. Since we went with an Italian- so we did like the Italians. Our first stop was for a coffee! This is where Chocolate and I had our very first cappuccino! It was delicious.

 Afterwards, we explored the town. We went into little stores, walked up side streets, and took a few pictures.

Later we traveled up the mountain. We took what was like a ski lift but it was shaped like a bird cage that carried us to the top.

Chocolate and I held on tight because I was so scared! I am afraid of heights but my friend said it would be OK. Once we got to the top, it was worth it! Here are a few pictures of the view! 

After going back down the mountain, Chocolate and I enjoyed a delicious lunch. Guess what!?!? We didn't have pasta! We had roast beef that will thinly sliced and cold. It was very different from the roast beef my grandma cooks! Then for dessert we had a creme dish with lots and lots of chocolate. Yum! 

Ciao First Grade! Talk soon! And miss you lots! 

Ms. Deppen

Favorite Food

Hi First Grade!

This week Chocolate and I didn't go anywhere too exciting. So I want to take the chance to talk about the food in Italy. Italy is very different from America! In a grocery store, you won't find cheddar cheese or nachos! There are actually many foods that we have in America that aren't in Italy. 

For example, there is no peanut butter, no spaghetti-o's, canned soup, or frozen meals. Can you believe it?!?! Therefore, I make my own soup and I eat a lot of pasta! 

Lucky for me, we went to a big grocery store and I found a few of my favorite American foods! I found Heinz Ketchup and Nesquik Chocolate Syrup. Now, I can make chocolate milk! 

Next time, remember to be thankful for your favorite foods! Enjoy!

Love, Ms. Deppen

Roma

Hi First Grade!

This weekend Chocolate and I went to Rome. The Italians call the city Roma. Rome is the capital of Italy. We travled with my class and professor. We visited many museums! We saw beautiful sculptors and pieces of art work. On Friday, we went to the Vatican.  The Vatican is where the Pope lives. The coolest thing is that right now, there is no Pope. This week they will be voting for a new Pope. Then we saw the Roman Forum. It is full of ancient buildings. Chocolate had to get her picture taken here. No worries, we were very careful! 

Chocolate and I didn't have time to see everything we wanted too! But before long, we will be back in Rome. At the end of April, I will be staying two weeks with my grandma and aunts. I'm sure Chocolate and I will see everything. Plus we will try some delicious food and gelato! 

Missing Cornwall! 

Ms. Deppen

Germany and Venice!

Hi First Grade!

Last week Chocolate and I traveled to Germany to visit my friends. We took a train , a bus, and a plane to get there. After a little mix up, we made it to Germany! My friends met us at the airport and drove us to their home.

We had so much fun with them. We spent two afternoons in Stade and had a blast! In Stade we went to many book stores. In one we found Magic Tree House Books and in another we found the books like Mr. Grumpy. Chocolate and I can't remember the exact name.

One evening we watched Disciple Me in German. Chocolate loved it. Plus he made a few new German friends, while we watched the movie together on the couch.

We even had a very special treat! They just had a friend from the States come to visit and she brought Hershey chocolate! OH! I was so excited!

Chocolate even tried a very traditional German breakfast and lunch! For breakfast, they have fresh rolls that they buy THAT very morning! Then there are so many things you can have with them- meat, cheese, spreads, jams, and Nutella! It is up to you to decide.



For lunch, Oma (which means grandma in German) made us red cabbage, potato balls, and goulash. Goulash is a type of meat served in a very yummy stew or gravy. I almost forgot! We tried shark! Germans sometimes eat it for breakfast on black bread. It was actually very good -and Ms. Deppen is a picky eater. (The long skinny piece in-front is the shark!)

On our last day in Germany, Kara, chocolate and I went to school with Hannah and Paula. Hannah is in first grade and Paula is in 4th grade. German school is very different than America. The girls only had a half of day and had three breaks! Wow! The coolest thing is their cubbies are outside of the classroom and there they take off their shoes. Many students then put on slippers or crocs for the day.

This is Hannah's homework. She has to read, too! Plus the syllables are in different colors. 

Plus practice writing! She uses a two sided pencil to do her homework!

Chocolate and I were both sad to leave our German friends. They are like family!

 After Germany, we traveled to Venice. We spent the day there! It is very beautiful city with all the water. Venice is a city that is below sea level. So there are very few cars and a lot of boats!








Chocolate and I got lost a few times because all of the streets are very dark and narrow. We ate at a fast food place like McDonalds but they serve pizza and fries!

 

Talk to you soon! Miss you First Grade! 

Love, Ms. Deppen