If you've read my parent's blog, you'll know about the flashlight that was sold to Johnny when we first got to Rome. If not, what happened was, when we were standing by the Trevi Fountain, a man came up to Johnny and sold him a laser for ten euros.
It was really cool until someone came up to us and told us that the laser has the power to blind people. We also saw the men selling the lasers run fast when the police showed up. We found out later that these were illegal to sell.
When we got back to the hotel, my mom went online and researched it and read stories of people being blinded doing exactly what we had been doing earlier. In short, we were really lucky!
This morning, we were talking about going to the Sistine Chapel and Vatican City. Johnny was asking my mom about what they were but I noticed that he was saying "The Sixteenth Chapel". :)
xoxo Maggie
Wednesday 20 March 2013
Tuesday 19 March 2013
Rome and Their Salespeople
I love Rome! It is so amazing! Today we saw the Colosseum and the Spanish Steps and some other really cool things! We ate lots of pizza, pasta, and gelato.
Almost everything about Rome is absolutely amazing, all except for one thing, the salespeople. They come up to you and literally push the thing they are selling into your hands.
I wanted to buy a pair of sunglasses that said Rome on the side of them and I thought I saw a pair so I went over to look at them. They weren't what I was looking for so I put them down and walked away. Then, the salesman ran after me, forced them on me, and made me look in a mirror. I said that I didn't have any money because I didn't, and then he asked where my parents were. After that, I just ran away.
A few minutes later, a man came up and offered me a rose and, again, I said that I had no money and he forced it in my hand and told me I could have it for free. I thanked him and walked away. Then he ran over to my mom and begged her for money!
These people freak me out! They are so crazy!
On a more positive note, :) my mom and I saw this really cool artist and he was making necklaces that said people's names out of wire. It was so cool so I bought one! Luckily he wasn't pushy and the price wasn't outrageous! :)
Almost everything about Rome is absolutely amazing, all except for one thing, the salespeople. They come up to you and literally push the thing they are selling into your hands.
I wanted to buy a pair of sunglasses that said Rome on the side of them and I thought I saw a pair so I went over to look at them. They weren't what I was looking for so I put them down and walked away. Then, the salesman ran after me, forced them on me, and made me look in a mirror. I said that I didn't have any money because I didn't, and then he asked where my parents were. After that, I just ran away.
A few minutes later, a man came up and offered me a rose and, again, I said that I had no money and he forced it in my hand and told me I could have it for free. I thanked him and walked away. Then he ran over to my mom and begged her for money!
These people freak me out! They are so crazy!
On a more positive note, :) my mom and I saw this really cool artist and he was making necklaces that said people's names out of wire. It was so cool so I bought one! Luckily he wasn't pushy and the price wasn't outrageous! :)
American Visitors!!
The last two weeks have gone by so fast!
My friend Julia, her sister Sophie, and her mom, Liz, came to visit us on March 9, the day after my birthday. They were not tired so on the day they came we rented a car and headed down to Cobh (pronounced Cove).
The next day we did, my favorite, the Blarney Stone! The Blarney Stone is in Blarney Castle. Supposedly, the King of Blarney talked nonstop, so if you kiss the Blarney Stone at the top of the castle, you get the "gift of gab."
I've kissed it twice so I have the gift of gab times two!
The Blarney Stone isn't the only cool part of Blarney Castle. Right outside of it is the dungeons. Johnny, Sophie, Julia and I crawled back into it. It was dark and wet. It was a tight space, kind of like a cave. I hit my head quite a few times!
Inside the Castle, there were a lot of the same rooms that we have, like a bedroom, dining room, family room, kitchen, but they also had different ones like a murder hole. The murder hole is sort of like an old fashioned intruder-defense thing. When someone bad comes into teh castle, hot liquids are poured on them from a hole above.
Also, next to the castle was the wishing steps. The legend is that a long time ago a witch stole some firewood from Blarney, so now she has to grant everyone a wish. How it works is that you go up and down the stairs backwards thinking only of your wish.
I hope it works.
On Monday we went on the "Titanic Experience."
It was really cool because at the start we got a ticket of someone who was actually on the Titanic and at the end you got to see if they lived or died.
I died. I now know all about the Titanic, even the most random facts like how many dinner plates were on the Titanic.
After that, we drove down to Kinsale and shopped around. There was a great fish restaurant called Fishy Fishy.
We went to a lot of little Irish shops which was fun. Julia got a Claddagh ring to match mine.
On Thursday Julia came to school with me. She met my friends and teachers which was a lot of fun!
For my birthday I got tickets for Julia and I to go see One Direction in the O2 stadium on Wednesday the 13th of March.
It is safe to say that it was literally the LOUDEST thing I have ever experienced. When we walked out we almost couldn't hear. Louis said it was the loudest concert they ever performed. I had so much fun!
They performed stuff off of their new album which was AMAZING but my favorite was the end song, What Makes You Beautiful.
There was confetti cannons and everything. Again, the LOUDEST thing ever.
It was amazing!!!
Julia, Liz, and Sophie left on St. Patricks day, but the parade in the city center was fun. But it would have been more fun with them there!
I couldn't see very well because it was so packed but I could hear marching bands and there was a really cool float of a ship!
The days before St. Patricks Day, there were rides and Irish dancing which was cool. I got to meet the second best Irish dancer in the world and she might become the first soon!
Today we are flying to Rome. Then Greece for spring break. It will be so fun. We are going to see the Sistine Chapel and they just selected a new pope! In Greece we are going to see my mom's cousin and her family. We are taking a boat over there.
School is going well and so is baskeball and everyhing else.
xoxo Maggie
My friend Julia, her sister Sophie, and her mom, Liz, came to visit us on March 9, the day after my birthday. They were not tired so on the day they came we rented a car and headed down to Cobh (pronounced Cove).
The next day we did, my favorite, the Blarney Stone! The Blarney Stone is in Blarney Castle. Supposedly, the King of Blarney talked nonstop, so if you kiss the Blarney Stone at the top of the castle, you get the "gift of gab."
I've kissed it twice so I have the gift of gab times two!
The Blarney Stone isn't the only cool part of Blarney Castle. Right outside of it is the dungeons. Johnny, Sophie, Julia and I crawled back into it. It was dark and wet. It was a tight space, kind of like a cave. I hit my head quite a few times!
Inside the Castle, there were a lot of the same rooms that we have, like a bedroom, dining room, family room, kitchen, but they also had different ones like a murder hole. The murder hole is sort of like an old fashioned intruder-defense thing. When someone bad comes into teh castle, hot liquids are poured on them from a hole above.
Also, next to the castle was the wishing steps. The legend is that a long time ago a witch stole some firewood from Blarney, so now she has to grant everyone a wish. How it works is that you go up and down the stairs backwards thinking only of your wish.
I hope it works.
On Monday we went on the "Titanic Experience."
It was really cool because at the start we got a ticket of someone who was actually on the Titanic and at the end you got to see if they lived or died.
I died. I now know all about the Titanic, even the most random facts like how many dinner plates were on the Titanic.
After that, we drove down to Kinsale and shopped around. There was a great fish restaurant called Fishy Fishy.
We went to a lot of little Irish shops which was fun. Julia got a Claddagh ring to match mine.
On Thursday Julia came to school with me. She met my friends and teachers which was a lot of fun!
For my birthday I got tickets for Julia and I to go see One Direction in the O2 stadium on Wednesday the 13th of March.
It is safe to say that it was literally the LOUDEST thing I have ever experienced. When we walked out we almost couldn't hear. Louis said it was the loudest concert they ever performed. I had so much fun!
They performed stuff off of their new album which was AMAZING but my favorite was the end song, What Makes You Beautiful.
There was confetti cannons and everything. Again, the LOUDEST thing ever.
It was amazing!!!
Julia, Liz, and Sophie left on St. Patricks day, but the parade in the city center was fun. But it would have been more fun with them there!
I couldn't see very well because it was so packed but I could hear marching bands and there was a really cool float of a ship!
The days before St. Patricks Day, there were rides and Irish dancing which was cool. I got to meet the second best Irish dancer in the world and she might become the first soon!
Today we are flying to Rome. Then Greece for spring break. It will be so fun. We are going to see the Sistine Chapel and they just selected a new pope! In Greece we are going to see my mom's cousin and her family. We are taking a boat over there.
School is going well and so is baskeball and everyhing else.
xoxo Maggie
Thursday 28 February 2013
February and March
The months of February and March are probably the most crazy and hectic months of our trip here for me!
In February, there was the One Mile Challenge, which is where we ran a mile to raise money for a new sports pitch at our school. A pitch is a field where they play sports like field hockey. My school is hoping to build an "all weather" pitch which is really important here because it rains so much. It was really fun but it was really cold outside because we were running at nine in the morning! (Not as cold as Minnesota!) Everybody here, when we were waiting outside, was shivering and I'm in short sleeves. It is not really that cold!
Also, I had my first basketball game! We played against Mount Anville and we won 18-8! I scored my first ever basket in a game, so that was really fun too! My coach is American, just like me! He calls me "USA"!
In March, there is going to be an International Lunch, which is when everybody makes something from their country. There are girls from Spain, Italy, and the Philippines in my school. Even though the majority of the girls are Irish, they can sign up for different countries too. I am trying to think of something really American to make. Any ideas?
xo Maggie
In February, there was the One Mile Challenge, which is where we ran a mile to raise money for a new sports pitch at our school. A pitch is a field where they play sports like field hockey. My school is hoping to build an "all weather" pitch which is really important here because it rains so much. It was really fun but it was really cold outside because we were running at nine in the morning! (Not as cold as Minnesota!) Everybody here, when we were waiting outside, was shivering and I'm in short sleeves. It is not really that cold!
Also, I had my first basketball game! We played against Mount Anville and we won 18-8! I scored my first ever basket in a game, so that was really fun too! My coach is American, just like me! He calls me "USA"!
In March, there is going to be an International Lunch, which is when everybody makes something from their country. There are girls from Spain, Italy, and the Philippines in my school. Even though the majority of the girls are Irish, they can sign up for different countries too. I am trying to think of something really American to make. Any ideas?
xo Maggie
Wednesday 27 February 2013
My First Post
Hey Guys!
Here's my blog!
I had some trouble coming up with a good name so that's why I didn't start it sooner, and another reason is that I wanted to have stuff to write about too.
School here is similar in some ways and different in others.
The similarities are:
The differences are:
It was really funny when we went to restaurants or shops because we couldn't speak a lot of French except for what I learned in school and what my mom remembered from high school.
The first day we were in Paris Johnny and I walked into a souvenir shop and started to talk to the worker. He totally pretended not to speak English. It was so funny and embarrassing.
I miss everyone and am having a good time here.
-Maggie
Here's my blog!
I had some trouble coming up with a good name so that's why I didn't start it sooner, and another reason is that I wanted to have stuff to write about too.
School here is similar in some ways and different in others.
The similarities are:
- I change classes
- Most of the subjects
- I have a locker
- We wear uniforms (everyone in Ireland wears uniforms! Here is a picture of me in my uniform!)
The differences are:
- Longer and later lunch time (they eat lunch at 2!)
- Longer school day (we go from 8:40 to 3:00 on MWF and to 3:40 on T/Th)
- It is "high school"
- They offer "home ec" and "art"
- I take French instead of Spanish
 |
| Me at the Arc de Triomphe |
It was really funny when we went to restaurants or shops because we couldn't speak a lot of French except for what I learned in school and what my mom remembered from high school.
The first day we were in Paris Johnny and I walked into a souvenir shop and started to talk to the worker. He totally pretended not to speak English. It was so funny and embarrassing.
I miss everyone and am having a good time here.
-Maggie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)