Thanksgiving Week in Italy: Week 5 (GL 350)

     As yet another week of our Rome experience comes to an end, I find myself extremely thankful for this entire experience. I've become comfortable with being here, that I sometimes have to pinch myself for taking the little things for granted. We're here in Rome for eight weeks. While that seems like a long time, it has gone by incredibly too fast for my liking, which is why I just have to take the time and continue to embrace every moment, even if every moment isn't perfect. 

     "Let us consider the solitary Italian, whoever he may be, at the moment he is actually born, on the day, that is, when he realizes that things are seldom what they seem, words not always what they sound like, and most of what he learned in school, in the army, or from his elders, and what he read in many grave books, is complete nonsense." This quote from Barzini's The Italians, I found interesting because it sends a good message. It means that one cannot learn about Italy stuck in a classroom, reading countless books, or just listening to what others say. It must be experienced by oneself, in the many piazzas of Rome, with the natives of Italy, and with the massive churches, small cafes and ancient ruins surrounding you. 

     During week five, besides Thanksgiving, we had some other fun experiences as well. On Monday, we had a little piece of home when some of us were able to see the final installment of the Twilight series in theaters, Breaking Dawn. Even though the movie had Italian subtitles, it was really great to see it in Rome with my fellow students. We also had a tour given by Gabby and Aubree of the beautiful Borghese gardens and Borghese Museum, which was very fascinating. Also, some of us got to visit St. Peter's basilica in the Vatican city for the first time. As we walked out, we see something spectacular: a rainbow covering the Vatican. It was beautiful to say the least.

     Last Thursday was a different and new experience for me, and many other students on this trip. It was our first holiday away from home: Thanksgiving. After 18 years of spending it with my family, Thanksgiving has become one of my favorite holidays. Great food, board games, laughs, family, ornament exchanges and good times are some of the things that make it special. While I missed all of this, I was happy to be spending this Thanksgiving with my new Rome family. We went to Santa Susanna, the English-speaking church in Rome for mass, sang "America the Beautiful," ate a delicious classic American Thanksgiving dinner, Skyped our families and watched Christmas movies, which left us all very full and happy people. This Thanksgiving in Italy was very special to me, and it is something I will be able to look back on and cherish for years to come. 

Ciao for now!

At the Vatican with a rainbow in the background

Thanksgiving feast on campus