What were you grateful for this week?The Sea. 

What was the most difficult or challenging part of this week?Trying to learn how to stand up for myself. 

Tell us about a “wow” moment you had this week.

We moved to Lipari!

Tell us about your week!  We have officially moved to Sicily. More specifically, an island called Lipari. [My host dad’s] mom, Nonna Lili, has owned one of the most beautiful homes I’ve ever seen in my life for YEARS, on an Aeolian Island called (as I’ve said three times now) Lipari. 

This house is stunning. I don’t have enough words in my vocabulary to explain the way that it makes me feel. It’s always open, as there are several windows and doors. It’s placed fairly high up on a hill (this is a volcanic island by the way), and the sea comes all the way up to the foot of the hill/mountain it’s placed on. So you can always hear it and smell it. 

The weather has been stunning, so my tan is looking FANTASTIC. We have visited a few beaches and rented a few boats (don’t even get me started on the boats). The only issue that I’ve been having is that the only three ways down into the center of the town are: driving the car (it’s manual. I do not know how to drive manual but I WILL LEARN BECAUSE IM SICK OF THIS HAPPENING TO ME), the Vespa (which I’m afraid of due to a minor crash in Thailand a few years ago), or a taxi which is far too expensive for me to even consider. SO. Other than that, everything is great. There are few things that make my soul feel as good as the sea does. It was just what I needed.