What were you grateful for this week?I am super grateful for the many Italians who are willing to help and answer questions. 

What was the most difficult or challenging part of this week?One of the most challenging things has been not having WiFi. I am working on getting a new SIM card for my phone but I have run into some complications. It was difficult to find my Airbnbs and navigate a new place while I was traveling solo over the weekend. 

Tell us about a “wow” moment you had this week.I have only been with my host family for three days, so I haven’t had a big wow moment yet. But I feel like I have been offering and trying to find ways to help with whatever I can. 

Tell us about your week! This was my first week with my host family. I don’t want to say this too early but so far everything has exceeded my expectations! My host family is super helpful. I have really enjoyed being with them and I LOVE the food that they cook. 

I spent my first weekend traveling solo. I went to the Amalfi Coast and I don’t think I have seen anything more beautiful in my life. The entire experience still doesn’t seem real! I also feel pretty accomplished because I was able to figure everything out on my own. 

One of my favorite things to do in Italy so far is people watching. I love listening to the language and seeing how people interact with each other. One of my favorite things is listening to the way young children speak Italian. I think it’s so cute! During my first night at the Amalfi Coast, I was sitting outside on the balcony and I started to hear beautiful Italian music. I looked down and realized that there was a concert happening right below me! Seeing the view of the beautiful buildings and the sea, while listening to the amazing music was magical. It was something that I wasn’t able to plan, it just worked out. I had no idea that I loved Italian music so much!