What were you grateful for this week?This week I am grateful for google translate and digital maps! 

What was the most challenging part of this week?Getting used to traveling alone and not understanding the language as well as I’d like to. 

Tell us about a “wow” moment you had this week.With my host mom being out of town for work, I helped out a lot during my free time.

Tell us about your week!My first week in Italy was incredible. It was difficult, inspiring, beautiful, and full! My host family is so kind and I already love living with them, I felt welcomed immediately. The kids are so fun to be around, I asked one of them to do their best American accent and I have never heard anything so funny in my life.

I learned how to order coffee in Italian and even met a couple from Utah while drinking a macchiato! I walked all over Rome whenever I had free time and took in all the historical sights. It is just as much fun seeing the sights as it is getting lost along the way. 

I found an English bookstore and bought a few books to read while drinking coffee! One of this is a biography on a famous Italian art historian which I am looking forward to learning from! Exploring this city and all of the cathedrals, history, and culture has been a dream come true. 

I also learned that it is necessary to let go of your ego to be able to truly enjoy traveling alone. It is okay to go to restaurants alone, and it is okay to walk around shops by yourself! This has definitely been a week full of growth, it was uncomfortable at times, but incredibly rewarding. I am loving all the strange interactions I am having with people here, I can’t wait to have more weeks like this one over the next few months.