What were you grateful for this week?
We put up the Christmas tree and at the end of the first Month I feel so welcome by the family and included I can’t express how grateful to have a wonderful host family to make my Italian experience feel like home.

What was the most difficult or challenging part of this week?
Thinking like a kid again, or at least trying to see things their way to find how I can best connect to them and help them learn.

Tell us about a “wow” moment you had this week. 
It did not happen last week as the stores were closed on the day I had the idea but last week I wanted to make a dinner I always make for my family at home. It isn’t anything special and is quite straightforward but it is my signature meal.
 

Tell us about your week!
The most exciting thing this week was PUTTING UP THE CHRISTMAS TREEEE!!! There have been signs of Christmas all throughout the city with trees and lights going up but not much around the house until this week. We hung decorations, set up the tree, and (seemingly the most important part) listened to Christmas music. 

 

The boys are beginning to talk more about what they want and I am starting the think of ideas for ways I can make the days festive. I want to bake some bread for them so that they can eat some sweets, but little do they know I want to make it healthy and sneak zucchini in there!! Muahaha. 

 

I also got to fulfill a dream I had for a long time to go to Cinque Terre. Apparently not a very popular spot for the locals, it was for the tourists. Gorgeous and well worth the 6 hour train trip. 

 

I am ecstatic that I got to go and I also had the chance to travel with another Rome

Abroad Speaker, the first one I have talked to face to face since I got here. It was so nice to talk to someone from a totally different background than me with the same interest in seeing the world and the beautiful things to see. 

 

I look forward to traveling more, not only for the sites to see and the companionship to be had, but also because I was happy to come home to the family and talk to them and hear how their weekend was. To come home after a trip and just sigh that I am lucky to have this opportunity. Blessed to be where I am with who I am with.