What were you grateful for this week?
My new host mom is everything I aspire to be and one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met and my new best friend. 

What was the most challenging part of this week?
Being dropped off in a foreign city without a cell phone and all my luggage for 10 hrs. 

Tell us about a “wow” moment you had this week.
I cleaned up after the pets so the mom didn’t have to. 

Tell us about your week! 
After traveling for what seemed like forever I landed in Turin and was picked up by my new host mom. We drove back to La morra. And during the drive I just couldnt stop smiling because [my host mom] used to live in the US and likes farming and American music! The new area is in beautiful farmland and has vineyards everywhere. It is exactly like Oregon but better. The weather is cool and nice. Got to their house and they have a cat and a dog. [My host mom] is one of the chillest, most caring people I have ever met. And her daughter is shy and adorable too. On Sunday we went to the neighboring town which is more of a city and walked around. We stopped at all the cathedrals because I love cathedrals. And [my host family’s daughter] has to go to every candle offering and put some money in and watch the candles light up. It was so cute. We went to mass and watched a christening. Then we went back to our town. And I toured it by myself. I just can’t get over how every Italian town has a beautiful old cathedral. Then we went out to dinner and I didn’t really understand what I was ordering but it was minced raw beef called battuta al collta. And it was straight up raw. Definitely the most interesting thing I’ve eaten.

 

Monday my host mom and I went to Barolo. Which is a world famous city for red wine. We did a wine tour and walked around the city. And [my host mom] is just amazing, she’s the one person in Italy who has peanut butter, likes al Pacino and Bradley Cooper. And loves lady Gaga. And has a motorbike! We eat lunch jamming to 80’s throwback songs! I haven’t stopped smiling since I got here. Then today [my host family’s daughter] and I went to swim lessons and played together all afternoon. And she actually listens to me when I read to her and is the sweetest little girl ever! Seriously so blessed and happy to be here.