What were you grateful for this week?  

Cake.

What was the most difficult or challenging part of this week? 
Spending my birthday away from all of the people that I usually spend it with. 

Tell us about a “wow” moment you had this week.
Just helping [my host mom] and spending more time with her, so that she doesn’t feel as alone or stressed with the kids. 

Tell us about your week!
Well this was my first full week back since my break, and it was good. I am extremely grateful to be here, as I said in my previous entry. This week was a bit different though, because it was my last week as a 22 year old. Which was genuinely heart breaking for me, because 22 has been my favorite year. I was also really nervous because I hadn’t ever been away from my friends for my birthday, and my closest friend here was going away to France for the weekend. 

 

So when I woke up on Saturday morning (my birthday morning), my kids came running into my room with a card for me to open and frantically saying ‘IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY M IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY’, and they dragged me into the kitchen literally before I could put my pants on.

 

I walked into the kitchen and they had made a cake, bought me a cake, had candles for me, and gifts wrapped in sparkly wrapping paper (they know me. Like really know me). [My host mom] had framed a photo of myself and the boys, and bought me an amazing purse (WHAT. I ALMOST CRIED.) They made me feel so loved and cared for, I wasn’t expecting any of it. I was screaming and laughing the whole time.

 

I was also fortunate enough to have a good friend from Canada fly to Italy just for the sake of seeing me for my birthday. So although it was different, and I was an emotional wreck because of having to let go of the best age of my life so far, it was wonderful. 

 

I have been lucky enough to spend my past three birthdays in three different countries, and all have been incredibly unique in so many different ways.