So I know this is forever after I’ve actually returned from Rome, but I am FINALLY going to wrap up my blog!!! It is hard to believe that a little over two months have passed by since that wonderful adventure in my life ended. Before I left Rome (to be exact, while I was trying, and constantly distracting myself from studying for finals) I wrote out this list of some of my favorite things about Roma and the things I was going to miss the most:
- The FOOD!
o Cannolis
o Pastries
o Gelato
o Pizza
o Tavola Cladas
o Cafes
o Coffee
o Fresh Markets
o “The community of food”
o My cheese stand (Mozerella di Bufala and Paramagiano Regiano will never be the same) and the friendly old man who worked there, recognized me, smiled and tried every time I visited, without fail, to communicate with me in Italian, despite my consistent failures.
- · Using my feet as my main form of transportation! I loved that I got to walk to class (wherever that may be), to the grocery store, to church, to museums, to archaeology sites, to coffee, etc. I walked with a purpose, yet following the Italians, I walked like I had nowhere to go! I wandered the winding streets getting lost; meandered at night with friends amidst others doing the same; I looked at buildings; I watched people; I contemplated; I listened to music; I watched, felt and smelled the seasons change and the city transform from the winter to summer.
- · The feeling of being completely surrounded by and immersed in history
- · My new friends , especially my roommates. A big thanks to them for being so awesome- I will miss you all, can you believe what an awesome, little, motely Roman family we became?!
- · The Cobblestone streets
- · The Architecture- every building felt you unique. Walking down the streets my eyes were delighted by the different colors and styles of each building
- · Italy's unique beauty- everytime I took a train or a bus outside of the cities of Italy, I was blown away by the landscape. Everything is so green, rugged, and full of plant life!
Even after two months it’s surprising how true this list rings- do I ever miss Rome!!! Besides the awesome things that I mentioned above, there are a few things about my experience which have remained with me. The study abroad experience is such a unique amazing opportunity, which many people consider one of the best times in their lives, a sentiment which I can’t help but share. The chance to get away from “normal life:” to see new places, experience new things, and meet new people allowed me mature, in most aspects of my life (spiritually, socially, intellectually). Not only did it satisfy my adventurous and curious tendencies, but it gave me the time and distance to really think about those things that are near to me, familiar to me and dear to me. Being thrown into this scary, unfamiliar environment, gave me a new light in which I could examine myself as well. I have found that there is no better way to see your own faults, and even your strengths than through the eyes of new people they are not yet acquainted with the ways you may fail to be a friend, and as I found, are all too often not afraid to jokingly point them out; but they also readily learn your strengths and help you use those. This new experience also revealed to me how much I am afraid of, though I may hide it well. New people, and new environments can often intimidate me. I realized that that it is ok, as long as I don’t let it stop me (This is a big lesson my roommate Divya helped me learn- if you don’t know something, even if you have to ask the question in a foreign language, don’t ever be afraid to ask!!! Most people would love to help, love to see people trying to speak in their native tongue, and if they are rude about- when am I going to see them again, so who cares?!).
That is just a taste of the things of what I experienced while I was gone, if you want to know more specifics, just ask me! I am going to end this blog with the BIG thing God was teaching me while I studied abroad- GRATITUDE. Gratitude is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to learn, which is weird because it sounds like such a simple and easy lesson, right? All it takes is being thankful, right? WRONG (well, at least it wasn’t simple for me). It all started out because of, what else? Money! Like most other people right now, money has been a little tight in my family. So even the fact that I got to go to Italy, felt like such an impossible thing, and on top of that, my parents gave me money while I was there to travel, go to museums, eat food, and yes, even do a little bit of shopping. The month or so leading up to my trip, and the month or so after I got there I frequently felt guilty, and like I was a selfish, spoiled brat for even daring to think that this was something I could ask my parents to do for me. Slowly, over the months that I was there, God began working on my heart, teaching me that the best way to show my parents that I appreciated their gift/sacrifice, was to recognize that they made a decision in sending me there, and to honor that the best thing I could do was to enjoy my experience to my utmost ability and make the most of all my opportunities there (my mom always says the best souvenirs are pictures of me having a great time)! Feeling guilty whether I meant it to or not, only lessened the gift that had been given. My understanding of gratitude was only deepened and more fully understood as God began to show me the comparisons between him and my parents. There is a verse, Matthew 7:11, which says
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to
your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give
good gifts to those who ask him!”
This really struck me, and caused me to contemplate and meditate more and more on the many gifts which God has given me- not only does he constantly shower me with them, He gave us Jesus, the most precious, awesome gift of all!!! As I let these revelations wash over me, I found that my favorite parts of my days and weeks in Rome were when I walked to and from class, and explored the city by myself- I found no better way to refuel myself with gratitude and pray prayers of thanks to God then to soak in the sights and sounds of that beautiful city!
Thanks to all who made my trip possible- to Mom, Dad, Erik, Grandma, Grandpa, God, and all the other people who prayed for and supported me! Thank you as well to all the people who made my experience there so meaningful and impactful- Diviya, Shaili, Virginia, Mary, Steph, Alex, Kate, Rebecca, Cathy, Cristina, Sam, Tariro, Jessie- I will never forget our fun times!
