Final blog from Italy.

Today is my final day in Carpi. I decided to let myself sleep in after the festa because we didn't have anything planned for this morning. I woke up around 10:00 am. Which to most does not constutute as sleeping in, but oh it was heaven. Once I woke up I played a game on my phone for a while that is called Word Mole. Then I decided it was time to get up and do something productive so I packed. Everything I was planning on taking to France fits into my duffel and backpack very nicely. After I finished packing, cleaning, and double checking that I hadn't left anything around the house I got online to load my pictures from the Festa and to update my blog about it. Then I went down and we had lunch. Andrea had made salad with chicken, tomatoes, red peppers, and oil/vinegar. The fresh and simpleness of their delicious salads are definitely things I'm going to miss about staying with the Bisi's.


This afternoon we left around 3:00 for a last minute trip to Verona! I was very excited they had decided to surprise me by going because I wanted to see Juliet's house. We met my host parents' best friends' family. They are the ones we have eaten with a couple of times before. So a total of 10 of us went together in 2 cars. Once we got to Verona we walked around a bit and went to Juliet's house! There is an entire tunnel of love letters that people have left over the course of time. And not only did we get to see the tunnel and the balcony, but Andrea bought Frenchy, Asia, he, and I tickets to go INSIDE of Juliet's house. I got to stand ON the balcony. Like I've said, I have gotten to do so many things this trip that I do not deserve.


After we left Verona all 10 of us drove back toward Carpi and went to a restaurant that was very cool. It was called a multirestaurant and actually had 3 restaurants and a club inside of it. haha. Plus there was an area for kids to play. They definitely spoiled me for my last dinner here with them. Wine, soda, a fried fish plate appetizer, spinach tortelli, tiarimasu (I butchered that spelling I'm sure), and then coffee. It was so good. Then we came home and I loaded the rest of my pictures so that all of the Italy ones are online because I don't know what my internet situation is going to be like when I get to France.

It's so strange to know that this trip is over.
I feel like this trip has allowed me to see and do and experience things that I am not entitled to. I am just a college student. 21 years old and I've lived in Italy. What? And not only that, but I was given the best host family I ever could have imagined. I was not worthy of this experience but I will be grateful for it always.

Some of the girls on this trip made life-long friendships with each other. Some found boys here to occupy a couple minutes of their time. Some got so close with the one class they worked with that they cried when it was time to leave. And although I didn't really do any of those things, I feel as if I gained something else worth so much more. After almost 22 years of not really being sure of much (most specifically, who I am) I can truly and honestly say that after being here, that has changed. Because I wasn't really sure who I was as a person, my experience started a little rough. I can be a fairly reserved person anyway, and it's hard for me to come out of my shell and expose myself to people. It may have taken a while to figure out, but being here has made me realize that I am really happy with who I am and who I have the potentional/ability to be. I can eat healthy if I want to, I can HIKE MOUNTAINS if I want to, I can teach if I want to, I can bond with strangers if I want to, I can trust if I want to, I can travel the world, I can be beautiful, I can smile, I can make someone happy, I can be good enough. It's all just a matter of believing in myself. And I want to.


Realizing these things would not have been at all possible without this trip to Italy. It would not have been possible had I not been completely removed from everyone and everything that I knew. While I was here I saw famous artwork, observed beautiful landscapes, taught innocent (and sometimes very frustrating) children, and... I grew up. I'm not sure how many of the girls here can honestly say that. (Although, some may be able to.) So regardless of a rough start, being sick most of the time, not sleeping, and my computer breaking (haha) I am so grateful for my opportunity to do this. For my opportunity to meet my host family and all of the other people I met, to have these experiences, and to find out who I am. (Which, ironically, is who I've always wanted to be.)

Saying goodbye in an hour will very difficult.

"There is in truth no past. Only a memory of the past. Blink your eyes and the world you see next did not exist when you closed them. Therefore, the only appropriate state of mind is surprise. The only appropriate state of the heart is joy. The sky you see now you have never seen before. The perfect moment is now. Be glad of it." - Terry Pratchett