How cool is it that my most used word on this month-long trip to Italy has been ‘Grazie’? While it may be because it is one of the few Italian words I know, I also think the extreme use of this word is because the locals I have met have been as open and ready to speak to us, as Americans, as we are to them. Living in Florence for the past few weeks has been a wonderful experience! There are a lot of local Italians, but it seems like there may be just as many tourists. At first, I was annoyed by the packed streets and the surprisingly high use of the English language, but then I realized how much this helped my transition into being abroad; therefore, I couldn’t help but say ‘Grazie’ to the people who spoke a little English or didn’t mind when I did.
My favorite place so far to visit and explore would have to be Rome- not only because of the gorgeous views and long history, but because of all of the ‘firsts’ I got to encounter. For the first time, I rode a subway, got to sit comfortably on a high-speed train, and see, in person, the buildings behind the Roman Empire. As a class, we actually got to be our own tour guides; we had the chance to learn about the city on our own before making it to our destination, and then each took turns teaching everyone about the history behind each building. This made me thankful for the tour guides who took the time to explain their culture and the city’s beauty to us. Since this experience, I have continued to say “Grazie” as much as I can to all of the tour guides we encounter. Looking back at all of the pictures from this day in Rome is amazing, but nothing is as astonishing as seeing these things in person, and I will forever be in awe of those views.
Lastly, I would like to write one final “Grazie” to the amazing people from A&M on this trip, who have made the close end so hard to bear!
