What were you grateful for this week?This program. 

What was the most difficult or challenging part of this week?Saying goodbye to the kids. 

Tell us about a “wow” moment you had this week.I played a lot of games with one of the kids and I made some flashcards to help her practice after I have left. 

Tell us about your week! This has been the longest week ever, so much has happened! Because it was my last week in Italy, I did my best to make my way around Gallarate to give thanks to all the people I’d met and say my goodbyes. I spent a lot of time playing games with the kids and talking about anything from Harry Potter to the Boston Celtics and why rappers insist on repeating things like, “SKRT SKRT,” in trap music. 

My last night in town I went out for pizza with my host family. It’s one of the only times I was with all of them at the same time, but I really enjoyed myself. We went for pizza and I got played uno with the youngest of the kids. I did a lot of reflecting on the last three month experience and I still feel a variety of emotions. I am very grateful to be home for Christmas, but I sure will miss those kids with all my heart. Goodbyes are hard when you know you’ll probably never see someone again, but we did joke about their daughter coming to live with my family in the states in ten years or so to practice her English and maybe teach my kids Italian…so is there any kind of reverse program we can work out, Rome Abroad? Lol 

[Rome Abroad response: Umm yes!!]