What were you grateful for this week?
Sunshine. 

What was the most challenging part of this week?
It was rainy for most of this week and I was sick for part of it, so I was inside a lot.

Tell us about a “wow” moment you had this week. 
Honestly, my host family’s done more for me this week than I think I did for them! My host dad helped me a lot when I wasn’t feeling well, and they really took care of me. I’m super grateful to them.

Tell us about your week! 
This was definitely a lazier week for me. With it raining so much, it wasn’t always easy to get outside the apartment like I wanted to. When it rains in Italy, it just keeps raining. I’m so used to Utah’s weather changing every five minutes, it was strange to have a storm just keep going all day! But it just made every bit of sunshine we got that much better, and it gave me a chance to rest a bit.

Even with the rain, I still made it out a few times. I saw some amazing underground excavations near the Colosseum that rejuvenated old dreams of being an archaeologist I discarded a long time ago. And I found a great place to sit and read while it was raining, a cafe in a bookstore, where I talked with some locals I met for a few hours. It was fascinating to hear their stories and listen to them talk, even if I could only catch the bits in English.

I’m also grateful for the amazing food I got to try this week. My host mom made some excellent lasagna one night, and my host dad took us out to eat at a place just down the street with fantastic pasta. He’s always got something new for me to try and his recommendations are always great. I’m lucky to be with the family I am. 🙂