What We've Learned

We have two days left in Italy, and I can't begin to describe the effect this experience has had one me. I have learned so much in the past three months, and I'm beginning to realize how much I have grown. I have to much to do to sit and write my personal thoughts, so I'll post an article my good friend Jessica Vance wrote about our trip. You won't understand all of the inside jokes, but the general idea is pretty clear.

It is needless to say that over the three month period, we have learned a thing or two. But just so we don't forget it, I summed up some of the highlights.
What we have learned:
-The pleasures of real towels, a bathtub, and having enough room in the shower to shave.
-To pack lightly because what you bring you will have to carry, drag or weigh
-That discount airlines are cheap for good reasons
-That some of the best things you can’t plan or find in Rick Steve’s
-That the hotel, La Rupe and the porchetta stand make a killing from us because we are too lazy to walk anywhere else
-The joy of cold aqua del rubinetto (free and not frizzy)
-To amuse ourselves with reminiscing over old game shows, i.e. the slobsticle course
-To watch our purses and passports as if even the nicest old lady falling over on the bus is plotting to rob us
-To live without a trusty dryer, English cable, a good cell phone, or a high powered blow-dryer
-That playing the ‘question game’ can drive some of us crazy
-That there is no place better or cheaper to eat than the Chinese restaurant
-To brush things off, talk things out and to use ‘I/you’ statements
-More about each other in three months than some friends learn in years
-To adapt to different customs here like late meals, less personal space, lots of carbs, paying for bathrooms, and “Italian time”
-To make it 4 weeks without a washing machine
-To plan trips on our own including planes, buses, metros, and a lot of wandering
-That being abroad is not for everyone but something that everyone should try
-That we learn just as much through our experiences as we do in the palace
-That there are some people here that we will never forget- Jessica for answering all of our questions, Marco and Mary Lou for being those grandparents you love to listen to, Roberta for planning all of the behind the scenes work, Maurizio for his amazing networking skills, Rosella for making us thinking harder about philosophy than most of us can handle, Francesco for his funny comments and random appearances, Susanna for always being adorable and saying “God bless your heart” when we sneeze, Cinzia for being willing to do anything to help us out, and Dr. B for always being ready to laugh out loud until she is red in the face (i.e. MultiAss)
-The importance of hand sanitizer, Febreeze, and Charmin to-go
-That no matter where we are, we can bet on hearing Riahnna’s ‘Please Don’t Stop the Music’
-To share clothes, stories, and food with each other
-That America may not be so bad after all but then it might not be so good either
-To overcome language barriers with a smile, sign language and the phrases ‘per favore’, ‘posso’, and ‘mi dispiace’
-How to say, “The dog is eating the meat” and “Giovanni and I are going to Rome today”
-That there is no Italian equivalent to a bag of good-ole Goldfish
-How much we love and miss Mexican food, Chik-fil-A, Waffle House, and unlimited ketchup and coke
-That being abroad and updating your Facebook profile constantly is a quick way to piss off your friends at home
-That we can both love and hate Skye simultaneously
-How to use a Europacard, navigate Termini, and use an Italian video-producing software
And most importantly…
-That this has been three months that we will never forget! Ciao, safe travels, and good luck in life!