The date is Tuesday September 1st, 2015, and it is 6:38pm. As I prepare my evening meal I begin to reflect on my time in Rome. I ask myself, “How would you describe your experience in Rome thus far using only ONE word?” My answer to that question is I wouldn’t. To describe the events I have experienced in one word would not do justice in any sense. I have traveled to countries I didn’t know existed, I have met people who practically run the would, I have tasted food so divine it makes your whole body tingle, I have witnessed things that I’ve only seen in movies, and I’ve made a lifetimes worth of friends – now you can see why it was impossible for me to describe my experiences in Italy in a single word.
The time now is 7:02pm, and my roommates have just gotten back from the local grocery store. They tell me about an encounter they had with a man who introduced himself as “Father Gino.” As they carry a weeks worth of groceries back to or apartment a man comes up to them and says, “from the moment you walked out that door, I knew you were Americans.” Father Gino, a middle aged looking man, is a pastor for the Vatican. He explained to us he job and if we wanted to, he would give us a private tour of the Vatican. (We have yet to take him up on that offer, but we plan on reconnecting with him later this week to make it happen) As Father Gino and my roommate went there separate ways, he ended with, “You boys are so lucky to be here in the beautiful city of Rome, and I want you to keep in mind the people who helped you get here.”
In conclusion, I want to thank my mother, my father, my friends, and everyone at Office of International Programs. Living here in Rome has been an amazing experience, and I can’t wait to see what waits for me in the coming weeks.
Go TARS!!!