Final Banquet and Goodbyes

Buongiorno a tutti!

For those who have gone home after the program, I hope you have had the chance to settle down and relax.  For those of you who have taken off to new adventures, I hope are having a fantastic time!

As July comes to an end, I look back on this past month with so many fond memories.  I remember when la famiglia first met at the airport on departure day.  We were all strangers, travelling abroad together, essentially living together for the following 3 weeks.  Some of us were filled with excitement, some with apprehension, some with worry and trepidation, and some with all of the above.

We first arrived in Sienna and it was abuzz with festivities and excitement for the impending Palio.  This was our first stop and we were still feeling our way around, in this strange country but also within our group.  Some of us were feeling a bit homesick, a bit out of sorts, a bit uncomfortable still.  Makes complete sense.  After all, we had JUST met!  La famiglia was still in its seedling phase, so-to-speak. But friendships were slowly starting to happen. Sloooowly … after all, Rome wasn’t built in a day! (pun intended 😉)

As the program progressed,  dinners together and class and group excursions brought the ragazzi closer.  New roommates, for most, meant new connections and new friendships; getting to know different people and connecting in different ways.  We were spending more time together.  The ragazzi were also enjoying free time during the day and in the evenings with each other.  Perhaps unbeknownst to them, friendships were getting stronger by the day.  Everyone was slowly getting more comfortable and more familiar with each other, and with the fact of being so far away from home. The famiglia was sprouting.

By the time we arrived in Rome, la famiglia had bloomed.  We had known from the start that our group was pretty special. But, as the program was coming to an end, we realized how truly amazing we really were!  Like in a real family, we each had our place!  We laughed together, sang together, ate together, explored together, chatted together.  We looked out for each other and we really came together as one!

Ragazzi, I want to thank each of you for sharing your “amazingness” with all of us!  It’s because of each and every one of you that this program was so, so special!  We started out as strangers and we departed as friends! Many friendships were made that will last a lifetime! So many laughs were had and memories were made this month that we will hold dear to our hearts forever.  We will always be #famiglia2024!

Can’t wait to hear all about the great things you’ll be doing!  Wishing you all the best!

Sending you big hugs!

Arrivederci!

Linda