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We were just so immersed in Italian culture. We live in a really tiny town called Ariccia.
It was right outside of Rome. We learned so much more being in that small town because
there’s no tourists, no outside other Americans. We had to learn how to speak real Italian
and go into the little markets and ask for, “Can I get this?” and walk to the supermarket
that was almost a mile away. It was just so different and I’m happy to be an alumni,
I guess, of the program.
We actually talked to an intern who is our age who is working for the World Food Programme.
It was just really cool to see someone her age, our age, pretty much could be making
a big difference and be so passionate about what she’s interning for. It was a great
experience. We had another lady talk to us; she did a PowerPoint and touched on their
objectives and how they get food to people in need. It was kind of cool to go there and
then to Caritas because you felt like you were making an even bigger difference.
All of us girls went there and they split us up into two groups: some of us went, and
I think they sorted clothes and worked in, like, the dormitory type areas with some of
the nuns. And I wanted to be a part of serving the food because I wanted to meet new people
and test out my Italian and just, you know, see everything, I guess, from a different
perspective.
I think an important thing that they wanted us to take in from the trip to Caritas was
that it’s not just homeless people, and like, alcoholics and people with drug problems.
It’s also people there who have lost their wallet in the train station or their passport
was stolen and they really just need a fresh meal to help them for the night and maybe
be on their way the next day. So, it was cool to just meet everybody and hear where they’re
from, like, a lot of different people from all over the country just like we are, so
it was awesome.
A couple walked past me; I think they were from Somalia. They may have been in their
30s or something. They were very thin and looked like they were struggling, having a
hard time. And I noticed they both had matching bracelets on and I commented, and said, “I
like your bracelet,” to the guy and he looked at me and said he didn’t understand in Italian.
I said, “Your bracelet, I like it a lot,” and he said, “Oh, thank you, grazie, grazie,”
and shakes my hand, and I slipped him two things of crackers, just b/c he was so nice.
And as he was shaking my hand, he took his bracelet and put it on my hand. That warmed
my heart a lot. It was awesome. The feeling that it gave me is kind of hard to explain
and it just made me know that I was making a difference.