Thankfulness for the Month of Thanks

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

I know, I know, Thanksgiving has already past… but that is no reason to stop being thankful! I think that the whole month of November we should give thanks for all that we have been given, not just on one day… And the whole year as well…
Anyways, I only have about 1 1/5 more weeks here left in Rome and it has got me thinking about all of the things I am thankful for here….
So here is my list of just some of the things I am thankful for here in Rome.

1. I am thankful for being given the chance to let the world open my eyes and give me a different perspective on life.
2. I am thankful for new friends and relationships that will last a lifetime.
3. I am thankful for getting to learn so many new things everyday.
4. I am thankful for this wonderful creation that God has made, and that we get the pleasure of living in everyday.

5. I am thankful for my family for letting me have this experience of studying abroad.
6. I am thankful for my friends back home who have kept me grounded and talked me through situations where only my true best friends from home could get me through.
7. I am thankful for ROME! It is wonderful and beautiful and such a great place to be.

8. I am thankful for the gift of travel and seeing new places.
9. I am thankful for my BOMB-ASS AIFS family. You all are seriously the best people I have gotten the chance to meet and spend a semester with. I would never ask for anybody else! You have made my experience so much better than I ever thought possible!

10. I am thankful for Jesus for guiding me and blessing me with people in my life, places I can travel too, and experiences that change me and make me a better person.

I have so much to be thankful for and being here, with new people and away from my family has made me realize this even more! I can not put into words how much joy and happiness I have found here in Rome and how much anticipation and excitement I have to see my friends and family back home.

So many blessings to be thankful for. Keep these in mind, my friends, cause we are lucky, and we only have this one life to realize this.

Stay beautiful,

Brittany

PUMPKINS IN ITALY

Getting Settled in ROMA.

It has been almost 4 weeks since I have moved to Rome and things are going steady. I live in an apartment on one of the main streets in the Monti neighborhood. I also live less then 5 minutes from the COLOSSEUM! Everything here is so busy and loud, something I am still getting used to! The locals are very nice, when you actually try to order or ask questions in Italian. Being in a country whose native language is different than yours is quite a challenge. Sometimes you just have to let the natives believe that you are stupid, it is the only way around sometimes…

I have done many things while I have been here, touring the Colosseum at night, going to the American Academy of Rome, and snapping pics of all of the beautiful buildings and scenery, to name a few. Apart from the facade or look of it, Rome is definitely different than what I thought it would be like! Much busier and faster, people are always on the move, and things just work differently. It is different than I thought it would be but I am still so blessed and excited to be abroad this semester!

Some things that I have learned abroad, most of these are quite hilarious…

1. When going to a laundry mat, always bring change with you. Cause you need that. Or else you can’t wash your clothes.
2. YOU WILL TRIP. EVERY. DAY. Don’t be ashamed, stride off strong!
3. Don’t worry if you miss the grocery store, walk past it like 5 times, ask at least 3 people where it is because you must have misunderstood the last 2 people you asked, you know, it happens!
4. You actually don’t have to buy bus tickets. Don’t feel bad, just jump on!
5. You smell that awful smell? Don’t worry, it’s just your musty-ass clothes that you washed 5 minutes ago. Air drying sucks.
6. Oh its 75 degrees out and you wanna wear shorts? Be prepared to be judged cause the next guy that walks by you is wearing a parka.
7. Don’t order a cappuccino after noon. The locals will laugh in your face.
8. It is okay to order gelato once, twice maybe three times a day. You are on a 3 month vacation! #butseriously
9. Craving that delicious chicken Alfredo that you have been dreaming about?? STOP. Alfredo doesn’t actually exist in Italy. Thanks a lot Olive Garden. Oh and neither do bread sticks. It’s okay to go cry in a corner now.
10. Oh you wanna go shopping, maybe to that new H&M? Brace yourself. Cause that store will take ALL YOUR MONEY. Real life man.

SO… As you can tell I have learned LOTS of stuff while being here. Some of these things I am proud of, while others I would much rather forget that these things actually happened.

Being in this country has taught me so much and I am so incredibly happy to be here!

Stay beautiful,

Brittany

Reflection

Today marks the one month anniversary of my time here in Europe. I have been through so much in this past month, things that have made me stronger and things that have trudged on my character and beaten me down till I have felt like just packing it up and leaving it all and going home. Before I left, my mother, grandmother, my dad’s girlfriend each gave me something that has been super helpful with my time here. A journal, a list of scriptures, and a bible. These 3 things have gotten me through the toughest of times here. There is just something about writing and reflecting on the word’s God has put into the bible. Things seem so clear once I think about how much He loves me and is watching over me while I am here. “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me.” Psalm 138:7. I have so much to be thankful for while I am here. I have some of THE BEST roommates, I live just minutes away from the Colosseum and I am surrounded by history on top of history. Every time I have felt down here, I roam into one of my roommate’s room and sit and I feel welcomed. Walking to school, I pass by the Colosseum and ancient ruins and in my classes I am in awe of how much history and events have happened right on the ground I have walked on. I have been truly blessed and surely looked over and protected by Him while I have been here. I miss my family and friends back home and I am thankful for all of their support and prayers but I am glad that I chose to come here. I would have never imagined that I would get so lucky. Things have been good and I know that there is more goodness to come, because He is my rock. I send all my blessings to Him on high and will be forever grateful. 

“Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3