The Power of Family
It’s true what they say… “you’ll never truly experience homesickness, until you’ve studied abroad.”
I have been away from home for about five weeks now, and I have hit the homesick phase of my trip. It can be very difficult to be away from the ones who know you the best and who you have been around your entire life. Thankfully, we have technology that allows us to keep in touch.
For some, it is unusual to talk to their family everyday, especially when they are in college trying to “find themselves.” But for me, it is important to stay in contact with my family because they are everything to me. Even though I am studying abroad, I want them to know that I will still take time out of my day to let them know how I am doing and how my week has gone. I think they really appreciate knowing that I am okay and that I am enjoying myself. But most importantly, it shows that I CARE.
I know that snail mail is not the first option people would chose to communicate with, but there is something about the feeling you get when you are writing words on a postcard.
My grandpa and I are pen pals, so we will write to one another once a week. When I was back in the States, it was a little easier because the mail did not take so long to deliver, but since I’ve been out of the country it has been a little more difficult. I sent him a post card about three weeks ago and he never received it. I am hoping that he will get it before I return home.
I was fortunate enough to have most of my family come and visit me in Italy!
I was beyond excited to have them come to the city which I now call my home.
Anxious, nervous, and excited would probably be the best words to describe my feelings.
Anxious because I felt as though it had been a long time since I have seen them, nervous because whenever you travel in large groups there are bound to be problems, and of course excited because I was going to be their little tour guide and show them around.
Well the bad news struck around 3am my time when my mom texted and said that they have had problems all night with their plane and they were going to be delayed and would potentially miss their connecting flight. Saddened by this new information, I was hoping for a miracle.
And when that miracle came I could not stop smiling.
Somehow, my mom talked her way into getting them onto the next flight to Italy so they would this time, only be a few hours later than planned. I was so excited to spend the weekend with them. 2:30pm could not come fast enough. And once it did, there was more bad news. Apparently on the flight they arrived on, they showed up, but non of their luggage did!
Now I have been on a trip before with missing luggage, and let me tell you… it is not fun.
They were all stressed from the fact that they had no clue if the airport would be able to find their luggage but I kept their spirits high and told them not to worry and to just stay positive. To distract them from this unfortunate event, we decided to Rome around the city, but just when we thought the challenges were over, we were caught in the pouring rain.
It is a good thing that we can make the best memories out of the worst moments.
Everyone was soaking wet in the only clothes that they had so far for this trip. We were running late to get to the Vatican and we had no idea where to catch a taxi. Then all of a sudden we saw a taxi sign and made our way over to get into one. There were eight of us total so we had to take two taxis. The rain was starting to clear and we eventually made it to the tour! Only three minutes late.
After the tour we went to grab lunch and then I got to take some of my family around the city.
The best part about having family around in a new place is that you get to play tour guide for a couple of days. Not only was I showing them around, but I also got to practice my Italian which they were pretty impressed by. It is crazy how much you can see by just walking around the city. It is also amazing to see the way people will owwe and aww over things you have been to multiple times already.
The hardest part of having family come and visit you is when you have to say good bye. I have shed a lot of tears knowing that this day would eventually come; and when it did, it took a little piece of my heart away. Of course you want your family to be with you always, but you know that you have to learn to grow on your own. You also have to remember that they are always there with you no matter what.
I am beyond grateful that my family was able to come and see me and for the time that we were able to spend together. It was important to see one another before I returned back to the states. I am also very grateful for devices that allow me to continue to communicate with my family. I will see them again when I go and visit them in Paris!
So here’s to the ability to communicate, to love, and the power of family.
-H
