*Insert Deep Song Lyrics Here*

Ciao ragazzi!

What's new in my Italian life? Not much..it's been pretty uneventful recently. Besides feeling very homesick lately, everything has been great. I have started to appreciate the graffiti-filled classrooms, wine with lunch and dinner, long afternoons of laziness, and wearing shoes in the house. I have been with my family for exactly six weeks today and it has really begun to feel like home. Awkward things that just 40 days ago would have made my face turn beet red, now have me laughing and joking around. I've started to fall into a daily routine that consists of daydreaming throughout school, becoming fat off of delicious food, sleeping more than I thought possible, and enjoying my time with a wonderful family and fantastic friends.

Things that I miss:
-Milk in a jar
-East Ridge (I never would have guessed this one...)
-Driving
-My large collection of sweaters and sweatshirts
-American sirens

There are some other things that I miss, but those are the main ones. They may seem silly, but to me, they are home. I've come to realize while on this exchange that I don't miss home - America - but rather the familiarity of it all. I miss the feeling of belonging, of always knowing what I am supposed to be doing. I'll always remember the first time I heard about AFS and when I decided I wanted to go abroad. From the first conversation I had about it with my parents, all the way to the last time I saw my friends and family, I never truly understood what an exchange would be like. People always told me it would be an incredibly opportunity, but I never thought that it would be like this. It definitely has been an incredible opportunity so far, and I never will regret hitting that submit button on my application. However, this experience has been completely different from anything I ever imagined. It has been the hardest thing I have ever done, and it has also been the most fun thing I have ever done. I've been here for six weeks, I've made some really great friends, and I love my family. I know that things are going to start looking up soon and that the rest of this exchange year will be amazing. I cannot wait to see what the future holds.

It's always a pleasure.
Ciao.
Alison.