Reflection

After being back in the US a few days (and over being sick), I am more able to reflect on my entire experience. I knew from the beginning that this program would be a once in a lifetime experience and that I was going to see, hear, do and experience new and interesting things, and that I would probably come back changed in some way. I had no idea how much all of this was true until now. I still cannot believe that a few weeks ago I was having lunch in a ristorante in a back alley in Rome, a few miles from St. Peter's Basilica and the Coliseum! during my entire time in Italy, I traveled to Rimini, Rome, Ravenna, Verona, Venice, Florence, and Monteva. I saw so many beautiful things that I cannot even begin to describe them, ate amazing food, and learned so much about the Italian culture. One things that I did learn about myself while I was in Italy, though, was that although I love seeing these beautiful sights and I can now cross so many things off my bucket list, I prefer to stay at home with family or take my time traveling a city so I can know it more personally. Out of all of the experiences I had in Italy, looking back, I enjoyed myself the most when I was at home with the Verziagi's or having a casual lunch in the piazza with friends or taking my time riding the water bus through the canal in Venice. I love taking my time to take everything in, form the sights all the way to the flavor of my food.

Other than insights into my personality, I learned a lot about myself as an educator. From working in the classroom in Italy, I realized that I do like the idea of giving my students more responsibility and expecting more maturity from my students. I want to not load my students down with homework unless I see that they need to review what was learned in class at home for extra reinforcement (20 minutes max). I want to have classroom management system set up as well as specific discipline for students who need it. I will never yell at my students, only raising my voice as the final tier of discipline. There are so many things that this experience has taught me as an educator that I hope to put into practice in my own classroom one day.

I feel extremely lucky and privileged to have been able to participate in this study abroad program. Although the tastes of the food and details of the sights may eventually fade, I will never forget the people that I lived and worked with.