To help us connect with the local Italian community, our school arranged activities like movie nights at the school or cooking lessons with a local Italian family. My favorite events were the calcio, or soccer games at the local stadium. As students, we got discounted tickets. On the night of the game, we would meet at the school and walk over to the stadium in a large group. As we neared the stadium, we became part of the huge crowd of calcio fans waiting to enter the gates. Standing there, amongst the rows of food vendors and souvenir carts, watching the people interact, I felt like a local. Inside the brightly lit stadium, the bleachers were filled with crowds of people loudly cheering for their favorite team. In fact, a whole section of stadium is reserved for extra enthusiastic fans who waved banners, chanted and sang Italian songs. It was so much fun!
So you can see that I am so glad I went to Italy even though I was nervous. I had so much fun getting to know new people and trying new things. And although I am no longer in Italy, part of me still feels like I belong there.
