Thanksgiving in Italy

As November comes to an end autumn fills the air. The leaves are turning orange with crimson tips, the air is crisp, and the smell of roasting chestnuts drifts along the streets of Florence. The tourists are clearing out, the pace of the city is slowing, and the shop owners are beginning to relax. Elated by the arrival of my favorite season, I almost forget Thanksgiving is less than a day away. The buildings are not decorated with pilgrims and turkeys, the grocery stores are not over flowing with cranberry sauce, and I haven’t seen one child with a handcrafted construction paper headdress. With the commercialism completely removed from one of America’s largest holidays, I am finally able to focus on the significance of Thanksgiving…and just give thanks.

This semester has taught me more than I can put into words. One of the most worthy things I have learned is how grateful I am for the people in my life. Family, friends, teachers, mentors, neighbors, and strangers are what make life…well, life. I want to thank everyone who has touched my life and helped me grow into the person I am today.  Thank you to my parents who give me unconditional love and support, my brother whom I have admired since I was born, my extended family because I know they will always accept me with open arms, and my friends whom I chose to enjoy my daily experiences with. These bonds are what make my life enjoyable, meaningful, and fill me with love. I am thankful for everyone who has loved me and helped me grow these last twenty-one years.

In addition to building a larger appreciation for the people in my life, I have recently begun to appreciate the little things. For example, when my radiator turns on at 6pm, when I wake up to dry clothes on the drying rack, and when I find the bathroom empty on my way to shower. I’m thankful when a waiter notices I am a student and gives me free water, when my first class of the day starts at a museum, and when we finish early enough there is time to grab a cappuccino before my history class. These little things make the largest difference and turn a good day into a great one.

So here I sit, in an apartment in Italy, on the eve of Thanksgiving. I can hear church bells in the distance, mopeds rushing by on the street below, and the voices of excited children coming home from school. Soon my radiator will turn on and I’ll warm up water for tea, the two things I love most about this time of the evening. I might bake a dessert and ponder Thanksgiving a little more tonight, but I realize I have been giving thanks every day I have been here. So, this year on Thanksgiving I am grateful that I get to say… “I am thankful to be in Italy”.