So today marked the end of my penultimate day in Capriate. The children are all prepared for their final show tomorrow, my classroom is beginning to be cleared and myself along with my colleagues are starting to say our goodbyes. Every game we now play with the children is probably the last time we will all play it together, like every song is getting to its last round.
Seeing Sam has now gotten down to 1 day and a matter of hours, which is ever so exciting, however I know as the numbers go down until our reunion, as do the moments left with my host family. Saying goodbye is going to be so difficult. They took me in, gave me a roof, a bed, food, love and support. I know I could never repay their kindness, but I hope they have enjoyed our time together as much as I have. The lake and the mountains and the towns we have seen together; the shopping trips and car rides. I will never forget a single moment. I feel I have gained another family in yet another part of the world, so leaving them behind as I venture forward is something I am going to find very sad to say the least.
This week, I have been to the local town festival. This involved amazing food, great live music, and the fabulous company of the children at camp, their families, my camp director along with my fellow tutors. Also, I have taken pictures of the village, spent a lot of my time indulging in really really good food (like I actually swear I will have put on at least a stone during my time in Italy) as well as sleeping a lot to recover from my allergic reaction to my oh so many mosquito bites.
The ups and downs of Italy have surely been a rollercoaster I have not wanted to get off of, however the thought of my mosquito-less, familiar home in Leeds has started to call me in my dreams. This Saturday, Sam and I will start our busy travels in Venice and then follow to Verona, Milan and Pisa before flying back to England. I cannot wait to experience all these places with my gorgeous fiancé so, although I am starting to miss home after being away for a month now, I am more than happy to wait a while longer before my return. The teaching experience, along with working with children of such a young age has been incredible and I am eternally grateful for the opportunities that have come my way and everything I have learnt/taken away from these events. I honestly feel like I have developed so much more as a person within these last few weeks and I cannot wait to apply this new knowledge and skill elsewhere in (hopefully) many more exciting opportunities in my future.
This post wasn’t really as action-packed as my last one, however I feel that putting some feelings onto this blog is important. After all, blogs are meant for the emotional side of things not just an account. I hope you have enjoyed the read.
Until next time, Ciao! Xxxx