I almost didn’t recognize my daughter when I first saw her. It had been 45 days since she left the US to study abroad in Rome.
She met me outside her Italian dorm, wearing a flowy beige dress and olive-colored satchel, embracing an Italian vibe. She mentioned she had gone to an Italian secondhand market to find her new threads.
As they say, “When in Rome.”
For almost two months, we were separated by an eight-hour flight and a six-hour time difference. But we were able to reconnect quickly, and I realized just how much my daughter has grown since studying abroad.
My arrival in Rome was overwhelming
It all started when my husband, younger daughter, and I landed in Rome after a brutal red-eye flight at 6 a.m., which, to us, still felt like midnight.
After about five seconds of considering taking public transportation from our hotel, our jet-lagged brains decided that was well above our pay grade. In hindsight, that was the right call, as my daughter later showed us how to navigate the system. Let’s just say an engineering degree is probably necessary.
We thought we could walk to her dorm, but we got lost, and it took us close to an hour to find it. I wondered how my daughter navigated this city. Has she been lost, too?
We made the best of our time together
I quickly realized that not only was she an expert at navigating this city, but she was also growing into herself as an adult.
After briefing us on the essentials of Italian culture — like how dinner typically starts at 8:30 pm, not 6 pm — my daughter moved on to the most critical lesson: identifying the tourist traps. If you’re wondering how to spot an inauthentic restaurant, the giveaway is a laminated menu with photos. She said it’s a food culture scarlet letter.
For the most part, she kept our wallets safe from pickpockets and from overpaying on uninspired food, but the few times we went rogue, she scolded us. Talk about a role reversal!
My daughter is taking a culinary class as part of her study abroad program. We decided to sign up for not one, but two cooking classes and a food tour. We would never have even considered any of these things if she hadn’t told us that it’s a way for us to learn more about Italian culture.
As we kneaded the dough in one class, my daughter casually mentioned her upcoming six-hour cooking course. Impressive! My daughter’s expensive tuition is worth every penny if she plans to implement those skills when she’s home.
We took a trip to Tivoli, too
Most of our activities in Rome were based on my daughter’s local-like suggestions, but I had a destination I wanted to visit. After writing an article about UNESCO sites, I was determined to visit the two sites in Tivoli that were natural and cultural, so I booked a tour, and we all loved it.
It gave us an opportunity to explore a new place together — as a family.
The best part? When I met all of my daughter’s friends, they said they’d never heard of Tivoli but now wanted to go. It turns out that even a tourist trap magnet can find a hidden gem or two.
Arrivederci (until the end of November)
I’ll admit it. I went to Rome to make sure my daughter was OK and because I missed her.
But seeing her rattle off Italian tips like a local, navigate the bus system without an engineering degree, and introduce us to her friends made me realize this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. She’s becoming someone I don’t recognize, and that’s beautiful. She’s becoming independent.
Since we’ve been back, the only thing I miss more than her is the gelato. Fingers crossed that a cookies and cream gelato recipe is on her culinary class curriculum, and she can make it when she’s home for Thanksgiving.
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