One Night in Tuscany
By Miranda Lachman, Foster Undergraduate who participated in the Foster Rome program during Summer A-Term 2017. Miranda was a GBC Study Abroad Scholarship recipient.
It is so hard to choose a single story that encompasses the month that I spent abroad with the Foster Rome Program. One very special day that sticks out to me is the day we traveled to Tuscany and stayed at a bed and breakfast. Despite being on a three-and-a-half-hour bus ride we all had a lot of excitement and energy, especially after we stopped for snacks.
When we made it to our destination we were given our rooms and set free to explore the surrounding area until dinner. The pool had caught my eye, so I headed up to my room to change into my swimsuit when I was quickly informed that we were required to shower before getting into the pool, to keep the water clean. After I rinsed off and put on my suit I ran downstairs to get in the water and was handed a swim cap on my way to the pool, once again to ensure that the water stayed clean. Most of us spent hours playing around in the pool, looking incredible in our swim caps of course, while others went on walks or scenic bike rides through the Tuscan mountains.
When I came downstairs for dinner I had the honor of meeting the owner of the bed and breakfast and her adorable dog, Jove. She was very sweet and I could tell that she was excited to have us there, despite her limited English. She led us to the back where our dinner table was set up with a gorgeous view of the vineyards and rolling hills. We sat down for the most delicious meal including prosciutto and melon, sausage and eggplant pasta and other Italian specialties.
After dinner, a few of us went out by the pool and laid in the grass. We were there for hours just talking and looking up at the millions of stars that were visible from up in the mountains, with no city-lights nearby. This day was special to me because it brought me so much closer to all the wonderful people that were also part of the Foster Rome Program. This was a once in a lifetime experience and those people and that bed and breakfast will always hold a special place in my heart.
