Fairytales do happen!

Starting to get towards the end of my stay in Tuscania and I already know I am going to miss it! All of the people have been truly warm and welcoming. All my teachers want me to learn, not memorize. If someone is sick they will personally drive you to and from school and get you the necessary medicine. The locals are amazing and I mean amazing. The encourage you to speak Italian and help perfect your skills in any way they can.

Now here is an amazing story. In between my two classes, Jen, Katherine, Tara, and I went to our local pizzeria. As we were waiting on our pasta we hear a large table in the corner speaking English, which is extremely rare in this area. At first we thought it was our imagination. We only heard a few words here and there like shoe, zipper, and bag. But all a sudden I feel someone staring at me. When I look over the entire table is trying to get out attention. They ask us if we are Ldm students and where we are from. Come to find out it was a family that was coming back to visit Tuscania from the states. Andrea, the name of the younger women, was a former student of Ldm. She had come to visit the town she fell in love with 3 years ago again. Her entire family is from Pittsburg but she went to school in North Carolina. She is currently living in Pittsburg, but most of her family is now living in either North or South Carolina. It is crazy how small this world really is!

Not only did she fall in love with the small town of Tuscania, but she also fell in love with waiter at the pizzeria we were eating in. His name is Fredrico and he used to work at this father’s pizzeria. So the story goes that Fredrico was so embarrassed to ask Andrea on a date so his father (who owns the restaurant) had to for him. They have been married for 2 years and seem to be the happiest couple. He Fredrico followed Andrea all the way Pittsburg, where they both are living now. They were the sweetest family. By the end of meal they were exchanging wedding photos with us and telling us their entire life story. It is times like this that make even more appreciative of what an amazing opportunity I have been given.  Fairytales do come true! A young American girl comes to Tuscania through the Ldm program and comes home with a handsome Italian husband!!