It is hard to believe that we are wrapping up our first full month in Italy. This week has been especially busy; we returned to our home in Ariccia from an optional trip to Positano on Sunday afternoon and tried to prepare for the week. After a long day of class on Monday, we packed our bags and left bright and early the next morning for an overnight field trip to Assisi and Orvieto, two towns in the region of Umbria.
Our first day in Assisi was wonderful. We toured St. Francis’s Basilica and were able to see all of the frescos and history that we have been learning about in our classes. Later that night we arrived in Orvieto and had the night to ourselves to explore. Orvieto may be one of my favorite cities we’ve been to so far! It is not a huge tourist destination so everything seemed so authentic. Some places we visit lack the charm and culture of Italy because they cater so much to tourists.
We had a fun night exploring Orvieto, but we woke up this morning with heavy hearts when we learned that a sweet girl in our group had received some hard news from home. Since we all live together, we have become a pretty tight knit group, so we started off our day praying for our friend, sharing in her pain, and wanting to do anything to comfort her. After touring Orvieto, we headed to the Trebotti Vineyards and Farm for a tour. After the rough start to the day, this fun activity is exactly what the whole group needed. One of the coolest things about Trebotti is that it is a completely organic, sustainable farm.  First, we got to meet the resident donkey, Jane, who helps cut all of the grass and fertilize the vineyard. Then we learned more about the wine making process and even got to taste some of the grapes grown there. Finally, they invited us to have aperitivo and wine tasting. We had a wonderful time trying all of the wine, snacking, and getting to relax and enjoy each other’s company. One of the things I think is special about this trip is the relationships we have all formed with each other. Everyone’s hearts are hurting for our friend. While it was difficult to see her hurt and struggle today, I feel so thankful to be surrounded by such caring people, including our teachers. I also feel reminded that life is so fragile and we should not take this time in Italy or with each other for granted.
 
Written by Marie Mitchell

Kendall, Marie, and Lauren P. at Trebotti Vineyards.