Show Off Your City! Tour Guide 101

I'm not overly patriotic, but one of my favorite Americanisms is Thanksgiving. I'm not too fond of the history of the holiday, you know, with the genocide and all. Like a lot of things in America, it's underscored by oppression and violence. Despite this, I like to take the holiday to reflect with gratitude and spend time with loved ones. And the Thanksgiving meal is so incredible. I crave it all year long. And then the leftovers? Yum. Ho l'acquolina in bocca, which means my mouth is watering. Shout out to Prof. Francesco. 

This year, for Thanksgiving, my parents, brothers, and grandmother came to Rome for a week of sightseeing and time together. It was so lovely to see them after all this time, especially near the end of my semester when I truly grasped the city. It's nerve-wracking to host your family from within the study abroad experience. Studies, travel, friends, and planning, I was spread very thin when my family was here. Here are three tips I learned to be the best tour guide possible when you have visitors!

First, set aside time to show off your study-abroad city through your eyes. Rome is a very touristic destination, and for my brothers, it was their first time in Italy. They had a schedule packed with tours that, while a great experience, don't reflect your daily life abroad. Find time to show them your favorite local restaurant, coffee shop, or park. We didn't get the traditional Thanksgiving meal you know and love, but we went to my favorite pizza place and will have a make-up turkey when I get home. My mom and I even saw Wicked at my favorite cinema near my apartment. Little experiences like Italian dubbed Wicked, seeing the IES Abroad Rome Center, or taking my guests on my favorite scenic walk made me feel so connected to them after all this time apart. To welcome them into your world, list the essential places that have characterized your time abroad and your independence and growth. 

Second, make sure you set aside time for yourself. After months of extreme independence, being surrounded by family in such a concentrated way can be overwhelming. Because my family came during Thanksgiving break, I was preparing for final exams and needed time to myself. Near the end of my semester, I also wanted time with friends before our time together was over. Skipping out on an activity to prioritize those things will keep you balanced, less stressed, and ultimately a better tour guide. 

Finally, though it seems counter-intuitive for a tour guide, you must embrace your inner tourist. Although I skipped out on some of the guided tours my visitors went on, I participated in a few that made me see the city in a fresh, new light. After all these months of walking around slow tourists on the way to class, of the icons of Rome becoming commonplace, I loved seeing the city with the eagerness of a newcomer. My favorite activity was the food tour; we tasted different Roman cuisines on a walking tour through Campo de Fiori, Trastevere, and the Jewish Ghetto. We chatted with the other travelers, and I made friends with the tour guide, a student from Milan. To have these touristy experiences at the end of my semester, reunited with my family, was very full circle and reminded me of when I first arrived in Rome. 

Having visitors while studying abroad was a beautiful experience. It was like the craziest crossover episode of the… two different TV shows that are... my lives in different countries? I'm not sure about that analogy. Anyway, happy holidays to all, and happy travels to all those on their way to be with their loved ones. 

Ciao ciao!

Ellie