GL 350

Another week complete and another week closer to flying back home. As my work piles up around me, I definitely notice time flying by faster than I had hoped. With projects, blogs, and student-led tours at hand, there seems to be no time for anything! In my last two and a half weeks here, I hope to finish with a bang and then get ready for a long journey home. This weekend I was able to travel to see my family in London, most whom I haven't seen in about 4 years.

My family has always been large and extremely close, so not being able to see them for that amount of time is very hard. I was able to visit my mom and dad's side of the family with enough time to shop and explore a little. In the span of 4 days, I had the best time I've ever had with my family because they had to pack all the fun things to do in such a short time span. Let's just say I wasn't complaining. It was only on my way back to Rome home that I encountered problems with the amazing airline RyanAir.

In class we discussed how in the Italians book, people from Italy believed that the United States had a hidden agenda when helping to rebuild the country after the war. Sure Americans may be trying to get something out of the deal, but shouldn't the Italians have been grateful that Americans were willing to do something? Everyone has a hidden agenda in every little thing they do no matter what the situation. When RyanAir in London made me check in my bag for 50 pounds (and yes, that is equivalent to 80 US dollars), I knew there was a hidden agenda. Heck, they were just trying to squeeze money out of me, but I knew there was nothing I could do about it. 

Sure I spent a little extra money, but is that something that is out of my control? Yes. Did RyanAir have a hidden agenda? Absolutely. In the end, I had to check my bag but I never had to worry about it for the entire flight which was a great relief. The Italians knew that the U.S. has a hidden agenda when they provided help, but they accepted it because they knew they had no other way of rebuilding their country. In the end for them, they received an immense amount of help in restoring Italy, otherwise it may have never became what it is today. Just say thank you and move on, it's all we can do.