It's the small things that matter~

We can always brag and talk about the many awesome trips, museums and beaches we get to visit, that no one else we know has. We know them to be once in a life time experiences so we choose to pay attention to those, finding our excitement and joy. But what about the things we don't choose to pay attention to? The smaller things. 
Most of us here have host families who we eat dinner with most nights, which is a great experience all it's own. We get to learn the language more, while being able to try delicious home cooked Italian meals (not to mention they are free).
But one of the best dinners and nights i've had here so far, was the surprise dinner brought onto us by our professors, Michael and Francesca Seaman. We were brought to "La Ciocolada," an elegant pizzeria well known to Grado. The relaxed, yet passionate environment created by our professors and their family is phenomenal. Combined with food that can get our knees weak simply from a smell, dinner with the class is more fun and heart-filling than I could have hoped for it to ever be. We talk about everything, ranging from our fun daily experiences, new phrases we have learned, new people we have met and  even some future plans we decide to create on the spot. This time with our peers may often be overlooked as a simple meal that we "should" get. But in reality, its so much more. It's a time where we can be human, learning to appreciate all that is given to us and all the work that was put into it. It's a time where we can learn more, not only about our peers, but our professors beyond a university relationship level. I know it may seem exaggerated or even "too much thought and emotion" put into a plain old meal, but if you take the time to sit and think... those meals allow for a time that we would never get otherwise.
What I'm trying to say is; Thank you professors. It's only the first week and a half and it's clear the amount of work, effort, even blood and sweat you've put into making our experiences what they are. I know our time here would be nothing without the thought you guys have put in.  Turns out I actually didn't order a pizza. It was great anyways!