Halfway through the semester a
group of us left our then hometown of Viterbo and headed north to Perugia,
Italy where we learned a very important lesson, Always trust the locals. One
of our classmates in Viterbo suggested we meet up with his friend who had lived
there for eight years. We were happy to have a connection in town and reached
out to him. Our new friend Abdu, the rugby player by day, bouncer by night,
greeted us as we arrived and we had no idea the kind of adventure that was in
store. He toured us around town and we were lost in the history and beauty of
the quaint yet bustling hilltop town. Abdu not only knew the best lookout spots
and sights but everyone in town greeted him as we walked, it was almost like he
was a celebrity.
That night, Abdu welcomed us into
his home and cooked us an authentic Umbrian dish which consisted of chicken,
rice, potatoes, onions, peppers and surprisingly enough, plain yogurt on top.
This was by far one of my favorite meals during my time in Italy and a nice
switch up from the pasta. During dinner Abdu told us his life story and the
interesting path from growing up in Afghanistan to ending up in Italy.
After leaving Perugia we realized
how different our weekend would have looked if it wasn’t for Abdu. Rick Steve’s
Highlights, Museums, and Restaurants wouldn’t have given us the same
local experience that our time with Abdu offered. From then on we always made
sure to reach out to the locals and were always amazed by their generosity.
Europeans are proud of their roots and are eager to share their stories and
time. I can’t wait to return to Europe and rekindle those friendships and in
return they know the door is open if they ever happen to find themselves in
Fayetteville, Arkansas.
When you trust the locals you never
know what you're going to get, Capoeria (Brazilian martial arts) lessons,
midnight trips to the hot springs, guided tours through Paris from a Frenchman
or maybe you’ll learn that by “bowling alley” they really mean salsa club. And
if you find a really adventurous friend you’ll head to a local concert and find
yourself getting picked up and thrown on stage to sing “Hey Jude” with the
band. No matter who you meet or what you do, you will always leave with the
most outrageous stories and new friendships that can transcend any culture
boundaries.
“In life, it’s not where you go, it’s who you travel with.”
Amy Cosgrove, Study Abroad Peer Advisor
