The first month, I brought guacamole and chips. It was challenging to find the ingredients, especially the tortilla chips and the cilantro for the dip, but it was a crowd pleaser. This time, I decided to go simple and bring peanut butter and banana sandwiches--panini con i banana e il burro d'arachidi.

You would have thought that I brought worm and cod liver oil sandwiches, the way others reacted. It was a cultural aversion that eluded me. I figured if they were good enough for Elvis, they were good enough for us!

Suffice it to say, my American entry wasn't exactly appreciated. It became clear that the other Americans at school had difficulty choosing a typical dish, because from the four U.S. students--besides my P.B. & banana sandwiches--there were three dishes made from potatoes.

One night we decided to go for elegance and have coffee and dessert at the Hassler Hotel on top of the Spanish Steps. It was like having tea at the Plaza in New York. However, I passed on the gelato which, at forty thousand lire, was more than ten times the usual cost of that delicious ice cream. After paying six bucks for a cappucino that generally costs one dollar in Rome, I figured it was probably okay for me to steal a pen.

I could no longer deny it. I was going home. Though looking forward to returning to New York, I didn't want to leave Rome. It was hard to believe that the three months were almost over.

I completed my language studies in my last week with some private lessons. And, said goodbye to my new friends and my adopted city of Rome, closing that chapter of my life.

Change is wilderness.