Who Says Mondays Have to be so Bad?

Mondays are usually rough for most people. It’s the first ‘work’ day of the week and for most study abroad kids, you probably just came off of an awesome weekend exploring your home city or a different country. However, Mondays for me actually aren’t that rough. I do have 7 hours of class, but I start the morning off with Photography at 9 am, which is proving to be my favorite class so far. My dad is a photographer, and his hobby/career is something that has always been something I’ve admired.

Walking through the streets comfortably with my converse! A European must have!

These past few weeks have been nothing less than amazing. It’s only been a few weeks and I’ve seen and done so much, it’s hard to believe that there is still so much time left and more to experience. However, I have been feeling a bit depressed lately for a couple reasons. I’m missing my family and friends a lot, trying to adjust to all of the different aspects and ways of life has been quite challenging. I’ve been thinking about how I can get out of this funk for a few days, and now I finally realize what has been making me happy.

My photography class reminds me of a few things. Every time I pick up my camera, I think of my Dad and what kind of pictures he would take, how he would view subjects, and how he would ‘capture’ the moment. It also reminds me of how lucky I am to be here in Rome and to see some of the amazing sights, and to be soaking up the city’s rich history. It’s like a release for me, a time to take a break from life, and school and just focus on taking a picture. Capturing the beauty of what you see is something pretty special to me.

Houses in Rome are beautiful decorated with green ivy!

 

With that being said, I want to be able to show my loved ones back home what I see everyday. I want to capture simple moments like what I see on my way to class, people talking in a square, and just daily life in general. I miss my family and friends a lot, and when I go to certain places, try certain food, or even do certain activities, I wish they could be there along side me experiencing it, too. My family and friends have been the biggest supporters in my life and I couldn’t thank them enough for being there for me, especially these past few days when things are getting tough. I am even more thankful for the opportunity that my photography class has given me. It’s given me the chance to show everyone back home what I’m doing and what I’ve done, which I couldn’t have done without their love that they’ve given me.

Lauren Healy is the Fall 2014 CEA MOJO in Rome, Italy. She is currently a Senior at Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

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