Boys Town of Italy: Part II

On Friday June 13th we had the chance to visit Boys Town of Rome, which is a self-governing orphanage, located about ten miles from downtown Rome. I was so shocked at how welcoming and receptive they were to the arrival of 50+ Penn State students. At first I felt a little awkward walking around and looking at stuff, because I don’t think I would like people coming into my house and hanging out in my backyard just to witness something that, to the boys, is a part of everyday life. But this changed when we saw how excited the Mayor (a 16 year old from Morocco) of t he city was to have us in his town. They took us around the city and showed us everything from their winery to their bank to their assembly hall to their restaurant, all of which is governed and run by the boys (with adult supervision in some levels, as required by Italian law). Surprisingly their living quarters were very new looking and very comfortable. School was out for the summer but we got to tour their classrooms in which they learn computer programming, video editing, ceramics, auto mechanics, stained glass making, and many others. In the middle of our tour the boys hosted us for coffee, Coca-Cola, pastries, and other food items in their restaurant. This was a great chance to interact with the boys and learn about them and where they come. All in all this experience was extremely positive and I recommend visiting Boys Town if you ever find yourself in Rome. Ciao!