Endings
Well I'm finally at the end of my semester abroad. I'm not quite sure how I can sum it up appropriately.
I've got a few days left in Rome, five days left in Germany, then I fly to Chicago, to New York, to Los Angeles, and then finally to San Francisco. I'll give out souveniers, I'll see my grandparents, my parents, and all of my home cities. I'll get to eat a burrito again, and bagel and cream cheese. I'll get home cooking, I wont be lost.
But I'll also be losing one of the best female friends I've ever made. I'll no longer be a student in Italy. I wont have Europe at my fingertips. I wont get to meet as many travelers in as many random circumstances. I wont have to look at city maps every 10 minutes, wont run around in circles for hours, wont get taken advantage of by cab drivers (as obviously), wont stay in hostels, wont have to try and figure out public transportation, wont have Italian pizza anymore, wont be able to order a liter of house wine for 6eur with dinner, wont have a community of support around me 24/7, wont have as many familiar faces, wont have rinaldos or good cappucinos at different bars in the morning, wont get to practice my Italian as much.
Part of me is so excited to get home and be back in the familiar. To see family again, to have routines again, to not have to move around as much for a bit. Part of me hasn't quite realized just how much will change when I get back.
I think there's only a few things that are still making this ok for me. I have a few more days in Rome and Europe in general, I'm traveilng out of the country for another two months next summer, and I am deadset in my mind that I will be back to Europe soon, while I'm still young. Dead set. How, I have no idea. If I have to work in a hostel, if I teach, if I could just get a random job and live, or even if I just have to travel... I don't know how but I will. And if not Europe, out of America. I can't not travel. Travel will forever be a component and a desire in my life.
The amount of things I've learned in these past few months are incredible. I can't understand how every college student doens't take this opportunity; honestly it's so incredible in every way, and you can never do something quite like this ever again. I've cried, I've been alone, I've laughed, I've drank, I've studied, I've ate, I've explored, I've traveled, I've been outside of my comfort zone, I've made incredible new friends, I've tried new things, I've tested myself and succeeded, I've grown, and I've changed.
I'm ready for new challenges when I return, and I feel more confident in myself than I ever have before. I've never been more proud. Once again life, I win.
I've got a few days left in Rome, five days left in Germany, then I fly to Chicago, to New York, to Los Angeles, and then finally to San Francisco. I'll give out souveniers, I'll see my grandparents, my parents, and all of my home cities. I'll get to eat a burrito again, and bagel and cream cheese. I'll get home cooking, I wont be lost.
But I'll also be losing one of the best female friends I've ever made. I'll no longer be a student in Italy. I wont have Europe at my fingertips. I wont get to meet as many travelers in as many random circumstances. I wont have to look at city maps every 10 minutes, wont run around in circles for hours, wont get taken advantage of by cab drivers (as obviously), wont stay in hostels, wont have to try and figure out public transportation, wont have Italian pizza anymore, wont be able to order a liter of house wine for 6eur with dinner, wont have a community of support around me 24/7, wont have as many familiar faces, wont have rinaldos or good cappucinos at different bars in the morning, wont get to practice my Italian as much.
Part of me is so excited to get home and be back in the familiar. To see family again, to have routines again, to not have to move around as much for a bit. Part of me hasn't quite realized just how much will change when I get back.
I think there's only a few things that are still making this ok for me. I have a few more days in Rome and Europe in general, I'm traveilng out of the country for another two months next summer, and I am deadset in my mind that I will be back to Europe soon, while I'm still young. Dead set. How, I have no idea. If I have to work in a hostel, if I teach, if I could just get a random job and live, or even if I just have to travel... I don't know how but I will. And if not Europe, out of America. I can't not travel. Travel will forever be a component and a desire in my life.
The amount of things I've learned in these past few months are incredible. I can't understand how every college student doens't take this opportunity; honestly it's so incredible in every way, and you can never do something quite like this ever again. I've cried, I've been alone, I've laughed, I've drank, I've studied, I've ate, I've explored, I've traveled, I've been outside of my comfort zone, I've made incredible new friends, I've tried new things, I've tested myself and succeeded, I've grown, and I've changed.
I'm ready for new challenges when I return, and I feel more confident in myself than I ever have before. I've never been more proud. Once again life, I win.