Our final and unexpected last day in Rome was not the best due to bad hospitality at the hotel, but we tried to make the best of it. After having a large and quite delicious buffet-styled breakfast (there were waffles!!!), we were off to wait for our flight back to the States! As I sat in the airport and looked around at several other study abroad students flying home as well, it made me look back and realize how amazing traveling can be and how it makes one thrive. Being in our twenties, it is a huge trend for people our age to catch a taste of wanderlust. Our feet are on the ground, our eyes are in the sky, and passports are in our hands. We move from city to city, or maybe even country to country. It could be for study purposes, business, or leisure, but in the end, we are all traveling and gaining some certain amount of personal growth within ourselves while experiencing different cultures. Sitting on Piazza Michelangelo with hundreds of others watching the sun set behind the mountains is when these thoughts became real. Although several different languages were spoken and people were traveling for different purposes, we all ended up in the same place for a few hours to share the sight above Florence. It makes you realize that no matter what is happening in the world, we're all humans looking to have a good time. It was such an amazing sight and feeling when the sun set below the horizon and everyone on Piazza Michelangelo, from different cultures, backgrounds and countries, all cheered, clapped, smiled and laughed with everyone around. In the beginning of the semester when all 14 of us students met, we did not all know each other. We had our own friends we hung out with and that was that. Unfortunately, it was not until we were actually in Italy and crammed into small hotel rooms that we all began to form new friendships and create memories. I'm glad for these experiences! I cannot believe how quickly the past days had gone. Italy has once again exceeded my expectations and I am so glad to have experienced it with some of my closest friends and peers. The laughter, new friendships and great memories have surely overcome the many blisters and sleepless nights. Every moment is one to remember and I thank everyone who was a part of this experience! A presto Italia - tanto amore! ♡ Until we meet again. Reaching back to the States was exciting and exhausting due to customs, but I was welcomed home by my family and a delicious meal cooked by my sister. My only request for the meal was "no pasta!" BASTA PASTA. Just for that night only though! Lastly, due to my love of breakfast meals, my sister also welcomed me home with an American breakfast - consisting of banana pancakes, bacon, fried bananas (one of my favorites!), maple syrup and pineapple orange juice!! Needless to say, I was ecstatic and I am very blessed to have an amazing family! P.S. I cannot look at a cow the same ever again. |
Italy is full of incredible history that established an amazing way of life, delicious food, wine, and beer; and great people with an Italian attitude no one can forget.