Well my friends, the end is near. As I sit on my bed, amidst piles of clothes, shoes, papers and empty water bottles, I can't believe its been a whole semester. It seems like just yesterday I bid farewell to my friends and family and boarded the plane, excited and anxious about the upcoming four months. I went in with high expectations, as I'd heard such good things from family members and friends, and I can wholeheartedly say it has not disappointed me one bit. The friends I made, the places I was fortunate enough to travel to, the memories I've created...I wouldn't trade this semester for anything in the world. I've learned a lot about myself since being here and I've opened my mind and eyes to new things I'd never experienced before. Do I wish the semester was longer? Absolutely. Am I excited to go back to the States? Yes and no. To be honest, there are things about Europe that I love and know I won't be able to find back in America. Florence especially moves at a different pace; being here I've learned to 'go with the slow', a phrase coined by my wonderful psychology professor. To put this into context, it's why meals that take 4 hours are completely normal and why long aimless strolls through open piazzas have become part of my daily routine. So what will I miss the most? It's almost impossible to say. Obviously, I'll miss the food. The overwhelming smell of freshly baked foccacia bread, the mouth watering taste of tiramisu, the beautiful presentation of pear ravioli garnished with fresh basil...this city really has mastered the art of cooking. I'll miss the beauty of Florence. Walking by the Duomo everyday is an unbelievable experience, one which I don't think I'll ever have back in America. The city is overflowing with culture, traditions and history and it's abundantly evident how proud the Florentines are of their city. Its been really great getting to integrate myself into this culture, even if I've struggled at times along the way. From words getting lost in translation to accidentally ordering 10 pounds of cheese at the market, my experiences here have been unforgettable. Tomorrow morning, around 9AM, I have to say goodbye to my second home and all of my new friends that have grown to be family. I'm certain it'll take at least a few weeks to readjust to America, a sort of reverse-culture shock if you will. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that's been reading my blog and I really hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I also wanted to say a special thank you to my parents for allowing me to have such an incredible experience - I appreciate your generosity more than I can even express.
So for now, I say: goodbye Via San Niccolo, goodbye Florence, goodbye Italy, goodbye Europe....Arrivederci!
