After traveling all around Europe, finishing classes, making new friends and living in an apartment with five other girls, it’s finally time to pack up and go home. Studying abroad has been one of the most defining, humbling and amazing experiences I have ever had.
I remember when I first arrived in Italy and how everything felt foreign to me. I didn’t speak a work of Italian and I didn’t know anyone upon my arrival, much like many others on the trip. Now, after three months of living together as six strangers, we have a special bond that we will share for a lifetime. The Italian language is now much more familiar to us and we can finally carry on conversations with locals.
A typical weekend now includes eating at our favorite restaurant, just downstairs from our apartment, where the waiters have gotten to know and love us, which has been only one of the many highlights of Italy.
There were many highlights to this trip. The most riveting were the excursions we took as a group. With City College, we traveled to Siena, Ravenna, San Gimignano, Venice and Rome.
The most fun excursion was Rome, minus the tour guide, who seemed only to know the memorized information on her note cards. We saw the Colosseum, San Peter’s Basilica, The Vatican and other local neighborhoods. The Colosseum was by far the most impressive structure of architecture I have ever seen.
Individual travel was stressful at first, but much easier once we got the hang of how European train and air travel works. Most local employees challenged us to speak Italian, so it became good practice for our broken speech.
For spring break, a group of six friends and I went to Barcelona, Spain. We traveled Ryanair, a small airline with cheap airfares. However, the airplane felt somewhat like a prison, much like the over packed train from Torino. I expected that the size of the seats would not be anywhere near first-class status. However, if you were to put four baby car seats next to each other, that about describes how comfortable the flight was. The emergency pamphlet was strategically placed on the seat directly in front of you, with pictures of what to do if the plane catches on fire. No need to worry.
There weren’t many low points for the trip, other than the apartment itself. Our place was a little on the ghetto side. However, it worked out well as a trade off because we had a good group of girls living together. Although we did have our occasional “Real World” moments, we had a blast.
My favorite things that I take home from this trip are without question, the friendships I have made and the places I have been able to see. In an environment where nothing was familiar or comfortable, our house bonded very quickly.
The memories I will take with me are thanks to my loving roommates and friends. Laughter was more than daily at 22 Via Nazionale. And because we had each other, we got the very most out of this trip.
Traveling and getting the chance to see the art in Europe was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. Taking Art 104 was a must because it allowed me to better appreciate the art all over Europe.
Although I was terrified to come on this trip, I am now leaving three months later, glad I took the chance and came. I have new appreciation for other cultures, art and people. I’ve made new friends, traveled and learned a new language. I highly recommend studying abroad for anyone who desires to live life to the fullest, traveling and meeting new people.