I can’t stop. I really can’t. Italy is almost always on my brain. It’s like some psychotic crush; if I’m not talking about my study abroad experience, I’m either figuring out a way in which I can sneak it into the conversation or hoping that something pertaining to study abroad or Italy will be brought up. I know, I’m so annoying. Then it dawned on me: I am no different than the vegans who can’t shut up that I make fun of. There are a few big ways in which my study abroad obsessed brain is not much different than those stereotypical vegans.

1. We really can’t shut up about it.

We GET it, you’re vegan. This phrase has been muttered, structurally different, to study abroad students. Dude, Bri. We get it. You lived in Italy. I can connect almost anything you say to somehow bring up my experience, just as vegans can somehow turn a conversation about the weather into a debate over animal rights.

2. People just can’t bring up food around us.

Dominos isn’t pizza. Don’t get me started on Little Ceasers. A popsicle? No no, London study abroad students will ramble on about the correct term of “ice lolli,” and Parisian students will explain that, in fact, it’s macaron not macaroon, and of course all of our Americanized food doesn’t begin to compare to the authentic experiences we had. Vegans will do the same: Cheese, you say? That’s milk from cows. Are you a baby cow? Why would you need that? Thus ensuring a long lecture.

3. Meal times are just annoying.

Along with the lectures of food as outlined above, we’ll go on and on about the meal times in general. Someone will microwave a quick dinner and that study abroad student will have something to say along the lines of “you know, in such-and-such country, they all gather together for hours and just enjoy each other’s company!” (Guilty, I’m a big lover of Italy’s slow food movement.) Similarly, for the stereotypical vegan, meal times are a time for lectures on how what you’re eating is going to give you some form of illness.

4. We always have something to say about fashion.

“Vegan leather” is just a glorified way of saying plastic. But who am I to give you slack? Study abroad students are bound to have something to say about your fashion choices. Whether it be that people in whatever country would never dress as lazily as Americans do, or that people in London call rain boots “wellies,” a lecture will most likely presume in a talk about clothes.

5. Don’t go to a grocery store with us.

Psh. Ralph’s, Fred Meyer? In most of the countries we studied abroad in, we went to the street markets daily for fresh produce and meat. We’ll go on and on about how preserved our foods are in America that we can go to the grocery store once a week without worry that that food will go bad. Going to the store with a vegan? Good God. We understand. I shouldn’t be buying this turkey sandwich, get off my case.

6. Going out for drinks with us is obnoxious.

Honestly, I had no idea that drinks could not be vegan. By all means, save yourself the lecture about honey and bees as it relates to veganism when your fellow vegan orders a drink with “agave syrup” substitute. You may also get a talking to about all the chemicals in that nasty rum and coke you’re drinking. As for me? I’ll be in the booth beside you ranting on and on about Italy’s aperitivo and how in Europe it’s almost unheard of to not serve free food with drinks.

7. Our experiences have changed our social life.

No one wants to hear about your “what the health” explanation, and everyone’s sick of hearing about our life across seas. I feel as if some people are hesitant to hang around study abroad students because it's all we talk about, just like the vegans.

8. We’ll talk about our pre-study abroad life like a pre-vegan life.

Our lives before study abroad were “so uncultured.” We laugh about the days we thought that Barefoot wine was quality, as compared to our Chianti-acquired tastes now. To be real, study abroad did change my life so positively in more ways than one, but I’ll be the first to make fun of myself for having found myself in Europe. I mean, I did, but it sounds so dramatic to say. Those vegans, man, they’ll talk about their previously carnivore selves as if it were a different person altogether, reminiscing upon times where the vegan diet would have improved their life by so much.

9. We’re a little biased when it comes to assessing healthy lifestyles.

Sure, your 24-hour fitness membership and meal prepping life is healthy. But did you know in many countries they walk literally everywhere? And actually eat quality meals together for hours? Seldom anyone in Europe is overweight compared to Americans, so allow me to glance a little harder at your keto lifestyle when these Europeans are out here eating tons of carbs and staying fit. Must I even elaborate on vegans being uppity about healthy lifestyles?

10. No matter how annoying we may be, we’re happy and proud of ourselves.

Can we be obnoxious? Yes. But when it comes down to it, both vegans and study abroad students are annoying for a reason. We genuinely enjoyed our experiences and are proud of ourselves for making strides to lead a better lifestyle, whether that be crossing seas or adopting a healthier diet.