Dear friends studying abroad,

First of all, I miss you all so much! All your pictures on Facebook and Instagram are making me incredibly jealous because I am stuck at home while you guys travel the world. As I am writing this, you guys are probably in some fun city eating some exotic meal and drinking foreign beer. To all my friends in Italy, please enjoy an extra slice of pizza for me and a an extra scoop of gelato too, pretty please!

But on a serious note, I am so happy for you guys! It takes a lot of courage to leave everything you know and step out of your comfort zone and travel the world. Leaving for four months to me seemed impossible but you guys had the courage to do it. I remember in the fall when I heard about everyone planning to study abroad and I honestly got so sad and secretly hoped everyone would back out and we would be one big happy family no campus. But the time came and everyone left (sadly) at the beginning of spring semester. It though makes me so happy to see all your instas or mysteries of you guys drinking and exploring new fun places.

My favorite is when someone asks me, "Do you miss them?" Obviously I miss my friends especially my best friend that is in Italy. But to that I say, "thank you God so much for wifi because without it I would not be able to mass text you about how much I miss you, what happened to me this weekend, ask you your opinion about my outfit, or simply just FaceTime you to see you face and ask how you are doing."

I used to laugh when I would hear people say distance makes the heart grow founder. Now I find it to be so completely true. In the beginning it was hard not seeing you guys everyday or going in to class on the first day of spring semester and and not seeing any of you. But it is now halfway through the semester and that means you are all almost back! We are just so much closer to everything getting back to the way it has always been. One more step closer to seeing everyone at the cafe or at a party and acting like no one ever left. just one step closer to all enjoying a crazy senior year all together once again.

Let me stop before I get emotional, to all my friends in Italy, Ireland and other places across the world I miss you guys so much! Keep the artsy Instagrams and Facebook posts coming, I will just have to live vicariously through everything you guys post wishing I was there with everyone and eating every meal I see on your snaps. Cannot remind you guys how much I miss you all and cannot wait to see you again this summer!

A special shout out to John, love you miss you. Keep killing it in Italy!