Dear Mom and Dad,

First off, I want to say thank you for giving me the experience of a lifetime. I know that you would have rather had me close to home, where you wouldn't have had to pay way too much for an international plan for me and we could see each other every month, at least. Being almost 7,000 miles away is always easy, but studying abroad is the best thing I have ever done in my life, period. It may also be one of the most gratifying experiences that I will ever have.

However, none of these opportunities would be possible without parents like you. Thank you for trusting me to do this, for supplying the "moolah" that I would not have had and for letting me live these crazy three months traveling around Europe and getting to see things that neither of you have but I wish you could and living through my pictures.

Thank you for dealing with me when all my suitcases got lost and I was crazy and then for sending me an iPhone in an eyeglass class when mine wouldn't work here and I couldn't use Google Maps. Thank you for always answering me at weird hours because of the time difference and for — mostly — sending me pictures of the dogs when I ask you. I hope you know that I'm kidding when I say I'm never leaving Italy because I miss you too much.

I could never have imagined how much I would absolutely love being here and how I can't wait for you to visit so that I can act as a tour guide and show you a little bit of how amazing it is here. To be able to live in Italy while studying the same classes I would be at home and also having the opportunity to get on a weekend flight to Paris or Barcelona at the same time is more than I ever could have dreamed of. It may be hard to adjust to life back at home, but I think that is part of the magic of studying abroad. Just know that, wherever I am, I miss you!

Lots of love.