Last summer, I was given the opportunity to study abroad. As if that wasn't enough, the two courses that I took were photography and a writing class, which meant that my entire semester was spent absorbing, capturing, and creating pieces about my adventure. It was a life-changing experience and I will never forget the time I lived in a small, third story apartment located in a a small, but full of life, square in Florence, Italy.
As much of a dream the entire trip was, it had to come to an end. It's been six months since I boarded a plane back to Texas and not a day has gone by where I do not find myself missing the city and country that I fell in love with.
Gone are the days where my biggest struggles would be blistered feet and not capturing the right angle for a photo and now reality is back in full swing. While I strongly encourage everyone to take the opportunity to study abroad if it may present itself, I will warn you that your life will be forever changed and you will miss places that you currently do not even know exist more than you could ever imagine.
While the list is endless of all of the things that I miss from my short stay in Italy, here's a few of the things from the Italian culture that I miss the most:
1. The food
I'm not sure where to even begin. Even after spending the last six months trying to find traditional and authentic Italian food I have yet to find any that is quite as organic, fresh, and flavorful. I used to think that Italian food was my favorite type of food growing up until I actually went to Italy and had the real deal. Food is a strong representation of a country's culture. It's made with passion and hard work and can only be found when you come in contact with people who have and still practice their family's recipes (which isn't easy, trust me) or go there and experience it for yourself.
2. The language
While at first it may be overwhelming to be surrounded by people who speak a different language from your own, eventually you become accustomed to listening to the different dialects, expressive hand gestures, and rhythm that belongs to languages other than yours. You might even get to learn enough to communicate or at least understand simple sentences. Coming back to the U.S. meant suddenly I understood what people were saying when I walked down a crowded sidewalk and I became much more aware of people than of my surroundings, like I did when studying abroad.
3. The fashion
While in some cultures the fashions is more extreme than others, after studying abroad, you get accustomed to a certain style and slowly find yourself adapting to it. Whether it be a bold color, trend, or even how you wear articles of clothing, cultures each have their own unique twist on what they wear.
4. The scenery
From buildings to landscapes, studying abroad gives you the chance to view places that never knew existed. Whether is be a hillside, island, mountains, or even just a crowded street, you're sure to discover something breath taking that you'll take for granted while you're there and miss terribly when you leave. Some days I even find myself missing the uneven cobblestone paths that I nearly fell on each day.
5. The people
It's a strange thing to miss people that you briefly knew. From the Italians I met, to the people that I saw every day on my walks throughout the city, to the group of students that I studied abroad with, I had gotten into a pattern of familiarity. While it was only one summer semester, the people that I came in contact with helped me grow. They allowed me to see a world outside of my college campus, hometown, and even the U.S. and made me realize my passion for traveling. They made me realize that I want to continue growing as a person and meeting as many people from different backgrounds and cultures than my own.
Studying abroad was one of the best experiences of my 22 years. If I could go back and do it again, I would at least a dozen times. It showed me what life is like halfway across the world and allowed me to gain new experiences that I never imagined. From celebrating holidays, to finding the best local restaurants, to interviewing and getting to know Italian artisans, I returned home with so much more than photographs and stories, but enough memories and moments to inspire me to continue my passion for learning and traveling for as many years and to as many places as I possibly can.
