Studying abroad is a very unique experience; one that you cannot prepare to begin or to leave behind. As I pack my bags and reflect on this grand adventure, I'm excited about what I am taking home with me. Yes, I am bringing home some Italian leather bags and shoes, but I am also beginning the rest of my life with new knowledge about life, travel, people and myself. Every place that I visited taught me something unexpected and valuable.

Cinque Terre, Italy

Cinque Terre is in the Liguria region of Italy. There are five different cities that each have unique character, and quaint colorful houses decorate the cliffs. This was my very first weekend trip, so naturally we had no idea what we were doing and our planning was about as rough as the coastline. Here, I learned that you sometimes have to be proactive in removing yourself from the center of things in order to gain a complete perspective. It was exhilarating to take a ferry boat between the cities and to see how each city complimented the next. Even if you are comfortable where you are, challenge yourself to seek new perspectives because what beauty has to offer is extensive.

Milan, Italy

In Milan, I considered how a city or an environment can affect how we perceive ourselves and our potential. With globalization and technology, we are able to project ourselves into the world and seek inspiration elsewhere, but it is inherent in human nature to consider survival when confronted with a new space. It is important to exist somewhere where you are inspired by your environment or to feel that it is working in harmony with your rhythm and creative capacity. Milan confirmed my love for modernism and it was distinctly progressive and inspiring to me.

Verona, Italy

Verona is famous for being the city where Shakespere's "Romeo and Juliet" took place. The popular film, "Letters to Juliet (2010)," initiated a trend to write letters to Juliet, asking for love advice. I, of course, was unprepared and had not premeditated what love advice I could want so instead of sliding into Juliet's DM's, I wrote a little note-to-self. It reminded me that by loving myself first, I am able to offer more love to others, and authentic love is selfless in this way. It is the best way to advocate for the honest happiness of myself and others because it does not render love circumstantial.

The Dolomites, Italy

You will never see more beautiful colors than at the Dolomites. You also won't see any other tourists because apparently its not a very trendy vacation spot. You know it's bad when you can't even find postcards. We showed up to our little Airbnb only to find out that all of the supermarkets were closed, and there weren't any in walking distance even if they were open. The cute Italian couple that was hosting us six girls insisted that they drive us to get some pizza. They spoke maybe five words of English, but their generosity was so expressive of their culture. It being the weekend of the Paris attacks, it was comforting to experience the love and hospitality of strangers in such a desolate but beautiful place. There is always someone to help. Their kindness gave me peace and hope in a time of panic and restlessness.

Barcelona, Spain

I learned a few very valuable things in Barcelona:

1. Opportunity cost

We all value different things, and this is difficult to assess when constructing itineraries and navigating expectations. It is just as important to know how you want to spend your time as it is to know how you want to spend your money.

2. How to give the "right" kind of advice

When you are run-down with exhaustion or something fails to meet your expectations, what do you want to hear? I realized that there are at least two kinds of people (I'm excited to hear from the outliers). The first kind of person, probably the most common, is the person who wants to vent and to explain all of the nuances of their untimely situation, uninterrupted, and with confirmation that what they are feeling is valid. The second type of person, (maybe just me), likes to take the analytical route by being told why it is not edifying to be feeling a, b, and c for list of reasons. I learned that it is important to know what you are hoping to be told when you find yourself in a disappointing circumstance. It is also useful to know how to best communicate your good intentions when giving advice. You won't always be able to say the right thing but it is always good to be empathetic and intuitive to what people want to hear.

Oxford, United Kingdom

The summer after my Junior year of high school, I had the opportunity to study abroad for a month at Oxford University. It was a period of unbelievable personal growth, even though I was there for just a short time. This year, I couldn't help it but to return to the place that had changed my life so much. Wandering the familiar streets, it was interesting to recall where I was at that time in my life, and how far I had come since then. Many of the places that build us and teach us are part of a daily routine. Often the factor of time blurs our ability to totally recall what that place meant to us in terms of growth. Since I had such a concentrated experience at Oxford without returning until this year, I was able to visit and very clearly see how this place had shaped me. It is important to have places or experiences like this to timestamp your life.

My first semester studying and traveling abroad forced me to confront culture shock and it was honestly not very comfortable. Every day offered a new challenge, but that is what allowed me to grow and process a world that is decorated with opportunity and surprises.