For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to travel. The thought of encountering different cultures, languages and customs, makes me OK with dropping more than $1,000 on an international plane ticket. The one place above them all that I’ve always wanted to visit was Italy. (Thanks, Lizzie McGuire.) I’ve always wanted to sit outside a coffee shop, sip on some tea and write. Oh, and wear dresses, but that’s kind of weird to admit. This past week, I just got back from living my dream in Italy, and it was nothing like I expected.
First of all, for all of you travelers who have never been to Europe, their hotels are very different than American hotels. I shared a room with four other girls, and normally, in an American hotel, you would have two full beds that we could share with nice, warm, comfy sheets that are changed every day with little shower toiletries to use if you forgot yours. Italy had none of those things. Instead of big, full beds, there were four twin beds. The shower was so small, you could barely bend down to pick up your travel size conditioners. Oh, and another thing, no shower toiletries! Needless to say, I was a little shocked that this part of Italy wasn’t as glamorous as I thought.
Then, there was breakfast. I honestly do not understand how Italians can be so tiny and yet indulge in large amounts of sugar before 8 a.m. (I found out it’s because they walk everywhere.) For breakfast, instead of eggs or pancakes, they had Nutella flavored croissants, cheese and salami. Naturally, my digestion system was wrecked for the first week I was there.
Third, paying for bathrooms? What’s up with denying my right to pee because I don’t have a $.20 on me?
Needless to say, Italy was not what I expected it to be; it was better.
The people were amazing, the sights were incredible and the food, I can’t even begin to describe how much I love Italian pasta and wine. Everyone was so friendly, always willing to help, even if they didn’t speak a lick of English.
One of the most amazing parts of going to Italy, Rome to be exact, is that there is so much history there. Unlike America, Rome has been around for centuries. There are ruins everywhere, even in the middle of the street.
Walking around the streets of Rome was like being able to jump into an animated history book. The Roman’s main joke that it takes forever for them to build a subway system because they keep running into ruins every time they dig! (Trust me, it’s funny)
The food, oh my gosh. I could eat pasta forever if I was in Rome. They use fresh ingredients for everything – fresh basil, mozzarella, dough. I think I saw maybe two McDonalds in Rome, and there was barely anyone in it.
They want to eat whole, natural ingredients that taste good. In America, where everything is customizable, we always feel the need to put ketchup or salt onto our food, but in Italy, they don’t need it! If the kitchen thought it needed salt, they would put salt on the food; it’s just that simple.
So, yeah, traveling internationally is not what I expected; it was a million times better. America is an amazing country, and I am so blessed to live here, but traveling has truly changed me into a different person.
It’s amazing to step into another country and see how their systems work, how their people thrive and how to make the best tasting pasta on the planet. Sure, elements of the journey may be uncomfortable, but it challenges you in the best way possible.
Traveling takes you out of your comfort zone and forces you to succeed. It’s an amazing way to find yourself and the different things you like. It teaches you how to be adventurous and humbling at the same time. It teaches you that there are other places outside your small little world that can steal your heart.
