Departure

Back to the Red, White, and Blue.

Sorrento, Italy. Simply the name of it causes so many amazing memories and emotions to go through me. Over the past 5 weeks, I’ve had the pleasure to spend time in this wonderful place. As I reflect back on my journey, many parts come to mind, but the experiences, lessons learned, and thankful feelings stick out the most.

I’ll sure miss this view.

Experiences. While in Italy, I had the opportunity to visit a total of 8 different places: Sorrento, Rome, Venice, Positano, Capri, Amalfi, Naples, and Pompeii. Each journey offered me so many different perspectives and memories. While in Sorrento, I fell in love with the small town charm and homey feel. While in Rome, I loved seeing some of the world’s most amazing structures all in one day (Colosseum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, & Pantheon). While in Venice, I gawked over the famous canals and gondola ride. While in Positano, I couldn’t take my eyes of the pyramid-shaped layout of the buildings on the side of the mountain. That world-renowned view had served as my phone background for months before arriving to Italy; seeing it in person was a dream. While in Capri, I felt as if I were on cloud nine as I entered The Blue Grotto, a natural sea cave sparkling with bright azure-colored water. While in Amalfi, I explored the historical streets and gazed up at the breathtaking cathedral. While in Naples, I had a very happy stomach as I ate some of the best pizza ever in the city it was invented. While in Pompeii, I felt like I had stepped into a time machine as I walked through perfectly preserved streets and seeing items from 79 AD. Exploring the beautiful country of Italy was such an amazing experience, and I’m happy to know there’s more as I will return some day.

Lessons Learned. One of the main reasons I desired to study abroad included the potential to grow. Having never traveled alone before, I felt ready to grow in my confidence as well as my independence. As I look back, I believe I definitely did that and learned a few lessons along the way. First, I moved out of my comfort zone. I spoke up more even in areas that unfamiliar languages were being spoken. I knew if I needed/wanted something, I would need to communicate effectively. I was more adventurous; jumping off a 70-foot cliff into the Bagni Regina Giovanna was surely out of my comfort zone, but I’m glad I did it. Next, I focused on sticking to my budget. Currently, one U.S. dollar equals .88 euro. This means the dollar is less valuable than the euro. Each Monday, I would take money out of an ATM and ensure that I spread it out over the 7 days. Using Euros more than swiping my card helped me avoid crazy fees and exchange rates. I told myself it was okay to spend some money when needed, but I also knew when it was time to turn down some things. Also, I learned how important it is to do research and planning before a trip. Even if it’s a 24-hour trip to Venice, expenses from a 4 AM taxi ride to public transportation to a pre-paid gondola ride missed can all add up in an unfortunate way. Finally, I learned more about a new culture. The Italians live differently from the states in the areas of culture, food, socialization, and economy. Some of my favorite facts about Italy are that their economy depends on tourism, a majority of Italians also speak English, and the Mediterranean cuisine is some of the best in the world. (Learn more here) Because of this understanding, I can fully respect the culture.

Thankfulness. Finally, the grateful feeling I’ve felt the past 5 weeks is unwavering. Often times, I woke up and still couldn’t believe I was really in Italy. As a girl who grew up in a very small town in Iowa, it’s an amazing opportunity to travel the world, especially to a place as beautiful as Italy. I feel thankful for transportation. While I love the walkability of Sorrento, I’m thankful for planes, trains, buses, and cars taking me places. I feel thankful for education. Of course, I studied abroad to actually study- right? The ability to take such a stimulating course with such a knowledgeable professor has benefited me in countless ways. I’m thankful for kind people. Whether it be the one of the 15,000 locals, countless tourists, or friends I made, I had many pleasing encounters with friendly people, and it enlightened my experience even more. I’m thankful for my parents. They have supported me all of my life, and I cannot wait to spoil them someday in the ways they have loved me. I’m so thrilled they were able to visit me while abroad, and we all got to experience the beauty and joy of this country together. Finally, I’m thankful for home. As I board the plane, I feel so grateful to be excited to return home to such a beautiful state, to such an awesome family and group of friends, and to such a enjoyable life where I can continue to work hard, have fun, and grow as a person. My eagerness to travel has increased, and thanks to this amazing journey, I’m ready.