Unfortunately, the time has come. My four-month Journey has come to an end. The goodbyes were made with friends and just like that I was on to my next adventure. For my friends, they all boarded a long plane back to America. For me, I was lucky to spend two more weeks in Italy with family. Although saying goodbye to the people I spent the last four months with was hard I was excited to begin a trip that would become one of my favorites.
Over the past two weeks my family and I have traveled to Milan, Venice and Florence and spent our last few days in Rome to celebrate Christmas. Never going to these amazing Italian cities, I was excited to explore a new part of the culture. I was met with exceeding expectations of all the places we traveled to. Each place felt like a new culture and experience. Either with the food, people and the cities itself each one after the next became a favorite. Venice was by far the most beautiful. I didn’t want to leave! The large canals that were intertwined in narrow allies made it like a maze to get around. The streets were small but after turning around the corner you were welcomed into a large square with music being played and art being sold. To my surprise cars and bikes were prohibited making boats and gondolas the only form of transportation.
As I’ve now had a new perspective of Italy I also could look back on all the amazing memories I have had and the people I got to share them with. I will never forget the places I was so lucky to visit and can’t wait to come back when I’m older to re-live these amazing experiences. Today I was able to walk around my neighborhood and remember some of the little things that maybe didn’t seem important during my time abroad. But as I walked around today, I was overfilled with emotions. I am so lucky to be able to come home and share my experiences with others. Although I am packing up by bags and heading back home I won’t forget just how amazing Italy has treated me. America here I come!