Halfway through my semester abroad I’ve come to the realization that there are a small number of things that are crucial to one’s survival. While it’s not the material nor the substantial, it consists more of the interpersonal. Adaptability has become the core concept of my identity abroad. As I grow more comfortable in Roman alleyways and burgundy cobblestones, the Italian language now feels, dare I say, comfortable. In the earlier phases of adjusting to Roman life, the key in succeeding emotionally was to adapt. To be able to jump from one challenge to another despite the outcome. For example, the Roman bus system is not the most practical nor the most punctual. There have been lots of times when strikes, human errors, and just Roman public transportations failure to deliver has gotten in the way of a plan or my ability to make it to class sweat free. However minuscule or large this concept may seem, it manifests simply in different ways. Take fall break, another beautiful example of the concept of living minimally. Over ten days my roommates and I are to travel to four countries, with only laptop style backpacks, I remember turning to my roommate with perpetual stress “Gabby, how will things ever fit?” Five days later we’ve struggled to understand Hungarian, played the concept of calculating another currency that was not euros and dealt with settings typical of Eastern Europe yet out of our personal comfort zones. After some minor misfortunes (an extra charged coffee, a missed bus, a confusion in GPS navigation), Gabby always tells me “if that’s our loss for today it’s a small one” after some of these inconveniences arise like an unexpected guest on our adventures, and I realize that it’s completely and utterly true. Before every trip she says “phone, keys, wallet, passport,” those are the only true essentials every needed. Sure, there are luxuries that we all enjoy, accommodations that we have grown used to go in America and never have realized could be lacking in other places, but if anything my time abroad has taught me to embrace these differences completely. To not feel hindered by moments that are difficult.
After an ear infection, a cold, and a sinus infection that I’m just now finishing a battle with, it’s easy to feel flustered with the surrounding world around us. To be utterly mad at the Italian pharmacy for not understanding me, for the difficulty of having to go out of my way to see a doctor rather than driving straight away to my primary physician. I’ve tried making my mother’s chicken soup twice now, and while I have rather failed in both instances, I’ve gained a plethora of knowledge in doing so. Just like there are so many ingredients to a good chicken noodle soup, there are just a few that truly can make or enrich with flavor a pot; I like to believe that the same is true for life. Constantly at home, we are so caught up with the material, with the picture-perfect moment, with the American ease of a car a CVS and a chipotle around every corner. However, my time abroad thus far has forced me to grow outside of that comfort bubble. To welcome the challenge and wrestle with them or even let them go trusting that the outcome will be a positive one.
Sitting on a train to Vienna with a backpack stuffed to the brim, And a box of Czech pretzels on my laps makes me realize that life is one big 10-day packing trip. So what will I fill the remaining 6 weeks I have in Rome and Europe with? Memories. Laughs with friends new and old. Positivity. Embracement for the new. Strength. Courage, and obviously a little room For some pizza, can’t forget the essentials right?