HI!
I have been back home for about 12 days now and it has definitely felt super super weird… Rome was my home for so long that I got so used to its culture and the way of living and now to come back to the U.S. and my family has definitely been a change and something I need to get used to again. I remember when I landed in the Miami airport (where I live) I saw all the cars and the buildings and immediately started tearing up.. I knew this was not Europe anymore and it made me feel so different and very emotional. The whole plane ride was very hard for me because I did not want to leave at all.
Rome definitely changed my perspective on a lot of things especially the difference in culture. I think I had mentioned before that I have always been emerged in different cultures because of my family background, but living in Italy for 4 months definitely was a different experience in culture than I have experienced before. My identity opened up more and I was able to experience the world in a different lens. From the food to the people to the life style it was just so different and so cool compared to where and how I had grown up. I was able to use my social skills and learn a different language and also emerge myself into other cultures since you are able to travel outside of Rome during weekends. Ugh! it was great, I can’t even describe it.
I will always remember and miss Rome for the rest of my life! I am so so glad I was able to go and study there.
I would 100% recommend studying abroad, trust me it changes your life for the better 🙂
Ciao, Alexandra.