I’m finally back at Rollins and it almost feels like I never left. If I didn’t have pictures, I would feel like this past semester didn’t actually happen. Living in Rome really was like a dream and I can’t believe how incredibly lucky I am to have been given such an opportunity. It was so strange being back home, and by the time I finally adjusted it was time to head back to Rollins.
Choosing to study abroad was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and for anyone even considering it in your time at college, my advice is to absolutely do it! You have nothing to lose and only the most amazing experience to gain. The more you put into your experience the more you will get out of it. Every day abroad is a new adventure and it seemed that each day was even more amazing than the last. One of the things I miss most is walking out the door in a new city excited about getting lost and coming across something I never expected to find. I’m also really going to miss being so accustomed to traveling to a different city or country every weekend. It’s relatively dangerous that I feel like that should be the norm.
Leaving behind the life I adopted for the past four months was harder than I could have ever imagined. I don’t feel like I’ve really experienced the culture shock that is so common for students coming back from being abroad; however, it has definitely been an adjustment adapting back from the slow-paced lifestyle of Italy.
As much as I wish I could have stayed in Rome for another semester, I am so excited to be back home at Rollins. I’m excited for another incredible semester and for all the exciting things that are to come in 2016 (hopefully including a trip back to Roma this summer)!
Ciao ciao!