Post Study Abroad: Reflection

"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." -Mark Twain

Last night in Florence = Success.

The gang came over, we all exchanged our secret santa gifts, and gave toasts to the semester and the friendships that were made. We then proceeded to Finnegan's, Lion's Fountain (both Irish pubs), and ended up happily eating sweets at the secret bakery. Everyone and their dog was at Lion's, which was even more amazing because I got to say goodbye to many, many friends that I have made. It was an extremely enjoyable night, even the part where Laura and I cried our eyes out for twenty minutes because we didn't want to imagine life without each other, no homo. The sad thing though was that it felt like a completely normal night, except I had an alarm go off at 6:45AM to head home. Saying goodbye to my roommates and friends in the morning was quick and painful (stupid taxi man rushed me) yet, it still doesn't seem real. I still feel like I am going to see them tomorrow night, as if it were just another weekend vacation away. The three plane rides home were long and exhausting, and I was relieved (to say the least) to finally arrive in Kansas with my boyfriend and family waiting for me.

After living in Europe for approximately 4 months, here is a long list of things that I have whole-heartedly learned:

1. How to pack lighter than I ever have in my life.

2. It’s indeed possible to live without a smart phone.

3. You can find Coca-Cola in every country (Thank God).

4. How to live with limited resources.

5. Earplugs are truly a blessing.

6. How to makes friends that are completely different from you.

7. How to say goodbye (sometimes for good) to someone special.

8. No matter what country you are in, a smile goes a long way (as well as it meaning many, many different things…).

9. I have more pride in my simple state (Kansas) than anyone could ever understand.

10. Cheez Its are scare, but Snack Friends are plentiful.

11. ALWAYS CALL YOUR PARENTS!

12. No matter what I do, Italians will always dress better than me. And I don’t care! J

13. When it comes to mosquitoes, I will always lose.

14. You can live without a microwave…it’s difficult, but doable.

15. You have to learn that this experience in your life will never happen again; treasure every moment.

16. Take your time, things are not meant to be rushed.

17. Always carry a notebook, pen, and a book with you, wherever you go.
18. Never underestimate the power of friendship.
19. In all honesty, making other people happy is what brings me happiness.
20. Some of my favorite moments have been simply enjoying a homemade meal with good friends.
21. Everyone makes mistakes. Even good people.
22. Always question for a student discount. Sometimes they don't advertise. Ask and you shall receive!
23. Learning how to laugh over a stressful day of traveling.
24. Everyone has their own story, problems, heartaches, and joys. In the end, we are all human.
25. I have a newfound passion in life: writing (thanks to this blog!).
26. Europeans don't really like Americans. But, it's up to you to change that impression.
27. When in doubt, Kebab it.
28. Sometimes a true friendship will form in the most unexpected way.
29. Never take for granted the pure joy of walking around one of the oldest cities in Italy.
30. This experience will always be in my heart.

I could probably go on for a while, but these are the important lessons.

It's interesting, thinking back to Day 1. Saying goodbye to my family and boyfriend for four months was no easy task. "It's okay, it's not like you're going to prison" my brother said. I remember landing in Germany, (crying the whole way across the Atlantic, mind you) and being absolutely freaked out because no one was speaking English. Once I landed in Italy and got situated at my new home I was scared, nervous, and homesick as a dog. I had no idea how my roommates were going to be, why I was there, and I prayed to God that I was making the right choice. 

And you know what? I did.

I made friends. I ate amazing Italian food. I learned how to make that amazing Italian food. I bonded with my roommates. I learned how to shoo away Italian boys. I traveled: to Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Ireland, and all over Italy. I drank beer in every country and learned how it's a cultural pastime. I saw art that changed the way people think in the Western world. I saw masterpieces. I saw works that made me cry. I crossed so many things off my bucket list. I wrote papers. I went to class. I did my schoolwork and studied. I spent many nights at my favorite pub. I made friends that will last me a lifetime. I made a best friend, who will be my bridesmaid and who always has my back. I laughed. I cried. I bought way too many souvenirs and presents. I grew. I made mistakes, but some of the best decisions. I got made fun of being from Kansas. I smiled so much. I created memories with my friends. I laugh every time I think of those moments. After some time, I finally became at one with the Italian culture. I took myself out of my comfort zone and made it my own. 

I don't think we realize this at first, but studying abroad is truly an adventure to discover more about yourself. A quest. The journey forms you along the way. I know for a fact that I am not the same person that I was on Day 1. We all have different reasons for coming to Italy: to take specific classes, to experience something new, because someone else said it was cool, for the people, or even just to take a break from reality. I came to Italy to further my knowledge in my major; the results were far greater than I ever imagined. It's a bit hard to describe, but I have grown. Being away from home and your family can bring out unexpected emotions, but you learn to act in a mature manner and live each day as it comes. This taught me to treasure everything I have, and to treat each day as special as the next. I'm already a confident person, but having to meet completely new people, or even asking for help, has taught me how to be comfortable in my own skin. I am still young with much life ahead of me, but I have matured in some of the most unexpected ways. 

So what am I up to now? Well, so far I am enjoying the holidays with my family, friends, and sweet boyfriend. I plan on going back to my normal life at KU in the spring, and taking the LSAT and GRE in hopes to figure out what I actually want to do with my life. I will return to my two jobs and 15 hours of coursework. I will travel to Colorado often to see my boyfriend, and he will visit me. I am still in touch with my roommates and good friends from Italy, and most of us are already making plans to see each other in the future. I hope to return to Europe once I graduate, hopefully for a summer full of backpacking across countries, both familiar and unknown.

Cooking Final: Team Volpi (Wolves) with Marco, our professor!

Last family dinner--the gang :)

Me and Laura! I love this girl.

The roommates and SOLTANI! Our landlord!

Me saying goodbye to the Duomo :(

I'M HOME! And unpacking...

Thank you to everyone who followed my blog and read it along my adventure. I had so much fun writing it; not only did it become a big part of my routine, but I've realized just how much I love to write because of it. Also, if you are a college (or high school) student and considering studying abroad, DO IT!! You would be a complete fool not to. Again, thanks for being there and giving me positive comments and support along the way. I love you all.

Ciao, Fino alla volta prossima!

PSAD (Post Study Abroad Disorder)

Part of me believes that right now I am going through a little thing that I call PSAD---Post Study Abroad Disorder. It's where I suffer from jet lag, reverse culture shock, uneasy stomach, finally dealing with things I missed out on all semester, and dealing with my overall shock of being back in the States.

Don't get me wrong, I am so happy to be home. Landing in Wichita late Friday night was such a relief, and walking down the ramp to see my boyfriend, best friend, and parents made me happier than words can describe. I finally got a kissy from my big boy Murphy, and laying down in my bed felt like I was floating on a cloud. Not to mention my luggage made it all the way through, and my flights were all on time and manageable. The next morning my mom cooked me a delicious breakfast that included English muffins, hash browns, omelet, bacon, and orange juice. It's truly wonderful to be back. 

Things are definitely different here that I am NOT used to. Everything is so BIG--the trash cans, cars, roads, buildings, portions, etc. Carpet feels funny to walk on. It's weird to cook at my house with actual nice kitchen appliances. HDTVs look too 3D and realistic. Everything is so quiet. I feel like I live out in the country, when I definitely live in a city. I've been out to eat with Michael and Rachel, and dear God, everyone is so FAT!! I could not believe it. Oh yeah, I actually have to tip people here. And Americans don't dress so nicely here, but I don't try to judge because I just lived in a country where everyone dressed up in their best Sunday clothes just to go to the grocery. I finally drove my car yesterday, and the experience wasn't bad at all. I was overwhelmed with having to leave (adjust settings, plug in iPod, find phone charger, get dressed, make sure I had everything) when in Italy I would grab my purse and just head out. My smartphone is also too much; I am flooded with text messages from friends, and i apologize for my untimely responses; I am clearly not used to this. I still have yet to walk inside the grocery store, and honestly I think I will be quite overwhelmed. As you can see, I have been quite observant in these differences. 

I also didn't realize that the things I missed out on me would come back in full throttle. I went outside to call my outdoor kitty, Misty, only to have her not come and my mom telling me that she hasn't seen her for 3 months and is probably dead. She didn't want to tell me because I was having a great time abroad, but it's so sad to me that I didn't know that August was the last time I would see her. I guess life goes on, and in the Najim family we have dealt with many dead pets, but it's never easy to get used to. Thank God everyone I love is safe and sound, and nothing happened to anybody while I was abroad.

Overall, it has taken some time to get used to everything. I have hardly been back 3 days, but it gets better and better as the days progress. My sleep schedule is pretty much back to normal, and I think my stomach isn't hating me from all the American food like it was on Day 1. I still wake up and think I am in Italy, and that Laura is going come into my room and talk to me, or I'll hear my roommates stirring about. I miss everyone so much, but I know that I will see them in the near future. I still have this thirst for exploration and walking everywhere, and I feel like such a lazy bum since I have gotten back. Reverse culture shock is strange, no doubt, but I know time will help.

No pictures today, but one last post, so stay tuned ;)

Ciao!

My Last Day in Italy

Bags are mostly packed. Clothes picked out for tomorrow. My room feels empty. Letters need to be written. Cleaning the apartment must commence. Finals are finished, not like I cared about them anyways. I have less than 24 hours left in this beautiful country, and it is a strange feeling indeed.

I said goodbye to my teachers, and goodbye to my landlord. I said goodbye to the Kebab guys, but I have a good feeling that I will see them again tonight. I went to the market for the last time and said goodbye to the Gerald Butler-looking chicken man, and to my vegetable lady who wasn't there. I was really sad; she always made me smile and sold me the cheapest veggies I could find. I said goodbye to some good friends already, which brought lots of tears that I wasn't prepared for. I've said many goodbyes in my life, especially to my boyfriend in the Air Force, but nothing like this. Will I ever see these people again? I hope so, but most of them I probably won't. There's a sense of finality that I am having a hard time coping with. 

I am so excited to go home, but I am not ready to leave. I'm excited to eat Cheez-Its whenever I want, see my loud and amazing family everyday, be silly with Nathan, laugh with Rachel, eat cookie dough with Bonnie, watch Boy Meets World with Cooper, live it up with Carly, get a kissy from my big boy Murphy, and actually spend meaningful and LONG overdo time with my boyfriend, Michael. But at the same time, I am so sad to not joke around with Lindsey, not have thought provoking discussions with Nathan, not goof around with Jimmy/Angelo/Steve, not have Molly to laugh with, not cook with Becca, and not have Laura whenever I need my best friend. It's all a very conflicting set of emotions and feelings, so right now let's call this whole paragraph "bittersweet."

Past Couple of Days: I finally climbed the Duomo dome and saw all of Florence again, just like I did at the beginning of the semester with Giotto's Bell Tower. I bought all my gifts for friends back home. I did pub trivia and appretivo for the last time. I took my final exams; probably could've tried harder, but it's hard to focus with so much on my mind. A shooting happened 5 minutes away from my place, and 2 market workers were killed. All the vendors closed their shops for a day to commemorate the loss and protest the racism. I had never seen San Lorenzo be so eerie in my life. We never went ice skating, but I'm not worried about it. It hasn't stopped raining the past week, but today a little sunshine has decided to peak through. 

Tonight: Family dinner. Secret Santa. Finnegan's for the last time (welp!!) and one last goodbye to my good friend Duo (the Duomo). Possibly secret bakery? Who knows with our gang. I'm excited to spend my last night with my Florence family, see where the night takes us, and then it's goodbye for a little while.

Gonna miss my doner kebabs! 

The Kebab guys!

The best Kebab place in Florence

Vendors closed in San Lorenzo :(

Climbing up the dome to the Duomo

Me at the top! San Lorenzo in background

I'm sure gonna miss this place!!

Be ready for one more post, everyone, I ain't finished yet ;)

Ciao!

The Final Days

Time is not my friend right now, but then again, I don't think it ever has been. Usually around this point in the semester, I want the days to speed by so I can be done with finals and head on home for the holidays. However, I want time to SLOW DOWN so I can enjoy my final moments in Italy; it is only doing the opposite of what I want. Time is a jerk!

Anyways, these last days (and 3-4 days to come) have been quite memorable and meaningful. I finally went to an Italian soccer game (Florentina vs. Roma) in which we wore purple in the pouring rain and tried to learn the crazy Italian chants. Soccer is way more exciting in person, and the experience made me excited for KU basketball games in the near future. I had to buy something purple (nothing in my wardrobe is purple due to a certain Kansas rivalry) so I purchased a cheap, but cute, Florentina baseball cap. The game was riveting, to say the least, and when Florentina scored their final goal the sky turned a striking purple. Even God wanted them to win.

And of course, my roommates and I have partaken in many appretivos (buy your drink and get unlimited food) and have tried new restaurants that we've always walked past and said I really want to go here. We here in Italy are starting to get into the Christmas spirit! Florence has been in the process of decorating the entire city with lights, garland, as well as a huge tree by the Duomo and a nativity scene. There is also a German Christmas market occurring all of December in the Santa Croce area (church where Michelangelo is buried), and I have been there a couple of times to enjoy some German bratwurst (brings me back to the days of Oktoberfest), chocolate covered fruit, and to adore some strange gifts. Laura and I found a stand with silly wigs, and we couldn't stop laughing as we suddenly had rock star pink and purple hair, or when we turned into blondes (it has been decided that brunettes do it better). We finally got the gelato with the waffles, and have bought gifts for every member of the family. Finnegan's, our favorite Irish pub, hosted a Christmas party last Friday night. We all got dressed up in holiday spirited and attended. It was one of the most fun nights we have ever had there, and my Florence family and I got a free malt wine (or something like that) because we're regulars. It was a jolly night with Christmas tunes and merriment among good friends. It has been fun to complete things off of our to-do list, and I can say with much confidence that I have seen most, if not all, of Florence and what it has to offer.

Plans this week:
1. One final pub quiz (waaahhhhh!!) on Tuesday
2. Celebrate Nathan's 21st Birthday on Tuesday
3. Go ice skating (there's a place nearby!)
4. Final family dinner on Thursday
5. Secret Santa exchange with Florence family
6. Climb Duomo dome
7. Take finals

Yes, yes. I do have finals and school to finish up to here. It is hard to make your schoolwork a priority while studying abroad when I have an entire apartment to clean, suitcases to pack, and friends to see one last time, but I am trying my best. It general attitude around the school seems to be hardly above apathy, but not quite comatose when considering the work ethic for final exams.

Photos, of course!

Laura and I at the soccer game

Florentina wins! I wasn't kidding about that purple sky!

Crazy wigs!

We would make terrible blondes. Brunettes for life!

Christmas tree by Duomo!

Laura and I enjoying the Boboli Gardens

Me and roomies at Finnegan's Christmas party 

The gang at Finnegan's, minus Jimmy and Angelo

Oh no! I almost fell in the Arno!

Time to study, I've procrastinated long enough as it is. Pray for me, I'll need it.

Ciao!

San Gimignano Field Trip

As many of you already know, I am taking a class here called "Pairing Food and Wine," which in my opinion has been the most amazing and practical class during my time here in Italy. I've learned so much about wine, cooking, the Italian culture, and the history of food. In this class, we took two field trips: one to Perugia for the chocolate festival and another to San Gimignano for a wine tasting. Luckily, my roommate Lindsey and good friend Lauren are in the same class and we got to spend this lovely evening together.

San Gimignano is a tiny little Tuscan town an hour south of Florence. It produces some of the best wine and olive oil in the country, and it is also one of the prettiest Tuscan towns I have been to. We left Florence on a bus around 4PM and witnessed an extremely beautiful drive. Every time I've been on a bus ride, it's usually been on a highway (except for the Ireland day trip) and not through true countryside. I have seen Tuscan countryside, but nothing like this. There were mountains, hills, cute little cottages and fields of olive trees. Lindsey and I witnessed three beautiful brown horses galloping and playing across this fields and I thought I was going to cry! The sun was also setting at this time, creating beautiful hues of purple, pink, and blue shattered across the sky.

We arrived when the sun finally set and walked into this farm. The place was extremely cute and traditional. Our tour guides led us through a quick, 5 minute tour of the winery and where the barrels of wine were sitting to be aged. We then were led up to a big dining room to taste some wine and eat a "large snack." Our table was covered with olives, peppers, prosciutto, salami, ricotta and gorgonzola cheese, bread soaked in their olive oil, Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG wine, and Chianti DOCG wine. It was absolutely delicious, and the wine was wonderful. We enjoyed this lovely meal, errr "large snack," and that pretty much summed up the field trip. We got some explanations about the wine and olive oil, but I was too busy paying attention to my food. Go figure. After the dinner, we went into their shop and I bought some of the olive oil. Lindsey and I also bought the Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG wine for a family dinner...it only cost 5 euro! Unreal. I honestly wish we went a little earlier so we could actually see the town and farm during the day, but the experience was wonderful. After the shopping we walked around the farm a little bit, pet a cute dog, and then hopped on the bus back to Florence. 


On another note, things have been well over here. My roommates and I have created a schedule (posted on the fridge) of everything we still have to do and when we are going to do it. It mostly consists of going out to eat and attending trivia nights at Finnegan's. Still no "L" word allowed, and we've created a Euro jar for every time we say it. We are going to use this money to buy a bottle of Prosecco or some kind of wonderful Italian wine. On Sunday we are going to a soccer game, Florentina vs. Rome!! Apparently this is supposed to be a big rivalry, so that should be exciting. We all have to study for finals and finish last minute papers, but our GASF (Give A Sh*t Factor) is slowly plummeting. Wish us all luck---we definitely need it! 

Picture stolen from internet--This is San Gimignano

Stolen from internet--this is countryside we drove past

The farm! Sorry for the quality...it was dark :(

My plate!

Lauren, Lindsey, and I at dinner

My purchases!

Entrance to the farm, Viva Italia! 

12 days. And I keep getting more and more thankful for everything that's been thrown my way.

Ciao!
  

Thanksgiving and Amsterdam

More days fly by faster and faster, and now it is the first of December. I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that I only have 2 1/2 weeks left. Honestly, this thought terrifies my roommates and I, and because of that we refuse to say the "L" word (leave/leaving).

With the well known, ever beloved holiday season approaching, my friends and I were feeling a bit down. For most of us, it was our first Thanksgiving away from home and our families. Although some people had their parents and siblings visit, there were a few of us with zero plans but a big appetite. Laura (my roommate) had her twin sister in town, so the three of us cooked a massive Thanksgiving feast: chicken, green beans, baked macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, caprese salad, corn pudding, sausage stuffing, and creamed spinach. It was fantastic; I honestly can't believe we made all that food with all the low-tech kitchenware we have. Other friends joined later on in the night. It was a fun night of Florence-family bonding and the obligatory round of beers at Finnegan's Irish Pub. 

The next day, I woke up at the ungodly hour of 4:30AM to catch a flight with my dear friend (and sorority sister) Lauren to AMSTERDAM! We decided to skip the annoyance of RyanAir and having to deal with trains/flights/buses and booked our flights through AirFrance, which ended up being cheaper. Luckily, we had a direct flight from Florence to Amsterdam, and we arrived in this gorgeous city at 9AM. We booked the StayOkay hostel, which was more geared towards study abroad students. We stayed in a 20 person all girls' room, which wasn't as bad as it sounds. There were maybe 8 girls in the room, and it was always quiet. Plus we got free breakfast, which saves a meal. Anyways, we found our way to the hostel, checked in, and began exploring the city. There was a little Christmas/food market close to our place, and we grabbed some quick Dutch food there. The architecture in Amsterdam is extremely unique and hilarious. The Dutch are known for being terrible architects, apparently. The buildings are tall and skinny; this makes it quite difficult to move furniture, items, or any other somewhat large item up the stairs. They were made this way because of the canals and trade industry back in the day. Because of this, they built hooks to create a pulley system. Since items would bump into the houses and break windows, they though that building the houses with a lean towards the water would help. This is why the buildings look disheveled and might topple over. It took them centuries later on to change this style and actually EXTEND the pulleys from the building. WOW. Anyways, we continued to explore the city and gather our bearings. We decided not to use the tram that weekend because it was easy (and free) to walk. We then went over to the Rijksmuseum, a famous museum in Amsterdam exhibiting some of the most famous Dutch art, including Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Vermeer. It was honestly extremely refreshing to see art that was NOT related to Italian Renaissance. We also enjoyed this part of town because it is a square full of museums and the "Iamsterdam" sign, which we took many pictures of. Tired from the walking and flights, we headed back to the hostel where we could finally put our stuff in the room and take a quick nap. We woke up at 9pm (ooops) and grabbed some dinner at an Irish pub, where we met this Irish jerk named Peter (how ironic...haha) and I was very disappointed to have a bad experience with an Irish person. He liked to tell us how much America sucks and our accents sound stupid. Cool, thanks bro.

Next day we woke up, bought our DISCOUNTED (yeaaahh!!) tickets from the front desk, and headed over to the Van Gogh Museum!! Because we got tickets in advance at the hostel, we were able to skip the long line. This was a phenomenal experience. The museum portrays much of the life of Van Gogh (he was born in the Netherlands, died in France) which includes about 200+ works. In addition to work by Van Gogh, the museum has a rich and varied collection of other 19th-century art. The artists represented include Impressionists, Post-Impressionists and others: Van Gogh’s friends and contemporaries, those who inspired him, and those who drew inspiration from him. Lauren and I absolutely loved it, the 12 Euro was worth it. Also, it was nice to NOT see any Renaissance pieces. Famous works include his Self Portrait, Bedroom, and Almond Blossom. After we finished up there, we got some lunch at another Irish pub (hey, it's cheap...) and then got delicious waffles at a stand...YUM!! Those were so good. Next on the itinerary was to visit the Heineken brewery! We also got discounted tickets to this place at the hostel and skipped the line. This was a neat experience, and very similar to Guinness and Jameson. We walked through the self guided tour, learned about the history and how it was made, got taught how to pour the perfect beer, saw many commercials, and then enjoyed a free drink. I enjoyed it, but it was a bit of sensory overload with all the flashing green. Still worth it. We shopped a little bit at the gift store and then headed back to our hostel. I cannot remember what we did for dinner, but we ended up back at the Irish Pub close to our hostel. This time, we talked to some English guys who also made fun of our accents. Do people not understand how rude that is? Oh well.

The next day, Lauren and I went on a free walking tour around the heart of Amsterdam. This was probably one of my favorite parts, because I learned so much about the city and it's history. We even walked in the Red Light District during the day, which was hilarious and awkward. We learned how it's a respected business here, and the Protestant Church next door (not kidding) thinks it's fine as long as it's not hurting everyone. We also learned that weed is NOT legal in Amsterdam; it is just decriminalized. They are NOT making it "illegal" on January 1st, but rather it will not be sold to tourists, who apparently make up the majority of the people that smoke it in the city. You can smoke it on the streets, but absolutely NOT in the smoking lounges of restaurants. If you get "caught" (the police don't enforce it much, which I guess is why people think it is legal there), it's the equivalent of a parking ticket. In all honestly, Amsterdam is NOT all about smoking weed and hookers. There's so much art and culture that I feel sometimes gets overlooked by this crazy image, when really this image is normal, everyday life. Overall, I learned a lot on this walking tour. We had to leave from it early to catch our reservation at the Anne Frank House! I pre-ordered tickets online, and for the THIRD time, we got to skip the 2-3 hour line and walk right in. This was an eye-opening, but somewhat depressing experience. It felt eerie to walk through her house, go into the secret bookcase, and see their bedrooms and the life they lived. The walls are covered with quotes from her diary, and movies portraying random interviews and clips from WW2. It made me sad to realize these people had to hide in this tiny place for 2 years (couldn't go outside, couldn't see other people, absolutely nothing) just because of who they were. We get taught these things in school, but this tour puts everything into a whole new perspective. I would definitely recommend to anyone who visits Amsterdam to go see this museum/house. At the end of the tour, we saw her diary, random letters, and first editions of her diary published in 70 different languages. After that, we headed out and grabbed some Dutch pancakes (mhmmm) for a late lunch/early dinner, then shopped around the city a little bit and eventually back to our hostel. We agreed that the Irish Pub was jinxed, so we decided to hang out in the hostel bar and see where the night would take us. Hilariously enough, we meet a group of Scottish people who happened to be the friendliest and most hilarious people I have EVER met. I could hardly understand a word they were saying (Scottish accent is very deep and in the back of the throat), but not once did they make fun of our accents, and instead said it was a cute accent! Score. We ended up hanging out with them for the rest of the time, and even saw a bit of the Red Light District at night. Surprisingly, it wasn't that crazy. I expected it to be something similar to Las Vegas, but it was actually calm and much like Florence. It ended up being the best night we had in Amsterdam, and I made many new friends. :)

The next day, we woke up early (ugh) and traveled home. It was a rough experience. First, Lauren couldn't find her phone. Then, they couldn't find my reservation, and I had to wait in a long line only to realize that I had entered my name online as "Najim Elizabeth" instead of "Elizabeth Najim"....Oh Christ. After feeling quite stupid, we finally got on our first flight, which was horribly delayed due to dumb taxiing and "extra cleaning." This caused us to miss our second flight, and we got horribly lost in the stupid Paris airport. Luckily they put us on the next flight, which when we finally figured out where we were and how to get there, we made it on the plane and fly back to Florence. 

When landing in Florence, I had the strangest feeling. It's the exact same one every time I land in Wichita, the feeling where you are happy to be home. I never truly realized it, but Florence is my home. I go to school here, travel, have a routine, have amazing friends, buy my own food, do my own laundry, clean, and enjoy life. It's funny how homesick I was at first, and now I'm not ready to come home at all. But, I'm not thinking about that right now!! :)

And the pictures you have been waiting for....

Our Thanksgiving Dinner!

The crew/family at Finnegan's 

Display room of Van Gogh's room 

Posing at the Iamsterdam sign

Welcome Sisters and Brothers!

Lauren and I enjoying Dutch waffles

So true.

Pouring perfect Heineken 

Red Light District during the day

Leaning/funny houses

Walked through a pleasant park

Pretty church and statue

Long line to Anne Frank house/museum

Our cute hostel

Teaching AGD sign to Scottish friends

I am officially done with all of my trips. I am in Florence for the remainder of the semester (only 15 days) and I plan on enjoying every last second here while I can. When at first I thought time was infinite here, it has slipped past my fingers faster than I ever expected. Now I've got papers to write, finals to take, bags to pack, and goodbyes to say. But let's not talk about that right now :)

Ciao!