This week has just been full of so many emotions... I haven't been able to sleep at night because I am so anxious to get home but then I am holding back tears during the day knowing that this experience is all about to end.
I live with 19 girls who have become like family. We do everything together. Literally. The only time I have been alone the past 3 months has been in the shower. How do you go from that to living alone in an apartment for the summer? It's going to be tough. I will miss going to the market on Monday mornings and getting fresh fruit and veggies and then being able to cook healthy dinners all together at night... while drinking wine and laughing at everything.
I will miss traveling to a new country every weekend and only packing in a backpack. Adventures like these taught me so much... like how to make the best of every situation and that I am capable of more than I think. Sometimes showering with just a dirty t-shirt in Paris or taking the wrong train in Switzerland is okay. You will eventually get there and will love laughing about it later. I don't think you have truly lived until you have seen the world with barely any money, one small bag, and no idea what you are doing. I have made more memories [and taken more pictures] in my time abroad than I know what to do with! But I wouldn't change a single thing about it.
I will miss Italian food!! Pizza, bread, pasta, and wine galore!! Does it get much better than that?? No. I might be the only one here that did not care at all about how many carb I was eating. We are living in Italy... so why not go big while you are here? But I can't lie... I am VERY excited about "American" food.. I am not sure Chick-fil-A, Mexican, Chinese, BBQ, hamburgers, etc will ever taste as good. We are also going to The Varsity straight from the airport... go ahead and judge. You know you are jealous.
I will miss my roommates even though I know we will hang out back in Auburn. Laying in my nook at night, talking and laughing with [and at] each other is one of my favorite things. I felt like I was living on the sorority hall again... except with girls I wouldn't have had the chance to become friends with it weren't for this trip. [Except for my sweet Rae Ann who God had already put in my path]. But as for Katie, Sallie, Taylor, and Leah... I am so happy to be able to call them my friends and I will never forget room Siena.
I will miss my amazing professors and faculty members. Cinzia [our Italian sister] is someone that I will never ever forget. She put up with 20 crazy American girls day after day... answering all of our questions with such patience and even willing to come to the palace at any time of the day [or night] to take of someone who was sick or just fix a broken TV. We always joke about how we are obsessed with her and we all laugh... but if only she knew how serious we were. She is such a strong, beautiful, and independent woman who did everything she could to make us happy. Everyday. We would walk [sometimes run] behind her like her little ducklings because "whatever Cinzia says is best"... that girl really does know everything. Tommy, our faculty advisor from Auburn, was the "dad" of the trip. This trip would not have been the same without him. He constantly went out of his way to help us or always knew the best places to eat :) Tommy is a Marriage and Family therapist and is the main influence on my career goals since I have been here. He encouraged me and showed me that I have so many options in life. I am excited to get back to school and further learn about what exactly it is I want to do. I will be sure to keep in touch with Tommy and hope he will help me get through this crazy thing called... college, internship, graduation, and a job. Ah. Our other professors, Marco [history], MaryLou [cooking], Rosella [philosophy], Francesco [art history], Corinna [italian], etc. will also have a special place in my heart. MaryLou is the most precious woman I have ever met. She is a talented artist, perfect wife/mother/grandmother, and a great cook. She deemed me her "personal photographer" and gave me one of her beautiful paintings. Little did she know the colors match my room and it will be the first thing I hang up. Going back to Auburn, where there are huge classes and teachers who I sometimes cannot understand, will be one of the hardest things I have to do. Forming personal relationships with each one of the professors, eating dinner at their houses, and learning so much from their lives is priceless. Just another example of how unique studying abroad is. I will never have the chance to become friends with intelligent and fascinating Italian men and women who want the best for my future.
Last night, was our final appertivo [tear]. All of the people I just mentioned plus more were there and I couldn't have been happier. We all chipped in and made our favorite dishes from home: mashed potatoes, chicken nuggets, 7 layer dip, egg salad, macaroni and cheese, brownies, salad, fruit salad, bbq chicken burritos, etc. It was delicious!!!! We had the best time talking, saying our thank yous/goodbyes, and of course dancing! America really needs to pick up on the Appertivo... we are definitely missing out.
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| Before it started, we gave Tommy and Cinzia gifts to show our appreciation. We got Tommy an official Chigi Palace book written by our professor/his good friend, Francesco, and we all signed it with a note. |
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| ...and we got Cinzia an iPad! and she was very happy :) |
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| So much love. |
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| I love these girls with all my heart!! |
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| and will miss them so much :) |
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| Beautiful Cinzia! |
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| Southern food!!! Yummm |
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| Me and Katie with Maurizio. We love this man! |
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| 3 blonde roomies :) |
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| Francesco, Cinzia, Maurizio, Roberto So thankful for everything they do! |
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| Marco and MaryLou!!!! My adopted grandparents aka angels on earth. |
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| Dance time with Laurie and Katie! |
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| Francesco and Sal! haha |
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| Kacedawg! Love this girl :) |
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| Can't forget MC... so blessed to call her my friend. I'm just not sure why it took so long!? |
We got up this morning and started to clean the palace and do inventory for the last time. It finally hit me that it was over... and there was nothing I could do about it. Now, I am completely packed, sitting in my empty nook, reflecting back on the past 3 months. All I can think about is how thankful I am. I am not sure my parents will ever understand how much I owe them and appreciate what they have done for me. It makes me sad that not every college student can experience what I have. Studying abroad for 3 months has taught me more about myself and what I want to do in life than I have learned in my other 3 years of school. Being able to learn and then see/do is without a doubt the best way to learn.
I never wanted this night to come... but I don't have a choice. We are all about to go to dinner together for the last time before we leave for the airport at 6 am. It will definitely be a bittersweet night. I better go find my waterproof mascara...
I hope everyone is having a beautiful Good Friday! "He was made sin, who knew no sin, that we might become His righteousness" ...so thankful for the cross today. Jesus has blessed me so much. If there was a perfect time to go home... tomorrow is definitely it... the day before Easter. I am soooo excited to spend Easter with my wonderful family and Matt on Sunday. The best way to be reunited... on the day of the empty tomb. We serve an awesome God! :)
Can't wait to see the rest of you either!!! I am free to do whatever [after my much needed pedicure and highlight appointment haha] I will be in Auburn on Wednesday and want to hug every single on of your necks!! YAY!
Until then...
xoxo
Britt
Oh and shout out to my new best friend and soul mate, Katie Whitehurst. She is currently sitting in my nook, eating chips, in her hot pink housecoat. This is why I love her. We enjoy dancing to rap, watching J Biebs YouTube videos, and taking awkward pictures of each other. Why did it take me 20 years to meet this girl? Ebony and Ivory 4eva :)
