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80 Days Since I Left

I know I promised many people, including myself, that I would write one last post when I got back. I'm late in doing so and I can't even blame it one how busy I am because all of July and August was pretty laid back, I finished The Office on Netflix and got to season 6 on Grey's Anatomy. So you could say I have had more than enough time to write this post. I guess I wasn't ready for it to end, this blog was like one of my friends, to tell every little detail of my trips, my "firsts", my crazy and unbelievable stories, and everything else in between.

But now, my days are busy. I'm laying on my huge shag rug in my very own living room of my very own, first apartment and I already started my third year of college last week. Yet, I miss Europe every single day. It usually starts out by something in my day reminding me of a memory, a specific food, a person I met, or a place that then brings me to opening my photo gallery on my phone to find a photo of that memory, food, person, or place. Next, I run to my laptop to find more photos because then I'm reminiscing. This happens almost every day. I mean, yeah, it's sad because that part of my life is over unless I want to blow more money and time on a study abroad trip which won't happen. However, I know I'll be back very soon because of the people I met over there. I think it's more sad because I will never get to do those small every day things that I did over there. The things that came natural, things I adapted to. Like when I would walk through uni to grab the double decker uni bus to city centre, with my friends at that time, to go to a club called Cuban. Stuff like that would never happen or never be the same, that's the only sad part about it. The last two weeks there, I was having my "last's", like my last uni bus ride, last ASDA trip, last city centre shopping day, last night out with the girls, last night to sleep on that small and uncomfortable bed. But I know that it's okay because, hey, I got to do it. And the next place I travel, there will be something like that to experience and then to miss when I leave. I already plan on taking a backpack for a month to the other countries in Europe I haven't seen (and another trip to Italy of course) when I graduate college in two years. Maybe with Michaela. So, I just move on to new things.

On my last plane, that I took by myself, from Sicily to London I wrote some stuff down for this specific post. I wrote "I learned a lot about myself", because I did. I had so much time to myself on the trips that I went on alone. Hours of train rides, planes, sitting in a tourist crowded area to have lunch. I had a lot of time to be inside my head, a lot of time to just sit in there and think. In the last year, so much has happened to me and a lot of changes were happening so yeah, there was plenty to think about. I won't get into detail because it's very personal but it includes many areas of my life: family, friends, career, love, etc. Gave me a chance to reflect and change my opinions.

I also think about how many people told me that I was going to change when I get back to the States, yet I haven't seen any change. I'm still a quiet girl who wants to teach art for her career. I feel the same. But then there are times when I feel different mentally. I think life is too damn short. My mom and Europe taught me this. Europe taught me that there are so many places to see in the world, it just is not possible to see them all even though we all so badly want to. Planning my last few months of trips, I just could not fit it all in no matter how much I tried. Money and time is always the issue. Life is too damn short, for that reason and many others, it taught me to just do what you're considering because opportunities fleet and you may not have the same chance to do it again. You'll never know what could have happened if you don't do it. I mean, I do think of this and use this tactic when I am thinking about doing something I normally wouldn't do but I still back out. However, I just back out way less than I did before I studied abroad.

When I'm somewhere over 50 thinking about my younger years, I'll be proud. Because I had fun, I used my time wisely and I don't regret any of it. I as well will never stop traveling, whenever I get the chance I'll try. Sometimes, I do wish I went for a whole year to have more memories and places traveled but then I know I would have missed home to the point of crying (which I didn't ever cry over being homesick), I mean I did get sad but it would last maybe an hour because I knew I had a limited time in England. Anyway, I would probably spend more money out of my pocket for more trips around Europe, and I would end up buying another bag to bring home because of all of the Primark clothes I bought. My GPA would have gone down more as well. Yeah, I have never gotten anything lower than an A in college until I studied abroad. I was more focused on having fun and traveling that I received two B's, it wasn't like I just skipped class and didn't care because experiencing an abroad university was interesting to me. It's just that I didn't care as much as usually do in the States, and in the States I care way too much so it was nice to relax and not live at the library. 

I highly recommend anyone who hasn't studied abroad, to do so because it is an experience like no other. I'm sure you've heard this before but come on, if you apply for scholarships.. you'll get scholarships. You get this money to not only continue studying for your degree but traveling to beautiful cities at the same time. Travel while you're young because you will see how much you enjoy these big cities or small hidden towns more than if you were 30 years old. When I went to Amsterdam, I knew damn well that I could never come back when I have a husband and/or child because it just is not a place to bring a family. But there are places like Greek Islands where you should bring your husband for a vacation. Also, if you wait to travel when you're older, it'll be difficult because you have bills to pay and jobs to go to, you can't just quit your job and throw everything you owe in your parents home for a few months to travel. You as well have something to talk about everyday for the rest of your life. I think almost everyday in a conversation I would have, something would bring up Europe. I have an International Buddy from Germany and we will talk about the differences between Europe and America and she would tell me the differences from specifically Germany and America (because I haven't made it to Germany yet). So, yeah, you should study abroad while you still can.


A huge thank you to my whole family who supported me from applying for the exchange program to flying home after five months. To the people who sent me letters and skyped me. To those who awarded me my scholarships and grants that made more possible. Lastly, of course, my grandmother Ann who helped me with every bump to get there, stay there, and come back. She made everything easier when she didn't have to. I could say more but I wouldn't want to make her cry, love you G.

A video I put together of the videos I still had of my time there:

           

Another thing, I already ran out of my stroopwaffels and kinder bars. Very sad.