Semester Abroad - “Finding Yourself”

A year ago I decided to begin a wonderful adventure. To live in Florence, Italy for 5 months. There was something about all the pictures, movies, and culture of the Italians that I wanted to be a part of.

Now some people may say, “you left college to travel for five months, did you find yourself?” ...and yes sometimes in that typical sarcasm “I went abroad” type shit... I’m not sure if I quite did, but I do know one thing.. Being in your twenties and taking a spontaneous adventure to live in a different country for five months changes you. Not in a way that doesn’t keep you true to yourself. Not in this total realization way where you became a new person. But in a way that I finally knew I was independent. Alone. Diving into a city, not knowing how to navigate the country. Not knowing a lick of the Italian language except ”bella”. And not knowing anyone that I was living with.

Moving from Chicago to Boston, I could still call home to my family. I could still take trips back home. It was only an hour time difference, not so bad.

BUT.. moving to Florence? HOLY MOLY what a difference. The time change was 6 hours. When I wanted to call home, my family would be asleep or at work, the connection was horrible, and it felt like it would be a LONG five months.

A new kind of independence kicks in. Quickly, you are forced to be dependent on your gut instincts. Quickly, you have to depend on your roommates who you’ve not even known for 24 hours to get you to a new part of this foreign city. People who I saw for a few minutes while passing in the airport were the new friends I would be sharing this incredible experience with.

So if you ask me if I "found myself".. I found a new side of independence, of trust within myself to instill in others, and the ability to let myself be present in the moments to come.

I landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport, in Paris, and then had a connecting flight to Florence, Italy. With a short layover in Paris, and as I scurried through the terminals to find my gate, I saw all the alert young faces of other college students moving to Europe for the semester. They were running through the hallways trying to rush and board their flight, and we can all picture what it looks like when you have packed WAY too much. You have your backpack on that just isn't equipped for rushing, that suitcase that's wheels don't rotate all the way around so you have to keep the one side rolling, and the neck pillow that is flopping in your face making you sweat and/or panic at the same time.

I casually walked along side these flustered people, giggling my way to the gate. I got to my gate and boarded my flight. Praying that whoever sat next to me would help me be calm while landing to my new home. To my great surprise, who comes to sit next to me? A priest. Moving to Florence, Italy to help out in the churches in Italy for a few months.

Needless to say God was watching out for me, and I smiled while watching the plane land in the beautiful city.

And so my journey began.

with all my love - SB