In the few short weeks I’ve been abroad, I have experienced and seen more than many trips and years of my life up to this point combined. For the first time, I’m being spontaneous and doing things I would have never given a thought to back home in the States. It’s exciting and refreshing to have the ability to do and see anything I want.

Given my shyness, it might be surprising to hear that I have made a lot of new friends in such a short period of time. I feel like I’ve known some of them for years. It’s amazing how travelling and living together can make people become close to one another. For these four months, we are family in a sense. I hope I continue to see and talk to these people afterwards. Even if I don’t, I will always be able to look back happily on this experience and know that they were what really made it.

It’s funny how a change of scenery can change so much about you. The question remains, will I still be different when I return home? The other day my roommates and I walked to Juniculum, one of Rome’s seven hills. Piazza Garibaldi sits at the top of the hill and has the best views of the city. As we sat admiring the view we talked about our future and what’s in store next year back at school. We couldn’t fathom what life will be like after this is all over.

I for one already have a different outlook on life than I did before coming. I’ve surprised myself with how little I care about a lot of the things I used to think were important. I will be a very different person, hopefully for the better, when this is all over. Until then, I’m going to enjoy every day. I think the key to my happiness is not taking anything for granted. Maybe that’s why life back home can become a grind sometimes. At times the same routine day in and day out can grow monotonous and wasteful. Here, I’ve taken nearly every day and made the best of it. Leading up to this trip, I was told by everyone that this will be a once in a lifetime experience. It’s hard to really understand what that means through words. You have to experience it yourself. Now that I’m here, I get it. This is as good as it gets and I’m making the best of every opportunity I get.