Well, we are halfway through people. Italy has been seen, museums have been visited, assignments turned in, and friends made. It’s strange how you can be somewhere so short, yet have an overwhelming sense of home. Yes, I know that’s incredibly cheesy- but it’s true.
I get homesick for Castig.
With that being said, I am (technically) here for school, so I guess I should talk about what I’ve learned so far.
A huge thing has been self-awareness.
Within our intercultural communication class, we learn about the ‘self-awareness imperative.’ This term can be summarized into this: “you don’t know who you are, until you know who you are not.” A seemingly easy term to understand at first glance, but so much more complex once you begin to live in it. For example:
Things I have never been that I realize I want to be:
1. European
2. Italian
See, learning a lot here in Italia (haha).
But, on a serious note- it really is true. From my short time in Italy, I have realized that I am a shell of myself without my morning americano, I thrive on a p-time schedule, and I adore the Italian language (preferably spoken to me by a cute Italian boy, but that’s beside the point). I have attempted and conquered the public train system, I have survived a 4 out of 10-star hostel, and I have grown a fascination for seeking out dead bodies (not as creepy as it sounds, I promise).
Long story short, you learn a lot about yourself- I know, shocking. Along with all the tools you gain, you also become aware of what its like to live without certain constants you’ve grown accustomed to in your normal, everyday life. You experience the ultimate form of FOMO.
FOMO: verb
Translation ‘fear of missing out’
Definition: missing an extended amount of social contact with your closest and dearest friends in the place of your current inhabitation and having an overwhelming feeling of being left out of crucial inside jokes, memories, and/or important life moments.
In the most unfortunate hamartia of life, you cannot be two places at once. A detail I was lost to in all my excitement of exploring the beautiful country that is Italia. In all the gorgeous and incredible areas of my life that I have grown in and the things I have realized about myself while in Italy, the biggest and most important thing I have realized is how much I love my people.
The people I do everyday life with. My chosen family. The loves of my life.
Of course, I have made incredible friends here: Emily, Giulia, Giuseppe, Catalin, Federica, and Niccola. But just thinking about having my people in Italy with me- wow, what a party.
Castiglion Fiorentino has become a home in the sense that a piece of me was found here; therefore, a piece of me with forever be defined by this beautiful place. But, it really is true that adventure seems a little less complete without the people you never wanna live without.
So it goes: Italy has been life-changing, with so much left to learn. Yet sometimes, the greatest things you recognize while away are the essential people you often take for granted when you are home. And if the only thing I realize about myself during my study abroad is how much I absolutely adore the most important people in my life, then this trip was well beyond worth it.
<3 Amanda
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