Angelica Chen, Will Farr, me, and Gerardo Castellanos on the beach in Lisbon, Portugal

Nick Price and Mark Nelson

For this last blog, I’m supposed to write my thoughts on leaving. My thoughts on leaving? Well, when I was still in Rome, I didn’t want to leave. Now that I’m back, I hate that I did. Everyone always said how hard it was going to be to leave your friends and family in America when going abroad, but nobody ever said how awful it is to leave your friends who became your family when coming back. It’s crazy how much I miss my friends after only a couple of days being home; one would think I’d be so sick of them after us spending literally every single day together for the past four months, but I’m not. In fact, it’s the complete opposite.

The best pizza I’ve ever had – tomato sauce, basil, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and pesto sauce.

Gerardo Castellanos, Alex Clemetson, and Will Farr in Toledo, Spain

Now, I’m so used to everyone being around all of the time so much so that being surrounded by no one makes everyone’s absence a little too noticeable. I hate it so much. The people I met studying abroad are the most genuine people I have ever met, and we developed friendships unlike any of the other relationships I have with friends back at my real school. I am closer to these people after four months than some of my friends after three years. We got to really know one another by seeing everybody at their best, their absolute worst, and for who they are in any situation we encountered. We had each other’s backs, were there for one another when being away from home got to be too much, and were always there when we needed to complain about anything from the studying part of “study” abroad, to being legitimately broke. There are so many inside jokes and great memories between us now, and for how sad it is that we won’t be together like how we were in Rome, these memories are what will keep our friendships strong until we meet again. And we definitely will see each other again, for this I am sure. I am so grateful for everybody I have met these last few months because even without one person, the experience would not have been the same. We had fun.

Alex Clemetson jumping over water in Lisbon, Portugal

Everybody eating gelato one last time

As for the experience itself, I could not have asked for a better four months. I had the absolute best time of my life, and the decision to study abroad was the best decision I have ever made. After long conversations with my parents over where to study, the hassle of getting a student visa, and all the little details and forms I needed to figure out, I can honestly say everything was worth it, no question.

Teddy Hammock, Angelica Chen, and Charlie Linder eating gelato

Tidney forever- Kristina Glassl and me in Tuscany

However, being abroad in Rome and being able to travel so easily to other countries for even just a weekend spoiled me. Now, all I want to do is travel. My step-dad told me before I left to enjoy this experience because after it’s over, it’s time for the real world; I am to get a job and to stop looking to see what else I can do that’s related to fun. Only the opposite effect happened where studying abroad triggered this desire in me to explore the world even more, going to different continents and places I have yet to be. I don’t see how taking the time to travel is a set back to a good future like how my step-dad may think it is. Instead, I think it only helps to have a well-rounded life with gaining the experience of knowing about different cultures and meeting people from all over the world. It makes the huge world almost feel smaller.

Shelsea Ramirez, me, Angelica Chen, Kristina Glassl, and Sergio Zavaroni in Croatia

Studying abroad really did change my life, as cliché as that is. It showed me that people and places all throughout the world are similar in many ways and different in others, but although everyone lives a different life, people are inherently the same. They may have different lifestyles, beliefs, or ways of doing things, but deep down, everybody has qualities that are similar to one another, even if they live so far apart. I will never forget the people I have met during this experience and the memories we made together. My favorite quote is, “You are the sum of everyone you have ever met”, and I know I will take little pieces of all my friends and carry them with me for the rest of my life. I absolutely cannot wait for our reunion back in either Rome or California! It’s bad that I’m back and all I’m doing to fill my time is looking up plane tickets to see these people when I just left from seeing them. Studying abroad made my life, Rome has my heart, and my friends are my everything… besides my dog. I am so thankful for SAI in making this opportunity go by flawlessly, and I really will remember it for all of my life.

Jaena Manson, Kristina Glassl, Shelsea Ramirez, Kristina Slvaich, Krystina Valdovinos, Angelica Chen, and Kate Janas making a wish at the Trevi Fountain

Kate Janas, me, Shelsea Ramirez, Tina Glassl, and Jaena Manson in Capri

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Sydney is a student at University of North Carolina studying at John Cabot University in Italy during the Spring 2014 term.