On our last day in Florence, several of us made the trek up to the outlook to take in Italy’s beauty one last time. We talked and laughed and had a great time. We would need to get up early the night morning to board our flights, but that didn’t matter to us. We wanted to spend no time relaxing while we were in Italy.
The next day consisted of a long day of traveling with a connecting flight in Lisbon, but I won’t bore you with the details. Upon returning home, I felt slightly jet lagged but not as bad as when I had arrived in Germany. And then it hit me, I was back home.
Over the next week or so I had thought a lot about the trip and the many differences between the way of life. One of the main differences I found was in Europe, art was valued more than efficiency. Whether it be in the architecture or the cuisine, it was about art. In the states, efficiency trumped all.
While my trip in Europe was brief and jam packed, I do have some advice for students who go on a similar trip in the future. For one, don’t go in with any expectations. The way I envisioned the trip and the way it turned out were vastly different. In addition, make sure to go with the flow. If someone randomly says lets go do x, jump on board and do it. You’re only there for a short time and you need to make the most out of it. As far as packing goes, I would try to only bring a carry on. You need way less than you think you do. And with connecting flights, it is easy for your luggage to get lost. Remember, less is more!
