Coming home from Florence has been a lot more emotional than I expected. I came home on August 7th and was able to spend less than a week with my family in Florida before moving into my house at the University of Alabama for my junior year. It was really nice being home and spending time with my family, being back in Florida, and even doing simple things like driving my own car again. But now that my parents are back home and I am on my own again, I have really started to realize how much I miss being abroad.
One of the biggest things I miss about Florence is simply being able to walk everywhere. I loved walking through the city and seeing the Duomo every day on my way to class. I love walking around the Alabama campus too, but it just does not compare to walking through Florence and being surrounded by so much history and beauty. I also really miss the food. Since coming home, I have gone back to cooking for almost every meal instead of constantly eating out and trying new foods like we did abroad. I especially miss the amazing Italian food and getting to experience different foods as part of my Food, Wine, and Culture class. I know I will really miss having a class where we could learn by actually experiencing the food and culture around us.
I also miss the beautiful agriculture and landscapes I saw throughout Italy. After seeing so many different places this summer, parts of the United States honestly feel a little boring to me now. I miss knowing that I could walk out of my apartment and explore Florence or travel to a completely different country for the weekend. There was always something new to see and experience.
Today is my first day of classes as a junior, so I am excited to start this next chapter of my life. At the same time, I am realizing just how special my summer abroad was. I feel beyond grateful that I had the opportunity to experience it, and I will never take that for granted. I feel incredibly lucky to have traveled, met new people, experienced different cultures, and learned so much about myself. Even though I am happy to be back at The University of Alabama, a part of me will always miss Florence. This summer was definitely one to remember, and I know I will be thinking about it for years to come.