And just like that, 4 months have gone by. I just finished packing and have one more trip left before I am on my way back home. It feels like I’m packing for another weekend excursion but I’m packing to go across the sea back to the United States! In a way, it doesn’t feel like time went by fast at all. It feels like it was such a long time ago when I came to Milan dazed and confused with how to ride the tram lol!
Leaving home was the scariest and hardest thing I’ve ever done. I knew I wanted to travel and explore the world but taking that first leap was so terrifying. I remember the days before leaving I could barely sleep. My heart would start beating out of my chest and stomach would tighten up every time I even thought of being away from everything I knew for an entire 4 months. I did not know what was ahead of me but I am so proud of myself for stepping out on faith and taking the risk any way. I made it.
Being abroad for a longer time period taught me to be more patient with myself. Things came easy to me the first time I went abroad last year in London. Everything was simple. I spoke the language, I was in a group of 20+ people, and I was only away from home for 3 1/2. This time around, I was completely out of my element. Doing simple things, such as buying groceries, intimidated me. I had to give myself time to get used to things and work through my uncomfortableness.
I spent a significant amount of my time here in solitude and there’s nothing wrong with that. I learned to focus on what makes me happy more than moping around. Time goes by even slower when I had negative thoughts. Whether I had one person to hang out with or none, I made the experience worthwhile anyway.
Seeing a new country or city each week never got old. The excitement of visiting new places is so special and it’s what I’ll definitely miss the most. I saw amazing cities with my own eyes! Sagrada Familia, The Colosseum , Duomo di Milano, Acropolis, the pastel cities of Cinque Terre came to life as I saw them with my own two eyes. I feel so blessed to have been able to travel to all of these incredible places. It has literally been my dream to be able to do this. All things are possible
I come back home content. Milan has been my home for the past 4 months and I’ll miss and the bustle of traveling. But I am ready to come back home and prepare for the next thing in my life. While this chapter is coming to an end, a new chapter begins where I know my strength in doing something where I had no idea what the outcome would be. I overcame what I thought was the scariest thing ever and because of this I can look back on my experience whenever I am feeling nervous or anxious to go for an opportunity in the future. It I know that I am capable taking on any challenge now.
