Say Goodbye
Hey J.Y.A. fans! This is my final blog, I am sad to say! Sharing my semester abroad with you all has been unreal. Thanks for your support and for watching me on my journey in Rome and Europe!
I hope you have enjoyed watching and learning along with me this fall semester in Italy. I also hope you have learned a lot about studying abroad and what a positive impact it can have on a college student’s life.
I cannot even begin to describe what this opportunity to study abroad and to share my experiences on J.Y.A. has meant to me. Living in Rome, even if it was for only 4 months, was a dream come true. It was the perfect place for me to study abroad; it fit on so many levels: for one, the culinary adventure was amazing; additionally the churches and the proximity of the seat of Catholicism (i.e. the Vatican) made for meaningful spiritual learning and development; the history the city provides allowed for an interactive learning experience; and exposure to Italian language and culture truly broadened my horizons and changed my perspective.
I think it will take some time for myself and others to fully notice and understand how I have changed as a result of this experience. I think it is revealed overtime, although some changes are immediately apparent. A greater confidence, being more sure of myself, and an increased sense of independence have definitely resulted from my time abroad. Certain things that I might have thought difficult, challenging, or unpleasant don’t seem to be that big of a deal after living and surviving on my own in Europe for four months. Having to take care of myself and figure out everything in a foreign country has made doing anything in my home country seems significantly easier. There are also certain conveniences and aspects of American life and culture that I have a greater appreciation for after living abroad. As much as I loved living in Italy, there are and always will be certain irreplaceable comforts of the U.S. to which I am glad to return…real showers, technology, no swarms of tourists…to name a few. But it is also great to know that I can and do enjoy the unfamiliar and the challenges of living in a foreign country.
And being able to share my adventures and all I have learned on NBC’s J.Y.A. has made my experience even more meaningful. It’s been great to keep my family and friends posted on my travels via the Internet, but it’s also great to know that I have been impacting people I don’t know and that I may help other students make the decision to study abroad. I hope others can learn from my experiences and that they take my advice when making this life-changing decision. And if you think it might be right for you—go to Rome! I don’t think you could possibly regret spending a semester or a year in the Eternal City!
Again, I’d like to say thanks to all of you who have been watching and following my journey. Herein my journey ends, and it’s the time for your’s to begin!
If you have a question or comment, please don’t hesitate to post a comment or shoot me an email. I’m happy to help out and will be sure to get back to you! Thank you and goodbye!
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