Finals finished today, and my subconscious has started annoyingly already started to refer to saying “Oh, this is the last time we’ll do this” for everything from my 40-minute commute to school via metro, to having to go grocery shopping in a place where English isn’t appreciated very much.

There are pictures from orientation hanging in the main hallway at school. There’s a picture of me up there with eight girls, fast friends made out of fear of not wanting to look like that one loner in the corner. I’m still friends with all of those girls and more. I never anticipated how close you can get to people after knowing them for just twelve weeks.

The first week I was here was a mix of homesickness, shock, and just plain excitement. But the longer I was here, and the more comfortable I grew with Italy, the better things got. Studying abroad forces you to be confident in your decisions, as there isn’t time or money to spare on careless mistakes. This journey has made me a stronger (and better, I hope) person. It brings awareness to the blunt point that no one is the center of the universe, and that we are all co-existing as equals.

Studying abroad has been a phenomenal experience that I struggle to find words for. It’s the kind of experience that only other fellow study abroad-ers can understand. I’ve eaten Wienerschnitzel in Austria, and hiked up the Atlas Mountains in Africa. I have memories of getting lost in the maze that is Venice, and will always remember fondly the warm days I spend soaking up sun in the Mediterranean in Barcelona. It’s a surreal, fast-paced experience to be here, where the norm is to jet set to a new country every weekend and return back with tired eyes just in time for Monday classes.

Traveling is a skill that I think I’ve gotten very good at this semester. I’ve become a pro at packing, and then strategically repacking again before having to come back to Milan to ensure all souvenirs fit in my carry-on. I’ve learned how to track flight prices to ensure I’m getting the best deal, and how to find my way around a new city without the use of my phone’s GPS. I’ve learned to cherish every second of my time in a new place, and I’ve learned to never take locals for granted.

I’ll be homebound in exactly eight days. I’m not wasting any time though. I still have five cities to hit before I leave Europe, and not a lot of time to do it in. Who knows when the next time will be that I’ll be on European turf? It won’t be the last time I travel though. I’ve caught the travel bug and Australia and Africa are already what my pennies will be going towards when I get back to America. Bring it on, world. I’m ready.