Studying Abroad in Italy: Week 4
Ciao, y’all!
It actually makes me sad because that’s the last time I can really say “ciao” for a while (till the next time I return to Italy). That’s right, my month long trip for studying abroad has officially come to an end 😭 It flew by so fast, it actually was a blur. I still feel like I’m spiritually there, even now I’m physically sitting outside of my house writing this final studying abroad post and drinking a Starbucks passion tea lemonade while my dogs roam around in the green grass.
June literally flew by so fast, it’s hard to believe I was even in Italy for that long. It’s like I was there for only a few seconds (okay, maybe more like a few days), and then I blinked and I was back in Ohio. Although I’m happy to be back home with my family, friends and have a normal routine again, I do really miss Italy and everything about it: the architecture, the accents, the authentic, vintage shops and, of course, the gelato. Studying abroad for a month is long enough for me, but I do kind of wish I had an extra week or two to explore more of Italy without spending time in classes, and even having the opportunity to explore other countries in Europe such as Austria, France, Spain, England, Ireland, etc. But either way, I’m EXTREMELY grateful for the opportunity to go abroad for a whole month and learn about a whole new culture. It has also helped me to mature more and become more wise and strong. I thank my parents for financially supporting me, I thank my friends and relatives for encouraging me to take this opportunity, and I thank God for giving me the strength and passion to follow this dream of mine. I’m so happy about every moment and experience during the trip, even the stressful ones.
Speaking of stressful, the the last weekend in Italy was kind of a shit show 😂 It was stressful at the time, but my friends and I laugh about it now. I spent at the Amalfi Coast with a few fashion majors and their guy friends who I’ve gotten to know throughout the study abroad trip. It was the trip I’ve been looking forward to the most because I’ve heard so many amazing things about all the islands. Y’all no joke, it was one of the most sketchiest experiences of my life …
Don’t get me wrong, it was so amazing to see the islands and see it in its truest beauty. I HIGHLY recommend seeing it before you kick the bucket! It was rather our experience with the Airbnb boat house and the two captains that we stayed with. What happened was we got on the boat and didn’t realize how small it was (there was ten of us and four bedrooms, just to give you the better picture). There were no showers, you couldn’t flush toilet paper in the toilet (you had to throw it away in a plastic bag tied near the sink counter 😖), and it was just a very tight space. But we all didn’t mind that, it was our captains that were the main issue. Not only did they speak poor English, but they were just weird to be around.
For instance, on Friday night, one of them let ten random locals of Postitano on the boat without our permission and let them drink our alcohol, smoked weed and break glass while the captain did all of the above and made out with several of the local women. The next day wasn’t as bad, although that night both our captains got drunk after their night out in Agropoli. They bought us a bottle of wine and thanked us for a “great weekend”, then proceeded to ask me and my girlfriends to take our shirts off and give them lap dances … that was my cue to go to my bedroom, go to bed and pretend that I didn’t hear what I just heard (my girlfriends obviously didn’t give them lap dances either). The next morning, our last day in Amalfi, the captains were supposed to drop us off in Salerno at 9 AM so that we could take a train back to Florence. However, by the time we all woke up, we were still in Agropoli. And our captains told us that we had ten minutes to get off the boat. We argued with them for straight ten minutes that they were supposed to drop us off in Solerna to get to the train station, but they kept refusing to listen to us. They left us no choice but to leave the boat and spend an hour in the dreadful heat trying to find a train station on an island we weren't familiar with at all. We couldn’t get any train tickets back to Florence till early in the morning, so we took a train to Naples for a beach day and to spend the night in a cheap hotel (I don’t recommend staying the night in Naples unless gun shots in the middle of the night don’t bother you).
Thankfully, we made it back to Florence the following morning without any issues! Despite that crazy and sketchy weekend, I am grateful that I not only got to see the majority of Amalfi (including Postitanto, Capri, and Agropoli) but spend time with this new group of friends who I am now very close with. We had a blast just laughing around, exploring the areas we went to, and learning about each other. Were still going to try to get a refund for the weekend after our captains screwed us over, but either way I’ll always never regret that weekend with my friends in one of the most beautiful places in all of Europe.
The final week in Florence wasn’t as thrilling, at least not as our weekend in Amalfi 😂 We were all busy with final projects and writing a five page paper for one class (boooooo), but we still managed to enjoy our last few moments in the beautiful city. I finished shopping for my relatives, friends and for myself, went to a few of my favorite local cafes and restaurants one last time, and hung out with all my friends before we all parted our ways till the upcoming fall semester. Before heading to the airport bright and early in the morning, the Kent State Florence staff hosted a special farewell dinner for students at the Palazzo Borghese Ricevimenti E Banchetti. I honestly felt spoiled having my dinner there, it was STUNNING! The ballroom we ate in looked like an art museum or a ballroom in a Disney movie such as Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast! They served us delicious zucchini rice, spinach cheese ravioli, beef and potatoes, and vanilla yogurt with fruit. It was a simple but fun way to celebrate the last few moments in Florence, with great people, a beautiful Italian ballroom and delicious food!
I will forever for this opportunity I had to study abroad in one of the most beautiful, unique countries in the world, and I look forward to revisiting it as well as exploring other beautiful, unique countries around the world. And for all of you who went on the journey with me and read all my posts about my trip, grazie!
What’s your favorite thing about Italy? If you’ve never been, what would you like to see if you ever go? Comment below and start a conversation!
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