What a long strange trip it’s been…

Well goodness. And here we are. The past few weeks have been tough for me. Between the cold showers, unending expenses, constant language barriers and Umbra leeching us for every dime we have left, I’ll straight up confess that I haven’t been my usual cheerful self. Tack on the useless classes and their own bundle of frustrations and you have yourself a bit of a monster. But today was my Italian final. I’m done. Only one more ridiculous test and I am done with this awful school and emancipated.

But I must mention that everything outside of Umbra has been irreplaceable. If you asked me whether I regret studying abroad, I would deny it fully. I have loved the past four months… just not the “studying” part. But I mean, what else is new there really?

So, in respect for all of you not in the know, let me give you a recap of the past few months while I discreetly type this on my roommate’s computer (mine took a little pre-departure back to the States. And no Dad: you can’t use it so you can stay in bed all day. Love you!).

I probably won’t be able to pin down exactly how Perugia has changed me until I get back to the States, but I can say that the ten hour drive from Connecticut to North Carolina for graduation ain’t gonna faze be in the least (oh car - I’ll be seeing you and your new shiny bumper soon, baby!). I’ve taken advantage of as much traveling as I - and my funds- (anyone hiring for the summer?) could have.

There was Carnivale and all of it’s madness in Venice and Viareggio, daytrips to Assissi, Cortona, Siena and even smaller mountain towns along the way filled with saints’ shriveled thumbs and a decomposing decapitated heads in enormous cathedrals (them crazy Catholics). Then there was the private apartment my friends all shared for our last weekend together on the Mediterranean Coast and the freezing beaches and hiking adventures that came with it.

There was too much wine at the Cinqueterre and not enough at our wine tasting in Perugia. Then there was Florence, bursting with the Rennaissance and its Michaelangelo’s and DaVinci’s. There was the week the parents visited and we drove down to the Amalfi Coast to stay in the most luxurious hotel I have ever seen. We saw Pompeii and blue water and wore flip flops and it was incredible. Then I was in Naples on my own and wishing I was anywhere but there. There was Spring Break with all of its unspeakable stories in Austria, Germany and Amsterdam. I flew to Dublin for a weekend to visit David and explored the countryside in Hoathe and heard real Irish music and saw Scottish kilts while their respective countries battled it out in a local rugby match. We ate fish and chips and drank amazing beer and spoke English and it was great.

There was a bit more of America along the way as well, celebrating a slightly dysfunctional St. Patty’s day with Italians and managing to catch MGMT, the Mars Volta, the Niro, cover bands and some local music shows scattered throughout Europe. Then I jetted off to London to see the sights with my old roommate from Atlanta and her friend from school. There was eurotrash dancing at clubs, hilarious stories, three-second hail storms and delicious food (ironic? Yes, I know).

Then there were all of the visitors, the meter long pizzas, the lasting memories, bizarre local traditions, and all of the incredible friendships along the way. Goodness, I think I’ll miss those the most. After four months, I could have been friends with these people for ten years and not felt any differently. I guess we’ll need a few road trips when we return to The Motherland.

And now we’re here. One weekend left. What’s left to do? I guess we’ll see, won’t we…