Finale

Yesterday I was prepared to sit here and write about everything I would miss and things I wouldn't. I was ready to say that I wouldn't miss hitting my head a billion times a day on the roof of my apartment, the pigeons-on-sterroids that wake me and Colleen up every morning, the cobblestone streets that are impossible to walk on, all of the people staring at me as I walk by, the rude Italians, not having a washer, dryer, oven, or cooking supplies/untensils, not being able to communicate well with people, hearing the construction in our apartment complex at all hours of the day and night, the mean checkout man at the grocery store, not being able to find the grocery store for the first day and eating only an apple, the stupid rules of Ryanair, and not being able to cook whatever I wanted. I was then going to write about how I would miss the friends I made, the beautiful sights, being able to travel to a different country every weekend, learning about the people and the culture, the food, all the locals who had helped make my stay more pleasant, and the memories I made here, which continue to make even in my hostel room the night before I leave.

I was prepared to say all of this up until last night when I was beginning to pack. Although these are things that are a pain in the butt, it suddenly hit me that they are also the things that have made this experience so worthwhile. Without going through each one of those events, I would have had a completely different journey here. These are the things that I will remember and look back on with a smile on my face. This morning when I was packed and ready to go, I sat on my bed and looked out my window at those stupid birds. I hit my head for the final time on the ridiculous ceiling. I ate a tiny bit of yogurt because I had no other food to eat. I walked to the train with all of my enormous bags, passing tons of people who didn't so much as offer a hand. These are the things I though I wouldn't miss and that I had been excited to get away from, but as they were all happening for the last time, I found myself getting choked up and nostalgic. Now that I think of it, I don't believe there will be anything I won't miss. How can I not, when everything I went through led me down the path of this amazing journey?

Italy has been an absolute dream, and I wouldn't change a thing. Not even missing my flight in Paris because I know it will make for a great story one day, and it also taught me a great lesson. All in all, I am so sad to leave. I know the tears will be flowing as I take off from the Rome airport, but I know that this great adventure had to come to an end sometime. I don't know if this journey might change my life in the future or if I will find home boring compared to all I did here, but I do know that I will never forget what an amazing experience this was.

Thank you all for reading my "postcards" and sharing this experience with me. If any of you ever come to Italy, be sure to let me know. Who knows, maybe I'll even come with you. Until then, ciao!