A Trip of a Lifetime... and I Am So Grateful!

Well everyone, I’ve finally made it. I arrived home late yesterday after a full 22 hours of travel. As this post officially marks the end of my semester abroad, my goal of our final post together is to tell you about the “last of my lasts” in Rome and share some of my final reflections with you.

So without further ado, let’s begin with a quick recap of my last week in Rome.

Monday started my bittersweet week off with a 7-hour day at the Vatican. I toured St. Peter’s Basilica for class and explored the Vatican Museums (which ultimately ended with a visit to the Sistine Chapel). All in all, it was a pretty draining day trying to appreciate all the history and architecture of what I was learning about, but it was pretty amazing, nonetheless.

Tuesday and Wednesday the denial and procrastination set in. Rather than write my final paper and study for my exams, my roommates and I had a few dance parties around the apartment in hopes to rid our stresses. I did eventually get all my homework done thought, don’t worry!

On Thursday, we had our last farewell aperitivo to celebrate the end of our program. And let me tell you, free food and drinks are definitely the way to end a semester abroad! And Friday, I finished my packing and enjoyed one last pizza and movie night with the girls… which ended in some much needed gelato and some very sad goodbyes.

So, now onto the good part. First, I would like to thank my amazing friends for making my time in Rome even more incredible than I thought it could be. To my good friends Bri, Sarah, Jacqueline, Kristen: Thanks for teaching me that an experience like this is not about the places you go, but it’s about the people you are with. Our adventures together have made this experience completely worthwhile and I am so grateful.

I know I have said this before, yet here I go again: I am very thankful for this amazing opportunity to study abroad. I really have learned a lot about myself and about the world. This semester has provided me with indispensable life skills that I’m positive will benefit me in anything and everything I do moving forward. This experience has also made me appreciate some things about my life at home. For one, I completely appreciate my family and all the support they have given me throughout my life. So thanks family! I have also grown to appreciate the great privilege I have in attending my home university, Gustavus Adolphus College.

As the classes I took abroad are for elective credit, I decided to take Peace and Conflict Studies and Global Environmental Policy in London because they seemed interesting, Free Speech in Denmark and International Journalism in Copenhagen because they correlate to my major, and Music and Society and my Vatican Class in Rome because they related directly to Italian culture. I do not regret my choices because they made me recognize potential career paths, explore my love for the environment and history and music, and added a deeper understanding of the world to my abroad experience.

But even though I really enjoyed my classes this semester, studying abroad has made me appreciate being able to call myself a “Gustie.” It has made me appreciate the opportunity to study things I love and work hard for an invaluable education which will hopefully lead me to not just a job, but a passion that I can turn into a future career.

Another thing I have reflected on this week is the reason I wanted to study abroad in the first place. I don't remember a specific reason for wanting to study abroad but ever since high school, I remember always having the thought that “studying abroad would be so amazing” so I was looking for good programs throughout my college search. My freshman year of college, it was the farthest thing from my mind… I was stressed, adapting to college life, and had no idea where my undergraduate schooling (or future life, for that matter) was headed. Then last spring something just clicked and I told myself I needed to do it. Not to be melodramatic, but that decision changed my life. I have learned important life skills... like how to read a map, how to ask for help, how to budget, how to push myself outside of my comfort zone. I have learned valuable intercultural skills… like how to respect others, how to work to understand differences, how to be more open to diverse opinions and ways of life. I have learned how to be more independent, self-reliant, adaptable, and more confident… not only more confident in my decisions but also in my own values and in myself.

I’ve touched on this before, but I really believe that everyone’s study abroad experience is different. My “three blocks in three cities” style of semester worked great for my goals, my schooling, and me. Something I liked most about my program was that I was able to truly live in three completely different cultures for an extended amount of time. Living for six weeks in three countries, I was able to engage more with local people, lifestyles, and three very different cultures. However, due to my limited time in each culture, I decided it was not as important to travel to every European “hot spot” on every weekend of the semester. I am not saying that a semester in one country with weekend trips are less valuable -- I applaud anyone who studies abroad because it really is hard work. But for my experience and my study abroad goals, I chose to explore my three host cultures in-depth and I am happy I did so. For me, when immersing myself in a new culture that is when I learned the most and I was lucky enough to do it three times.

If you are a student considering studying abroad, I highly recommend it. It does not matter where you go or which program you study with, find a place (or places) you are interested in and just go. College is the cheapest time to study abroad and see the world. From one global scholar to another, you will not regret it.

If you aren’t a student but want to travel more, just do it. Traveling this semester has made me realize how much I did not know about the world. It has opened my eyes to new perspectives and new ideas. It sounds kind of corny, but it has reminded me how fortunate I am and how lucky we all are to be living in this fantastic experience called life. If you have the means, check off some things on your bucket list and just see the world. From one traveler to another, you will not regret it.

One last thing that has really stuck out to me throughout this whole experience is something I learned back in London from my good friend, Annika. She told me this: “Everyday can be life changing.” The longer I was abroad the more this idea began to become true for me. We all have the ability to make a life altering decision, create something beautiful, meet someone new, find something you are passionate about any and every day. This semester abroad really has taught me that everyday really can be life changing if you allow it to be.

Well folks, now that my travels are officially over, I guess I am sad my European adventures are done but I am grateful to be home... and I have new adventures to be excited about. This summer I am excited to have an internship with the Waconia School District with their Communications Department. I am excited for my senior year of college. In all honesty, if you asked me last month if I was ready to graduate, I would have shut the conversation down as soon as possible. Now I can genuinely say that, even though I am not eager to graduate right at this moment, I am excited for my senior year of college. I am also excited about my upcoming travel plans: The Gustavus Symphony Orchestra will be touring around Singapore and Malaysia during the month of January next year. I am excited to be able to explore these countries and cultures with my close friends and share some amazing music with the world.

With that, I just want to say thank you for coming on this amazing journey with me. I have truly had a great time abroad and an even better time writing and sharing this blog with you.

All the best,

Olivia

Pictures: one last beautiful day in Rome, St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums, and some great friends!