If I were to write a letter, and give it to my pre-departure self, there are some things I would want myself to know. The first piece of advice is to pack lightly and leave extra room for things to take back with me. Florence has beautiful leather shops, jewelry shops, and book shops. Shipping home Italian espresso, a leather purse and a charm bracelet were a must for me. However, after purchasing Italian clothes, fashion magazines from Paris, chocolate from Switzerland, volcanic rocks and jewelry from Greece, and a tote bag from Madrid, I was ill prepared in terms of packing up to come home.

Not only that, but I think I would have told myself to come prepared for travel and weekend trips. Initially, I assumed I would be spending most, if not all of my time in Florence. Although Florence was my home, and I spent the majority of my time within and around the city, I ended up traveling to six different countries. Finding a last-minute plane ticket to Madrid or getting a deal on a hostel in Switzerland impacted most of my weekend plans. Therefore, I would tell myself not to come with any preconceived ideas about where to go and what to do, but rather “go where the wind blows.” Also, to pack extra travel sized containers, and always pack shower shoes if you decide to stay in a hostel.

Before coming here, I don’t think I fully understood the amount of personal development I would be going through. I grew more independent, became a savvy traveler, and experienced culture shock for the first time. Not only that, but I grew really close to my roommates. Before coming, I was worried about rooming with complete strangers, and traveling by myself stressed me out. If I were to go back in time, I think I would have told myself that it would all be okay. In fact, the “strangers” at the beginning of this experience, are now friends that I will take with me throughout the rest of my life.

Overall, the one thing that surprised me was how my perception of Florence changed over the course of being here. In the beginning, I assumed all Italian cities were like this. I assumed all Italians ate the same foods, spoke the same language, and lived in towns that mirrored Florence. However, over time I learned about the regional dialects, variations in food and culture between the North and the South of Italy, and differences in town size and demographics. I learned that some cities are more car-centric than others, and some tourist destinations fall victim to “staged authenticity.” Looking back, it is beautiful to see how much I grew in such a short amount of time. I am excited to carry these changes with me as I move back to the United States.