More and More Italy

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The last weeks abroad were definitely bittersweet. We spent a lot of our free time revisiting our favorite places to eat, hang out, and simply enjoy one last time. Florence had become more than just the city we were studying in; it started to feel like a second home. Knowing that we would soon be leaving and that we might not see many of our new friends again was difficult, but it was also comforting to know that none of us would trade this experience for anything else. The friendships, memories, and little routines we created made saying goodbye even harder, but they also showed how meaningful the semester had become.

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The second-to-last weekend, my roommates and I took a nine-hour bus ride to the Italian Alps and hiked Cadini di Misurina and the Three Peaks area. It was one of those trips where we truly immersed ourselves in nature and learned what it meant to travel without a strict plan. The hike was filled with blisters, rain, and plenty of laughs, but that made it even more memorable. Being surrounded by the mountains felt peaceful and unreal, especially after spending so much time in busy cities. It was the perfect reminder that studying abroad was not only about seeing famous places, but also about embracing the unexpected moments that make the experience unforgettable.