The Long Goodbye

Today was my last day in Rome, making this the final post for my blog. My past two days were spent exploring Rome with my family, who came to visit me because they were jealous of my experience (even though they won’t admit it). We saw the museum at Borghese and revisited the Castel de San Angelo. I’m not complaining. Like I’ve said before, I’m going to live in the castle one day, so why not get reacquainted with it now?

I’ve never concluded a blog before, so I am unfamiliar with proper protocol. Should a goodbye blog be quick, like ripping off a Band-Aid? Or should it be a heartfelt reflection on my experience, where I say something that legitimately means something to my readers and to me? I really don’t know. I guess I’ll take the latter route, as ending a blog in “holla” might not be the best decision I’ve made.

Here’s a short list of some observations and opinions I’ve had over the course of my stay:

• Italian cuisine isn’t as different from the states as one might think. It’s just better here because the ingredients are fresher.

• Real Italians do not put olive oil and parmesan on their bread. Butter is also non-existent.

• I hate al dente pasta. It’s undercooked and chewy. Give me the dried out stuff any day.

• You really can live off of pizza for a month. Just make sure you get some buffalo mozzarella on it and you’re good to go!

• Gelato is a gift from the Roman gods, as is Nutella. Also, M&Ms are better here. It’s a fact.

• Pizza cutters, window screens, peperoni (as we know it), and parking/driving laws do not exist.

• Don’t try to blend in with the culture. They already know you’re an “Americano” because you’re not wearing pants and winter jackets in 80 degrees Fahrenheit weather.

• Saying “no grazia” to a street vendor does not mean “no grazia.” It directly translates to “please chase me down with your stolen goods.” I’m not kidding.

I should probably start the more thoughtful part of this goodbye. The past three weeks have been some of the best weeks of my life. I learned bits and pieces of a new language, tried new foods and made new friends. I saw some of the world’s greatest monuments, visited museums holding the world’s greatest works of art, and saw the graves of the world’s most revolutionary people. I lived in a different country, I submerged myself in a totally different culture, and I survived.

I’m sure many people assumed I would miss Bloomingdale, but I won’t say I’m homesick. My family is with me now, but being in Rome for three weeks was no different than being at school and not seeing them for three months. I had the five greatest roomies I could have asked for, and they become my family, even in the short amount of time we had together.

I want to thank my parents for giving me this amazing opportunity to study abroad. I may have learned a little bit about Italian cuisine and marketing, but the life experience, memories, and friendships I have gained through this summer abroad course will be with me forever. I appreciate all that you do for me and I truly cannot thank both of you enough.

And to my readers: thank you for following me on my journey. I know much of my writing was random and seemingly pointless, but I hope I at least provided you with some entertaining anecdotes and pictures about the last few weeks of my life.

In the words of Brooks & Dunn, it’s a long goodbye. And it’s a goodbye I’m not quite ready for. While I’ll be returning to the states soon, a part of me will always be thinking of home sweet Rome.