My Farewell

“Nothing can be compared to the new life that the discovery of another country provides for a thoughtful person. Although I am still the same I believe to have changed to the bones.”

― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Italian Journey

Here I am, 4 months later, reaching the end of my study abroad in Florence. An end that seemed so distant when I first arrived has finally caught up with me as if over night. I find it hard to gather all my thoughts together for a conclusion to this trip because I haven't brought myself to fully accept that it's now over. Within the next 24hrs I will be landing back in the United States and Italy will no longer be my home. Though I am ready to return, I know that once I am gone, this adventure will appear to have been a dream.

I want to thank the wonderful new people I met here, along with my fellow UConn Fine Arts colleagues who also went on this trip, for making this experience so brilliant. And the most important of all my appreciation goes out to Professor Dancy for being a mentor, a guide and a friend on this study abroad. Without her persuasion, I would have never decided to study abroad in the first place and her inspiring words of wisdom gave me the courage to not only travel around Italy, but to even venture out to Germany and Austria as well.

With holidays ahead and a month long winter break, I hope that everyone finds their way home safely and enjoys the company of those around them by sharing and listening to one another's new discoveries and stories. Hopefully we may all have this chance once again to travel and to all those who have not yet traveled, may you find the ability to do so.

Happy Holidays! Buon Natale! And a Happy New Year!

The installation at Santa Croce.

My trip to Venice.

Standing in from of the colosseum in Rome.

The Sound of Music tour in Salzburg, Austria.

My last trip to Munich, Germany.

Good bye Firenze!

Goosebumps!

Stepping foot on ground after many hours of flying was both relieving and overwhelming. Having never traveled­­ in my life, I was not sure how I would feel after spontaneously deciding to do study abroad. One minute I had been home and the next I was saying "ciao" to Italy!

Walking down the streets for the first time left me speechless. I could feel goosebumps forming up and down my arms as I looked up at all the buildings. Never have I felt so small in comparison to my surroundings and yet, it felt amazing to be dwarfed by such a gorgeous city. I was actually in a foreign country, specifically in one of the most influential and inspiring cities in Europe! With over 2000 years of history to share with a primary focus on its achievements during the Late Middle Ages, I couldn't imagine having picked any city other than Florence. I had studied the Middle Ages in multiple history classes, I had memorized Renaissance artwork on flashcards for art history, but little had I known, I would one day be living in the country my textbooks talked about.

Within the first 4 weeks of being here, this trip has presented its wonders and its flaws. I am no longer a 40 minute car ride away from home, a quick phone call to a friend and many things here are unfamiliar. But I have been given the opportunity to learn a new language, try new things and explore a culture I am naive to. Setting aside my American routines, I have begun my new Italian lifestyle. I am optimistic for the rest of the semester and am ready to absorb the artwork around me and grow as an artist.