Beginning: Wheels Up to Rome
Growing up, our family didn’t travel much. Living in New England, an out-of-state vacation was a day trip to a beach in Maine or a camping adventure in the forests of New Hampshire. The states are small, and we never ran out of places to visit. I loved those trips, but that didn’t stop the enveloping jealousy that followed a friend’s tale about a summer spent on a Greek island, a family vacation to the southern beaches of France, or a winter break in The Bahamas where sunscreen was in high demand. I always had dreams to travel – and college quickly became a vehicle and endless opportunity for me to do just that. I’ve spent time studying international business in France, and last summer took finance courses in England. Now, I look forward to law electives in Rome, Italy. Another summer, another destination, and one more unforgettable experience.
France was my first time out of the country. It was the summer of freshman year. I was timid, yet excited. I learned the power of adaptation and thriving in uncomfortable situations. London was more relaxed and I had visited the summer before. With the lack of a language barrier and the idea of traveling more familiar, I took the chance in England to further push the boundaries of my comfort zone. I rode public transit more heavily, interacted with locals, and played a six week game of leap frog throughout the EU. Now it’s time for Italy… I don’t know yet what Italy will be for me. Another chance to learn a new language? To absorb a new culture? Of course. But I’m sure it will be much more than that too. The irreplaceable and wonderful thing about travel is that you usually don’t realize the true impact of the experience until you return. You venture back home to a life that has gone on for months without you and it is the same. But you’re not. That’s when you see the beauty of exploration and can reflect on time spent.
My goals when abroad are always the same. Leave fear in your home country and embrace discomfort. Discomfort gives lead to personal growth, an advanced acceptance of differences, and a crazy story to plaster on the back of a postcard. Immerse yourself and relax (but do it without having your wallet stolen in the process)! Despite this encouragement, it’s natural to fear the unknown. Italy is unknown. I fear the language barrier, of not meeting people, and the law classes I’m going to be taking. But I’m also excited, and that’s the key to it. My real, and only true, fear is running out of time to see everything I want to. An uncontrollable factor, time often passes too quickly once you begin your explorations.
I’m looking forward for so many experiences over the coming weeks. If Italy were a three-course meal, I’d order History as my starter. Serve me up an ancient city, with a beautiful past and that will keep me satisfied for a while. For my main course, I’d ask for Culture. The people, art, and lifestyle of Rome. I can’t wait to stumble down cobblestone streets, dry my clothes from a strung line, and sit on a patio sipping red wine and curling angel hair delicately around my fork. Putting a ‘Crespi’ in Italy is like putting the Cookie Monster in a Chips Ahoy factory. I’m definitely looking forward to the food (as a side note; I’m writing this on the plane as I eat Chicken Marsala, roasted potatoes, and steamed broccoli. When the airplane food is good, you know you’re in for something special when the wheels touch down). Finally, for dessert, I’d have the language. Accents, tans, and a beautiful country- is there a better way to spend the summer?
