Travel Abroad, NOW

Friends,

My wanderlust was finally fed when I went to Italy about three weeks ago to visit a college pal.  It was the first time I had ever ventured outside of the states, and though I was a bit nervous about flying over the Atlantic, my stay in Italy was perhaps the best vacation I have ever had.

I left Atlanta at 5 p.m. and arrived in Venice around 10 a.m. the next day.  The trip was approximately nine hours, but I was lounging in first class so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.  I watched a few movies, ate a few meals, read a lot, and tried to nap but sleeping was difficult-the scenery outside of my window was too amazing to ignore.  The gentleman next to me, however, spent the majority of his time boasting about how many Mercedes Benz he owns and how many times he has traveled Europe, as well as vulgarly (and awkwardly) flirting with the (much) younger flight attendant.  He also kept trying to crack ridiculous jokes about drinking the champagne, and he assumed I know all about drinking because I’m in college.  Wrong.  I’d say my tolerance was tested, and I won.

After getting to my friend’s house, jet lag seemed to seep in and I slept for about six hours.  When I woke he showed me around his little town and bought me gelati, which was amazing.  American ice cream, bye.  How about all (well, the majority) of American food, bye.  Food in Italy is absolutely amazing; it’s fresh, free of genetic chemicals, or whatever our own food is induced with, and just completely indescribable.  It was nectar-ambrosia sent from God.

For the majority of the time I stayed in Vicenza, but I also traveled to Padova, where I saw a house that Dante (yeah, that Dante) use to live, and the Basilica of Saint Anthony (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Saint_Anthony_of_Padua); Jesolo, which is basically a beach-town north of Venice, similar to Virginia Beach; Verona, where I not only saw the balcony where Juliet allegedly gave her famous “Where for art thou, Romeo?!,” but also a legit opera in the coliseum;  Venice, which was very hot and touristy, but still incredible (no, I did not ride on a gondola because it’s roughly eighty euro); and Milan, the supposed fashion capital of the earth.  In its entirety, my trip was slightly exhausting just because we were consistently traveling and trying to see as much as possible; however, Italy basically changed my life.  And I will be back.

When I left, I almost had a complete break down.  Italy made me realize that the world is filled with amazing people, and though we all may not speak the same language we are all connected in this journey of life.  My trip to Italy awoke my sleeping passion for languages and words, and I am inspired to continue my education of French, as well as begin to learn Italian itself.  There are such amazing, amiable, and hospitable people in this world, and I think if we just took the time to appreciate others, and perhaps learn their language and stop being proud and arrogant about the ‘great’ English language, we would truly become much happier.  Call me a dreamer.

It just really saddens me to know that some people will never get the chance to see the world outside of America, or even outside of their own town.  It’s almost depressing, no joke.  Fellow and prospective Tribe members, W&M is the best university in the nation for traveling abroad. Our college years are the time for us to explore this world, and I highly encourage each and every one of us to walk to Reves, and glean the information necessary for studying abroad.  I didn’t go to Italy with the College, but I know that regardless if you have classes or not you will still have an extraordinary time.

When I first walked into the Reves Center, I swooned when I saw the wall of brochures and travel books-the possibilities are literally endless.  Here’s the link to the Reves Center-USE IT!

http://www.wm.edu/offices/revescenter/

Categories: Student Blogs, Study Away
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