Today was my last day in Florence; this entire experience seems almost unreal to me. It feels like I was struggling to drag my luggage up the stairs to my apartment just yesterday. This city has come to feel like home to me. Of course it does not replace the city where my family lives, but Florence will definitely always have a piece of my heart.

Lifelong friendships

Saying goodbye to my professors and the couple close friends that I made here was difficult for me. It doesn’t feel like I will be on an airplane tomorrow back to my life in Virginia. I am, of course, very much looking forward to seeing my friends and family when I get back. I know, however, that I will have to readjust more than just my sleep schedule to regrow accustomed to the environment.

Sunset over the Arno

I feel so truly blessed that I was able to study here for an entire semester. I know that I have developed and grown in ways that I am probably not fully aware of. I have gained a new level of confidence that I hope I can maintain once I return back to Virginia.

Street art

I was consistently inspired during my time abroad, I cannot wait to apply the things that I have learned and make them my own. Studying abroad was a task that was very difficult for me to accomplish. I feel that since I was ultimately successful there is absolutely no reason why I can’t accomplish the things I want to if I put in the effort.

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Detranelle is a Fall 2017 SAI Florence student from Virginia Commonwealth University.