Friends in Far Away Places

If I have learned anything about this semester it is the importance of my friends and family. I was really worried beforehand about how it would be spending such a long time away from all of them. Questions that constantly battered my mind were if they were going to remember me, if they would talk to me, if they were actually my friends and cared about me, and how relationships would change when I went abroad. My love language is physical touch, so I was quite worried about that. It does not even have to be romantic. It could be me hugging my friends or just sitting next to them. Not having my friends or family there to fulfill my top love language was quite scary for me.

I have been truly blessed that I have had so many friends fill the gap between the wide ocean that parts us. There have been floods of messages, snapchats, and video chats that come into my phone each and every day. I have been filled to the brim with words of affection about how they miss me and are wondering how I am doing. I definitely reciprocate this because I am getting very ready to get back home and reconnect with all the activities that they are taking part in.

Another thing I have been blessed with is having friends come and visit me. I know a few students from the University of St. Thomas who are also studying abroad but in London on the London Business Semester. Seeing them in complete awe, wonder, and enjoyment of Rome make me realize how much of a blessing it is to study here. It is so easily forgotten the amazing city that I am in and how much I have to see and experience. They rejuvenate my love for this city and for studying abroad. It has been getting harder to fully be immersed in Rome due to my time here quickly depleting. In less than a month I will be back in the United States, which I am anticipating being an even harder transition. While I am very excited to see my friends and family, I know that I will miss it here. Rome has become my home and will always hold a piece of my heart. Soon enough Rome will just be an old friend who is a whole ocean away.

“Surround yourself with people who care about you, not just those who say it, but those who show it” -Alex Elle