As the first semester comes to an end, and as the year closes out and the Christmas lights are illuminating the streets of Viterbo, I begin to reflect on the growth that I have made in my first semester abroad. This first semester felt like a dream, unlike any other back home, and consisted of a lot of calls and texts, which is inevitably a part of studying abroad. These four months felt more like an adjustment period and a time of discovering things I never knew about myself. 

Part of the study abroad experience that drew me in was that everyday was a new adventure. No two days are going to be the same inviting us to stay in the present moment, to really be able to savour every moment, and be open-minded. Everyday presented me with new challenges to tackle, and while some days I would go to bed feeling accomplished, there were also some days that I felt defeated and weak. Regardless I would always stop, look back, and celebrate the little victories along the way.  

If someone had told pre-SYA me that I was going to travel to Rome all alone, I would have not believed it. When we had our first fieldwork to Rome, I vividly remember pacing around the school thinking about all the possible mistakes I would make like missing the train, getting on the wrong train, or anything else that would cause a scene. Traveling to Rome required taking a one hour train ride from Viterbo and depending on the specific destination Rome, it also requires another public transportation system such as the metro. Once we arrived, I felt disorientated not knowing where I was suppose to go. I barely knew the language, and despite that Rome was a tourist city, I refuse to use English to ask for directions so I could practice my Italian. Finding the train station to return to Viterbo was the hardest part which included trying to find an appropriate time to go back at and from which station. By the time we found which station we were going to walk to we had to sprint to the station. But once we had gotten on the train on our way to Viterbo, I celebrated this little victory. Each subsequent time we had fieldworks to Rome felt progressively easier, because the more I practice, the better I will become at it. 

During my time abroad, I will inevitably face setbacks, but I remind myself that I once dreamt of being where I am now. And even if that means I will make countless mistakes now, the more I do it, the better I become at it, and maybe one day it will become all the stories I share, and become a part of who I am.