Dear sophomore year,
My entire educational career has revolved around summer countdowns- every May eagerly crossing dates off a calendar page and every August dreading the start of a new school year. For the first time in my life, I am now dreading the end of a school year. I do not want you to end. I am not ready for you to end. I refuse to believe that one of the most exciting, challenging, adventurous, transformative, ridiculously fun, pivotal, memorable, chapters of my life is coming to a close.
It all started on a plane ride in September. I sat on a plane next to two of my best friends as we cruised the night sky heading to Rome. It was finally here. The day we have talked about since we first met freshman year was here. We were starting our adventure, and what an adventure it was…
Cliche as it sounds, studying abroad really changes you. I had a hard time believing everyone that told me it would, but they were right. I still can’t pinpoint exactly what it was that changed me, or the exact ways in which I have changed. But it’s just a feeling. A hunch. I feel different. And it makes sense. I mean how can you see Papa Francesco five feet away from you, attend mass at the Vatican, and go to Brugge to see a relic with the Blood of Jesus and not feel different? How can you eat a #sausage in Old Town Square in Prague, try Belgian chocolate in Belgium, and eat Frigidarium gelato daily in Rome and not feel different? How can you have heart to hearts on a rooftop terrace in Rome, or the steps of a church, or the study room on the second floor of the Albergo del Sole and not feel different? How can you go on a booze cruise around the Mediterranean Sea at 10 am in a broken wooden boat and jump into the clearest water in Capri and not feel different? How can you be “ready to disembark,” see Roman ruins that are “absolutely delicious,” and  look at artifacts of “of course ze penis” and not feel different? How can you feel so homesick that you do nothing but cry for an entire day, look for the always coveted wifi to FaceTime home, or be lucky enough to have your family fly to Europe to visit you and not feel different? How can you take a picture in front of Annie James’ house in London, or the John Lennon Wall in Prague, or the Berlin Wall in Germany and not feel different? How can you let your friend cut your hair, sneak onto a carousel in Piazza Navona at two-thirty in the morning, and jump into a fountain and not feel different? How can you become regulars at Navona Notte, Abbey Theatre, Pizza Re, VIP, Mimi e Coco and Scholars and not feel different? How can you travel to the Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, England, and Ireland and not feel different? How can you form these amazing friendships with some of the most ridiculously funny, honest, and caring people in the world and not feel different?
Everyone warned us of the culture shock coming back to Home Campus after spending a semester in Rome. They said that after a semester abroad, a semester back at Saint Mary’s would be miserable. I’ve never been more relieved to have received false information. It’s had its challenges, but this semester has been my favorite of college thus far. I started classes for my majors, and confirmed that this is the track I want to be on. Sem has become our school dad / #1 taxi service. I have gotten close to the greatest group of freshmen who have let me become a big sister, friend, and paper editor. My friends and I have had the most hilarious nights out that for the sake of everyone’s dignity I will not post about on the Internet….
So, sophomore year. We only have two days left together. (No, I don’t have any finals. Yes, nursing major friends I know you hate me.) We have two days left to soak in the beauty that was this year. And then it’s time to go home and start crossing days off a calendar until we’re back in the Bend…