In America

And so, the journey has ended.

The dream has been realized.

I had thought, upon re-entry into the USA, I'd be feeling some culture shock having been away from everything American for the past three months, but that really hasn't happened. I've been back for over a month now and I'm okay. Maybe it's because I've been working and have been surrounded by Christmas that I haven't had a chance to reflect on everything that's happened over the past three months.

I've woken up a few days in the morning with Ascoli on my mind. One day I woke up with a vision of me walking through Piazza del Popolo. Weird, huh?

It's been only a month, but it seems like a lot longer since I've been in Italy. I guess that's part of the re-entry process. My adopted home for three months is calling back to me in a way.

Italy: I'll be back, someday. Studying abroad has given me a great energy and thirst for knowledge, life and traveling. It's given me my dreams. It was everything I wanted it to be.

I'd love to write some sweeping expression of my time in Italy. I wish I could do that, capture my whole experiance in a grand paragraph of inspiration describing Italian excellence, but it wouldn't be accurate. No matter what I write about Italy my words wouldn't be true.

The country is so filled with expression and vibrancy that no words can capture it. Not even a writer far more experienced than I could do justice.

And, although I cannot wrap this blog up in such a way, I can provide some advice for my readers. It's short, but it's the one thing that I've learned over and over again during my time in Italy: Travel.

Yeah, I know travel is expensive and the economy isn't doing great right now. But, it will look up and there will be an oppurtunity. And when it comes take it! You'll be so glad you did. I sure am.

Ciao,

Alex


PS. Thanks to my teachers Dana and Susi who wrote reccomendation letters for me, Joanne Conrad in the guidance department at UNH Manchester for helping me with the application process, to Silvia, Cristian, Diana, Jessica, Adam and Christina for making the UNH-in-Italy classes so enjoyable. Thanks to the kids at San Agostino's who made my Monday and Tuesday mornings loud, but so much fun. Thank you to my family, especially to my mom and dad.

Thank you to everyone at my work and thanks to my boss who gave me my job back when I returned!

Lastly, thanks to the people and the city of Ascoli Piceno. I love them so much and cannot wait until we meet again.