Now that the dust has settled, you realize that something in you has changed over the course of this journey. You're left with a yearning to learn, to encapsulate every cultural nuance and adapt it to the new you. Inside, there's a new love for travel, to be in a constant state of motion, not letting anything catch up until....well, now. And now you sit and reflect on what has happened and you see that you're different. Little changes, so minute that you hadn't realized them until today. And tomorrow, they'll become magnified. You've acquired strength, in being away from loved ones. You've gained independence unmatched to any you have yet to experience. You have become friends with people who will be with you throughout the rest of your life. But most of all, you have achieved an entirely new perspective on life, your eyes are fresh with new vision. After today, you’ll bring back with you more than luggage and souvenirs. The real souvenirs from this trip will be the memories. The memories of catching awfully early trains, of sleeping in airports, of trying eclectic foods, of Murphy’s, of Jumping Jesters, of late night kebab, of Erasmus nights. You’re full of them, memories. Like Venice and Verona, and eating at the vineyard, of learning how to use those weird public toilets, not to mention bidets (or how to avoid those), of learning a language and hearing the words roll off your tongue, of drinking cappuccinos, of sunny days in the park. These, memories, are what you’re made of. Go home, and hold these tight, and live on in the voracity that you have come to learn in these past four months. And thank you, for being a part of my memories and my experience here to learn each and every one of these things about myself.
Love always,
Brianna
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