Our last night together in Milan was not as teary as expected…just a night of fun and laughter, then off to Colonne. I stayed up to say good bye to the girls, as they each left for the airport. The next few days were lovely - just enjoying the beautiful weather in beautiful Milano. I’m so glad that Erin came to visit - we had a lovely time together, aperitivos at Just Cavalli, relaxing at the spa and frolicking in Switzerland!

Then off to London, for the loveliest of holidays! What a relief to travel without the stress of studies or anything else…highlights? Too many to count - obviously the problem you run into when you are spending a week with people you love in one of the best cities in the world. But here they are:

Eating a real English breakfast, complete with proper tea; meeting Sara, Rocio’s friend from Shanghai who is studying in London next year AND who I’m totally going to rage with when I’m (hopefully) there next spring - love her!!!; chilling in Camden, upping my cool credentials; Primark’s ridiculously dangerous deals; eating everything in sight at Borough Market; art nerding it out at the Tate Modern (where I also saw Fontanas on loan from Milan - what???); MINISTRY OF SOUND; the Underground, with its impossibly comfortable seats, clean atmosphere and “mind the gap,”; British accents (and the fact that everyone speaks English - blissssss); discovering Desperados with Jess (someone, please, PLEASE tell me that these are available in the states!); and finally the city itself: LONDON, STOP BEING SO FABULOUS. The first time I went to London, I loved it. But this time around, I adored it! Definitely coming back for a second round of European adventures, but next spring, vado a Londra! Arrivederci Milano e Italia; I’m going to London Town!

The best part was spending my last days in Europe frolicking with my loves; truly so blessed to have met them. I’ll never forget the people that I met this semester; no matter how far apart we are in the world, I hope that they know that I hold them in my heart.

My only consolation for leaving is that I’ll be seeing everyone (hopefully) this summer in the city!

When I came back to Milan before my flight, my remaining roomie threw a party in our little apartment for one of her friend’s birthdays…a lovely way to spend our last evening (I swear, the two of us ate all of the desserts ourselves, because the Italians had self-control, ahahaha)…then cleaning and packing all night, and then it was off to the airport!

The flights and even the international terminal were extremely uneventful and surprisingly stress-free. I met the loveliest woman in line to go to Frankfurt, who was on her way back to the East Bay as well, and sat next to an adorable, world-trotting old couple on my 11 hour flight from Germany back to the states. Goodness knows that I want to be like them when I’m eighty or so - y’know, casually just going to places all around Europe. I didn’t cry when I was home because I was so happy and excited to see everyone. I forgot how breathtakingly gorgeous California was. It just felt right. One more week until I leave for new adventures in NEW YORK CITY. I’ll be posting about that soon. But until then, baci! xoxo

Finally finished with my last final! Now, all I have to do is finish my internship paperwork, secure housing for NYC (new adventures!!!) and finish a paper. And pack my entire life here into one suitcase, one carry-on, a ruck sack and a small purse. For a girl that loves clothes as much as I do, I brought minimal luggage and that scares me…hopefully, I won’t have to leave too much behind, but studying abroad has taught me that I really don’t need much to live well (keep in mind that this is from the girl who is going home with twice as many shoes as she came with - Milan + shopping = fjdjlsjff) but really - I’ve learned to improvise. I can adapt well. And now, as I enter my last week in Italy, I hope that I’ll adapt just as well to living life after a semester abroad. It’s been life-changing, this past semester; I’m not the person that I was when I came here, and I’m grateful. What will it be like to leave? It seems surreal - everyone that I love heading on a plane back to the states? I’m avoiding that reality by consoling myself with a little trek to London with Jess and Rocio - I actually cannot wait. One of my favorite cities with two of my favorite people, with not a care about school or work. Bliss. I’m also so excited to see Erin, who’s coming to Milan for the weekend and then onward to London Town with me. And I’m excited to see Cora! See - so much to look forward to! A week in London, then back to Milano, then onward to California, where I’ll have a jam-packed-little-over-a-week to do everything that needs to be done before I leave for NYC (including but not limited to schnuggles, Jamie’s birthday party, Calla’s graduation, ballet recitals and flute concerts and of course, the prerequisite appointments.) Then off to NYC, where I’ll spend the next two months learning and observing and absorbing experiences both professionally and socially. I’m excited for this summer. I’m excited for tonight and the rest of my time in Milan. I’M REALLY EXCITED FOR LONDON (Ministry of Sound, anyone? The Church?!?) But I think I’m also just excited to be alive, to be living life. I’ll never be this age again in this city at this moment.

Tumblin’ Studying for my two final exams tomorrow (technically, today) - one final down, two papers completed and presentation done. Three more exams, one more paper and then I’M FREE! But what good will that be if I’m sleep-deprived?