Back To Reality
Written by Megan May 8, 2015
My grandma and me in Switzerland
Looking sharp for the last gourmet dinner
Spending our final hour in Paderno with good friends!
Patrick and me in Dublin
Cliffs of Moher
Falling off the Cliffs!
Two weeks post-Europe and I am already missing my second home; I never thought I would be saying that!
What is life really like after CIMBA? Well, listen up because I am about to tell it how it is. To be honest, I could probably sum it up in three short words: life is bland. It’s like a cold, gloomy day with no good book to snuggle up with, no Netflix series to binge watch or friends to keep you company. It’s bland like the regular cheerios that your grandparents always get and really have no flavor. (Just kidding grandma, I love those things!) To put it in perspective, imagine transitioning from the always new and exciting atmosphere in Italy to the rise and grind atmosphere in the US – all in a matter of a quick transatlantic flight. Honestly, it is a very rude slap back to reality. Now, I will not lie to you, I was certainly excited to see my friends and family back home (and my dog Bo) but at the same time I was not quite ready to say goodbye to Europe.
It has only been a couple of weeks since I returned from my travels abroad, and I am already home sick to be back. Not just in Europe, but with all of my fellow CIMBA classmates, country hopping on the weekends and having the times of our lives. I miss gathering in Bridgette’s room with a mess of tablets and computers planning our upcoming trips. I miss dodging the bouncy balls Stefan, Ryan, and Dan would toss down the hallway on the fifth floor. I miss my operations professor, Simone, and his contagious goofy energy. I miss the beautiful view out my window and being just down the hall from my best friends. I even miss that weird dance that Austin would do outside of Patrick’s room sometimes. I miss some of the happiest times of my life. The strangest part of all is the realization that homesickness didn’t hit me during week 5 or 8 abroad, not even during week 11, but it actually set in 2 weeks after everything was said and done.
I have had the opportunity to see and do some pretty amazing things with some pretty awesome people and nothing can or will ever be able to change that. I would not trade my experience at CIMBA for the world. Well, maybe for another Picasso Pizza from Pizzaria Cornaro…just kidding! Over the past three months I have gained a new perspective, increased my confidence, developed my knowledge on array of different cultures, and had just a little fun along the way. I have been saying this from the second I got back, I think everyone should study abroad. It was truly an amazing experience for me and I wish everyone could have the same opportunity.
It’s nice to be back, but like I said there are just a few things and people that I am missing. It is difficult to wrap this semester into words, but I would like to thank my friends and family who have supported me along my entire journey and my fellow CIMBA classmates for making it all worth it!
As always, ciao for now!
Blogger: Megan, Western Michigan University
