Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank you so much for absolutely everything you have given me. I wish I could never express how grateful I am.
I am the luckiest person in the whole world to have parents who did as much as you two did just to give me this
experience with one of my best friends. I have written multiple versions of this letter all trying to capture my
experience. I wrote letters for each trip and talked about all the big things we did. I had to erase them all because
nothing remotely captures how amazing this has really been. Every single time I stepped off the plane at these destinations
I was brought to tears. There was not a single place I didn't fall in love with and want to move to. I still can't fully
comprehend and appreciate the fact that I got to live and travel the way I have as a twenty year old girl with my best friend.
I wish there was some way to translate my emotions looking back on this semester. There have been so many emotions throughout
this trip and growing as a person. I learned so much about myself and the world.
I can't believe that Trastevere is my home the same way Annapolis and Philadelphia are. My life feels so right here.
Adjusting was so difficult at first but three months later I feel local. I push through tourists in Rome the exact same
way I do to tourists in Annapolis and Philadelphia. It's hard knowing that I need to leave here in a matter of days.
I can't imagine not riding the tram, looking down at cobble stone as I walk, eating fresh Italian pizza as a casual snack,
traveling to Amsterdam on the weekend. I almost don't want to talk about this trip to anyone but you guys because no one can
understand and I could never do this experience justice. Thinking about it just makes me cry tears of joy and sadness. I can't believe
it's over. I have been looking forward to this ever since we came to Rome my Junior year of High School. The only solace I have is how amazing of
parents I have and that one day if I ever have the opportunity to come back you would support me 100%. That is such a normal thing in our family,
to be completely supported in everything you do by your parents, that a lot of kids I know do not have. You guys did so much to get me here and
make sure I was safe. I can never every repay that. I love you so much. The only reason I am remotely ok going home is because I get to see
you guys. I don't really even know how to end this because I could talk about this trip forever and how happy I am. But I compiled a bunch
of pictures from all over the world to try to help me tell you about my trip. So here is my website I have been working on this semester
(because despite what everyone thinks I have actually been going to class).
I love you more than anything, you are really the best parents anyone could every ask for.