It is December 16th. I am in the United States, at home, and the trip is officially over. I was so excited to see my family and to show them my pictures and what I got during my two week experience, but I also woke up this morning with an empty feeling. I felt the full effects of someone who got to see new and different things every minute of her two week experience in Italy and is completely sad that the feeling of exploring and learning is over. I feel so fulfilled by getting to experience that, but I can't help but feel sad that it is over. Not only did I get to see so many things that I only dreamed of seeing, but I got to connect with 16 different people.

I was going through my pictures with all of my family, and I realized that it was such an overwhelming feeling of happiness that while I was showing them the pictures I could explain in great detail what everything was, from the various cathedrals we visited to the Forum, and so on. I was able to understand those sites fully enough to explain them to my family: something that I would never be able to do without this experience. I am so thrilled that I now have that knowledge settled in my brain and in my memory. I hope I will never lose one minute I spent in Italy.

Even though I have mixed feelings about being home, both happy and sad, I know that this once in a lifetime experience means the world to me. Thanks to everyone I shared it with and those who aided in my knowledge of the wonderful places we saw. Thank you all so much for the experience.