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13 Things I Didn't Expect To Look Forward To when coming home from Italy

"The ache for home lives within all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." - Maya Angelou

Kayla Miller

Jun 27, 2018

Purdue University

1720

13 Things I Didn't Expect To Look Forward To when coming home from Italy

Kayla Miller

Studying abroad has been an experience of a lifetime. Meeting new people and doing new things day after day has been incredibly surreal... and also quite exhausting. Sometimes, in the midst of being all about trying new things, we forget that we are allowed to recognize our desire for the things we miss as well. Some are more obvious than others, but they all play a role in our lives in one way or another. Whether you miss fried chicken, your bed, or your mama, everyone has something!

Therefore, throughout my entire study abroad experience, I have taken a mental note of thing after thing that I miss from home. Some are probably obvious, so I tried to point out the ones that I genuinely didn't expect.

And PSA: I already asked my mom to meet me with Chick Fil A nuggets and honey mustard sauce at the airport... #sorrynotsorry.

My blankets

Sleeping without blankets has been incredibly hard for me--something I obviously did not expect. I'm used to snuggling up and falling right to sleep, but here I lay awake each night with my single sheet and regret not bringing an extra bag just for a blanket... and yep, I'm being serious. I sleep with 4-5 blankets each night at home, granted I also have the fan on or the window open, but still.

Getting the check at a quick pace

I'm so excited to not have to wait 30 extra minutes at each restaurant just to get the check and another 10 for the transaction itself to take place.

American Netflix

For some reason, it never occurred to me that on Italian servers Netflix would appear differently and provide a different variety of shows than I'm used to.

Side dishes at restaurants

Kayla Miller

For example, if you want vegetables or fries with your order, you have to order them separately.

Soft clothes

Hang drying all of our clothes has often left them feeling stiff or "crunchy."

Fast food

Photo by Joshua Austin on Unsplash

I haven't been everywhere, but it seems like there are only McDonald's here... where's my precious Chick Fil A???

Dishwashers and dryers

They do have washers, but the dishwashers and dryers range from small to non-existent as well. And PSA: all of my clothes shrank in length (not size).

Not having to pay a cover charge at restaurants

Driving

Kayla Miller

It is actually quite normal in some places to travel strictly by walking, boat, or train.

Free water

Paying for water at restaurants is very overrated...

Normal showers

Yes, this one sounds odd... but the showers we've experienced here are either too small or non-existent. Do you like slamming your arm into the sliding door every time you try to wash your hair? Yeah, me neither.

Shredded cheese

Yep... the cheese here is great, but I need the taco blend of shredded cheese from Walmart. IT IS TOO GOOD.

Sturdy toilet seats

And sometimes... there aren't even toilet seats (or actual toilets) here at all. One of the girls in my group went into a bathroom the was "a hole in the floor."

traveling home from italy

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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13 Things I Didn't Expect To Look Forward To when coming home from Italy

"The ache for home lives within all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned." - Maya Angelou

My blankets

Getting the check at a quick pace

American Netflix

Side dishes at restaurants

Soft clothes

Fast food

Dishwashers and dryers

Not having to pay a cover charge at restaurants

Driving

Free water

Normal showers

Shredded cheese

Sturdy toilet seats

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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