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."
