I blame "National Geographic's" captivating pictures of beautiful landscapes of different countries to be the reason why I wanted to travel so badly as a young girl. They showed me what the outside of America looked like, and how it is to be emerged and immersed in a foreign culture. I wanted a taste. More than a taste, I wanted to smell, touch, feel, eat, and live in a culture that was not mine. So when I got accepted into NYU Florence, Italy's study abroad program in the fall of 2013, oh was I thrilled. I could have a “National Geographic moment” I thought to myself, but what "National Geographic" didn’t show in their pictures, was that I would have a “Black Woman” experience overseas.

My experience as a study abroad student as a whole was a great experience; I lived with a host family in Italy. I was immersed in the Italian culture and got to practice my Italian language skills. I also traveled to other countries in Europe and witnessed different cultures and how different people react and interact with an African-American woman such as myself. My time abroad was a life changing and a learning experience — especially as a Black woman.

Traveling abroad while Black encompasses many things: for one thing, it is common to be mistaken as a popular black celebrity, in my case it was Beyoncé. When I was in Croatia for Easter break, my friends and I were walking back to our hostel after a very fun night out on the town. A Croatian couple walked slowly towards us and kept eyeing me as we walked through the cobblestone streets. As we reached closer to the hostel, I heard a woman scream “Beyoncé!” I turned my head in all four directions in search of the International Superstar who was nowhere to be found. I shortly realized, as I watched her husband calm her down, that the young slender natural haired woman who was just mistaken as the voluptuous Queen B, was none other than myself.

Another experience Black travelers will deal with is the long-winded explanations from fellow African-American travelers expounding on the African-American culture and experience back home and how our lives are not like "The Wire" or "Django Unchained" or any other popular film/tv show about black people. Instead of getting angry and frustrated that people really thought that my life was like any 90’s urban movie, I chose to educate. I discussed with my Italian family and sometimes my roommate—who thought it was strange that I could not find my ancestors in the records at Ellis Island like her family could— that being Black in America is still a struggle, but it is also an honor. I have the opportunity to teach foreigners and some Americans about my culture, heritage and roots. I also upheld myself in a way that was different than the tainted stereotypes people harbor of Black people and that alone helped me educate my classmates and the locals about Black culture in America.

As my host family educated me on their Italian culture through food, conversations over dinner, music and wine, I also participated in this cultural exchange and educated my host family on how it is to be a Black woman.

I chose to keep my hair in my natural curls and just rock my twist, twist-outs, braid-outs and Bantu knot outs while I studied in Italy. I packed my trusty hair products from home with me and I was off to express my heritage through my curls. Wearing my curls abroad was a liberating experience. I have been natural my whole life and I never felt more comfortable and accepted with my natural hair then I was in Italy. My host family loved it, my classmates were in awe of my luscious curls and I caught glances from the locals when my curls bounced freely in the wind. When I touched down in Florence with a twist-out, I got stares and fingers pressed in my curls. My host mother wanted twists in her hair after she saw my twists hanging beautifully on my face. “I tuoi capelli sono così bello. Si può fare così tanto con esso” “Your hair is so beautiful. You can do so much with it” is what she would always say when I would have a new style.

There is “The-study-abroad-experience” and then there is the “Black-study-abroad-experience” and then there is the “Black woman-study-abroad-experience.” I certainly had the “Black-woman-study-abroad-experience” while I was in Florence. As I traveled back to the United States, I reflected about my time in Italy as a Black woman and realized that I am glad I am in this skin. Being Black is not a curse and it should not be regarded as one either. This skin color gives us reason to inform, teach and show others about our great culture. And as a Black woman I had the opportunity to do so proudly.