Ciao Roma a presto!

I can't believe we are almost done. In less than a week I will have my bags packed and I'll be sleeping in the airport due to the trains stopping at midnight and not starting up early enough for my 6:05 departure time.

I can't think of a better way to spend my summer. It never really felt like I was attending classes, the information I have learned has kept me so intrigued and I don't even know half of all there is to know about this complex city. I'm certain that there are a lot of sights that I have missed, but right now I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. My parents have told me that they have decided that we need to come out to Rome as a family, based on them seeing my pictures alone, I can't wait. I'll have the chance to see the things that I don't yet know that I've missed.

One thing I do know is that when I do make it back out here, I am never ever going to be a part of any annoying tour group. I have come to really dislike large groups of people who follow after the lead umbrella, sunflower, scarf, or whatever else the guide might be carrying. These groups love to hog all the space on the sidewalk, in doorways, and right in the good spot where single people want to be to take pictures. The only way you could get me to be a part of a tour group was if it is the group that travels around on segues. That I could do just because it would be fun to ride the segue.

I feel like I've grown a lot as a person while here too. At home I don't often venture out on my own, whether it is to just go for a walk, go exploring, or to run to see some exciting thing. Never in my life have I gone to a sit down restaurant alone and had a meal. My mom would be so proud of me and all of the museums I have been to and how I enjoy them here, unlike at home where boredom quickly sets in.

I have a few goals for when I get home:

Continue sketching and painting on a regular basis

Find a way to learn Italian

Read books on Rome to make a list of things to see when I return

Bug my parents into returning before I graduate

Research Architecture and Interior Design firms in the area as another possible way of returning

Print off lots of pictures of the (I swear it must be) thousands that I took

Thank you to Matt for guiding us in this amazing experience, and thank you for sweet talking the administration into letting us come on this trip even though we didn't get the minimum amount of people. Thanks admin for letting us come. Thanks to my parents and friends for your support. And thanks to everyone out here with me. I have had an amazing time getting to know you all and am glad to have made many new friends!