Before I studied abroad, it didn’t occur to me that I would be spending Thanksgiving in Italy. I think that I was so focused on the fact that I would make it back for my birthday and Christmas, that Thanksgiving faded away in my brain. Really, all of our brains. We didn’t notice until it was almost upon us and we had zero plans. Of course, the only resolution was to throw a Thanksgiving dinner. Groceries stores are different there. Smaller and busy, even without the holiday. The food is different, too, of course. So making the same dishes that we have at home was kind of out of the question. We were really throwing together anything that we could. We invited a bunch of people from our first travel week and a few others that found their way into our circle one way or another.

Everyone brought a dish or a drink, and we made a whole hodgepodge spread of food. Some people just brought the ingredients and cooked in the kitchen, all of us running around to get everything together. Then, as we ate, we sat in a circle and said what we were thankful for, reminiscing on our best memories from the program. I think it was one of my favorite Thanksgiving meals I’ve ever had. Being in our own space with lovely memories. Around all of these people, that you didn’t know a few months ago, who were now such a big part of your everyday life. It was a surreal moment and one of my favorites to look back on. You really never know what experience is waiting for you until you step out of your comfort zone and start to actively participate in your life instead of waiting for you to pass you by.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Florence University of the Arts