kylecrowe
Friends
I always knew I was going to study abroad. I liked traveling, I was bored of the Midwest, but most importantly I wanted to try as many new things as possible and studying abroad offered the best way for me to do so. I went to Spain for vacation last year as a test run, to make sure Europe was the place for me. I returned surer than ever that I would be spending 4 months in Europe the following year. I was all set on studying in a small town in the south of France, when I looked back and thought about why I loved my visit to Spain so much. When Steve and I got to Spain we had 3 days alone in Madrid until we met up with our friend Dan in Granada. I loved the city of Madrid, but without knowing anyone and speaking no Spanish we were essentially lost in the city the entire time we were there. Arriving in Granada was a breath of fresh air. We could catch up with Dan as well as speak to the locals with his help. Going out with his friends in Granada those few nights were a great time. I thought it was the comfort and subtlety of a small town that I loved Granada for, but really, it was the people I was with. Realizing this I applied to the Rome program, because my good friends Robert and Katie were applying to the same program, and one of my best friends, Catherine was planning to study in Rome as well through Marquette. I knew I’d be happy anywhere in Europe, and as long as I had these three friends I’d have a fantastic semester. I remember waiting in the airport to leave for Rome back in January with Rob andKaite. I was ready to spend the majority of my semester with them and Catherine. I knew if this was the case I’d be happy. 3.5 months later and I’ve made some of the closest friends of my life. When traveling every weekend you’re forced to make friendships. Traveling brings out the best and worst in everybody, forced to cope with people for sleepless, smelly, countless nights in a hostel that too closely resembles a storage room has proved beneficial, as I feel I have made friendships that will last forever. I’m dangerously optimistic, to the point that I still think the White Sox will make the playoffs, and I can still pull off straight A’s, when realistically 3rd place is the best they can do and a 3.5 GPA is the best I can do, respectively. I’m a firm believer that the future is brighter than the past, and that the glass is always half full. However I’m struggling to cope with that fact that the past 4 months of my life will be the best of my life. For the first time in my life I’m accepting the future is not as bright as the past. With a few days left in Rome I’m filled with dozens of different emotions, but mostly fear. I fear leaving this lifestyle that I’vefallen in love. Fortunately I know everything will be okay. I know this because of the friends I’ve made this semester. All of us are feeling similar emotions, and luckily I know we’ll be there for each other to help manage our transition back to America. When I’m around this new group of friends I can’t help but be enthusiastically ecstatic. With all of us already planning concerts to go to reunite this summer and bar crawls for the fall I know the future is going to be not only okay, but very similar to the incredibly unbelievable past 4 months. Everyone I met this semester made it what it was. However there were 15 specific people that made it truly special I would like to personally thank the 15 individuals that made this semester everything I could have dreamed of and the best 4 months of my life (in alphabetical order, by last name): · Frank: I didn’t really understand you at the beginning of the semester, and I think I understand you even less now. You changed your facebook name completely a few weeks into the program. You pole dance on the tram consistently. You drink way more than you think you can, yet still make it out nightly. You are constantly looking for ways to stay in Europe longer, even if it means sleeping on some strangers couch. The only thing I’m sure of is that you’re incredibly fun to be around and I hope this continues past this semester. · Cbuns: You’ve been the one constant in my life for the past 2 years or so. Regardless of what happens in either of our lives I know we can talk to each other about anything. While I would have been happy with the friends from my program, having you in Rome with me added to the perfection of the semester. · Bre: First and foremost I don’t understand how you drink when it does the damage to your body the next morning. With that said I never really felt hungover, as you appeared to always feel 10x worse than me the morning after a long night. But it also taught me an attitude I carried with me all semester, which is, regardless of how much pain I might be in tomorrow I’m going to have fun tonight and live life in the moment, to the fullest. My first distinct memory of you is in Florence. On the night you later claimed to have lost your social security card in a bar we were dancing when you screamed “catch me!” I answered no, you didn’t care as you leapt at me, and I dropped you, oops. The other memory that stands out in my mind was in London, as we were at a McDonalds one night, probably around 4AM. We had drank a lot so we weren’t using out best judgment, but when a stranger said something offensive to one of our friends we were both very angry. Upon hearing his insult I tried to approach him, but was held back by you. A few moments later you tried the same, and I held you back. Nothing physical happened that night, yet the next morning we both regretted not doing something. Since we both felt that way it’s ironic, or maybe just selfish, that we were both holding each other back. · Geegs: I don’t care what anyone says, I’m convinced we’re the best dancing partners in the world. Countless nights spent at Coyote would prove this, as everyone else was clearly jealous. In addition, we made excellent partners in Italian class, as I feel we were paired with each other time and time again, probably fate. However, I’m never forgiving you for breaking Shelly. · Jake: One of my biggest worries going into this semester was that I wouldn’t have anyone to make fun of Sefer with. You quickly solved this problem as you might enjoy annoying him more than me, which I didn’t know was possible. The creation ofwww.twitter.com/fakersefer provided constant entertainment throughout the semester as we were repeatedly thinking of ways to poke fun at Bob. · Lindsay: Whether it was our serious drunken conversations that I half remember, sit and reach contests, or drinking beer off your foot on a bridge at 3AM, we seemed to form a strong friendship early in the semester. My two favorite memories of you are 1) on some random Monday night in the middle of nowhere you thought it’d be a good idea to start a coco crispy fight on my bed. Needless to say this was an unforgettable night. And 2) our day trip to Siena I also loved. I didn’t understand your insistency to travel to the quaint town for a day, but I’m glad I tagged along as it was one of my favorite days of the semester. · Jen: You scared me on day 1, as you proclaimed our friendship as soon as we met. But in reality, I’ve never been more appreciative of someone so nice and willing to accept me into their life as a friend than on our trip to Prague. With nothing to do my 3rd weekend in Rome you graciously invited me to join in on your girls’ weekend to Prague so I wouldn’t be left in Rome alone, we’ve been great friends ever since. Aside from that you’ve taught me one of the most important lessons this semester, as when stressed out about something it’s simply not worth time worrying, as “the drama is too exhausting.” I’m going to remember this not only for the semester but forever. · Mitch: I quickly realized we partied at very similar rates. I needed someone on this program that liked to have the same style of fun that I was accustomed to having. You had a weird knack of sneaking in the most awkward or weird comment into any conversation. To an innocent bystander it wouldn’t (or at least shouldn’t) appear funny, but once we got to know your sense of humor the awkwardness you created was hilarious. Also, thanks for making me never feel tall this whole semester. When most people would be somewhat embarrassed by standing out so often, you showed me to not care at all about what these Italians think of us. · Christine: Your weird rants of random words that made no sense whatsoever repeatedly cracked me up. Something involving machines/lizards/sex/experiencethis somehow was worked into our daily lingo. It was also refreshing to spend a semester with someone who appreciates good food as much as I do. Steak. · Leah: It’s hard to imagine someone rubbing off on me more. After spending a few days with you and learning the ways of Betty I quickly began to adopt a similar speech pattern to you without trying. Being out of control in public apparently rubbed off on me as Istoppedcaring what any Italians think of me and concentrated solely on having a good time. I’ll forever remember your laugh that occurred during every Italian class, loud, obnoxious and unmerciful of the tutor next door, you always showed your true emotions. · Perrone: h8 you. I think our trip to Brussels accurately describes our relationship from this past semester. Over seeing museums and churches we traveled north hundreds of miles and paid hundreds of dollars to drink beers, many beers. It was one of the best weekends of the semester. It was necessary to have someone on this trip that took everything with a grain of salt and the most importantly just wanted to have fun. I look forward to our beer dates. · Bob: Pretty much the sole reason I studied abroad in Rome. I didn’t know much about the city, or Italy in general. I knew as long as he was by my side I would enjoy my semester. I knew right after our weekend in Florence with you navigating everybody around that all would go fairly smoothly this semester. However, as one of new friends quickly pointed out this semester, Bob and I are pretty much exact opposites. We agree on no issues and are constantly arguing. For some reason we’ve been good friends for most of the past 18 years. I wouldn’t expect that to change in the near or distant future. · Starr: You quickly taught me how to have a good time wherever you are. Just close your eyes and dance; it was a fool proof method. Whether it’s discussing our pooping schedules or biting each other’s toes we had an interesting, yet endlessly entertaining friendship from week 1 of the semester. I knew our friendship was special when after I ignored your request to help you find your lost leather jacket one night, the next night you invited me over to eat your beloved mac ‘n cheese with you, thanks bet. · Sarah: You may have come to Rome to fall in love, but I came to Rome to juke, and with you as my partner. We spent countless nights on the dance floor juking rather inappropriately. On a more serious note, I wouldn’t have been able to get through our video project without you, you were a tremendous encouragement and help, we made a good team. Still, I’m never forgiving you for taking advantage of me in Prague. · Stevens: Your enjoyment to create an awkward situation was fantastic, as I myself loveawkwardness, especially when Sefer was the victim. I’m also voting your laugh as the best of the program, as I caught myself occasionally laughing in a high pitched girly tone, I didn’t hate it. I would also like to thank you for the countless bowls of drunken popcorn you provided; afterhours wouldn’t have been the same without you. Still, perhaps the funniest moment of the semester was you falling backwards down the stairs in your chair in class.
