Two months until America! Two months until America?

"For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I think this quote perfectly describes how we are all feeling in Florence right now.  I have been experiencing SO much, but missing so much too.  We have been having so much fun and seeing some incredible parts of the world, but we've only just realized how much we are missing while we have been gone!  It is easy to forget how time keeps going on at home and we aren't there to experience it all.  I am very appreciative of the time I have while in Europe and savoring all of these moments, but also looking forward to being reunited with some of my favorite people on Earth back in the States!

This week, I was fortunate enough to have my parents in town, so I could show them what I've been up to and what life for me has been like in Florence.  They caught me at a bad time of being tired, cranky, and wanting to get back on the plane with them as they left for Florence.  We got some fabulous meals and took a little afternoon visit to Fiesole.  We got caught in the rain Thursday and Friday, which put a little damper on our ambitious plans to make it to San Gimigiano and Assisi.  They struggled with jet leg while they were here.
I now have my two fabulous roommates, who keep me sane laughing until my abs hurt and my eyes water every single day, back from their weekend adventures and I am focusing on the studying part of study abroad!  I was also able to see TWO friends from high school this weekend- my friend, John, is studying in Bonn, Germany and he came down to visit me and his friend from LMU, who is also doing GIF.  It was so fun to have him here and show him our favorite parts of Florence!  Saturday was hands down the most gorgeous day we have had this semester, so we climbed to the Duomo, spotted all of our favorite places, and just sort of soaked in the fact that, yep, this is what I am currently calling home!  Later that night, we saw one of our good friends from high school at Space, so that was so fun to see her out and about in Florence. This weekend, I am not meeting just one, not two, but three of my good friends from high school in Amsterdam.  It will be so great to see some more old faces from high school.