Jonathan's Reflection

All good things must come to an end. As the trip neared its conclusion, reality started setting in during the early hours of Rome. It wasn’t until the final day in Italy that I really though back and reflected on my experiences. As I looked out over the river I thought about the trip in its entirety from the arrival up until that point. Since this was my first visit to foreign country I discovered a few things that I would not have without this travel experience.

The cultural differences were apparent. Obviously the different language that was spoken, and the currency used for purchases were unfamiliar to our group. However, I couldn’t help but notice the difference in the overall Italian environment. Perhaps it was just an outsiders perspective or because of the highly populated tourist areas. Regardless I couldn’t help but notice the occupational differences among the Italian majority. It seemed to me like a slower paced work to live type of environment rather than the traditional American approach which is more like a live to work mentality. Additionally, by studying the art and beauty of the country my personal experience of this trip inspired me to better appreciate the simple things in life. Although it seemed like it had all gone by too quickly but even more than that I thought about all of the experiences that I got to enjoy. 

Since I had not set any expectations for the trip in an attempt to avoid potential disappointment I was very much impressed with everything that my experience in Italy had to offer. As the tour ended I thanked the professional transportation engineer for a safe travels and our tour manager for everything that she did. While sitting at the airport in Milan I had a lot of time to reflect on the trip as well. I thought about the beautiful art, architecture, and how I had not experienced a disappointing meal the entire trip. The many pictures, personal connections, and visual interpretations will serve as an unforgettable travel experience.