I had been there before,

same place, same time,

Hi, my name is Shannon. I’m a few days from turning 21 years old. I go to Brown University. In less than two weeks I’ll arrive at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland.

This is my first real adventure.

Saturday, December 19, 2015:

A couple weeks ago I didn’t realize just how upset I would be to leave Nantes. I think for all of us it was almost unfathomable that we were actually going to have to say goodbye to each other and to France after arriving less than four months ago: it’s an amount of time that makes us feel at home; so being told that we’re supposed to leave, well…sucks.

1: Go for a morning run to see the sun rise. Living in Vauban, it is easy to make it to the hills and enjoy a beautiful sunset amongst the cattle.

La Grand Place. This square holds a series of beautiful buildings. Stopping by here is a must and learning a little bit of history about it is also cool. In each of the cities we visit with the program we have a walking tour of the city. Our Brussels tour guide was one of my favorites and he told us a couple funny stories about this square!

Today, once again, I was in the throng of a chaotic mass of people. We held hands so as to not lose each other in the din. Noises, smells, and lights bombarded my senses. But, I'm not even in Morocco anymore.

I knew this day would come from the very beginning. Those before me were right when they said three and a half months would pass almost instantly. It's been a wild ride, to say the least. I've learned so much, eaten so much, and  experienced so much. Japan has been so good to me and I don't think I'll ever have the words to say how much I appreciate her.

It still hasn’t fully hit me that I was able to travel halfway across the globe and had the opportunity actually to live in China! *takes deep breath* WOW! Although I had two previous study abroad experiences, my time in Shanghai definitely brought about new discoveries and breakthroughs. Even after I considered not writing at all, I still chose to do so. Through my writings and travels, I was able to think critically and to reflect on my life as a young Black man.

Saying goodbye is never easy, but how to say bye correctly from a city that has provided you with the most amazing memories during the entire last semester? As it was our last week in Rome, we wanted to make sure to check all of the boxes from our "Things-To-Do-In-Rome" list. 

Before coming to Rome, four months seemed like a long time. But once I got to Rome, I realized (sadly) that these four months were flying by. Therefore, I recommend to anyone studying abroad in the future - whether in Rome or not - to fully enjoy every single day spent abroad. Go explore the city and culture you live in! Take an hour or two each day to walk around, to get lost, to eat yourself through the city and find the best gelatto and panini store!