As I was in the cab, taking me to my fate of leaving Milan after over two months of being there, I was hit with one resounding feeling. I felt like I was mourning the loss of Milan and who I felt as though I became there. While obviously, who I’ve grown into this summer will be coming home with me, it’s different than if I were to remain in Milan. I was sad that I would be leaving the city that contributed to making me who I am now.

Being a Black woman in the United States can be a very draining experience. Daily, we experience discrimination at the intersection of race and gender, also known as intersectionality. 

1. Act like a local, even if you do touristy things.

If you want to really experience a place, then act like you live there. Try to meet locals and ask them for recommendations of things to do that are off the beaten path. Go to the Opera House, of course, but also ask your coworker about the best place to get a cup of coffee in the central business district. Try not to treat this like an extended vacation, and do more ordinary things that a local would do. One of the best decisions I made was asking my coworkers where the best restaurants in Sydney are. 

Yesterday, August 6th, I arrived back in the United States after having spent my last days in France after the program visiting family. 

I feel like so much happened in a month and a half. I saw so many new places, met many great people, tried a lot of new foods…I honestly feel like my trip to France was a dream, and that I just woke up in my apartment in Washington D.C.