I miss Florence so much - leaving the city, even to embark on a whirlwind, two week trip through Paris, London and Barcelona, was a very sad experience for me. I never imagined that I would feel such a connection and feel an incredibly strong sense of belonging in a place so far away from what I've always called home. Even more than I miss the city I miss hearing and speaking Italian. The English language will never sound as beautiful to me as Italian does, of that much I am sure. Although I have always thought of myself as Italian first and American second, and am proud of the way my family has chosen to maintain Italian culture and tradition in the States, living and learning in Italy as a twenty-something pulled me even deeper into this part of who I am - and I could not be more grateful for it. 

Arrivederci, Firenze - Ti amo e ti vedrò presto, lo prometto.