I’m a runner. Not the lace up your shoes and jog around the track type of runner, but I seem to run from problems. It’s something I’ve always kind of just known, but I’ve never really admitted it. Studying abroad was running. Not to say that my life back in the States isn’t great because it is, and I am so incredibly grateful. In all honesty, I was running from America. There were just a lot of things that the country that I love and know so well was infuriating me. I don’t know if it was the fact that I was grown now and understood more about society, but I was getting frustrated. I was angry about the racial issues that still haunt us Americans. I was angry about how people were being treated in America. I was angry because nothing was making sense, so I got on a plane and went elsewhere. Not to say elsewhere is necessarily better, but I just needed a break from the “Land of the Free.”

After being here in Italy for 2 months, I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve learned that making friends isn’t difficult as long as you’re yourself and really don’t care what others think of you. I’ve learned that being a runner is not a bad thing. It’s actually quite normal and part of being human. I’ve met a lot of runners during my study abroad experience. Someone is always running from something, but I’ve also learned that even though the world is a big place you’ll eventually run out of places to run to. So I’ve officially decided to stop being a runner and start being a traveler. Now I feel like I’m not running from something but rather I’m chasing something: adventure. After traveling to so many different places adventure seems to be the only thing I crave. I think with adventure comes knowledge, a great understanding of the world, and an even better understanding of what you’re capable of.

I don’t mean to sound arrogant, but I feel that I am capable of anything now. I traveled to a completely different place and immersed myself in their culture for 2 months without crumbling. How many people can say that they’ve done that? And I am only halfway there. I have so much more to learn about the world and myself. So I guess you can say that for now the spikes on my running shoes are dull. I think I might just walk the rest of the way and enjoy the view.

Location: Perugia, Italy