I can't believe that time is going by so quickly...I truly never want to leave. It's hard to explain how I feel being here but the best way to describe what I feel is peace. I have never felt such a sense of peace being anywhere in my life. Maybe it's because I feel like I am exactly where God wants me to be? Maybe because I'm doing what I know I'm meant to be doing? I feel like it's all of the above, but regardless I am still so thankful for the opportunity to learn and work in this magical place!
Since the last update I have been able to travel quite a bit! I made a promise to myself when I got here that I would travel to as many places as I could, even if that meant I just go for the day. I am happy to report that I have kept that promise to myself and as of now I have been to Paris, Florence, Cinque Terre and Interlaken.
The showroom I work for in Milan also has a showroom in Paris and I was given the opportunity to tag along for Paris fashion week. Of course I seized the opportunity and went! I have been fortunate enough to travel to Paris twice before and going back for a third time, with a company I love and during such an exciting time was truly an experience I didn't know I would ever get to have.
The energy in the city is so different when it is fashion week... I think because there are so many cultures from all over the world that are all there for the same thing: fashion.
Although I was only there for a little over 36 hours, Paris is always a spectacular place to explore and see. I could just sit in a cafe for hours and people watch - everything is just more interesting in Paris!
One thing I did do in Paris which I have never done before was grab a bottle of rosé and watch the sunset at the Eiffel Tower. It was as beautiful as you would think it would be and I couldn't help but FaceTime both my mom and my dad to thank them both for pushing me to chase my dreams and for being so incredibly supportive. I mean who wouldn't get in the feels while drinking wine and watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle?
After Paris I had a few days off since most of the showroom was still there, so I decided to take advantage and go to a new city - Florence. Unfortunately, none of my friends could get off of work since I was going during the week but I didn't want to let that stop me from still going, so I went alone.
It was my first time being in a new city all by myself but I actually really loved the experience of traveling alone! Florence was amazing and the food was equally as incredible. I actually vlogged my entire trip on my YouTube channel so you can watch those vlogs here, here and here.
I also already made a Florence travel guide, which you can read here, in case you are planning a trip to Italy! I recommended things to do and where to eat (4 Leoni is a must)!
After I returned from Florence I didn't have to wait much longer to explore a new city. That following weekend the program that I am in took us all to Cinque Terre for the day and WOW. It is hands down the most beautiful water I have ever seen with some of the most spectacular views.
I am definitely a city girl, but visiting beach towns like that make me re-evaluate ;)
While in Cinque Terre my friends and I went swimming, ate at a restaurant with an incredible view and did a bit of cliff jumping! Okay, okay....not intense cliff jumping, more just me jumping off a tiny rock into the ocean.
The day after Cinque Terre I went to Interlaken, Switzerland for the day. My friends and I were originally all going to go together but it ended up not working out for all of us so I just decided to go alone!
*Abroad Tip* Don't let other peoples plans stop you from doing what you want to do! I am normally always the first to cave in and end up not doing what I want to do, but while abroad I knew I didn't want to leave and regret not doing things because I put my wants on the back burner.
Anyways, Interlaken was so beautiful and looked like a living, breathing postcard. I couldn't get over how picturesque everything was there.....it was pretty incredible.
While in Interlaken I went paragliding, something that I knew I had to do if I were to make it to Interlaken. Paragliding is by far the coolest thing I have ever done and I would recommend it to anyone!
I have never cried from something being so beautiful before, but once my "pilot" and I reached our desired height while paragliding I couldn't stop crying. Not from how high we were, but because I still can't believe that this life is real. I think it all goes back to what I said at the beginning of this post about feeling so at peace with my life. Being up there in the sky, feeling so close to God, I really and truly couldn't get over the view that I was seeing and the way it was making me feel. This life is too good to me and I am so grateful for all of it!
After Interlaken, work began to get busy again as it is still sales. Sales is when buyers from companies and/or stores from all over the world come to buy for future seasons. Currently we are selling Spring/Summer 2019 in the showroom so none of these pieces will be delivered for at least 6 months.
Sales is very interesting because it brings in people from all over. I am lucky enough to work with people who let me sit in on buying meetings (since they are so international, half of the meetings are in English) and they let me do the visual merchandising of the items and orders for some of the companies.
While abroad this summer I have been able to have some visitors, which has definitely been one of the best parts of being over here! My freshman year roommate, Kendra, was studying abroad in Dublin and came to Milan for the weekend and my sister, Halle, who has basically been traveling the world this summer has stopped in Milan for a few days.
It has been so much fun having her here and I am already sad that she is leaving tomorrow! She is starting her big girl job in September and with me being a rising senior, I know that in just one year our visits will become few and far between. Since we have had such a good time this weekend I have already booked my flight to go see her in D.C. Labor Day weekend to help her decorate her big girl apartment!
I also cant believe that my mom gets here in just a week and half and then we begin a travel journey of our own! I am so excited to show her around my summer home and to experience Europe with her, as it will be her first time. I know she is going to feel the same way as me and never want to leave.
Once again thank you to all of you readers and the people back home who have been SO supportive of me throughout this entire journey! I still can't even begin to describe how much I have loved this summer and it truly makes me so sad thinking about leaving. As Winnie the Pooh once said "how lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard" and that's how I feel - just really really lucky.
Thank you so much for reading and make sure you check back weekly to see what new posts are published!
Love from Milan,
Abbey
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