15 Months Later: How Studying Abroad Still Shapes the Way I Travel

Words and photos by Gianna Messia, who studied abroad in Florence with ASA during the fall semester of 2024. 

It is crazy how fast time goes by, let alone a year since you've studied abroad. When leaving my study abroad city, I had a semester left until graduation and no idea when I would be able to return to the life I had in Florence. Was I ever going to be able to travel as much as I did with ASA? Was I going to be working full-time and unable to fulfil my dreams of seeing the world? Would I be tied down to a 9-5 in a cubicle? It took me 15 months to return to Europe, and just like that, all the memories and feelings came flooding back.

Walking the streets of Barcelona, I was transported back to a time when I felt so safe and full of life. ASA gave me the chance to make Europe feel like a second home. Knowing who to call when you are in need and where to find comfort in unfamiliar territories. Studying abroad didn’t just teach me how to travel; it changed the way I experience the world entirely. Before studying abroad with ASA, travel felt like something stressful and structured. It was about checking attractions off a list, squeezing as much as possible into a short window of time, and then returning home to “real life.” But after living in Florence, travel no longer felt separate from life; it became a part of it. I stopped seeing places as destinations and started seeing them as experiences, as moments to fully step into rather than rush through.

Returning to Europe after 15 months, I realized that I travel differently now. Slower. More intentionally. I don’t feel the same urgency to see everything all at once because I’ve learned that the beauty of travel isn’t in how much you see, but in how deeply you feel it. Sitting at a café for more than 20 minutes, wandering the streets without knowing exactly where you are, getting lost on side streets—these are the moments that stay with you. Studying abroad taught me that it’s okay to not have everything figured out, and that mindset has followed me into every trip since.

It also changed the way I connect with people. When you live abroad, you build relationships that go beyond just the surface level. You learn how to communicate in new ways, and form bonds that feel both spontaneous and lasting. Now, when I travel, I seek out those connections. I’m more open to conversations with random strangers. Turning to your neighbor at the airport cafe and asking where they're from and what their story is. I’m more curious about local perspectives and more willing to step outside of my comfort zone. Travel feels less like observing from the outside and more like participating. Of course, coming back to “real life” after studying abroad isn’t easy. There’s a fear that the version of yourself you discovered abroad won't fit into your life back home. There’s the reality of responsibilities, work schedules, and routines that can feel limiting compared to the freedom you once had. But what I’ve learned is that travel doesn’t have to disappear; it just evolves.

Yes, I may not be hopping on a train every weekend anymore, but that doesn’t mean the passion is gone. If anything, it’s even stronger. I’ve become more intentional about making travel a priority, even within the constraints of a full-time job, part-time job, friends, family and everything else life throws at me. Whether it’s planning trips months in advance, taking advantage of long weekends, or simply exploring new places closer to home, I’ve realized that you don’t need unlimited time to keep that sense of adventure alive. Travel isn’t something I did during my study abroad. It’s a part of who I am now.

Thanks, Gianna!