the (post) italy experience. 

So now that my beyond amazing time in Italy is over, I admit I'm suffering from quite some severe withdrawal symptoms. The past 3.5 months have been so amazing, I don't think I could ever do it justice just describing it in words. I've had the time of my life, the most amazing 3.5 months ever and if I could go back and do it again, I would not change a thing. 

… well, maybe just a bit more money budgeting. 

I cannot stress this enough. If you have the chance, go on an erasmus exchange. It will be the best decision of your life. The great thing about being on erasmus is you get to experience studying in a different country yet at the same time, it's not entirely serious unlike studying back at home at your home university. You get to enjoy all the perks of being an erasmus student and live life. And when people say you come back a different person, it's true. I didn't believe that in the beginning, obviously. But now looking back now, I have indeed changed, for the better. 

I've met so many people, all sorts of people. You meet people and people introduce you to other people and others and the connections go on forever. You talk, you socialise and then you end up getting into the habit (and actually, enjoying) going out at night for a drink or to a club, or occasionally, getting so drunk you don't remember anything from the night before. When I've said I've done everything this erasmus, I mean almost everything apart from smoking, I would never try that. 

I've gone out. I've partied hard. I've gone clubbing and ended up losing my first kiss to some random italian stranger in the club? I've met new people. I've danced even though I always had the thought that I could never to save my life (perks of getting tipsy from alcohol, people!). I've even drunk so much a couple of nights I woke up the next morning not having a clue what went down the night before. To give you a little insight into how I went from someone who did not drink at all, to pretty much an alcoholic… the past 3.5 months, I've tried or drank, a mojito (and discovered that it's absolutely amazing), sex on the beach, long island iced tea, gin, mirto, vodka and red bull, vodka menta shot, sambuca, talisker whiskey, limoncino, grappa, whiskey and pineapple, texas iced tea, pina colada, negroni (may I just put this out there, for the weak, never attempt this one), daiquiri, passion mojito, corona beer, heineken, peroni, duvel and lots of other beers, wines and whatever that I can't recall. 

I remember my last night in milan, was by far, absolutely amazing. What started off as a rather awkward farewell party at the apartment (half of the people whom I don't even know!) turned out to be a great night. I suppose half of the reason is due to the amount of alcohol I had drank I'm pretty sure I was quite tipsy that night. 

And I guess the best of all, I experienced love for the first time. 

The feeling when you fall in love. When all of a sudden, everything, every decision you made was not just about you. That moment when you always think about the other person and always think about their happiness. And you're happy, when they are happy. When nothing else matters anymore, nothing but spending all the time you have with the other person. When just being around them and seeing them each day makes you smile. 

For those who know what I'm talking about, you'll understand completely what I am about to say. It happened so unexpectedly, without planning and the next thing I knew, it happened. Just like that, one night, at a party, sober may I add, and we were talking, for awhile, then hours which then ended up being an entire night till the next morning. A connection that I could not explain, it was an incredible feeling. 

Fast forward a month and we've been going out so much, been on holidays together, me spending occasional nights at his and fast forward another 2 weeks and I pretty much have moved into the apartment with him and his 5 other guy roommates. I thought things could not get any better but they did. The last month in Milan was by far, the most amazing time of my life. I know what you're thinking now, you're thinking, gee didn't things move quickly. And trust me, that did cross my mind at some point but we both agreed, I only had about 2 months left in Milan, we might as well make the most of it and since we both were rather spontaneous people, we just followed the flow of things. Spontaneity. 

And for once, I finally felt like I was at home. For a long time, I always got asked, "So since you've lived in so many places (6 to be exact), where do you most feel at home?" and each time, I could never give an answer but now, I finally could. Milan. Home is where the heart is, and despite my physical self being in Hong Kong, my heart's back in Milan.

You would think it would be crazy being the only female living with 6 guys but I have never felt more at home. Everyone was just so relaxed, there was no drama, each day just went by, amazing. Even the most mundane of days, staying in, watching some tv still felt like it was a great day. People often say you get to know if you're meant to be with the person once you move in and start seeing each other 24/7 (or in this case, 14 hours a day) and truthfully, it was completely fine. It just felt right. 

Words can't express the joy I experienced the past month. It just seemed normal each day, going to bed at night and waking up in the morning to see the one face you'd love to everyday. To spend each day with the same yet (not) boring routine of waking up, both getting ready for the day and when I get back earlier, laundry, supermarket shopping and then dinner together at night before watching a movie and me, always falling asleep before the movie ends. Everything just seemed so natural. 

What was amazing about that apartment was that it had the most amazing view of Milan. In the mornings, you could wake up to a lovely view of the Switz Alps in the distance and in the evenings, an amazing sunset with the pink and blue skies. 

And now fast forward another month and I'm back in Hong Kong, missing Italy so, so much. Not just the food, the city, but the entire experience. Having the freedom to travel, to do as I wish, to wake up to an amazing view in the morning, to repeat the same routine each day, to live life. 

Before going to Italy, I would have never expected that I would end up doing any of those things, let alone meet an amazing guy but it did happen. And now, I'm back in Hong Kong, a changed person. I've learnt to appreciate time and every single happy moment in your life because all good things will come to an end eventually. 

I miss Italy.

I miss waking up to an amazing view of the Switz Alps.

I miss the late night movies in bed.

I miss the spontaneous weekend trips to different parts of Italy. 

I (actually) miss hearing all the italian all over the streets too and the problem of people not speaking english.

I miss (excuse my language) not giving a fuck about anything other than my own happiness.

I miss the food.

I miss the crudo pizzas, the crudo, mozzarella, those meat and cheese plates.

I miss having to think about what to cook each night for dinner and worry about not overcooking the meat or pasta.

I miss the pesca te!

I miss the most "mundane" of sundays where we just chilled in the house, sleeping till 1 and waking up to just chill on the couch.

I miss the apparativo evenings along the navigli. 

I miss the joy, laid-back and free atmosphere back in the apartment.

I miss just being so bored that I end up heading out to a park and sitting on the grass for hours.

I miss going out.

I miss being able to do whatever I wish, whenever I want.

I miss the "illegal" tram rides without a ticket.

I miss walking around all over the city.

I miss getting lost in a new place and discovering some crazy hidden gems. 

I miss being a tourist.

I miss having someone to cuddle and snuggle up to.

I miss doing things together in two.

I miss not having to explain to another what my plans are.

I miss being spontaneous.

I miss all the time we spent together.

I miss the hugs.

… and the kisses. Things I took for granted so easily. 

I miss living with 6 guys - the best roommates I've ever had. 

I miss all the zero drama, it was just all about fun, football and food.

I miss the amazing weather.

I miss the beautiful view of the skies and sunsets from the balcony.

I miss waking up in the morning with you.

I miss getting ready in the morning with you.

I miss your presence.

I miss the desserts. 

I miss the gelatos. 

I miss being an erasmus student. It's just one of those "it's once in a life time opportunity" kind of feeling.

I miss living each day to the fullest without any worries.

I miss being that happy.

I miss the life I had the past three months. 

I would give just about anything to go back to Milan again, or to relive those 3 months again. It's true when people say erasmus is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It's true that you will never experience anything else quite like it. And it's most definitely true when they say it will stay with you forever. 

The memories will stay with you. 

You'll wake up every morning, thinking about the amazing time you had. Nothing will ever feel quite the same.

Even a few years from now, you'd still remember each moment vividly and love to go back and relive them again because they were, and possibly will be the best times of your life.