That's always the problem after all the amazing travelling and city hopping isn't it, returning to normality and that boring mundane life you had before all the crazy things happened. So here I am, suffering from some serious, serious post italy, post germany travelling problems. 

1. You can't get back into working hard.

This is a tough one, probably one of the biggest struggles so far and what perfect timing for this to happen, when you're in your final year and 75% of this year's counting towards your degree. 

2. You keep thinking that you're still living in that particular city.

Yep, I'm still thinking of how nice it'd be to have a slow, relaxing walk down to the duomo, picking up some gelato along the way or maybe just a little stroll into the forest to pick up some mushrooms. 

3. You can't shake off the routines.

I've now turned into some caffeine addict. A morning can't fully start until I've had my regular cup of strong black coffee with one sugar. Then comes the espressos and cappuccino mixed in with some baileys to end off the dinner. Coffee and alcohol, that's what italy does to you. 

4. Or the habits.

I'm still working according to the inefficient italian way of things - you work for a bit, you head out, take a break, have a coffee and get back to work (for a short while before things repeat itself all over again). 

5. You don't understand why people don't wish to do the things you do, and then you realise, it's because it's not normal back here.

i.e: sitting on the grass to enjoy the lovely sun, or just taking a trip down to town for a coffee. Oh right, slip of mind, I'm no longer in Italy. People don't do that here. 

6. You keep mentioning, "back in..." 

Can't quite keep count of how many times I've done this, especially whenever I'm on a phone call with a fellow friend I've met back in milan (you see what I mean). I've probably mentioned "we used to do that so much back in italy!" about a billion times.

7. You subscribe to cheap flight updates.

Whether it's back to Italy or Germany, whenever there's a good deal during a surprisingly good timing, I'm on it. 

8. You eat like you're still on holiday.

Massive food shops, only and nothing but the good and fresh, living like a king. Everyday, dinner consists of a fresh ruccola mixed leaf salad with feta cheese and onions mixed in with some aceto balsamico and olio. And for the main, always, it's pasta or potatoes with garlic, onions, peppers, olio, sale, herbs, mushrooms and bacon, or rather, speck. 

9. You've permanently adjusted to the nomad lifestyle.

i.e: practically living out of your suitcase. No more fancy dressing up or big coats, it's just all about comfort nowadays and I'm pretty sure, the past 3 weeks I've probably worn the same two pair of jeans and the same three tops alternatively each day. Forgot about all the nice coats, jumpers, make up and all the other little superficial things, I just want to look decent but stay comfortable the whole day. Like I'm about to hop off onto another train somewhere. Speaking of suitcases, my bag from Germany which was about 3 weeks ago, is still sitting at the end of my bed, unpacked. 

10. You look at all these people and think, "what are you doing with your lives?"

Two years ago I was a workaholic but after experiencing the good things in life, it changes your perspective on things. Final year now and sometimes I just find myself in the studio, looking at all these people, and you feel that competitive tension in the air. And you just think to yourself, "is it even worth it? there's more to life than just this".

11. You keep dreaming of the days that you'll go back. One day.

Every single day. 

12. All you can think about before sleeping are the good old days. 

Partying it up three times a week till 5 in the morning, apperativo evenings, spontaneous weekend getaways, road trips, that's all I ever can think about. Those were the most amazing, best, days of my life. 

13. You associate certain songs with wherever the place is.

Jubel by Klingande, I think of that afternoon in Chinatown with my boyfriend where there was a street saxophonist playing a remixed version. Avicii's Levels and Silhouettes, crazy club nights in Milan. Awful Dolce and Gabbana song, Ferdi's apartment. And the list just goes on.

14. You speak with a mixed jumble mis-mash of words.

Oh, for dinner, I've got ruccola, chipola, käse, maybe some other salad and for the pasta I might add some speck in it. Or how about, andiamo, avanti avanti! And gelb gelb! Literally, it takes quite an amount of effort to speak some proper english after hanging around Italy and Germany for a bit. English almost feels a little foreign. 

15. You've lost track of time.

No more fixed schedules or punctuality. You get up when you want to, arrive when you want to, do things when you feel like it. Dinner could be at 6, it could be at 8, you could sleep at 10 one day or 2 the next but there's never a rush to get out of bed in the mornings. That's important, to take your time and not rush. 

16. You have not updated your Facebook location even though it's been about 4 months. 

Yep, I'm still "living" in Italy.

17. Or your Skype location.

18. You get so excited when you hear someone from that place.

I remember overhearing some italiano while on the tube and it sure did bring back some good memories. Or while I was on holiday in Bangkok and Singapore, I probably got just a little too excited when I overheard some German tourists. 

19. You know there's no going back to the old life.

I try. I've been trying for the past few weeks and so far, niente. 

20. You've got all your free dates marked on, already planning on your next trip.

Yep. Flight deals, groupon deals, everything, all planning way in advance! It's going to be part-ay once this year's done in May.