Author: hadleyway

Hi! I’m Hadley way, a junior studying hospitality management. Currently in Florence, Italy, I write about my experiences abroad. Thanks for following along!!! 🩷🩷

The Art of Saying “Yes”

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This past weekend, I was able to travel to Amsterdam to explore and experience what the buzz was all about. I was there for a full day alone, and it was such a rewarding and unique experience.

“Solo” Travel

I decided to travel to Amsterdam and spend a few days alone. I thought I would really enjoy it and it would get me out of my comfort zone. I was very right. I arrived afternoon on Thursday, and my boyfriend wasn’t arriving until very very late on Friday.

I am someone who needs to plan everything to the second, but this trip I decided to just “go with the flow.” This made it especially difficult on Thursday as I had no one to explore the city with and no plans. I thought it would give me the freedom to do what I wanted, but it is a lot harder to do so in a brand-new city. I was very homesick, and very lonely, that I just decided to go to bed early and hope for a better tomorrow. Luckily, it was a better tomorrow.

A girl who was staying at my hostel reached out to me to rent bikes together and explore the city. I was very hesitant at first. I would say that I’m social, but only to a certain extent. I thought this was going to be a terrible idea and I would be very awkward and uncomfortable. For those reasons, I said, “omg yes of course I would love nothing more!” We met in the lobby, and right away I knew I was going to have a great day. Kayla – from Australia – was so welcoming, and we hit it off. After a quick coffee chat (where are you from, where are you going type of questions) we set off for our adventure. It was so special learning about what makes her the person she is, and it was funny explaining what college life in USA is like.

This experience was so special and made being “solo” in a big city much more enjoyable. We exchanged contact information, and I am lucky to say that I have a new friend, and I hope she sees me as the same.

Adopted in Amsterdam

Once my boyfriend arrived, I thought our adventure was going to be a lot more structured. I was very mistaken. We didn’t have much planned, except for our boat tour at 12 and brewery tour at 5. On our boat tour, we were the second party on board and sat in the back of the boat with a different family. The parents (around 70s) were visiting their son (40s) who moved from England to Amsterdam. We got several recommendations from the son and after the tour, we were even invited to explore a little bit with them. After being hesitant, we gave in. We followed them around the city, and we ended up at a market that we wouldn’t have come across being alone. We had oysters, bitterballen, and a classic Amsterdam IPA. After a few hours, we finally parted ways.

It was such a special experience, and so much more authentic than we could’ve experienced being just us two. I am not the type of person to go with the flow when traveling, but after this weekend, I can feel myself changing a bit. If we had the entire day booked, we would’ve never tried Poffertjes at the local market. It is funny how saying one simple word can lead to such an adventure.

Next time I feel hesitant to be spontaneous, I will remember these stories – these are what make abroad seem a little less daunting. We all just want friends in a new city 🙂

Arrivederci,

Hadley

Soul Searching in Other Cities

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I finally found myself in a city – and I left myself there.

I saw on TikTok a quote that read, “If you feel drawn to a city, that is because your story is waiting to be written there.” I never thought this to be true. I have been to many cities my entire life, but I was never “drawn” to one in specific. I can call Denver my second home, but that has been after years of building it to be one. Although when I visited a certain city, I instantly knew what people were talking about.

I am in love with Florence. It has taken a lot of adjusting, but I am very happy about my decision to study abroad at LdM. I am learning so much about the culture and history, and I’ve been having a blast with my roommates. But that being said, it wasn’t easy at first. It was hard getting my bearings and adjusting to the ways of Florentine people. Let’s just say that when I landed in Florence, I didn’t have the immediate feeling that I was home.

I have been lucky enough to enjoy my study abroad experience by traveling to other cities and countries. I’ve been to other cities in Italy, along with Germany, Austria, and France. Each trip felt exactly how it should – a trip. But something about visiting Paris was really different and very special.

I have always dreamt of visiting Paris since I was little. I’ve taken French classes my whole life, and even hosted an exchange student from France. The moment I touched down in France, I felt something shift. It is so cheesy, but it is so true. I spent an entire day walking around alone – I popped into several grocery stores to even get a taste of what my life could be like. The city is huge, but it wasn’t daunting to me. I was able to figure out the metro easily and practiced my *very* rusty French when ordering at the cafe. It was the little things I did during my few hours alone that made me feel free and so adult to make my own decisions. I could so easily picture myself living and working here in Paris, and now I am even more determined to make that dream a reality.

Although I didn’t chose to study abroad in Paris, I still think I made the right choice. I have been able to test what I love and leave a little bit of myself here in Florence while also working towards my next goal. People say all the time that study abroad is about finding yourself. Well I did, and she’s waiting for me in Paris. 

arrivederci, or à bientôt,

Hadley