I Didn't Want to Be A Travel Writer

by Ashley Jones (United States of America)

I didn't expect to find Italy

I was on the edge of turning 21, I wasn't sure who my friends were, & I was obligated to having the time of my life. Money had been spent, loans taken out... I was studying abroad, & I was in Italy. Italy was to be the first of three countries that I'd travel to. At the risk of sounding cliche, I learned as much about myself as I did about any given location. While on a detour to the Amalfi Coast, I learned that Sophia Loren had lived cliffside, that the esteemed professionals who operated boats that took tourists out to the blue lagoon & other various caves, colorfully light in the Mediterranean Ocean, would allow you to jump out & swim for a euro or two; it was important that you didn't jump out before the two of you had had a talk about it or until you were out of view of what I imagine to be some seabound version of the Carabinieri, tucked far enough inside of the caves to be out of sight. I learned that, even halfway around the world, really seeing it... I wanted close friendship as a context for travel. I had classmates, some I knew beforehand & others who I'd met, but wanted badly to have some sort of partner in crime there to make memories with. This feeling was fleeting. It had to be. Loans had been taken out. Money had been paid. I was studying abroad, & Itay was to be the first of three countries that I'd travel to.