One of the main goals I had for my study abroad experience was to push myself out of my comfort zone in as many ways as possible- and I think I accomplished that.  I am normally a very picky eater, but I wanted to try as many new foods in Italy as possible and not limit myself.  I normally hate anything tomato- but here I found myself eating tomato dishes often.  And more surprising- I liked them!  Some tomato dishes I tried were a panini from Pinos with Pomodoro sauce, classic spaghetti in red sauce we made at our cooking class, and pasta with tomato sauce and fish dish.  I was very proud of myself for trying these new things and it paid off because I enjoyed them!  Another way I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone was by exploring the nightlife.  I normally do not interact much with nightlife, but I decided to try the night life here and ended up creating many great memories.  I found myself having the best time with friends and having more fun than I could have imagined.  I even sang karaoke which I never would have done before!  One of the other ways I pushed myself out of my comfort zone was through exploring multiple different areas and in different ways.  I maximized my study abroad experience by exploring other areas such as Cinque Terre, Positano, Sorrento, Capri, Fiesole, and Pompei.  I tend to be someone who gets overwhelmed easily when it comes to travel, so I wanted to push myself to continue traveling beyond Florence and I did!  I am so grateful I did because I made amazing memories and even discovered some of my favorite places such as Cinque Terre.  I am proud of myself for pushing myself out of my comfort zone and making the most of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.