If there is anything I can do, it’s shop. With the impermanence of study abroad always present, I felt a need to capture my experience in photos and momentos. Postcards, magnets, puzzles of artwork from museums, and little tchotchkes all made their way back to the States in my carry-on bag. With a number of countries visited and four months over, here are some of the trinkets and tchotchkes I picked up while studying abroad.
Florence
As my home base, Florence is where I bought the most souvenirs. Italy is known for its leather and the products they make using it. As a result, a number of bags were bought. I chose three very different bags, knowing that I would get the most out of them if they were each meant for a different purpose. My first and smallest bag is a patterned shoulder bag that I bring everywhere. At the time, I hadn’t seen a bag like it, and I loved the colors on it. With different colors on each side, it is something that adds some dimension to my usually plain outfits.Â
I tried to resist. I’m not someone who typically wears bracelets, and for the first few months, I didn’t get an Italian charm bracelet. However, I ended up tripping and falling into a Nomination store – the company that invented the bracelet – and one ended up on my wrist. And then another ended up on my other wrist. Listen, I regret nothing. I thought very carefully about what charms I wanted, and every time I went into the store, the sales associates were excited to see what I would pick.
They had an Eiffel Tower charm, and after being to Paris twice, I knew it was one of the charms I wanted to complete my bracelet. It had been out of stock, and they told me that they would hold one for me. Beyond being nice enough to do so, they left the cutest note on the package that made its way into my journal. They wrote, cliente bracciale bello opaline rose, which roughly translates to for the client with the beautiful rose opaline bracelet.Â
This is not sponsored at all, however, this souvenir was by far my favorite. I love that the charms, instead of hanging off, link together to form a band. From having different charms that remind me of the places I have traveled and the things I love, to having positive interactions with the nicest sales associates, I’m happy I finally caved.Â
Paris
Paris is one of my favorite cities I’ve ever visited. It’s every bit as magical as it seems, and was even more magical the second time I went. Here, we visited a charm store where I spent a while picking out fun charms that fit my personality. Instead of going around my wrist, I intended for these charms to go around the leather journals I bought in Florence. Additionally, I couldn’t leave Paris without picking up some Jellycats. Although the mall in Paris is known for the show they put on when you pick the limited edition pastries, the two-hour line deterred me. However, I was able to get a madeline and a palmier.
IrelandÂ
If I never see Carroll’s Irish Gift store again, it will be too soon. These stores are everywhere around Dublin’s city center, and trying to locate one of my roommates with my horrible maps, I never want to see one again. However, did I buy a massive Gunnies t-shirt that quickly became my favorite sleep shirt from Carroll’s, yes? Honestly, by the time we got out of all the stores, I had no idea where that shirt was from.
My favorite souvenirs from Ireland, though, came from my cross-country tour. I previously talked about my journey to find my Claddagh ring, and it’s still one of my prized possessions. However, I have not brought up my shamrock jellycat charm that I bought at the Cliffs of Moher. I named him Josh after my tour guide, and being clipped to the front of my purse that I carry everywhere, he has seen the world with me.
These, alongside my wooden tulips from Amsterdam, a questionably vintage purple Polo Ralph Lauren crewneck, and my Photo booth strips from Florence, are just some of the souvenirs I bought abroad that remind me of my travels.