McCracken, who describes herself as the
type of person who can make friends with a group of people she just
met in a half hour, had no problems making friends while traveling
around Europe.
“My favorite memory would be
traveling around with all the friends I made,” McCracken said.
“They were just great company and we had a ball.”
With her European friends, McCracken
carried on the same daily routine as the one she practices on the
Bluff, except after class, she explored the town. Though she saw the
Vatican and tasted a fair share of authentic Italian cuisine, there
was still some territory left undiscovered.
“I would of liked to do day trips to
the beach and to little cities around Italy that I never got the
chance to go to,” McCracken said, pondering what she would have
done differently.
All regrets aside, one memory that
McCracken will never forget is seeing the Pope on five separate
occasions.
“I feel like I'm blessed for life,”
McCracken said, chuckling. “You have to embrace it and enjoy every
time there. And he's a great guy. I enjoyed his company.”
While expressing how much the trip made
her “more worldly and more independent,” the sophomore added that
she barely missed Pittsburgh.
“It goes so quickly. Never once did I
get homesick,” McCracken said. “I actually dream every day of
being over in Europe. I miss it so much.”
McCracken plans to study abroad again
in the fall of 2013, this time to Dublin, Ireland.
You can keep up with Kylie by visiting her website or by following her on twitter @Cracken_me_up. I suggest you do so.