From Forgetfulness to Florence

Overlooking Florence at Sunset
Posted by Kate Pawlowski on

Written By: Kate Pawlowski

Location: Florence, Italy

 Whenever we pack for trips the one thing that always goes through our mind is that we can’t forget this one thing. We repeat it over and over in our heads that we absolutely cannot leave behind this one item, whether it is a prescription or a favorite personal item. In the end we either fail to bring it or end up forgetting something else. I found this happened to me quite a lot while I was packing for Italy. Along with a long list of required material my program, SACI, required, I had a long list of items I needed myself such as prescriptions, contacts, retainers, glasses, etc. All things I wouldn’t be able to get easily while overseas for the next four months. I slowly gathered everything as I got closer to my departure date, leaving packing the things I needed at night for packing the morning of.

One prescription of mine was hard to get as I had recently refilled it so the day before I left, my mom and I spent going back and forth between the pharmacy and my insurance company. I learned the morning of my departure that I am one of those people that forgets the one thing they kept reminding themselves not to forget. While my whole family was crying and I was anxious and a bit scared to be alone in a country that didn’t speak much English, I failed to remember that I left my retainer on the bathroom counter. I went through the whole day voicing my worries of losing items while abroad or forgetting something important, all the while my retainer sat where anyone could see. As my family packed up the car to send me off to the airport, my mother asked once again if I had forgotten anything, to which I responded “No.” One tearful car ride and a sorrowful yet excited goodbye later, my family watched as I went through the TSA line, stating that it reminded me of a scene from one of the kids movies we watch together. They watched as I passed through security with both my bags being inspected because of lotion I kept in them, and as I put all my stuff together, I finally came to the realization that I forgot my retainer. I frantically called them on my phone, while I could still see them, telling them I forgot it.

As it turns out I am luckily able to have it mailed to me from home, so although I didn’t remember it, I am fortunate that it is something I can get. It was a very welcome reminder to not only check your bags when you leave, but to check where you keep the items you use to make sure nothing was left behind.

 

Categories: Preparing, Italy, Nervous