The last month came and went in a blink of an eye. My friend went from being in the middle of the best experience of our lives to having to say goodbye. The first week of April I took a trip to Corfu, Greece, which was the most beautiful place I have visited yet. From the beach to the mountains, it was an amazing sight to see. It definitely made me miss home though, as back in New Jersey I live right next to the beach. Greece also marked the end of my traveling as I would spend the last 3 weeks of my Study Abroad experience saying goodbye to Rome.

The second week of April my friend came to visit Rome so I gave him a tour of all the monuments. He studies in Florence and was amazed by how historic Rome was. It was really nice to see a friend from back home as I had not seen one since I left New Jersey. The highlight of the weekend was when we went to the Vatican at noon on Sunday to see the Pope. It was incredible to actually see the Pope in person. Not many people can say they heard a prayer from the Pope.

Staying the last few weeks in Rome allowed me to enjoy many of SAI’s inclusive activities such as wine tasting with Sergio Mottura, a bike tour down Appia Antica, and an Opera. All of these activities were very nice to have because I would not of done these activities other wise; and I’m glad I did. Reflecting back on my time in Italy, I realize that it is an experience that I can never repeat. To study in another country, another culture, was truly amazing. Studying Abroad really is a once in a lifetime opportunity and the best decision I made so far in life was to take advantage of that opportunity.

Christian – University of South Carolina

This last month I saw some of the most amazing places. I went on SAI’s excursion to Umbria and visited Cinque Terre. The trip to Umbria was incredible. We stayed in a bread and breakfast type of place in the Italian countryside and they cooked us the most amazing home cooked dinners. The first day we went to a ceramics school where we met the most kind and hardworking people. We got to paint a plate and they put it in the kiln for us and we to keep it! We also went to a farm where we got to watch Ricotta being made and got to try it fresh out of the big cooking pot. From there we saw the farm where they keep most of the animals where they get their animal products for their restaurant. We also saw Perugia and Assisi which stuck out in my mind particularly. We got to have some of the most amazing chocolate in Perugia, the city where Bacio was first made. Assisi was the most beautiful city I have ever seen. I loved it. The view was absolutely breathtaking!

I went to Cinque Terre with my friends, which was also absolutely breathtaking. I have decided for sure, this is where I am going for my honeymoon! The view was like something you see in a movie. When you hear something is beautiful you cannot even imagine this place. The hike was a bit hard but so worth it for what was at the end. Monterosso was incredible. The beach was warm and everyone was out. The children were out playing with their friends, and there were even people in the water. All in all this was my most favorite month here in Italy. I am so sad that my time here is over.

Miranda – University of Louisville

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened”- Dr. Seuss

On a daily basis, I repeatedly tell myself this quote as a form of comfort for the unfortunate fact that my study abroad adventures in Italy are coming to an end. For as long as I can remember, my biggest dream has been to travel to Italy so I could experience the history, culture, and language of this amazing country.  I wanted to walk through the infamous cities, like Rome, Florence, and Venice. I wanted to study the Italian language by speaking Italian with locals. I wanted to learn the history of the Renaissance while living in the city where it all began.

Now, after striving so hard for three years, I have accomplished these dreams. Everything I have experienced here was more than I could have ever imagined. Because of this, I don’t want my Italian adventure to end, however the time has come for me to pack my bags and return to the United States where I will be left with only my memories of Italy. While it is sad to leave, I am happy that I embarked upon this adventure of a lifetime. Traveling to Italy has not quenched my love for everything Italian; rather it has developed that spark into a full-blown fire. Being here has created new dreams of traveling to new places and experiencing new adventures. My life is just beginning and it is full of possibilities. So now, it is unfortunately time for me to leave Italy, however this will not be goodbye forever. Like before, I worked hard and was able to travel here, and I have faith that I will come back.

Samantha – Northern Illinois University

The past month has been a lot of travel. I went to the Amalfi coast, Barcelona, Rome, Venice, and Munich. Each trip was a different experience and got me closer to those I went with. Munich was my second favorite trip this whole time, Greek island hopping for spring break was my favorite. In Munich was a big festival and everyone dressed in old German attire. My family visited and it seemed like everyone else’s did too. It was nice to have people from home around, but even cooler to show them the city.

Sadly my time abroad has come to it’s last few days. Lately I’ve planned out the last things I need to get or see or do before I leave. I started to take pictures of my street and the buildings I see when I walk to class or other places. I hope these pictures will allow me to remember every moment of my experience. My time abroad has been amazing and a life I will never have again. Even though it was hard to adjust, and I look forward to the luxuries of the US, I still know I will miss everything.

Emily – University of South Carolina

I cannot believe 4 months have already flown by. There are so many significant memories I have while studying abroad that I cannot choose a favorite. These past 4 months have been an incredible and unique experience. Leaving Rome is extremely bittersweet. I will be departing Rome this Saturday with a stronger appreciation for the Italian culture, a handful of new friends, and a ton of amazing memories!

In the past month, I have traveled to the beautiful southern coast of Italy, otherwise known as the Amalfi Coast, and the enchanting city of Split, Croatia. Both places have been completely different from the cities that I have been visiting in Europe. We stayed in Sorrento in the Amalfi Coast and had the chance to travel to Pompeii, Capri and Positano, all in one weekend. This area boasts some of the most gorgeous sceneries and amazing food. Unlike other big cities in Europe, the cities along the Amalfi Coast were surrounded by beaches! In Croatia as well, we were able to enjoy the beach and appreciate the warmer temperatures.

I can’t believe the travels are almost coming to an end. It’s been quite an adventure and sad to have to leave Rome. But I am confident that many of us will return, and when we do, we’ll know exactly how to get back to our favorite restaurants, pizzerias, gelaterias, caffes, and bars. Rome will always be our home and will always have our hearts!

Elisa Choi – University of California, Los Angeles

The final weeks are finally coming to a close. That’s when I realized I had to make my bucket list of things I still wanted to do here in Florence. Sunrise at Piazza Michelangelo’s, visit all the parks in the outskirts of the city, climb the Duomo one last time, eat at every restaurant humanely possible and soak in as much Tuscan sun that appears through the breaks in the April showers.

I have finally finished all my travels over Europe. Paris was picturesque. It was once in a lifetime moment having a glass of champagne on top of the Eiffel Tower. Then it was Cinque Terre. This was one of the cities that I was most excited to go to. Cinque Terre was absolutely amazing. We hiked through the towns and ate lunch by the water. My last trip was to Munich for the infamous Fruhlingsfest aka “Springfest”. It was so much fun in our dirndls and the boys in their lederhosen. We cheers our giant beer mugs to once last adventure in Europe.

As my last few weeks draw to an end, it really has made me reminisce on my time here and the people I’ve met. Coming into this experience, I expected to have the time of my life. I anticipated the great food, the amazing sights, and the experience. What I didn’t expect was the attachment and how this city would change me forever. I arrived in Florence unsure and alone. But the city helped guide me through these past months. No matter what hardships or excitements, Florence and all of its wonders was there.  When I would come home to the city from a trip with tired eyes and an empty wallet, it was there with open arms. At first Florence was my home away from home, a temporary place to keep my things and lay my head. But it became more. It just became home. Home is a hard place to distinguish at this point in our lives. We have home and then we have our homes at college. Each place is something of comfort. And that’s what Florence has become, comfortable. I’m friends with the man at the café down the street and I know who to get my favorite sausages from in the market. I feel different walking down the street then I did when I got here or even a month later. I won’t go home the same whole person I arrived as. I’m leaving a piece of me here. So I’ll go and rub the boars nose one last time and wait till it’s my turn to return to Florence once again.

Stephanie – University of South Carolina

I just returned from my last weekend trip of the semester and it seems unreal that I will no longer be able to travel to a different country for a weekend trip. This semester has had a lot of ups and downs, but mostly ups. This past month was definitely the most hectic out of my time abroad. There wasn’t one weekend in the entire month that I wasn’t abroad.

I started out my month with a long weekend, for Easter break, in the Amalfi Coast. Everyone always tells you how beautiful the Amalfi Coast is, and how it is just one of the many places you can’t miss when you go to Italy, well they are all 100% correct. Despite the fact that we didn’t have perfect weather, the Amalfi Coast was still one of my favorite trips of this semester. All of the coastal towns are gorgeous, and it was amazing to walk through the ruins of Pompeii and think of how quickly one thriving town could be wiped out. We were also able to see the Easter procession in Sorrento and it was one of the most interesting, and creepiest things I have ever seen in my life and it is definitely something I will never forget.

The second weekend I went on a trip to Umbria with SAI. It was amazing to explore another region of Italy that I never even considered before SAI. We had an amazing weekend exploring Visso, Assisi, and Perugia. We even saw the process of how ricotta cheese is make, had a delicious lunch with the sheep farmers, and of course picked up some chocolate in Perugia.

Next I traveled to Switzerland and Munich. I loved the quaintness of Switzerland, and of course the amazing chocolates. We also traveled up a mountain and I learned that there is indeed snow on the Swiss Alps in April. Good thing I was prepared for the snow with lots of layers and my winter coat! Munich was also very interesting, and another place I never thought of visiting until given the opportunity. It was a beautiful city and it made me want to travel more around Germany, and learn more about their history and culture. We walked around the city and I had an authentic German pretzel, and apple strudel, it’s all about the food. We also had the chance to visit Springfest, and it was a sight I will never forget. Lastly we went to Dachau, a concentration camp located outside Munich. It was a very emotional trip, but it was very interesting and heartbreaking to see the physical proof of this awful time in our history and I’m glad I had the opportunity to go.

On my last weekend trip of the semester I went to Ibiza, Spain. Although Ibiza’s tourist season hasn’t officially started yet, I had a great time relaxing with my friends on the beach and walking around the town. It was the perfect weekend to relax before finals and our long trip home. This month has been so busy I’m excited to have this next weekend to enjoy Florence again, and of course all the Italian food before heading home.

Jordana – Lynn University

I am on the verge of tears knowing that this will be my last monthly letter. How do I put into words the most amazing semester of my life? In my time studying abroad in Rome, I have met so many people, made new friends, and had the most amazing experiences possible. I had the opportunity to study at John Cabot University and take classes with Italians as well as students from various countries all over the world. Studying at JCU was so different from studying in the United States. It exposed me to the ways in which our cultures differ and the ways they are similar. Being taught by Italian professors was a treat. I found that many of my professors here have different teaching styles than my professors back home. This unique experience will stay with me always.

One of my favorite parts of studying abroad has been having the opportunity to travel around Europe cheaply. Europe is so amazing and different from America in that way. They make it so easy to travel on a low budget. I can’t even count how many trains and planes I took this semester. Some of the places I traveled included London, Prague, Paris, Barcelona, Florence, Capri, Sorrento, Frascati, Tuscany, Amsterdam, Nice, Cannes, and Monte Carlo. All these places were so wonderful and different from one another in very unique ways. I especially loved Paris and the French Riviera. Paris I loved because it is a huge city like Rome but had a completely different feel. The French Riviera was beyond relaxing and gorgeous. Prague was also very unique in that you felt as if you were in a different time period while walking through the city. It was one of the coolest places I have ever been to.

When I leave here, I will miss waking up to the sounds of the sirens flying up and down Viale di Trastevere, and the tram being so packed with people during the morning commute that I have to wait for the next one so I am not all squished. I will miss walking along the Tiber and seeing the Vatican in the distance. I am pretty certain I will go home continuing to say “Ciao” and “Grazie” to everyone simply because it is what have done for the past four months. I will miss having a glass of wine at dinner because it’s just what you do.

My time spent studying abroad in Rome has been so much more than I had ever expected. I have had experiences most people will never get to have in their lifetimes. I am so lucky to have been surrounded by such amazing, caring and diverse people that have taught me so much about adapting to change and a new culture. Heading back to the States next week, I will take back with me all of the amazing memories and friends I have made here. This has truly been the most amazing and eye-opening once in a lifetime experience. Thank you SAI!

Alyssa – Indiana University-Bloomington

Wow! I can’t believe it’s already May, and the month of April has come and gone. It’s really starting to hit me that in two weeks, I’ll be on a plane back to the States, and I’m not quite sure how to feel about it. Yes, I’m excited to see my family and friends, to start putting into action all the things I’ve learned about myself and what it means to be a global citizen back home, but I don’t feel ready to leave Sorrento, and all the people and experiences I’ve gained here.

Last weekend, I took a trip to a small fishing town a half hour outside of Sorrento. The town is called Amalfi, and aside from being one of the four Italian “Repubbliche Marinare” ( Maritime Republics) and a pretty big tourist location, it is also the town my grandfather has always told me his father was from. I couldn’t think of a better way to wrap up my time in Italy than visiting the town my family was originally from. Amalfi was beautiful, and unlike Sorrento, none of the people I met spoke English. After spending just one day in town, I already felt like I was reconnected with my roots simply because I was speaking only in Italian. And, if I mentioned that my “bisnonno” (great-grandfather) was from Amalfi, I was automatically welcomed into the community with a hug and kiss. The most powerful experience I had in Amalfi by far was visiting the cemetery. I had to walk up 423 steps ( I counted!)  built into the side of a cliff to reach it, but it was worth it. I hadn’t really believed I would find any tombstones bearing my grandfather’s last name, Amalfi seemed like too much a place out of a fairy tale to really be the place my family hailed from. So I was completely taken off guard when the fourth tombstone I read had my family’s name. And then the seventh, and the tenth. My grandfather’s name was everywhere in the tiny cemetery. I was blown away; it felt like I had been traveling for years trying to get there, and suddenly I had stumbled upon home. It is truly a moment I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Going home will be difficult, there are so many friends and places I’ll be leaving behind, but I think that those things will only motivate me to return to Italy in the future. I’ve learned so much, and grown up so much in these four short months, and I can safely say studying abroad changed my life, and put me on a path to being a lifelong learner through travel.

Samantha – Ithaca College

In addition, all programs are open and currently accepting applications for the fall 2012 term. For more information about the application process, including procedures and deadlines, please contact an SAI Admissions Counselor.