This is a series of quotes from recent SAI Alumni sharing their transformative study abroad experience.

Paris students see the Arc de Triumph

Favorite Part of Your Study Abroad Experience

Nicole B. –  The New School – Paris

My favorite part of my study abroad experience was definitely living with my host mom. I think I learned a lot just from living with someone else. Someone new. I felt like we became really good friends, and she was sort of the person I went to to get advice.

Alyssa Famiano – Colorado State University – FUA

My favorite part about my study abroad experience was definitely just fully immersing myself into a new culture on my own for the first time. I found it really rewarding to be able to go out on my own and meet new people from all over the world. And it really expanded my communication skills.

Somkar Dey – College of William and Mary – Barcelona

My favorite part about the city wide experience, above all, has been the people I got to meet. A lot of people that I was surprised to learn were very close to me geographically back in the States, but also meet tons of new people and make lots of friends all over Europe and the world, as well as just regular people to contacts back in Barcelona.

Summer Florence students visit Piazzale Michelangelo

Favorite Courses

Katie Carillo – Clemson – FUA –

We did a fashion show at the end of the semester. (Apparel Design course) It was collaborative, the merchandizing students and the design students and photography, like all of these other courses were involved. And it was really cool seeing everything come together at the end of the semester.

Alyssa Famiano – Colorado State University – FUA

I personally really enjoyed the Florence Sketchbook course, because you got to walk all over the city, and sketch various landmarks, some architecture and sculptures. And I found it special because I got to learn about the city at the same time. And I also really enjoyed my wine communications and marketing course, because wine is such a prominent thing in Italian culture.

Rome students visit Frascati for a wine tasting and lunch

Viva Experience

Christian Capello. – College of William and Mary – JCU

My favorite Viva experience I think would have to go with Frescati. It was just a walk around the town and also a wine tour but it was a little later in the semester so a lot of the students had kind of gotten acquainted and it was just a really fun laid-back atmosphere. We had lunch together.  We went to a winery and we were trying different wines there and it was just a really nice experience especially towards the end as we were getting deeper and deeper into school work.

Ryleigh Horn – FAU – FUA

My favorite Viva experience was for sure the pizza cooking class. I got to meet a lot of other students that I probably wouldn’t have crossed paths with if I didn’t go, as well as learning a different part of cooking than what I was taking during my time there. I think it was the restaurant academia or something similar to that.  And the owners there were just very, very kind. And it was just overall a fun experience.

Written by: Ralph, SAI Programs Academic Relations Manager