I survived my first week in Rome! It has been an exciting, adventurous, challenging, and tiring first week. I have had the chance to explore some of the city, however, there is still so much to see and do! Top 10 tips for surviving the first week abroad: 1. I want to start off by providing a tip at the airport. You should make a friend.
Mariam was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Fall 2015 term. She is a current student at George Washington University studying at Florence University of the Arts (FUA) in Florence, Italy during the Fall 2015 term. GET TO KNOW MARIAM Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because I’ve always imagined traveling to Europe, but I’ve never been able to find the right time or proper finances to go.
Claire was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Fall 2015 term. She is a current student at University of Mary Washington studying at Sant’Anna Institute (SA) in Sorrento, Italy during the Fall 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. Years ago, I knew I wanted to study abroad. I have always loved the idea of wandering and exploring. I grew up on both coasts of the States, and spent some time in Central American countries.
Michaela was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Fall 2015 term. She is a current student at Lasell College studying at Florence University of the Arts (FUA) in Florence, Italy during the Fall 2015 term. GET TO KNOW MICHAELA Tell us why you chose to study abroad. Since I can remember I have always been intrigued by travel and experiencing different cultures first hand.
Madeline was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Fall 2015 term. She is a current student at College of Charleston studying at Florence University of the Arts (FUA) in Florence, Italy during the Fall 2015 term. ABOUT ME Tell us why you chose to study abroad. Three years ago, when I entered my freshman year at the College of Charleston, I absolutely knew that I wanted to study abroad.
Allison was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Fall 2015 term. She is a current student at St. Norbert College studying at John Cabot University (JCU) in Rome, Italy during the Fall 2015 term. GET TO KNOW ALLISON Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I’ve always wanted to travel, so studying abroad seemed like a great opportunity to take advantage of. When I started college the idea of going abroad was mostly a fun, gutsy idea.
Shayna was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Fall 2015 term. She is a current student at Rochester Institute of Technology studying at American University of Paris (AUP) in Paris, France during the Fall 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. Call it cliche, but I am so ready to get lost and be found. I can’t wait to see things I’ve only dreamt of seeing and do things that I never thought possible.
Alvaro was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Fall 2015 term. He is a current student at Colorado State University studying at Florence University of the Arts (FUA) in Florence, Italy during the Fall 2015 term. GET TO KNOW ALVARO Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because I wanted to show my family and my fellow Latino’s that anything is possible.
Robert (Bobby) was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Fall 2015 term. He is a current student at Western New England University studying at American University of Paris (AUP) in Paris, France during the Fall 2015 term. GET TO KNOW BOBBY Tell us why you chose to study abroad. My decision to study abroad has roots back to high school.
“You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day!” -Dr. Seuss 1. Never feel guilty for the amount of gelato you consume in a week, day, or hour. Seriously, eat all of it. 2. Missing your loved ones at home is totally normal AND definitely okay.
Jake was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Fall 2015 term. He is a current student at University of Miami studying at Florence University of the Arts (FUA) in Florence, Italy during the Fall 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because I am interested in immersing myself in a foreign culture. I am looking forward to the opportunity to learn about Italy in-depth.
Jamie was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Fall 2015 term. She is a current student at University of Dayton studying at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB) in Barcelona, Spain during the Fall 2015 term. GET TO KNOW JAMIE Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because I had taken a high school soccer trip to Europe and could not wait to go back.
Clara was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Fall 2015 term. She is a current student at College of William and Mary studying at Siena Italian Studies (SIS) in Siena, Italy during the Fall 2015 term. GET TO KNOW CLARA Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad to become immersed in another culture.
Spontaneous is never a word I would use to describe myself. If you asked me of words or phrases I would use to describe myself, I would say things like “organized, thoughtful, goal-oriented”, but never spontaneous. Doing things out of plan, with no schedule or organization was like a phobia of mine. So no, spontaneity was not my forte.
Cultural differences are a given. The world is full of a vast array of people with a vast array of cultures. While the United States is built on much of European history, actually experiencing Europe is much different. Your favorite food may be Italian, but until you experience real Italian food, there is a vast difference between Pizza Hut and ordering a Napoli at an Italian Pizzeria, trust me.
A day in the life here in Siena is absolutely wonderful! On weekdays I usually wake up around 8am, to get to Italian class by 9am. Of course it’s Italy, so class actually starts at around 9:10, so I’m usually not too worried about being late. Italian class is for two hours four days a week and depending on the day I’ll have one or two more classes later in the day.
It’s Wednesday Morning, my favorite day. I only have class Monday – Wednesday, so this is the last day of my workweek and it’s the most exciting day. I’m out the door on my way to class by 10:00 AM, but not before a stop at the local shop right around the corner of my apartment. It’s a bakery/pizza place, family owned. As I walk in, the Mom and Dad greet me with “Ciao!
Step 1: Calm down! I was quite nervous getting ready to leave from Washington State to Florence. Though I had been out of the country before, it had been quite some time since I had done any extensive traveling. So many thoughts were running through my head; what will it look like, what will the people be like, how will I adapt, what if I get lost, what if there are huge language barriers?
I have learned the most about who I am in my last four months in Florence. I learned more about what I want from life, and how I hope to live. I have reflected a lot on my last four years of college, and how higher education has helped me grown into an adult. I have only just begun to imagine what life has in store for me in the future.
It’s hard to believe this is my last week in Rome. Living in the Eternal City and traveling around Europe has been an incredible experience, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Here are the 15 best things about Rome (and the things I will miss the most). In no particular order: Italian Coffee: Nothing is better than walking into a bar and ordering a caffé or a cappuccino.
You never realize how much you have changed until you put yourself in an experience you’re not familiar with. Whether you believe if people change or not, we all have experiences that shape us into who we really are, or who we are becoming, and thankfully, who I’m becoming is someone who has more resilience. I’m thankful that I am able to see how much I have grown and changed just in one semester.
Favorite Spots in Sorrento: Bagni della Regina Giovanna: Regina Giovanna is easily my favorite place in Sorrento. This incredible spot is located at the tip of Sorrento, a short hike out of the city center. The formation of the rocks at this spot, accompanied by the Roman ruins that are located there, make this place unlike any other.
My time here in Milan is coming to an end. It’s all sorts of feelings, excitement to go home but sadness to leave all of my friends, experiences, traveling, and the city behind. Even though it’s so bittersweet, there are an endless amount of memories that I will cherish forever.
I had the pleasure of going on an amazing all exclusive weekend excursion through SAI and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. From Tuscan food to beautiful hikes to meeting new friends, it was a weekend to be remembered forever. One of my favorite parts of the weekend was going on tours of some of the little towns of Tuscany.
At the end of February, SAI Programs organized a trip to the Umbria and Tuscany regions for all of its students studying in Rome. It was great because this weekend everything was planned and taken care of, and the only thing we had to pay for ourselves was anything extra we wanted. We left from Piazza Trilussa at 10 am on Friday morning, and had two motor coaches for our group.
Never did I think this time would actually come. The time where I would be reflecting on my abroad experience as if it were something in the past. I’m about 10 days out from my departure from Spain, and I have the most mixed emotions about leaving. People always tell you how much you will change after an abroad experience or how much you will learn in such a short period of time.
One of my favorite SAI excursions was the weekend to Milan and Como. On the way to Como were the most beautiful mountains. The bus ride was long but the views were great. Our first stop when we arrived in Como was a restaurant that served a variety of pizza that I’m sure everyone enjoyed. The next day we went to visit Milan, the fashion capital of Italy.
If you were to ask me a year ago if study abroad was in future I would have corrected you immediately. I am the type of person who plans out their life years in advance and it is very comforting to me to have an idea of what to prepare for. I am a second semester senior studying fashion design, my home school is Western Michigan University.
In Siena, the program starts off with a 3 week immersion program of the Italian language. When the three weeks are up, we all go on a 4 day “Gita” (trip), each semester to someplace different. This semester, we went to Northern Italy and stayed in a town called Cavalese in the Alps. It was absolutely amazing!
Prior to coming to Italy, I did my best to cram in as much Italian language as possible. I downloaded helpful apps, and explored interactive websites, but without taking an Italian language class (or multiple classes) you can’t be properly prepared for the language barrier. Personally, I was very ill prepared, and I still feel lost in the sea of Italian language.
My favorite SAI excursion, so far, would have to be the day trip to Bologna! Ironically, the ride there (about an hour and a half) was the worst ride of my life. I was very carsick, but thankfully, I didn’t get sick on the bus!
Aside from my newfound appreciation for English taught classes, I have been able to get in some great sightseeing/exploration over the past few months. I have been able to visit multiple places throughout Europe, but of course my favorites have been right here in the beautiful Eternal City.
After getting to know the nine others within my SAI group, we finally made it on a trip together sponsored by SAI. We went to Venice the weekend of March 13-15. As always the trip was full of amazing food, beautiful weather and sightseeing. We met at the train station bright and early Friday morning around 7:45 so the train ride was good enough time to sleep before our day in Venice.
My name is Dominique Norman. I am currently a junior at Washington State University, double majoring in Apparel Design and Merchandising with a focus in Comparative Ethnic Studies. I chose to study abroad originally because of my love of travel. Learning about different histories, cultures, and people is something I’m very passionate about.
I was one of the few to be lucky enough to attend not just one, but two Italian cooking classes with Chef Andrea. There, we were taught how to make amazing four course meals with dishes that were just easy enough to make on our own for every day dinner. Everything that we cooked with was very fresh and cooking with all your friends is a whole different experience.
What a trip it has been so far! Half way through and I have been to around fifteen Italian cities in seven different regions. Among those cities I have visited my favorites (in no particular order)
SAI Excursion-Spanish Cooking Lesson So we have been on so many excursions through SAI where we have traveled to other cities, but for this blog post, I’d like to include an activity we’ve taken part in right here in Barcelona. Last week, 3/6, SAI arranged a Spanish cooking lesson.
There is such a thing as Italian time. I don’t know if it’s common knowledge, but the Italians’ timeframe and daily routine is completely different from that of Americans. This took a lot of getting used. You don’t drink cappuccinos after 10 (life’s all about breaking the rules, right?). Siesta is from around 1 to 4pm, meaning 90% of stores are closed, so just stay in.
Nicholas was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. Below he talked about his top 10 favorite spots in Rome. Passeggiata del Gianicolo: Right before you reach the Vatican from Trastevere, you walk along this amazing park filled with old monuments, and even a lighthouse. The best part though is the view. From multiple vantage points and ledges you can look over into the center of Rome.
When you go to another country it is expected that there will be differences in culture. I had an idea of what I thought Italy was like. I have to say it was not far off from the stereotype that I had in my head. I think that my idea of the Italian lifetime was very influenced by my family growing up.
My first month in Italy has come to a close and it has been quite the experience so far. As a history major, Florence is the place of my dreams. Every building has historical significance from the mighty Duomo to the small chiesa where Dante once preached. Back home you had to drive quite some way to go to a museum or anything like that.
When you’re going to study abroad for your first time, what to pack and what to leave at home is the million dollar question. Everyone seemed to be telling me to pack light, and then the other half was telling me to bring everything because I will want/need it. So, naturally, I had no clue. Upon my arrival, I was so glad that I packed light!
Siena is a wonderful town full of places both on and off the main center. The longer I’m here the more I discover, especially as more stores open after their winter holiday. Here’s a list of some of the place I have found! Bar Il Pintoricchio: Located two feet from the SIS building, this bar has become a home before class, after class and everything in between.
The couple days before I left for Rome I frantically started asking friends who had studied abroad what to expect. My dear friend Lexi gave me two tips of advice that have been extremely helpful. The first was to buy rain boots when I got to Italy because if you pack them they take up too much room in your suitcase, but you will DEFINITELY want them.
As I near the end of my second month in Rome, it’s interesting to step back and examine the differences between American and Italian culture. The first difference I have noticed is the varied approaches to customer service in a retail setting. Whereas in America there is a large focus on providing excellent customer service, in Italy it can be hard to get help when shopping.
Coming to Milan, I had no idea how I was going to pack my life into 2 suitcases for almost 5 months. But after getting settled in here, there were a few things that I forgot at home. When I looked at the weather for what I needed to pack, I saw that the lows were only 40s and highs around 60s for the time that I am here.
Has it been a month here already?! I can’t believe how fast the time is flying by! There are so many things I love about this city. There are a few specific places that have really screamed “home” to me. After a long day in class or after a long weekend of travel, it is nice to see the familiar subway stop, or grocery store across from my apartment. (1)
It’s really hard to interpret what my first impressions of this place truly are, because I still feel blinded by love and infatuation. My first few memories are the most clouded of all. The plane ride over I do remember. I drowned out my insomnia with the sounds of movies, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Radiohead, and Clean Bandit.
Upon Arriving in the city of Florence, it surpassed my expectation. I was not expecting the city to be filled with so much history, and beautiful architecture. I truly feel like I am getting the complete Italian experience. I am living as if I were and Italian. I look forward to exploring this culture moreover the next four months.
Only one week in Florence and it has been quite an experience already! At first I was overwhelmed by the size of the city but, I am getting better at knowing how to get places. That being said, I still get lost every time I explore and kind of aimlessly wander.
The first impressions of being in Italy are still hitting me-I’m in awe of this beautiful city, but more in awe of the Italian culture. I have this insane amount of adrenaline wanting to see and eat everything and it started long before I landed in Florence. Before my plane had completely landed in Florence, I couldn’t stop looking at the Tuscany region and the incredible hills with the brightest green grass.
Arriving in Rome was an experience like no other. This is the first time that I have been to Europe, so everything from the new language to different food was a shock. I flew in with my friend from school, Stefanie, and we got lost together a few times before finally realizing that we just had to walk directly to the hotel and check in.
Getting on the plane to Italy I wasn’t struck with the weight of the situation. For weeks before I had been worried and excited. Worried that I would hate my host family and that being in a different country would make me super homesick, though I was never worried about the language.
As I quickly walk to my second day of classes at John Cabot I walked past one of many souvenir shops and I saw a shirt that said “Rome Was Not Built in a Day”. I couldn’t help but reflect on that phrase as I made my way to campus. As I reflected I was taken back to a week earlier when I had just arrived in Rome.
My arrival and first moments in Italy were a bit bittersweet. I was extremely excited to be in Italy for the firs time, wanting to head to Sorrento, to meet the other people on my trip, and to take in as much of Sorrento I could in the first day. When first landing in Naples, to the passengers and my dismay, it was pouring down rain.
Ciao (Hello)!! I am here…in my apartment…in Rome…in Italy…in Europe. Honestly, I haven’t even really been able to comprehend that statement yet. Even though I walk out onto cobblestone streets each morning and trek through the maze that is Trastevere, it has yet to truly sink in that I’m in Rome. But nonetheless…it is true.
When I arrived in Florence the first thing I noticed were the unique buildings and architecture. Everything was so beautiful! The people were very friendly and helpful. My arrival was quite interesting, after leaving the airport I spent hours trying to find somewhere to exchange my American dollars. Then after being lost for quite a while I found the hotel that I was staying at for the night.
Tameka was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. She is a current student at Western Michigan University studying at Florence University of the Arts (FUA) in Florence, Italy during the Spring 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because this is a once in a life time opportunity and I wanted to have the abroad experience.
Ciao from Milan! I left from the states on Saturday, January 10 and arrived early morning in Milano on Sunday, January 11. I flew from Kansas City to Chicago then Chicago to New York. As I waited at the gate at JFK, I could already tell that there were few Americans boarding, and a majority of Italians flying back home.
It is hard to believe December has finally come and I will be leaving in just over a week. Finishing my study abroad semester is definitely a bittersweet feeling. Although I am sad to be leaving Florence, I am glad to be returning home for Christmas with my family. Looking back at what I wanted to see before coming here, I have definitely surpassed those expectations.
WOW. I have only been here a week now and I already have had so many new experiences. There is so much I have already done and I can’t wait to be here for another four months! I arrived in Barcelona on January 5th with my father, earlier than my roommates, and toured around The Rambla (a known street for tourists), and tried a couple cool restaurants and watched some funny street performers.
I remember when I was first applying for Siena Italian Studies, I was asked what I was most afraid of concerning living in Italy. Without hesitation, I responded that I was most afraid of never wanting to return to the states. In a sense, when I used to think of travel, I thought of it with the naivety that other countries were better than wherever I was from.
What a semester that I never imagined! How can you begin to put the study abroad experience into words? I have been wondering what I will say to my friends and family when they ask about my time here. The emotions, experiences and relationships cannot be said in a simple sentence or even a single paper…they honestly cannot even be given parameters or restraints because they have changed my life and forever impacted my perspective.
Sarah was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. She is a current student at Western Michigan University studying at Florence University of the Arts (FUA) in Florence, Italy during the Spring 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad.
This experience has been the craziest, most independent times of my life. I’ve been so challenged, yet have grown so tremendously in my confidence and in my faith. It’s truly amazing to be taken away from everything that’s comfortable and to be so completely vulnerable, knowing that things could potentially go so horribly wrong.
My time is coming to an end in Florence and I am thinking ahead to my travels around Europe. I am hard pressed to pick my ten favorite spots around Firenze, oh beautiful Firenze. Gusto Pizza has the best slice in town, Guy Fieri was there a few weeks back. In addition to making some truly AMAZING pizza, the owner is so wonderful and friendly!
After experiencing some of the most fabulous places in London, I found it very difficult to narrow down my ten favorite spots. My most cherished places in London include restaurants, music venues, museums, and many more. Brick Lane: I fell in love with Brick Lane the moment I stepped out of the tube station. The area is filled with hidden gems. You are guaranteed to find a store that tickles your fancy.
I am down to the final weeks of studying abroad in Rome, and I have mixed feelings. I am so excited to go back home and share my experiences with my family and friends, but I am sad to leave Rome at the same time. I have learned so much studying abroad both about myself and about their culture.
Bailey was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. She is a current student at St. Cloud State University studying at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB) in Barcelona, Spain during the Spring 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad I chose to study abroad because I LOVE to travel.
Looking back on my semester in Sorrento, and having just celebrated Thanksgiving here with all of my awesome new friends (American and Italian), I feel the need to say that I am incredibly thankful for having been able to come here and have this truly amazing experience. But, before coming, I can honestly say I really had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Hello all! The end of the semester is coming to an end! I cannot believe how fast this semester has gone! I can’t believe Christmas is just around the corner! Walking around Florence seems even more magical with all of the decorations and lights being put up. I come from a small town, so seeing a city with all of the lights is something I am not used to all of the festivities.
Buongiorno! Things have been great here in Florence and I learn new places to enjoy every day. However, there are a few places that I personally enjoy. Probably my favorite thing to do in Florence is to walk along the Arno River, especially at sunset. You are able to go and sit down below so you are looking up at the bridges and the Ponte Vecchio in the distance.
I honestly cannot believe that the semester is already coming to an end. Time flies by so quickly when you’re constantly emerged in a culture where you’re learning something new everyday. It still leaves me in shock thinking back to the fact that I’ve been living in Paris since the end of August. Now that December nears, I’m mentally preparing myself for the end. I have to admit, it’s bittersweet.
Mikaila chose to be an SAI blogger for the Spring 2015 term. She is a current student at Belmont University studying at Sant’Anna Institute (SA) in Sorrento, Italy during the Spring 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. Ever since high school I have been fascinated with other countries. For me, the opportunity to study abroad was one of the things I wanted in a college.
Andrew was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. He is a current student at the University of Alabama studying at John Cabot University (JCU) in Rome, Italy during the Spring 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I want to study abroad to further explore the world, learn about other cultures, and to retrace my Italian heritage.
Kenneth was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. He is a current student at the University of Missouri studying at John Cabot University (JCU) in Rome, Italy during the Spring 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. For starters, my name is Kenny Cygeirt. Just a simple, 21 year-old small-town (1,640 people) guy here searching for my next great adventure.
Charles was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. He is a current student at the University of Missouri studying at Florence University of the Arts (FUA) in Florence, Italy during the Sprig 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad.
Elena was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. She is a current student at University of Missouri studying at Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (NABA) in Milan, Italy during the Spring 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I wasn’t really interested in studying abroad until my second semester of my sophomore year.
Brooke was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. She is a current student at University of South Carolina studying at Sant’Anna Institute (SA) in Sorrento, Italy during the Spring 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. When it comes to my choice of whether or not to study abroad, it was an easy one to make.
Jasmyn was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. She is a current student at St. Norbert College studying at John Cabot University (JCU) in Rome, Italy during the Spring 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because I am fascinated by cultures which are different than my own. I believe life is about new experiences and broadening one’s horizons.
Andrea was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. She is a current student at Kansas State University studying at Florence University of the Arts (FUA) in Florence, Italy during the Spring 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because I wanted to give myself a diverse learning experience while I am still in college.
Sabina was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. She is a current student at Muhlenberg College studying at Siena Italian Studies (SIS) in Siena, Italy during the Spring 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad.
Nicholas was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. He is a current student at Pace University studying at John cabot University (JCU) in Rome, Italy during the Spring 2015 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. The opportunity to study in another country is something I won’t have for a long time after college and I feel it’ll be a great learning experience personally & academically.
Rome is full of bustling cafes, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and beautiful churches. I’ve been very thankful to have the resources of John Cabot University (my school) and SAI (the program with whom I’m studying) to show me great places in Rome! Here are a few of them. Piazza di San Cosimato Market – Every day, except Sunday, there’s a market that goes till a little past noon.
After having spent 3 weeks in Florence I left to participate in FUA Tuttotoscana program for a week in New York. I have not had much time to explore the city through all of my school time but thanks to walking everywhere I have been able to take in the sights! The biggest cultural difference that I am enjoying is the affair of food.
It’s amazing how time flies by when you’re having fun in Rome! I have to admit it has been stressful with midterms these past two weeks, but once the weekend comes, I am always looking forward to trying new things and finding hidden treasures in Rome or Italy. This month I got to travel to the Amalfi Coast, Umbria (the Green Hart of Italy), and Cinque Terre!
As part time locals, we have developed our favorite places in Florence for all sorts of life activities. From good eats to great shopping, we know exactly where to go to satisfy a need or want. Osteria all’ Antico Vinaio: It is here that you can find a well made, large sandwich for 5 euros and are guaranteed to walk away a happy camper.
After traveling around Italy, as well as several other countries, I can easily say I am happy with my choice to study in Florence. Florence is such an accessible city you can walk almost anywhere. After traveling to cities where I had to take multiple trains to get to one destination, I definitely appreciate a walkable city. Although I’ve only scratched the surface of this city, I have found some of my favorite spots.
As it is evident to most, Paris is a complete tourist magnet. It’s vital to experience all of the tourist spots, such as the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, and the Louvre, however, after spending over two months in this city I’ve absorbed a bunch of tips that allow me to see Paris in a different light and make me feel like a Parisian local even when in touristy areas.
One of the first reactions from my friends and family when I told them that I was going to Italy was to be careful. They warned me that the culture is vastly different, some questioned my decision to live with an Italian family, and most advised me to be wary of the food because if not I would definitely double in size.
I’m originally from Chicago, and grew up in the Mid-West all my life. I go to college in Texas, which I love, but it’s a different world all in its own. And now I’m in Rome. Over the past few years I’ve been introduced to so many different cultures and ways of life. That being said, Rome and Italy are extremely different than both cultures I’ve experienced thus far.
During my second week in Sorrento I came across an Italian saying that I soon realized was central to the way of life in southern Italy: “il dolce far niente”. A rough translation of this could be “the sweetness of doing nothing”, which at first may sound like the anthem of the lazy, but I’ve discovered that it has a different meaning altogether.
After being here in Florence for a month, I have depicted a few major cultural differences. The Italians are proud people who truly appreciate tradition, art, family, food, and wine. Food in Italy is an art form; everything is made from scratch. Almost every business closes around 1 or 2pm and reopens later in the evening. I myself have adapted to this “afternoon break” in order to escape the hottest time of day.
Hard to believe I’ve been living in Rome for a month! It’s been an incredible experience already, and I cannot wait to see what the remaining of the semester has to offer! Being here has been difficult to adjust to, mostly the language barrier. During my sophomore year of college, I studied Italian for two semesters.
I feel as though I am at a cultural advantage over some of my American counterparts. Having been raised in a rather large Mexican family, many cultural stereotypes tend to overlap with those said about Italians. For example, the volume levels of normal conversation, the wild hand gestures, and lack of personal space are things that my background suggest to be normal.
Hello again! Living in Florence continues to be one of the greatest experiences that I will ever have! There is something new to love about it every single day! I have been able to do a lot of traveling and activities such as hiking the Cinque Terre, visiting the Tuscan islands, Volterra, Pompeii, the island of Capri, Croatia, and Germany so far.
I have now officially lived in Paris for one whole month! Throughout the time I’ve lived here thus far, I have gradually adapted to the Parisian lifestyle. For starters, the apartments and living spaces are much smaller and more compact compared to American homes. One thing that I found myself struggling with at the beginning was doing laundry. A typical Parisian home only has a washer, no dryer.
My first impression of Italy when getting off the plane was ‘holy crap I am never driving here’! They all drive like maniacs. First of all, on my trip, they lost my luggage. I thought the airport back home in Victoria B.C. Canada was small, but it is huge and bustling compared to Florence.
I had been extremely excited to leave for my study abroad trip since the day I received my acceptance. So excited, in fact, that I had forgotten to be nervous. The nervousness hit full throttle during my last week in America when all of my friends began class, work, and all sorts of other young adult responsibilities.
After twelve hours of travel, a few hours of sleep in a not-so-comfortable airplane seat, and the same pair of clothes since the previous morning, I was beyond happy to finally be in Rome. The whole summer I had never fully processed that I would be spending my fall semester in Rome, however the feeling of intimidation and jet-lag quickly caught up with me. My first twenty four hours were full of nerves and anxiety.
After a long journey all the way from the United States, I finally made it to the “City of Love.” From the second I stepped foot onto French soil, I was in complete awe. From the intricate architecture, to the fresh food markets on every street corner and the thousands of Parisians filtering through the streets, my eyes were wondering aimlessly. I knew from day one that I was going to love this place.
When I first arrived to Florence, I’ll admit I was very overwhelmed. I first arrived to my apartment and felt very alone and unsure of what was to lie ahead of me. After I took a short walk from my apartment, I discovered the Duomo and the quaint Piazza San Pier Maggiore. I spoke to locals with the small Italian I knew and got around fairly easily.
I got here a day before the move in date, August 25. It was a seven hour flight from the JFK Airport to the FCO Airport. Even though I saw the signs written in Italian everywhere at the airport, I still felt like I wasn’t in Rome. The next day was move in day, and the nerves were setting in. I was very anxious to move into my apartment and more importantly, meet my roommates.
While I was abroad, I learned many things about myself and the Italian culture. Before this trip, I had been to Italy 3 times, mostly to see my family that lives in Lucca and Padova. This was the first time that I stayed for a long period of time and stayed with people that I did not know. I also was forced into speaking the language, instead of talking to my relatives in English.
Ciao! I have finally made it to Italy and I am in love. I could honestly leave it at that, not telling you anything else. My point would be made and you would have to come see Firenze yourself. Not to worry though, I will not leave you in wonder. Instead, I will let you in on my first impressions and observations. Firenze is a small city and you really can walk anywhere.
My journey from the United States to Italy, apart from being excruciatingly exhausting, went relatively smoothly until my arrival at Naples airport when I almost accidently left with the incorrect suitcase. After retrieving the correct suitcase, I met up with two classmates that had also just arrived and we were escorted to a van which took us directly to our new homes in Sorrento.
It has been almost a month since I have been home from Italy and it’s strange getting back into my normal routine. I have had quite a bit of time to reflect on my experience which has been bittersweet.
Buongiorno from Firenze! So far getting settled into the city has been an amazing and great experience. My apartment has a fantastic location; it is just a street over from the Fiume Arno (Arno River) and is not even a ten minute walk from the city center. One thing that I noticed about my apartment is that it is a lot bigger than I imagined.
Wow, Sorrento has been so amazing! I can’t believe my internship has already come to an end. There have definitely been some drastic changes from home, the Italian language being the main difference. Italians in general are very big into using hand gestures when they speak, and the language barrier soon becomes moot as it is so easy to figure out if the conversation is sweet or sour.
Well, I knew that my fun was going to come to an end at some point, but unfortunately it came way too soon. Since being home everyone keeps asking me about my trip and how much I enjoyed traveling. I always tell them that I felt so blessed to see so many places in Europe and there were so many amazing cities that I’ve seen; but none of them will beat Florence.
My experience abroad has been one helluva time. It’s taught me to accept discomfort, because no one should get too accustomed to one type of lifestyle or way of living. The world is ever changing and we must move and adjust with it. Accept the good, the bad and the ugly even if things don’t go according to plan. I have completely established myself here in Milano and I made myself at home.
I got off the airplane in Naples, and after a 12 hour flight with one layover I was relieved to be back on land. The occupants of the airplane were ushered off in an orderly fashion and directed inside a surprisingly small airport (compared to Germany).
Brittany is a current student at Point Loma Nazarene University studying at Florence University of the Arts (FUA) in Italy during the Fall 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because I love to travel and I love new cultures. That being said, I have not been able to stay for an extended period of time in any of the locations that I have been blessed to visit.
The differences between Siena and North Aurora that I have noticed is that in Siena, you get the feeling that this city has been here for a very long time. Just walking the streets you can sense the presence of the medieval history that occurred here. Starting with the presence of the Roman Empire with the Lupa statue everywhere and moving on to when Siena had its many battles with Florence.
Lisa is a current student at the Vancouver Island University studying at Florence University of the Arts (FUA) in Italy during the Fall 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because I would like to experience everything the world has to offer. I am so interested in cultures all over. The reason that I chose Italy is because of the food.
Holiday is a current student at the San Francisco Art Institute studying at University of the Arts London during the Fall 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad in London so that I could focus on my family history, and its connection to textiles, which have been constant throughout my art practice. I felt that I could investigate this best by being closer to home.
Anna is a current student at the University of South Carolina studying at Sant’Anna Institute in Italy during the Fall 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad, specifically in Italy, in order to get to know a new culture completely different from my own. I also really wanted to solidify my Italian minor, and what better way to do so?
Karisa was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Fall 2014 term. She is a current student at Baylor University studying at Siena Italian Studies in Italy during the Fall 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. My passion for travel and culture developed at a very young age with my mom’s countless stories of her life in Germany during her time in the army.
Anne is a current student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania studying at Florence University of the Arts in Italy during the Fall 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because I am very interested in travel, but the biggest part of my decision was because of my sister. When I was still in high school, my sister studied abroad to Ireland and she absolutely loved it.
Sina is a current student at University of Tampa studying at American University of Paris in Paris during the Fall 2014 term. I’m so excited to take off for Paris at the end of August and make memories in the following four months that will last a lifetime. I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the SAI blog for my time studying in Paris. Tell us why you chose to study abroad.
Ellie is a current student at Baylor University studying at John Cabot University in Italy during the Fall 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because I have always fantasized about traveling Europe.
Rachel is a current student at Richard Stockton College studying at Florence University of the Arts in Italy during the Fall 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad in order to experience another culture. I know that once college is over I am probably never going to have the opportunity to live in another country for 3-4 months. A few friends of mine have studied abroad and absolutely loved it.
Amber is a current student at Pace University studying at John Cabot University in Italy during the Fall 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I chose to study abroad because I want to get the chance to discover the culture of Italy and all of Europe.
It’s come that time to say “Arrivederci Firenze”. This study abroad session has gone by with just the right speed, not too fast and not too slow. Studying abroad for six weeks was just the right amount of time I needed in Italy to get what I wanted to get done. As far as studies went, my wine class was a wonderful experience!
After living in Florence for about four weeks now, I’m starting to feel like a true florentine. What do I mean by that? In a weird way I feel like a local in one of the most tourist filled areas in Italy.
My trip started off differently than my peers’, because I have family that lives in Italy. I decided to visit them before meeting the SIS students on June 11th. I arrived in Rome, Italy on June 5th expecting everything to go well.
Having spent over three weeks in Italy, I have witnessed a great deal of differences in this country, but nothing close at all to getting culture shock. Anybody can tell the huge differences of culture between the United States and Italy within the first day of a visit to this country.
My mother always told me that a first impression is the most important, and I guess Florence took that same advice. As soon as I stepped out of the gate at Amerigo Vespucci airport I was happily greeted by Alessandra and Alessandro from SAI (Yes, those are really their names). Immediately I felt welcomed and I could tell they were just as excited as I was to start this amazing adventure.
I have officially begun my study abroad here in Florence! As soon as I touched down at the airport in Florence, it was obvious life was going to a bit different for 6 weeks. I have been to this city before in years past, but this time I’m here to live as a temporary citizen and experience a side I have never seen before.
It’s hard to believe that this semester has come to an end. It has as already been 14 weeks and looking back to everything I have done fills me with excitement about how this experience will help me grow in life. One of the main things that I have learned is to appreciate every moment in life, in a city, in my everyday and in the things I see.
It is amazing to me that more than 3 months have passed since I first arrived in Italy. The semester has FLOWN by! But that isn’t to say it hasn’t been filled with some of the best experiences of my life. As I am beginning to pack all of my things and leave Siena tomorrow for another few weeks of traveling, all I keep wishing for is a little bit more time.
I can’t believe my experience abroad is coming to an end. It seems like just yesterday I was hauling my 70lb bag up 4 flights of stairs. When I arrived to my apartment, I laid on my bed exhausted and jetlagged thinking; “it is going to be a rough 5 months on this hard mattress.” Now, when I travel I look forward to coming back to my little Parisian apartment, because it is my home.
When my semester in Milan was approaching, all of my family and friends told me, “Cherish every moment. It’s going to go by so fast.” That had to be the biggest understatement of the past few months. With my final projects due in a matter of days and packing for home on my to-do list, it is truly unbelievable that this experience is already coming to a close. But my Italian is finally improving!
For this last blog, I’m supposed to write my thoughts on leaving. My thoughts on leaving? Well, when I was still in Rome, I didn’t want to leave. Now that I’m back, I hate that I did.
Yes, the end is approaching. Rather, it is practically here. May 10th I hug my host family goodbye, send my roommate off to Southeast Asia, and board my own plane destined for Serbia and another adventure. Although I know it’s going to be a tearful goodbye leaving Italy and my family, I feel I am ready to move on.
I can’t believe my time in Florence is finally coming to an end. Where did these past 4 months go? I feel like just yesterday I was adjusting to this new and beautiful city I was about to call home. Although I am extremely excited to see my family after a long four months apart, it is hard to grasp the fact that my time here is over.
As my time here is beginning to wrap up, I feel so bittersweet about leaving this beautiful city. It has been such a wonderful experience and opportunity to get to know the Italian culture. From the food, the wine, and the people, Italy has taught me about its roots and taught me more about myself as well. I will leave Italy with a large sense of satisfaction.
It’s hard to believe that as I sit here and write my last blog post, I only have a little over 2 weeks left in Florence. It feels like just yesterday I was saying goodbye to my parents in the airport and the concept of 4 months away from home seemed daunting. I cannot believe how fast this semester has flown by and all of the amazing experiences Florence has given me.
There’s no rush, for anything, ever. Enjoy the little things in life and you will see beauty everywhere. Music truly is the universal language. Old is beautiful. Some things need no translation, and for other things, a translation simply isn’t possible.
I seriously can’t believe we are talking about leaving. I feel like it was just yesterday I was getting dropped off at my apartment. My friends who have studied aboard before me warned me that it would go by fast but I was not expecting it to fly by. I am excited to go home and see my family but I am also sad about leaving Rome. I love the city.
Theresa was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Summer. She is a current student at Norther Illinois University studying at Siena Italian Studies in Italy during the Summer 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I’ve always wanted to study abroad because I really enjoy learning.
Alston was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Summer. He is a current student at Virginia Tech studying at Florence University of the Arts in Italy during the Summer 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. I believe that studying abroad is a must for all students. You will grow in so many ways and this summer is the perfect time for me to go abroad.
Lydia was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Summer. She is a current student at Seattle Pacific University studying at Sorrento Lingue (SA) in Sorrento, Italy during the Summer 2014 term. Tell us why you chose to study abroad. Ever since I traveled to France, Germany, and Italy my senior year of high school I have had serious wanderlust.
I cannot believe my adventure in Rome ends in less than three weeks! The semester flew by, and I’m scurrying to complete everything on my to-do list. I’ve learned many things while studying abroad, and most of these things I’ve learned outside of the classroom. I’ve learned how to be independent, how to spend and save money, and I’ve learned how to balance work with play.
Below is a list of my top favorite locales, in no particular order. These places are my “go-to” spots when I want to get out of the house. Since there has been better weather I’ve been given the opportunity to visit and see much more that exceed this list. Punks Wear Prada Nightclub: This club is my absolute favorite. I am surrounded by people who love fashion and music just as much as I do.
I definitely have some of my favorite spots to go to in Florence. Whether it is for eating, relaxing, and self-reflection, I have found some great places through the help of friends, locals, and exploring. For groceries, I definitely have been fond of Conad. It literally is a giant supermarket grocery store that has a huge selection of goodies. It reminds me of the grocery store I go to back at home, Kroger.
I feel already that this guide should be taken as a grain of salt. Often when traveling I hear stories and expectations from others of what they have heard is amazing. Remember, that was their experience and this is yours. My favorite moments abroad so far have been spontaneous, adventurous, and unplanned. My first tip is to explore the streets with an open mind.
Just as a preface to this list, it’s really hard to pick only 10 places in Rome as my favorites – everything here is stunning and unique in its own way. Nevertheless, I compiled my list. I left out a lot of the big monuments that are obviously amazing and put in a few of my other favorite local places to go.
I have been in Florence for over half the semester now, and I can say that I fall more and more in love with the city every single day. I can’t possibly list my all time favorite places because I love every place (especially every restaurant), but I will do my best to explain what has impacted my experience thus far.
Torre Argentina – The Cat Sanctuary – How can you not like this place? Besides those who are allergic to cats or people who truly hate them, the Cat Sanctuary is a place that many people enjoy and go to when they need their animal fix. There are all different breeds of cats housed here, and many of them have disabilities.
Getting to know Florence has been quite an experience and starting on my list of favorite places throughout the city is Giotto’s Bell Tower observation deck (Duomo’s Campanile) as it offers the perfect view of the Duomo.
In no particular order, things I enjoy in Sorrento: Piazza Lauro: Piazza Lauro is always bustling with people from morning to night and it is conveniently located right above my house here in Sorrento. Each day Italian words slip in through my window from the streets below. It is a perfect day when I can sit on the balcony and do what sociologists do best, observe.
Ponte Vecchio – The Ponte Vecchio never fails to catch your eye. It is a beautiful sight from anywhere along the Arno or many parts of the city. The Ponte Vecchio brings the whole city together and is the central focus point of Florence. In addition to the gorgeous exterior, the actual bridge is always fun to walk over, gazing at the breathtaking views of the city and admiring the cute shops along the bridge!
Boboli Gardens: This park is home to a collection of sculptures dating from the 16th to 18th centuries. When visiting this park, I roamed around for about 3 hours in the gardens. There is SO much to see. In all different parts of the parks you come across many different pieces of art, flowers, trees, and many beautiful views. There are many hills and secret passageways that you can end up anywhere!
Top 10 Places in Siena, Italy I am loving my time in Siena and it is crazy to think that more than half of my time here is already gone! Although I love exploring Italy and Europe on the weekends, Siena has enough within it’s city walls that I think I see something new every day.
Now that I’ve lived in Milan for about three full months, I would like to think I know a little bit about the city and its local culture. So, I’ll take this blog opportunity to share with you: “Diego’s 10 Top Spots in Milan.” Ten quick and easy recommendations in case you ever find yourself in Milan and don’t know what to do! Here goes! For Lunch: Luini’s.
With the nice weather and beautiful scenery in Italy, people are naturally flocking outside at local favorites. I’ve located some of my favorite spots by seeing other people go there or by stumbling upon the place by chance. Here is a list of my top 10 favorite places in Rome! 1. Carlo Menta– This is a Restaurant that is extremely affordable and it’s very close to the Tiber Campus at JCU.
In Sorrento life is tranquil. Dogs lay in the middle of the streets. The town closes down in the middle of the day for shop owners to have lunch with their families, and maybe catch a nap before heading back to work. It’s a beautiful way to live. Everyone has the time to chat on the streets, and as my host father would say, “Everyone stays well.
Trevi Fountain – This is my number one place because I think it is absolutely stunning. The fountain itself is so beautiful and the water rushing through drowns out everything around you. There is also really good gelato place around the Trevi. Tip: go at 3 in the morning; there is no one there and you can take awesome night pictures. Gianicolo Hill – The stairs gong up to Gianicolo are right by my apartment.
Having been here just over four weeks, I can finally say it is starting to feel more familiar. The streets are getting easier to navigate, I finally know how to get to class without using Google Maps, and my apartment is feeling like a home – even with all the ups and downs that come along with it! Italian culture is so much different than American culture, and I LOVE it.
I believe it is always life changing when placed in an environment very dissimilar to your own. The culture of Milan has changed me into the person I’ve become.
Out of two decades of experiencing what the world has to offer, culture have been one of the most interesting aspects of the later part of that time since I have been able to experience different ones.
When I get up in the morning and walk to class, I pass by people walking to work and school. I see the friendly, neighborhood panhandler outside the bakery. I see the sun rising in the distance (sunrise is very late here). As I sometimes get lost in the daily actions, I have to remind myself that this is real. I am in Paris!
I remembered telling myself to keep an open mind about the lifestyle here, in hopes that it would alleviate the culture shock. I luckily haven’t experienced much of a culture shock that many other students might have. There are definitely some differences that I experience every day, such as opening a door.
Being in Florence for almost a month now I have seen many cultural differences compared to America. I knew I would encounter many differences when arriving here and was ready to become cultured and broaden my horizons. One of the first things we saw at orientation was a video mocking, in a way, the differences between the way cars drive here versus other parts of the world.
When I first arrived in Florence, I experienced major culture shock. I noticed so many differences between Italian life and my own culture, some of which I liked and some of which were hard to get used to. After being here for a month now, I have grown almost fully accustomed to the cultural differences and have tried to understand Italian life. The first major difference I noticed between Florence and America is the pace.
Eating dinner at nine, placing your money on the counter instead of handing it to the cashier, ordering a coffee and actually drinking it there. Nothing groundbreaking, right? Right. So then why was I utterly confused when I wanted to eat at six but everything was closed? Or when the clerk placed my change in front of me.
America and Italy are two different countries completely. I love America, I do, but Italy is slowly stealing my heart. I mean how can it not? Italy is home to the most beautiful and historical landmarks, the food here is the freshest I have ever eaten, and everyone seems to be so happy with their laid back personalities.
Coming to Italy I had no idea what to expect. I knew that the people would speak Italian and that’s about it. The Italian culture is much more than just a different language. It is so rich in history and tradition. Italians can trace their history literally about 2000 thousand plus years, it’s insane. In the early years of Rome, the people were very easy going and enjoyed their naps and their art.
I love Italy. I love America too, I mean it’s my home and all, but I do really love the Italian culture. Comparing America and Italia I wouldn’t say that one is necessarily better than the other, just that they are different. But after 19 years of the same old same old, the change is welcome. Number one thing I noticed about Italy: traffic laws are more like guidelines than actual rules.
After experiencing Rome for over a month, I feel like I’ve gotten a little bit of a grasp on the Italian culture. The culture took me by surprise at first, but I’ve grown accustomed to it. The biggest difference between Italy and America is probably the attitude of the people. Italians enjoy life. It’s very common for shops to close in the afternoon so that the workers can take a break, maybe take a nap.
One of the main reasons that I wanted to study abroad was to get away from my busy life at school in the States and experience a new way of life that didn’t involve constantly running around. While here, I have found that Italy is the perfect place to do that! The Italian culture is much more laid back and has a greater focus on enjoying life. The laid back atmosphere is noticeable almost everywhere.
On a sunny day I left Knoxville, TN for a half year adventure abroad. The striking Appalachian Mountains that I have been around my entire life were glistening with snow as the plane took off, and I wondered how they would compare to the Alps.
Living in Milan is life changing. Its breath-taking view of the Alps brought me to tears as we landed at the Malpensa airport. Before I had literally touched the ground of Italian soil, I noticed how appreciative the people of the city were of life. They take their time: eating, talking, reading, meditating and living effortlessly. They take into consideration others’ beliefs and values in a respectful manner.
Being a natural homebody, the idea of going abroad was very new to me. I was filled with many different emotions and did not know what to expect. When I first arrived in Florence, I was very overwhelmed by the city; in a good way. I was mesmerized by its beauty, but also very confused and did not know how to get anywhere.
The first thing I noticed when I arrived to Firenze on that Tuesday afternoon was the similarities between the outskirt of the city and Latin American cities. All of the surrounding mountains, low-rise buildings and motorcycles brought me back to what my life used to be like during my childhood. Though this was the feeling in the city outskirt, the city center was unique and completely surreal.
Finally I arrived in Firenze! It is a beautiful city. I am in love with my apartment, but the trip here wasn’t as wonderful as I had imagined. I spent the first week with some friends in London, so on the 28th, I flew from London to Florence. Still jet-lagged, exhausted and on little sleep, I traveled to the Heathrow airport to catch my 9:25 a.m. flight.
Stepping off the plane I couldn’t believe I was finally in Italy. The air smelled fresher and all I could see were magnificent hills and buildings in the distance. Regardless of the jet lag I was experiencing, the only emotion I could feel was excitement. From the second I landed, I knew I was about to embark on the best 4 months of my life.
The whole event of studying abroad made me more appreciative of every little thing I experience, even today. Having the opportunity to learn how to live in a culture different from the one I was used to forced me to push my boundaries in a way I had never challenged myself before.
It’s so hard to describe the crazy emotions when you first arrive in Firenze. My first breathe of fresh air was so… liberating. The air here feels so clean. The atmosphere is significantly different from home, in a good way. Firenze has hills that make you feel like you’re in the country, but then not too far away is the city. The streets here are very narrow and mostly one way, if you’re driving.
As I nervously stepped onto the plane, I had no idea what to expect. I was anxious and nervous. I worried about silly things like how I was going to manage to get my 70lb bag to my apartment, and not so silly things like what would happen if for some reason they didn’t allow my 17 bottles of insulin medication through customs. But once I arrived, everything just seemed to fall into place.
How can I describe Rome? Breathtaking. Romantic. Timeless. Congested. Expensive. Enchanting. The people? Sophisticated. Smart. Driven. Relaxed. Happy. Helpful. The food? Fresh. Mouth-watering. Simple. TO DIE FOR! Carbs. It is only day seven and I am already in love with all things Rome. Coming into the study abroad experience I wasn’t really nervous; I was just anxious during the four long months I had to wait in order to get here already.
I’m from a reasonably large city [in Iowa], which actually means at the fourth largest city in the state, we have approximately 80,000 residents. I downsized a bit when moving to college: I now live in a town of 6,000 residents. I have loved my college experience more than most people (so much so that I’m applying to PhD programs to become a professor)
I don’t know if I’ve ever been happier than when I finally hopped on the bus to Siena from the Rome airport, it was so relieving to know I made it and nothing went wrong. The bus ride from Siena was eye-opening. The fields, trees and hills were breathtaking. Plus, there were palm trees! You don’t see that in Minnesota, especially after the frigid cold snap we had the week before.
Studying abroad was the best decision I could have possibly made. Not only did I engage in a completely new culture, but I found myself in Florence. My gratitude reaches beyond the bounds of this letter. In fact words cannot accurately describe what I have gained in terms of myself, but I would like to share a few experiences with you in order to express my appreciation.
The English idiom “I can’t wait!” is translated into Italian as “Non vedo l’ora!” which literally means “I can’t see the time.” Throughout the previous year of planning and preparation, I repeated this phrase over and over, when the idea of studying in Italy was more of a distant fantasy rather than an actuality.
Studying abroad changed my life. I have never felt so free and unrestrained before. It helped me to see that I can do anything I want. I never thought that I would be studying abroad. I am not your average study abroad student. I didn’t come from money. This opportunity came about by impulse.
After months and months of anticipation I finally made it to Rome – luggage and all – exhausted, but in one piece. We were shuttled off to our apartments and after a small fiasco of being given the wrong apartment number, I found the quaint little apartment I would be living in for the semester. The other two girls were already there, although my roommate was missing her luggage.
Prior to studying abroad, I had never been to Rome, or anywhere else in Europe. The fact that I traveled to a completely different, beautiful place didn’t really kick in until the transport to my apartment. The first thing I noticed was the healthy-looking, green plant life. Coming from -40°F weather in Minnesota, I was not used to things actually being able to live outside.
ROME, ITALY. I still can’t believe I am actually in Rome, Italy. I need someone to pinch me because it still feels like a dream! Rome is absolutely wonderful. Everywhere I turn there is something different and new. No two roads look the same (which doesn’t help when I am trying to find my way home). The history here is mind blowing.
My semester spent in Italy were the best four months of my life. Not only did I learn more about the world, and the cultures within it, but I learned so much about myself and made lifelong friends along the way. Every day in Italy was an adventure; whether I was trying a new cafe, or walking through Florence to get to class.
As I walked with all my luggage, struggling with the weight and size of my bags, towards my family waiting just beyond the arrival gate, I remember thinking to myself: did I just do that? Was the last four months real? Did I really live in a foreign country?
The three and a half months I spent abroad ended up being the best time of my life. I learned so much by meeting people from all over the world and adjusting to a new culture. The first major challenge that I had was dealing with anxiety. I was just so nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. The second challenge was adjusting to Italian culture and learning their language.
Studying abroad in Florence through SAI developed my global perspective and offered an incredible learning experience on personal level. Learning to adjust to a different culture deepened self-awareness and helped to strengthen my sense of identity. As a young person, I am faced with decisions on how to move into the future as an independent adult. Upon returning from Italy, I graduated from college.
When I first arrived in Rome I had no idea what to expect from this experience abroad. The Rome SAI program made the stress of traveling to a different country for the very first time a breeze! I felt very welcome when I arrived off the plane and I knew that all my worries would be put to ease.
I am now comfortably resettled back in the United States and can fully examine and review my experience abroad. I can confidently say that there are very few things that I would do differently, maybe try to spend a little less money, but overall, I am incredibly pleased with the way that I spent my semester. I say that knowing full well that a return trip to Europe is anything but guaranteed.
Now home for the first time in what feels like forever, so many things in my life have changed. I can’t explain the sense of urgency I have to find the same enjoyment here that I so easily found abroad. I miss dearly the sweet moments of Italian life: espresso, walking everywhere, slow pace life, Tuscan hills, and those tiny, tiny sidewalks.
You learn a lot about yourself when traveling. The experience makes one more self sufficient, highlighting and condensing your requirements for survival. To be gender specific, I feel women have a slightly trickier time at this. There is nothing wrong with abandoning makeup or hair products, and let’s not go so far as to say they are requirements for survival.
This past month in Italy has been a lot of me wondering through the streets and soaking everything in. My time here has passed so fast I can’t believe we’re all going home in a week. Florence during the winter is such a magical experience. The streets are all lit up with festive lights and decorations. I love seeing all of the different types of lights that each street has.
One week before I leave Siena. I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about counting down to my departure. There are certainly a lot of things that I am excited to return to, but there are things here that I don’t want to leave. The city of Siena is definitely one of those things.
It’s hard to believe that it is my last week here in Florence. It seems like just yesterday I arrived at my home stay with all of my luggage completely exhausted from the journey. I am a different person than when I first arrived. I am independent and I can navigate public transportation like a pro! I now have this obsession with food, wine, and fashion, even more so than before.
I can’t believe that I am writing my final post for this semester’s blog. Where has time gone? I am finished with all my travels, excited to spend the last two weeks or so in Florence. This past month has been a great closing to the semester. My travels included Rome, Interlaken and Venice. Interlaken is a beautiful town situated between two lakes in Switzerland surrounded by a constant view of the Alps.
14 days . . . that is how many days I have left in this beautiful city. It amazes me how quickly time passes. I can still remember my first few hours in Florence and being totally taken aback by how beautiful it was. I still remember the taxi ride to the apartment and thanking God that we arrived in one piece after such a crazy ride.
As all study abroad blogs usually end: I can’t believe how fast this semester has flown by! I have absolutely fallen in love with Italy and the culture. But more than anything, I have fallen in love with traveling and meeting new people. Although I would never change a single aspect of my trip here, I am still excited to be able to go home to see family and friends.
Studying abroad has deepened the level of appreciation for both the American and Italian way of life. The time in Italy has been broken into general phases. For the first part, I was in awe of the new way of life and focused on adapting. Then I went through the phase of anticipating visitors: my brothers and my boyfriend. After the visitors left, I went through a phase of homesickness.
My last blog post addressed a realization that I was traveling away from Florence too much rather than exploring this charming city. After the post, I began taking more time to get involved with the community rather than sitting at home relaxing or surfing the internet. Constantly on my feet, I have burdened myself with perpetually throbbing soles, but the benefits far exceed the cons.
I thought that there was no way the month of November could go by as fast as October went but boy was I wrong! I have been reminiscing often this month about my first few weeks in Rome.
Italy is finally beginning to feel like home. My Italian is still minimal, yet slowly improving. I am realizing how easy it is to live abroad—you just have to recognize the differences and enjoy the changes! Florence really is a small town; you can walk anywhere within a matter of minutes. One of my recent discoveries is the flower market. It is every Thursday morning in Piazza della Repubblica.
This month I was all about traveling. For the first three weekends of the month I traveled to a different city in Italy. First was Venice. I went to Venice with my roommate Priscilla for two days. We did not do much because when we got there it was extremely cold and we weren’t really prepared for the weather. We walked around the first day and got dinner.
Siena has officially become what I consider home, as far as this semester is concerned. I have traveled inside and outside of Italy and had great experiences. After these weekend trips, especially the more recent ones, there has been a sigh of relief once I wake up in my own bed in Siena and have breakfast ready from my host mom.
Most of the beginning of October was spent indoors studying for my midterms. I did however, manage to make some really yummy food in my food, culture, and society class! Every week in this class we take on the challenge of making an authentic Italian dish. We make different dishes depending on what region we are currently studying.
Ciao tutti!! Last week was fall break and I visited Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin. It was amazing! I saw the Eiffel Tower and walked around the Louvre in Paris. There was a carnival going on while we were in Amsterdam that was full of out-of-this-world food trucks. And the Bram Stoker festival was going on while we were in Dublin.
In the last four weeks I actually got to settle down into my apartment, meet my roommates, and start classes. It was also at this point where I actually started experiencing life as a resident, and not just a tourist, though I’m sure a lot of locals still think that I am a tourist.
As my experience in Florence comes closer to an end I thought for this blog entry I would share some helpful tips and suggestions that may help future study abroad students. Know where you are going! If you have never been to Italy or Europe in general, then do yourself a huge favor and grab a travel book.
Studying abroad offers the unique and amazing opportunity of getting a taste of what it is like to live in a completely new place. Adapting to the new environment has helped me develop a deeper sense of self-awareness. The first half of my time in Florence was focused on adapting well to living in a historic city and traveling to nearby places in Italy. Leading up to fall break, life got especially hectic.
I spent my fall break traveling across a smattering of countries in Europe: Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Spain. Through this experience, I was constantly reminded of the importance of place. The location in which people were raised greatly affects the outcomes of their lives—the situations they encounter, the personality characteristics they develop, the values they hold most dear.
My abroad experience has been such an adventure the past month! I have really started to travel all over Italy and appreciate all of the different cultures that make it up. With SAI, I went to Maremma, Giglio Island, Volterra, a secluded island, and biked through Lucca. The three day trip SAI took us on was so unbelievably amazing.
I cannot believe how fast the month of October flew by! I am terrified that the month of November will go by just as fast or even faster! I am having an amazing experience so far here in Rome.
So it has been officially a little over a month since my arrival in Florence. I am definitely becoming more comfortable with finding my way around and knowing where to go for certain things. However, I am still exploring what Florence has to offer and every day I find a new store or market to venture through.
This past month has been by far the most jam-packed 30 days I’ve ever experienced. I have seen and done more new things in the past month than ever thought possible. Study abroad essentially should be called “vacation every weekend,” as it is the perfect description of “work hard, play hard.” Out of all the places I’ve gone, I can’t even begin to pick a favorite—all were incredible!
I have been fortunate enough to do a lot of travel. I have spent the past four weeks in different parts of Italy (Cinque Terre, Tivoli and Ischia) as well as Munich and Berlin in Germany. Being away from Siena has certainly added perspective, and helped me understand the city a little better. I was in Berlin this last weekend and it is about as opposite to Siena as I could find.
On September 12th I left my home in Boise, Idaho, to start my new life in Florence, Italy. Since my program was not starting until another 2+ weeks, my Mother, Aunt, and I were off on “holiday”. Due to the fact that my ticket was a one way, and theirs’ was a round trip, we were on separate flights except for our 1st departing flight.
So far studying abroad in Rome, Italy has been an amazing experience. I booked some trips alone which was extremely frightening for me to go on a trip not knowing anyone. I am grateful that I took a leap of faith and tried something out of my comfort zone. I have met so many amazing people from all over the world by traveling alone.
On Mondays, I wander the Old City. On Tuesdays, I go to the market and learn Italian. On Wednesday, I have two courses: Italian Cooking and Everything Chocolate. On Thursdays, I have three courses: Italian Vegetarian Cooking, Daily Life in Pompeii, and Italian Language. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, I travel. Everyday, I eat gelato, of course (cheesecake, wildberry tiramisu, yogurt and nutella, cookies, almond, fig, mango, dark chocolate hazelnut).
Living in Florence comes with the benefit that I am located relatively in the middle of Italy and right on a main train line. Because of this, I have had the great fortune of traveling to many cities over the weekends, or even just day trips on Thursdays or Fridays. I have planned almost every weekend with a trip to a new Italian city or nearby country.
I have had an amazing time for my first full month in Italy. I went to cinque terre and had the most amazing experience! I enjoyed all of the small towns and they all were so unique. I tried pesto pizza for the first time and it was one of the best things I have ever eaten.
The first thing people think about when talking about Italy is the food. Well, I can say for sure that the food is definitely something worth talking about. The food is absolutely INCREDIBLE!
I arrived in Florence just four days ago, completely overwhelmed by what was ahead of me. It has yet to fully sink in that this city will be my home for the next four months. I feel extremely blessed to discover the charm and flavor the Florentine culture has to offer. I already feel like I won’t have enough time.
I haven’t been in Siena for two weeks yet but it feels like I’ve been in Italy for about a month. I think it’s a result of how long our days are. I usually get up a little after 730 to eat breakfast and catch a bus into the city for class at 9.
I signed up to study in Italy without any knowledge of the italian language. Over the summer, I learned a few words online and then showed up in Italy ready to immerse myself in the language and culture for a semester of being part of the Florentine community.
So I have only been here for five days but I have seen so much. I arrived in Roma, Italia on August 27. I was the first of my apartment-mates to arrive in the apartment. I walked into the apartment, put my things down and just sat down for 30 minutes. Then I called home to let everyone know that I was okay and safe.
My first week in florence has been fantastic! My roommates are great and very down to earth. I love my apartment! It has a great open area and it seems like everything is around our apartment. The people in Florence seem really nice and helpful. I don’t have much Italian under my belt but it hasn’t been that hard getting around and speaking to people and I am surprised at how many people speak English.
Years of planning and anticipation finally culminated in that moment…the moment I stepped off the plane and set foot in Florence, Italy. Prior to departure, I had a difficult time imagining what was to come since I knew the experience would be far outside my comfort zone. I knew I was in for an adventure, would meet new people, and learn new things.
I had never left the United States of America before August 26, 2013. I was nervous, excited and did I mention nervous? My biggest fear was getting lost in an airport in a foreign land, missing my flight and not knowing what to do because I did not speak the language. However, I had nothing to worry about because after NOT getting lost in three different airports I had arrived safely in Florence, Italy.
These last two days have been the longest of my life. I left the airport for the Airport on Monday at 5 am and didn’t actually get to my home stay until 3pm Florence time, on Tuesday. My host mama speaks no English but she is terribly funny and we communicate through the little Italian I know and hand motions. Last night she made me a traditional Italian meal.
After arriving in Rome soaking wet and exhausted I quickly unpacked. After unpacking I laid on my bed talking to my new roommate. Once everyone in my apartment had arrived we decided to go out to eat for the very first time together! While I was sitting outside enjoying my amazing meal I could not wrap my mind around the fact that I was now in Rome.
It’s hard to believe that this summer has ended. Not only did time fly by, but I had the time of my life. When people ask (which they always do), “How was it?” I have a hard time trying to put this summer into a nutshell. It’s a story that will come out in bits and pieces across many months, as it should.
When I look back at my study abroad experience in Italy, the only thing I could think of was “Six weeks wasn’t enough.” It’s true. Six weeks is too short of a time period to really absorb the atmosphere of Florence. You need at least a regular semester, maybe even a whole year, to see almost everything there is to see in Florence.
My semester is already 2/3 over, and so far, I’ve been learning how to adjust to the slow-pace of Italy, how to set aside time to paint (because it is a very time-consuming process), and where sight-seeing can fit into all of this. My process is far from perfect, and I’m sad that things are coming to an end when I have just started to figure things out.
My five weeks in Sorrento, Italy were by far some of the best weeks of my life. I am so blessed that I got to experience real life in Italy and grew immensely as person during my time there.
I was sitting on the Metro train yesterday pontificating, as most Metro riders do, and I realized something about myself and about all the people around me: we have all defined ourselves-whether we like it or not- by the perspectives we have experienced through the opportunities we have taken advantage of.
Leaving the country for the first time to study abroad for an extended period of time was an exciting but also frightening thought with so many things in the back of your head that could go wrong such as a delayed flights or lost luggage.
When I first arrived in Florence, I was not sure what to expect. I had read a little bit about Italian culture and what kind of etiquettes you should have. Being here for the first couple of days, I was really surprised at how receptive people are here to American culture. I was caught off-guard by how many shopkeepers here speak English as well as other languages.
I can’t believe that my time here is already half-way over. It feels alternatively like I’ve been here forever and like I got here yesterday. Everyday I am so grateful that I was able to choose the twelve week program. I love the experience of actually living here and experiencing this place that I have fallen in love with.
Trying to sum up my experience abroad in one short letter is an almost impossible task, but I ask that you bear with me as I attempt to convey how much studying abroad has meant to me and how much it has changed my life. I think it is a common belief amongst study abroad students that it is one of the single best experiences of their college career.
I can’t believe I am just a month away now from hopping on my flight back to the U.S. I have anjoyed and appreciated every moment this month from the beginning of warmer days to the accomplishment of taking midterms only in Italian.
