Instead of a lecture for my human nutrition class, we had a cooking class experience, just a five-minute walk from Sant’Anna. The woman who runs it uses her Nonna’s recipes that her mom taught her. First, we made the tiramisu since it has to be refrigerated for at least two hours before consuming.
During my time at Sant’Anna Institute, I had the opportunity to take the class, History of the Mafia. During my undergrad years, I mainly took biomedical classes for my degree, so I was excited to try something unique. In my History of the Mafia class, I have learned so much about Italian culture through the lens of organized crime. Many people are unaware of organized crime’s connection to everyday life.
Preparing to study abroad can be a stressful and overwhelming time. There are many factors to consider when studying abroad. This post will help you navigate some of the complicated decisions you may need to make, and I will give you so tips to stay ahead of schedule.
Are you looking for an Italian study abroad experience that allows you to connect to the Italian culture without the hustle and bustle of city life? Sorrento could be the place for you! Compared to the population of Rome (2,873,000) or Florence (382,000), Sorrento provides a more intimate experience with a population of only 16,609. That’s less than the undergraduate population at the University of South Carolina!
As I leave behind my life in South Florida, and begin my new journey in southern Italy, I can only take a few things with me to comfort me through this amazing experience, one of them being the practice of meditation.
As my semester here in Sorrento, Italy comes to an end I’ve come to realize that I love my quaint southern Italian city. Prior to coming over here I never even considered the size of the city I was going to live in for four months. All I knew was I wanted to study abroad somewhere in Europe, but I really didn’t care where that would be.
For as long as I can remember I wanted to study abroad. I have always loved to travel with my family and explore new places and learn about new cultures. At the University of South Carolina, studying abroad is highly encouraged and very easy to do. At the time I wanted to study abroad, I was majoring in Management and Finance.
During my time studying abroad, I got to travel to different countries. I went to Paris, Dublin, Vienna, and Greece, as well as other places in Italy. I have always enjoyed cooking and baking so going to places with different foods, I took the advantage of scheduling cooking classes. I took these classes to learn about another culture as well as spread my knowledge with my friends and family back home.
Studying abroad and living with complete strangers in a foreign country can sound intimidating, and trust me it is, but don’t let that fear hold you back. Personally, I’ve dreamed about studying abroad since I was a freshman in high school back in 2016. Here I am in 2023 living out that dream and making my younger self proud.
Engaging in an international internship allows students to deepen their interaction with the host city’s culture, develop relationships beyond the classroom, enhance their professional networks and build their resumes. By participating in an internship abroad, students set themselves apart from their peers with a demonstrated ability to work across cultures. SAI staff works with students and their home universities to arrange internship placement based on their academic major, interests, career goals, knowledge, and skills.
I walked into my first day as an intern greeted by 10 select Europeans who had decided to dedicate 10 months of their time to volunteer for the Marine Protected Area of Punta Campanella. Prior to even engaging in conversation, I was quite blown away by the sense of selflessness this special group had, giving this big chunk of their time to such a cause.
With a little over three weeks left in my summer term, my experience here in Sorrento has been nothing short of life-changing. Through this experience, I have gained knowledge and friends that will last me for a lifetime and still have many more memories to make in the coming weeks ahead.
Studying abroad is an exciting time packed with many adventures and traveling. In my first month in Italy, I could not sit still. I was either traveling, exploring my city, or planning future travel plans. It felt like I was constantly going at 100 miles an hour because I was so obsessed with taking advantage of living in a new country and having the freedom to catch cheap flights all over Europe on the weekends.
We asked our Spring 2020 bloggers to reflect on their experience with the global COVID-19 outbreak while they were abroad. After the chaos that was returning home, (arranging flights, packing-up, transitioning to online learning,) I took some time to start reflecting on the virus as a whole.
The first thing that came to mind when taking a risk while being abroad was hiking the Path of the Gods along the Amalfi Coast! I knew way before I arrived in Sorrento that I wanted to conquer this hike. Seriously, just google it and you’ll get a glimpse of how surreal it is.
Coming to Sorrento, I was not sure of the places I would want to travel to, but the idea of going to a different country every weekend excited me. I was surprised to find out the first week I was in Sorrento of all the trips that could be taken by bus, train, or ferry for a minimal price and travel time.
Your first week studying abroad in a new country will look a little something like this: you hop off the plane exhausted but the adrenaline of it finally being the day you arrive in your host country keeps you going. You meet so many different people the first couple of days that you can only remember the names of your new roommates.
I’ll be honest, when I first started thinking about how I was going to pack for a summer in Italy in one suitcase, I was intimidated. I was afraid of packing too much and then I was afraid of packing not enough. Now, halfway through my study abroad in Sorrento, I have a pretty good idea of what would have been the perfect way to pack my suitcase.
What is your favorite memory from studying abroad? I can’t pick just one favorite memory from abroad, so I’ll share a few of my favorites. My friends and I went horseback riding in Pompei. The scenery was stunning, as we were surrounded by vineyards and Mt. Vesuvius. We had a fantastic lunch afterwards, which included tasting the delicious wine made fresh on the farm. That was a day I’ll never forget.
We are excited to announce the following unique for-credit (3 – 6 credits) internship opportunity for SAI Sorrento students enrolling in the Sant’Anna Institute Summer III 2019 program: Pompeii: An Excavation and Survey Project of the “Queen Caroline House” (directed by Cornell University and the University of Reading) Positions available: Diggers and trench supervisors (depending on experience) Finds registrar Faunal specialist (Biology) Site photographer (Photography) Summer III 2019 (10 weeks)
This is a list of some of my favorite spots in Sorrento and near Sorrento on the peninsula. Piazza della Vittoria – Since my first day in Sorrento this has been one of my favorite spots. This Piazza has, in my opinion, the best view in all of Sorrento: the entire bay of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius. The best part is that I pass through it every day on my way to class.
We caught up with SAI Ambassador Brianna, who took some time to answer questions about her summer in Sorrento. What does your study abroad experience mean to you? Studying abroad was something that I had always dreamed of doing, so when it finally happened I couldn’t even believe it. I have always had a passion for traveling and experiencing the world and the variety of cultures it has to offer.
The Adventures of Interning in a Foreign Country When you Don’t Speak the Language **Hint: the secret is patience, positivity, and a lot of hand signals** Ciao! My name is Charlee Wilkerson and I’m a rising senior at the University of South Carolina. I’m a Retailing major with an emphasis in Fashion Merchandising and I chose to spend the summer in Sorrento, Italy interning at a boutique called Acanfora.
Prior to finalizing my decisions to study abroad I always knew that I wanted to stay with a host family to get the full experience of cultural immersion. I wanted to live in a house where they could help teach me the language, feed me authentic food and be a part of their everyday lives.
It has been a year since my time abroad and I have been itching to get that experience again. It’s the itch my body feels for adventure, change, and new experiences. It’s not necessarily studying abroad that I’m craving, but just traveling to different countries in general. I have officially diagnosed myself with the travel bug, and this guy is worse than the flu.
One of the main things I’ve heard from others studying abroad is how easy and affordable it is to travel Europe. I think this is true to some extent but, as we’re approaching the end of the semester, my group has decided that it is okay to take a weekend off in-between trips! We’ve seen some truly, incredibly breathtaking places, but our bodies are constantly telling us to slow down.
In Sorrento, you can walk out the back door of the school and end up at the beach within five minutes. The only reason it takes so long is due to the picturesque winding path you must take to get to the bottom of the hill! After class on a weekday, a few of us decided to go kayaking and it was so easy!
Leading up to my semester in Sorrento, I was so curious about what was to come. This was my first time in Europe, and I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was that I couldn’t wait to get here! There is not that much information about this place online, just the occasional beautiful picture. But I can tell you there is so much to this little town than you would ever expect!
I can’t believe I only have three short weeks left of my study abroad experience! These past seven weeks have gone by so fast and have been some of the best weeks of my life. This summer I have learned so much about myself as an individual and I truly believe I have grown tremendously as a person, becoming a more outgoing and independent.
Ciao a tutti! This is Elise Walsh checking in one last time at the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento, Italy. This is my final week in Sorrento and I have had such an incredible experience. I can’t believe how quickly the past five weeks have gone! Today, I’d like to focus on some advice for those interested in studying abroad. Let me begin by saying I couldn’t be happier with my choice to go to Sorrento.
The past few weeks have been busy to say the least. My friends and I decided to do some traveling around Europe. We went to Rome, Florence, Pompeii, Amsterdam, Budapest and Barcelona. Each of these cities offered something new and exciting; every place was unlike any other place we had been. Although we got a bit lost along the way, we always made it safely to each destination.
Ciao a tutti! Elise Walsh checking in again at the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento, Italy. So far, I’ve been in Italy for just over two weeks and I’ve learned a lot about the ins and outs of my host city. Today, I’m going to focus on a unique experience that I’ve had abroad. Since Sorrento has a hotter climate than my hometown, I want to spend a lot more time outdoors than I normally would.
Ciao a tutti! My name is Elise Walsh and I’m a biotechnology student at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Currently I’m studying at the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento, Italy and I’ll be writing this blog about my experiences! Today, I’m going to focus on traveling to Italy and my first classes. I’d been to Italy before in high school, but I had only been there for about a week.
Well I have officially made it a week in Italy! It was both an exhilarating and scary experience with it being my first time out of the country, with people I had just met. As soon as I arrived in the Naples airport, I knew I was going to make life-long friends, as we all instantly clicked on the bus ride to our apartment.
It’s inevitable, while studying abroad you are going to find yourself going out at night! Going out at night can be an awesome time to meet locals and to make fun memories but there are a few things to keep in mind when hitting the bars, clubs, etc. These are my tips to staying safe and having a great time specifically in Italy! 1. Stick together and look out for each other!
These are the 12 best things about studying abroad in Sorrento. 1. The people in southern Italy are the most friendly people you will ever meet! Nobody does hospitality like they do. 2. The birthplace of pizza was in this region of Italy. The best pizza in the world can be found here. 3. Sorrento is the original home of limoncello, a delicious lemon liquor that is served all over the south of Italy. 4.
The month of March was a big travel month. I visited the Colosseum in Rome (through an SAI excursion); wandered through the maze-like streets of Venice; soaked in the coastal views in Sorrento, and saw the sparkling lit-up Eiffel Tower in Paris. One of the most memorable trips this month was staying in Sorrento with my family. I took a train (lasting about 4 hours) from Milan to Naples.
We handed over our Instagram account to Tristan for the day. This is his day in Sorrento. Ciao! My name is Tristan and I am studying in Sorrento, Italy! I am from California where I go to school at Point Loma Nazerene University. I study Business Management and Pre-Law and love to surf in my free time. I chose Sorrento because I love the ocean, Italian food, and because my family came from Southern Italy.
I have been in Sorrento for one and a half weeks and I am overwhelmed every single day by the amount of beauty that this place has to offer. Sorrento is on the golden coast of Italy and it sure reflects that title.
When I arrived in Sorrento two weeks ago, I have to admit that I had average expectations for the food of southern Italy. I thought that, of course the pizza, pasta, and seafood would be exquisite but outside of these preconceived “specialities” I did not expect the plethora of fresh ingredients that became presented to me daily, being as ingrained in the small coastal town as the Italian language itself.
SAI is pleased to announce a brand new $800 grant offered by Sant’Anna Institute. The grant will automatically be awarded to all SAI Sorrento Fall 2017 students – no application required! About Sant’Anna Institute Sant’Anna Institute (SA) is housed in an historic former convent and school, located in the old center of Sorrento, just steps from the sea of the Amalfi coast.
Anyone who knows me knows that my love for food has no boundaries or limits. After living in Sorrento, Italy for less than a week, I was already torturing my friends and family back home with tantalizing photos of food. My college friends had it the worst, because many times they would be looking at my photos side by side with whatever the dining hall was trying to pass off for food that day.
My summer in Italy is off to a great start! I began my trip in Verona where I got to go to the Adele concert in the Arena there. It was such a beautiful concert and I’m so happy that I was able to go. Also, the timing of the concert couldn’t have been better, since I left Verona early the next morning to arrive in Napoli for the shuttle ride to Sorrento.
Celebrating holidays in Italy is a little bit different than in the US. The main difference is that there is no strong marketing push for holidays; people just celebrate them. One holiday that is celebrated a bit more intently in Italy as compared to America is actually the birthday. I would have never guessed, especially because of the importance of religion in the Italian culture.
Marisa, SAI Sorrento Assistant Program Coordinator
Marisa La Greca is the Assistant Program Coordinator for SAI’s program in Sorrento. What do you love about living abroad? From the food to the people, the cities, the landscapes, or the museums, there is a lot to take in. In addition to all of Italy’s other wonderful qualities, I have come to appreciate “la passeggiata”.
On a daily basis, I usually interact with the locals directly or indirectly. Whether it’s choosing gelato flavors, asking questions to my host family, or finding the right cold medicine at the pharmacy, there are a lot of opportunities to interact with locals. I don’t know what interaction with a local to consider my first, because all of the first people I met spoke English, or at least some.
During my first week in my new coastal town of Sorrento, Italy, I noticed a lot of different things. There is a lot to notice here because there is a lot to look at in the first place. This is a busy and colorful town, with new things to discover every day. However, there are some things that are completely impossible to overlook because they are so apparent on a daily basis.
Hayley was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2016 term. She is a current student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania studying at Sant’Anna Institute (SA) in Sorrento, Italy during the Spring 2016 term. 10 FUN FACTS ABOUT HAYLEY I am a musical composer, constantly working on new pieces for theater, choirs, and film! I am absolutely obsessed with the Holiday season, mostly because of Christmas music! My interest in classic films (and films/film making in general)
We handed over our Instagram to a few students this month and asked them to take us through their day in their host city. This is Claire’s day in Sorrento (October 14, 2015). Buongiorno! My name is Claire and I’m so excited to show you all what a day in Sorrento, Italy is like. I’m a senior from the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, and this semester, I’m studying at @stannainstitute in Sorrento, and loving every minute!
I can’t believe I’ve made it through my first week in Sorrento, Italy! Sorrento has surpassed my expectations in every way. I am so blown away by this little town. The people are kind and interesting, the views are stunning, and the food is beyond life changing. I’m having so much fun, and I’m learning so much! I’m excited to share some of my more important lessons from the last several days. 1.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 studied abroad in Sorrento, Italy through Study Abroad Italy for the Spring 2013 term, which was my last semester of my undergraduate studies. I was extremely fortunate to have had this opportunity, something I never imagined possible due to expenses, and I am thankful to have had the help of my scholarship from SAI to help me pursue this semester in Italy.
Aprile in Italia (and wrapping up the quick final week and a half of May) So being in Sorrento, you must know the biggest city near us is Napoli (Naples). I can speak for the majority of us study abroad students down in Sorrento by telling you that most of us knew very little about Napoli, but all I had been told is “don’t wear your gold!
So much happened in February that was awesome! My favorite parts were traveling through Italy and February 14th which is a little different here in Sorrento than back in America…more on that later! In February, I traveled around Italy to Rome, Pompeii, and some different cities in Tuscany and Umbria.
So I made it through the first two weeks and I can’t wait to continue on with this semester! It is shaping up to be such a great time full of incredible experiences. Le me fill you in: I arrived two weeks ago today. The plane ride was not as awful as I was expecting, but the jet lag was much worse than I was expecting.
Our trip to Rome was absolutely amazing! We started off with the Colosseum; a truly unfathomable monument. Hearing the tour guide explain the hundreds of thousands of beasts and animals that died there was the most shocking part. We also were fortunate enough to visit the Vatican, the smallest country in the world; only 0.2 square miles! The valor and greatness within the St. Peter’s Church was unforgettable, my favorite was the Pietà statue by Michelangelo.
An espresso a day keeps the doctor away. After only two weeks in Sorrento I’ve wondered how I’ve lived my life with out espresso. And without the beautiful beach that skirts the Marina Grande in Sorrento. Before traveling to Sorrento I thought the largest obstacle would be jetlag, however, after two weeks here my biggest dilemma has been whether to have a croissant with chocolate or peach jam filling.
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.
March was quite an eventful month. Almost as soon as I began to call Sorrento “home”, my family came to Sorrento for a week to visit, and brought with them all the reminders of my actual “home” back in the States. The first few days they were in Italy, I practically had culture shock.
In just one month, Sorrento has become much more than simply the place I’m studying abroad–it has become my home away from home. After a few weeks of feeling like somewhat of an outsider looking in, I’ve managed to find my place in this close-knit small town.
After only a few weeks of living in Sorrento, I can honestly say I’m enthralled with the Italian lifestyle. I have been blown away by the natural beauty of the country, and the warm, welcoming nature of all the people I’ve met thus far. The adventure started on the plane from New York City to Naples.
All good things must come to an end, as is our Sorentine Semester. For both Kayla and I this semester has turned out to be something neither of us could have imagined. I remember the first day when I found out that she was the only other student in the program.
My creative writing class is demanding but unique. Being the only student in the class makes it unlike any course I’ve ever taken. We are studying famous and mostly travel oriented writers of the past like Daniel Defoe, James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway. I also have quite a large story project I am working on. Sometimes we head down to the harbor and sit on the dock just to write in a nice environment.
When doing some research about Sorrento I found a quote about mythical creatures who were said to dwell in the waters here and in other areas in the Mediterranean. Sir Henry Taylor said that “No siren did ever so charm the ear of the listener as the listening ear has charmed the soul of the siren”.
“Found it!” I exclaimed the other day when Kayla and I came across what Kayla now refers to as our “super-sneaker loke dog spot”. Not that we had been particularly looking for “it”, but we knew that somewhere, hidden away from the tourists and the trendy little streets of Sorrento, there had to be a cheap panini place… and we found it.
