I have officially reached the half way point of my study abroad program and I am beyond pleased with my experience thus far. Florence has truly grown to be my home. I walk around the city streets as if I have grown up here my entire life. The month of March has brought a lot of rain, but the city still continues to look absolutely stunning.
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.
I’ve now been in Florence exactly one month and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. Every day that I’m in this beautiful city I grow to love it more and more. Each day brings a new discovery, whether it be a new favorite gelato place or a relaxing piazza, Florence is full of hidden treasures. Speaking of which, I recently went on SAI’s hidden treasures of Italy 3-day excursion.
I’ve almost hit the two-month mark on my time in Rome. That is just crazy to me. All of the cool things that I have been able to see and experience make me never want to go home. I seriously feel like I’m living in a dream world. For example, I had the opportunity of hearing the Pope’s resignation speech yesterday.
Ciao! I have been in Florence for a month and a half now. The list of places I have been, foods I have eaten, and people I have met has grown more in one month than I thought possible! This experience continues to be challenging, fun, and full of good food and amazing sights. The weather in February went from being cold to very, very wet, and I see no end in sight.
Milan has been everything that I’ve expected and more. I know my way around the city, am becoming a regular at some cafes, traveling on the weekends and having the time of my life while doing it all. I am loving every minute of traveling. My roommate and I took a day trip to Stresa, Italy which is right by the Alps on the border of Switzerland.
Where did the month of February go? One more month that has gone through, which means that I have less time in Rome and I do not like that. This month I traveled to Venice and Florence and I have also spent a lot of time studying and doing school work. I went to Venice the first weekend of February for carnavale and I absolutely loved the city.
Florence surprises me more and more everyday. I am very happy to be living in “Oltrano” which means the other side of the river. Everyday I meet new people (locals) that are willing to help me with my Italian, it is a less touristy area so it is easier to really become part of the authentic Italian everyday life.
Although short in numbers the month of February has been anything but short. Somehow in all 28 days I’ve managed to go to school full time and travel around some of the most beautiful places in Europe. Switzerland, Rome, Pisa, is just some of the few places that I’ve visited thus far in my travels abroad. Interlaken, Switzerland was absolutely amazing with its fresh powder snow and exceptional views of rolling mountains.
This month in Rome has been crazy and filled with travel. SAI took us to Tuscany to visit some wonderful small Italian towns such as Orvieto. The church in Orvieto was the most breathtaking church I’ve been to in Europe. The towns looked just how I’ve always imagined Italy, small back alley streets with looming buildings and vines crawling up all the ledges of windows.
The month of February has flown by so quickly, but been so much fun. I feel so much more settled into Milan now and it feels like home. My roommates and I took a weekend trip to Paris, where we shopped, ate so many crepes, and explored the city. We also went to Stresa, one of the Lakes right outside of Milan.
I have officially been here a month and I am so obsessed with the city! There is not a day that goes by that I don’t find something new to love. Whether it be a view of the city, a decadent treat, or a local cafe. Its amazing how fast you become accustomed to the city! I no longer need a map, and I have found my routes to get around the city.
It’s no surprise that I have completely fallen in love with Milan and the study abroad experience as a whole already. Meeting people from all around the world, getting inspiration from the locals, and exploring a whole new country is just exhilarating. It’s only been two weeks since I have arrived, but it feels like I have been here my whole life. Milan is not what I expected at all.
Until this point I cannot believe that I am living here in this wonderful city. Everyday I learn something different such as an Italian word, expression, habit, and everyday I discover something new and amazing. When I first arrived in the airport I felt something that I will never forget in my life and that has changed me forever.
My first week in Florence has been amazing. As soon as I began to explore the city, I was stunned by its beauty. I had, of course, looked at many pictures of the famous Florentine landmarks, but the pictures cannot truly reflect the wonder of this city’s sites. The first time I saw the iconic Duomo, I was astounded. Its sheer immensity continues to amaze me.
Having only traveled out of the US a couple of times for a grand total of 2 weeks, I was excited but also very nervous to be leaving home to live in a completely new place for a whole semester. I knew it would be an amazing experience and I knew that it would change my life. So I boarded the plane in Atlanta and looked forward to what Florence would hold for me.
A week ago today I arrived in the breathtaking city that is Firenze. Its been a week and I still cannot believe I am living in Florence. Its amazing strolling the city, and spotting sites of masterpieces I studied at my home institution. From dawn to dusk, Florence has so much to offer. The city is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.
It’s official, after all he hustle of getting ready for a semester abroad in Florence the adventure has finally begun and I could not have asked for a better start. Even the long and tiring plane ride was a success laughing and meeting friends along the way.
The Italian life has been treating me well this first month. It only took a few bumps in the road to settle in here in Trastevere, Rome. I traveled alone from Charlotte all the way to Rome and even made it smoothly to the door of my apartment and into the elevator, until I reached my floor.
Rome, Italy: The Eternal City. I live there and have been living there for 3 weeks now. That thought still blows my mind. I am starting to feel at home here, but for some reason it still does not seem real. It’s not some vacation that I am here for, but for school and for a good 3 ½ months.
I’ve only been in Florence for a few days and I already have enough memories and thoughts to write pages and pages of my journal. Coming here, I knew there was history and art and beauty.
These first couple weeks in Milan have been nothing short of incredible. Leaving home for a completely different country and knowing no one in my program is exactly the adventure I was looking for. how to increase penis size My first impression of Milan is that it is a beautiful city.
January 22rd was the day that I began my adventure abroad! I left Denver, Colorado early in the morning and landed in Florence, Italy the morning after. When I was dropped off at my apartment I was so surprised at how spacious and gorgeous it was. Let’s just say, I feel so lucky to be living in such a beautiful space for the next four months.
When preparing for Italy I was told it would be hard to adjust to the cultural differences at first on the contrary I have fallen in love with the cultural differences here. I love walking everywhere around here and I have taken photos of my average walk to school that is not at all average when comparing it to the United States.
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.
I cannot believe that I am actually sitting here writing my last blog entry for my time abroad in Florence! November went by in the blink of an eye and that meant that there were only a few weeks to be had in December. Looking back on this experience as a whole I am so thankful for all that I have learned.
The last month has gone by so quickly! I’ve been to Venice and Florence, and even Paris. In December, I’m taking one last trip to Milan. It’s had its ups and its downs and it’s been a great learning experience. There is a lot that I’ve learned about myself and my friends – I’ve made new friends, and drifted away from others.
I cannot believe that it is almost December! So much has happened it is strange to think that it is almost over. I am excited to see my friends and family back home but I will miss all of the new friends who I have made here. They have made my time here so much more memorable and enjoyable.
I’m not exactly sure how I feel about my study abroad experience coming to an end. There are so many things I miss about home, but it’s sad closing one of the most exciting chapters of my life. When I decided to come abroad everyone was constantly asking me what I wanted to get out of the experience, but I didn’t know. For some reason taking classes and interning wasn’t an efficient answer.
All good things must come to an end. Or do they? With only a few weeks left in my study abroad experience, it’s hard to believe that it is almost time to head back home. While we will no longer be in Rome, I know that the end of this journey is the beginning of many more adventures to come. This past month has consisted of a lot of traveling and exploring.
This past month of November I traveled to many cities of Italy, essentially taking a “tour of Italy”. I visited Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, and Capri (and of course spent time in my abroad city of Milan!). Here were my experiences with the Italian cities and my comparisons between them! iphone spy software uk Florence Florence is the apple of the American’s eye.
I seriously cannot wrap my head around the fact that this will be my last blog entry, meaning my semester here in Florence is quickly drawing to a close. It feels like only yesterday that I arrived here in the middle of a heat wave and was dropped on an Italian’s doorstep greeted by my host mom who spoke no English and her yippy dog. My heart is torn; “home” is now two places.
My last full month here in Italy went by so quickly, but I experienced so many wonderful things along the way that I can’t complain! It is crazy to think that I will be home next month, so I am trying to enjoy every bit of the time I have left in Florence.
I cannot believe that I only have three weeks left here in Florence! Once daylight savings time happens and the sun starts to set at four, the days just seem to fly by. The month of November just came and went. It feel like just yesterday that it was Halloween, and now it is already December. This past month has been so busy for me and unfortunately I have been sick for most of it!
The month of October was full of amazing people and exciting adventures. I continued to meet more and more people whom have all been welcoming. It is such a great feeling to meet new people and learn about their hobbies and passions. I have learned a lot about myself by making relationships with all different types of people. The friends I have made over here will last me a lifetime.
This past month has been one to remember. October was filled with midterms, unforgettable adventures and my birthday. At times I was really stressed out and homesick but I knew I still have so much more to see and experience. Midterms week was horrible, just like back at home. But to make matters worse, everyone was sick, including me! It seemed as if everyone at John Cabot was passing on the flu or something.
After my second month in Rome I can honestly say they weren’t kidding about the stages of homesickness. But it’s pretty easy to distract yourself with all there is to do here. Within the past month I have made a couple more trips and managed to survive midterm week. One night we went to the ballet through SAI. We saw Romeo and Juliet in an incredible theater and had a great excuse to dress up.
For the past couple weeks since midterms, I have been very stressed and overwhelmed, so much so that I have absolutely no desire to do anything. I have research papers and presentations to prepare for and I have graduate schools to consider, with application deadlines right around the corner. I have my last semester of undergrad coming up and graduation is just another block away.
I can’t even believe that I am once again sitting in front of my computer reminiscing on my last month here in Florence. It is amazing that October has already come and gone. We are at the point in our journey where we have past the halfway mark and we are now on our way towards the last month-and-a-half of this adventure.
It has been two months since I have been in Rome! Time is going by so fast and it is a constant reminder to enjoy as much as possible! A few weeks ago, I participated in SAI’s cooking class. It was my first Italian cooking class and it was unbelievable! We made a three course meal.
The beginning of this month continued with all the excitement of last month. Towards the end of September, I had the chance to attend Vogue Fashion’s Night out. It was the first time the event had been held in Florence. So it was a pretty big deal. I finally went to the Ferragamo museum and saw the Marilyn Monroe exhibit.
In the month of September, my trips ended up being confined to Italy and Italian cities. This was great, and I loved seeing more of Italy, however, during the past month, I have ventured to new countries and cities in Europe! I have a friend studying abroad in London, and so I went to visit her for a weekend. And let me just tell you, I loved London.
Another month down, and it was a month filled with all the adventure that I was hoping for! My roommates and I attended a lot of SAI-organized weekend excursions to awesome places in Italy such as Il Forteto (an organic farm in Tuscany), the Bardini and Boboli Gardens (which are right near our apartment)
I have been in Rome now for a little over a month and it has been nothing but one adventure after another. This is my first time out of the United States and it was quite the culture shock before I even got out of Fiumicino. I was lucky enough to travel with my good friend back home so all the challenges we came across we faced together.
My Study abroad experience thus far has been awesome of course! I traveled to Florence, Siena, Pisa, and Paris so far. I can honestly say I’m madly in love with Italy and Europe as a whole, the lifestyle here is so simplistic and beautiful. Fashion week was AMAZING, I got the chance to go to four shows and meet bloggers and professionals in the industry.
My first full month has had its ups and its downs; since the Umbria excursion, I was able to meet several new friends who have enlightened in many ways my experiences here in Rome. These are people with whom I hope to remain long-time friends. My trip to Umbria was greater than anything that I’ve done in Italy thus far, even than visiting the religious sites in the city.
I guess the saying is true-time goes by fast when you are having fun! It’s already been a month since I’ve been in Rome and I can’t believe it! This past month has been filled with numerous trips, activities, challenges, and wonderful experiences. The first weekend in September, my roommates and I went on SAI’s first weekend excursion to The Green Heart of Italy-Umbria.
Classes have started and homework has begun to pile up. On the first days of class we went over the course syllabi, which only made me more excited for the coming months. We went over the scheduled museum and church visits and the research project. As a student in multiple art history classes I get to go to most of the places two or three times!
There were so many thoughts running through my head the first day as I rode through the streets of Florence on the way to my apartment. It wasn’t what I was expecting. Europe didn’t look nearly as glamorous as it did in movies and TV. What was all the fuss about? Why were people so obsessed with Europe?
The other night my friend and I were casually sipping wine while perching ourselves against a window in my apartment where we sat and watched all the people below us walking by. As we were admiring the eventful nightlife of the Italians, she asked me if I felt like my heart was exploding here in Florence.
After being in the beautiful city of Florence for a whole month, I can now without a doubt say that I made an excellent decision in studying abroad! Already I have learned so much and have met many new friends that share the same love for the city that I do. Experiences here are always new and I’m finding that each day can turn into an adventure simply by being different from home.
The first month of my experience studying abroad in Florence has been fantastic. I have met so many amazing people from all over the country. I have already been making plans to visit different people at their colleges in the spring and also inviting people to come visit me in Kentucky. When I first arrived, the beauty of Florence overwhelmed me. Everywhere I walked I saw something even more interesting and unique than before.
I arrived in Milan a few weeks ago and have had some time to explore the city and reflect on my thoughts. At first, Milan seemed like a very urban city and almost overwhelming (especially with the language barrier!) But I have really enjoyed getting to know my way around, and it feels much more comfortable now. I love exploring through the city streets and seeing how the different parts of town are connected.
The experience of arriving in Siena was nothing less than I had expected. Then again, I didn’t really know what to expect, other than what I’d seen in pictures and people telling me how much I would love it. Over the last four days, I’ve come to feel at home in Siena. One of the first things I noticed was the comforting, relatively slow pace of the Sienese- and Italian- lifestyle.
My time abroad thus far has been at times difficult. It’s been a while since I was last thrown into a situation in which I knew no one and no one knew me.
I have been in Italy for about a week and a half now and it still feels like I’m in a dream. I never imagined I would in Rome of all the places in the world for school. I live right by the university in the historic neighborhood of Trastevere. Everywhere I turn I see something unbelievable, whether it be the Pantheon, the coliseum or the Trevi fountain.
Come si dice in italiano? Non parlo bene! (How do you say that in Italian? I don’t speak it well!) – My First Week in Florence! Though it was only about ten days ago that I hugged my family one final time before boarding a transatlantic flight, it feels like I have been here forever. I still cannot believe that I am living in Florence, Italy!
how to get your ex back My Study abroad experience thus far has been awesome, although in the first week I struggled with homesickness and culture shock. Day 2 I felt a bit lonely being in another country with the 7 hr time difference, and it being the hottest period of the year for Milan to say the least it started off overwhelming.
I have been in Rome for almost two weeks now and I still can’t believe it. What an incredible experience it has been so far. I can’t wait to see what the semester will be like. I personally struggled with airline and luggage issues coming to Rome, but all my worries were set to ease when an SAI staff member greeted me at the airport.
Entering into a country, whether you have been there before or not, is an exceptional moment. As over stimulating and overwhelming as those first moments may be, they are exceptional. Although my first moments in Italy were not when I entered Florence for my Study Abroad, I felt that same wave of awe and fascination mixed with over stimulation as I did when I entered Italy on my way to Venice by train.
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.
So far Milan, Italy has been a wonderful and inspiring place to be. Although the transition coming from the United States to Italy was a rough one, it is finally growing to be such a wondrous experience! The flight here was not a bad one, for all I did was sleep much and my luggage made it safely, which helped a ton.
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.
Living in Rome I feel that I have gotten to experience what the real life of an Italian has been like, instead of just experiencing the tourist attractions. Walking through the piazzas, alleys and narrow roads that make up the heart of Trastevere at night has exposed me to traditional Italian customs that I would not have seen otherwise.
My last month in Rome, I started to see things in a different way. Between the stress of finals and packing, and the exhilaration of traveling to some of my new favorite cities, you would think that Rome was the last thing on my mind. But that is far from the truth.
I can’t believe I have to go home already. It feels like everything’s just begun. Having to leave Florence and all the wonderful people I’ve met here feels impossible. This experience is one I’ll never forget. The places I’ve been will forever be with me. It feels as if April flew by without me even acknowledging its presence to begin with. It began with a trip to Valencia Spain for Easter.
The last month came and went in a blink of an eye. My friend went from being in the middle of the best experience of our lives to having to say goodbye. The first week of April I took a trip to Corfu, Greece, which was the most beautiful place I have visited yet. From the beach to the mountains, it was an amazing sight to see.
This last month I saw some of the most amazing places. I went on SAI’s excursion to Umbria and visited Cinque Terre. The trip to Umbria was incredible. We stayed in a bread and breakfast type of place in the Italian countryside and they cooked us the most amazing home cooked dinners. The first day we went to a ceramics school where we met the most kind and hardworking people.
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened”- Dr. Seuss On a daily basis, I repeatedly tell myself this quote as a form of comfort for the unfortunate fact that my study abroad adventures in Italy are coming to an end. For as long as I can remember, my biggest dream has been to travel to Italy so I could experience the history, culture, and language of this amazing country.
The past month has been a lot of travel. I went to the Amalfi coast, Barcelona, Rome, Venice, and Munich. Each trip was a different experience and got me closer to those I went with. Munich was my second favorite trip this whole time, Greek island hopping for spring break was my favorite. In Munich was a big festival and everyone dressed in old German attire.
I cannot believe 4 months have already flown by. There are so many significant memories I have while studying abroad that I cannot choose a favorite. These past 4 months have been an incredible and unique experience. Leaving Rome is extremely bittersweet. I will be departing Rome this Saturday with a stronger appreciation for the Italian culture, a handful of new friends, and a ton of amazing memories!
The final weeks are finally coming to a close. That’s when I realized I had to make my bucket list of things I still wanted to do here in Florence. Sunrise at Piazza Michelangelo’s, visit all the parks in the outskirts of the city, climb the Duomo one last time, eat at every restaurant humanely possible and soak in as much Tuscan sun that appears through the breaks in the April showers.
I just returned from my last weekend trip of the semester and it seems unreal that I will no longer be able to travel to a different country for a weekend trip. This semester has had a lot of ups and downs, but mostly ups. This past month was definitely the most hectic out of my time abroad. There wasn’t one weekend in the entire month that I wasn’t abroad.
I am on the verge of tears knowing that this will be my last monthly letter. How do I put into words the most amazing semester of my life? In my time studying abroad in Rome, I have met so many people, made new friends, and had the most amazing experiences possible.
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.
Time is flying by. We’re already talking about our final papers and exams in all my classes. I just want more time in Italy. It feels like I’ve only seen a small fraction of what Italy has to offer but I can try and be content for now. I’ve done a lot in my short time here in Europe. I’m ready to go back home soon. Spring break was fantastic.
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.
Unfortunately, another month has passed, which means I am getting closer and closer to my departure date. However, with the month of March came great memories that I will never forget. March seemed like a short month because I traveled most of it. First, my boyfriend Troy visited me. We traveled to Pisa, Siena, and Rome. Then came spring break, where I traveled to England (London, Bath, Salisbury, and Stonehenge)
March has been the most eye opening month thus far. Many of my roommates went on Spring Break while I stayed in Florence and I was feeling very homesick and lonely. I was surprised because this was honestly the first time I felt homesick at all. This feeling only lasted for about four days as everyone started to come back and I traveled a bit.
The past month I have discovered something totally different from my previous month of traveling outside of Rome; this month I have discovered the beauty of Rome in the springtime. Seeing the city in full blossom, with the sun shining and the air smelling of flowers and grass, was something that I had not expected, and it did not put me in the mindset for doing school work!
March passed by quickly in a whirlwind of travel, and with every day spent in Italy it becomes harder and harder to accept the fact that our time here is disappearing and eventually we will have to leave. This past month was especially busy because we had our spring break. This was the first time that I ventured out of the country, and it was an amazing experience to travel throughout Europe with my friends.
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.
It is now towards the end of my time abroad and it truly makes me sad. I think of how close I am with my friends here and that we only have a few weeks left together. Most of us don’t go to the same school and are not in the same states, which means it will be a hard time to see one another.
The month of March was one of the busiest but most memorable months I have ever had. Each weekend I traveled around Europe, going to Nice, Florence, Barcelona, Amsterdam, and finally Paris. At each location, I found myself absorbed in completely different cultures. With each culture I encountered, I broadened my understanding of not just the world around me, but my understanding of myself as a person.
Being in a big city like Rome makes traveling so much easier because there are always cheap flight deals to nearby cities! With this said, I had the chance to travel to the French Riviera for Carnivale during the first weekend of March. The French Riviera has to be one of my favorite places in the world. Traveling from city to city was so easy by train and each town had a beautiful coast.
As the weather is getting warmer, the streets are getting busier. I found myself annoyed at all of the “tourist” wandering my city. At first I was caught off guard remembering that I am one of these tourist. But at the same time I feel like a local. I know my favorite restaurants to eat at and my favorite bars to go to.
I am writing this letter from the Termini Train Station as I wait for my train that will take me to Florence, my final destination. It is hard to believe another month has gone by and that I only have one more left. This experience has definitely made me grow as a person.
The third week in February, Mother Nature started to give us a break from the snow. Monday-Wednesday is crazy and exhausting for me. I have over 7 and a half hours of classes straight on Monday and a little less Tuesday and Wednesday. However, my classes here are so interesting.
Florence is starting to feel much more like home. I’ve done a bit of traveling to Verona, Rome, and Venice and I am very happy Florence is my home base. The other cities were beautiful and interesting, as most of Italy is, but Florence has won my heart. Verona was very nice but cold and being not properly dressed, as I was, made the hours and hours of free time seem too long.
Having been abroad for two months now, my new favorite experience has been traveling outside of Rome. I have yet to venture outside of Italy, but have instead visited places like Venice, Florence, and various small towns in Tuscany. Each time I traveled outside of Rome I gained several things. I gained a renewed sense that Rome was definitely the right city for me to study abroad in.
This month flew by so quickly! I am settled in now and still do not feel very homesick. I also haven’t really experienced that bad of culture shock, but maybe I am just lucky. I am taking three studio art classes, two photo and one drawing, so that is probably the most challenging thing thus far. I am taking intermediate Italian and got my first 100%.
The second week of February was extremely cold. It seemed like every person I knew had some sort of cold. When the weekend came around, my friends and I were trying to figure out what we should do and we decided to go to Pisa. It’s actually ridiculous how inexpensive it is to go some places. It was only 7 euro to go to Pisa for the day….cheaper to take a date to the movies.
February came with a fury as Rome was shut down due to a snowstorm. Apparently we came during Rome’s coldest winter in 100 years, which includes the most snow in 25. My friend Kelsey and her friends came to visit Rome for the weekend, which started out to be a disaster. The city was in utter chaos as the snow covered the streets.
I could have never imagined how much this study abroad experience would change me. I have learned so much and I have only been here for a little over a month! When I walk around Florence, I no longer feel like a lost and uncomfortable tourist in a strange country instead I feel a sense of belonging as though I am a Florentine and this is my home.
The adjustment period has gotten a lot easier in the past few weeks. The warmer weather is definitely a key factor. The nicer the city gets the more I explore. I’ve finally gotten to do the touristy things, such as climb the Duomo, visit Santa Croce, and tour the Boboli Gardens.
These past 2 months have flown by incredibly quickly. I guess it’s true what they say, time flies when you’re having fun! I can say without a doubt that making the decision to study abroad in Rome was by far one of the greatest decisions I’ve made in my college career. I say with so much certainty that I will carry with me these stories and adventures to share with family and friends for the rest of my life.
I can’t believe how quickly this month has flown by! It seems like only yesterday I was on the plane making the long painful journey to Florence. But as I explore more of Italy my love of Florence continues to grow, and I become more convinced that Florence was the perfect choice for me. I’ve spent three of the past four weekends traveling throughout Italy.
Since I have been in Firenze over a month now, I really see the city’s beauty. I first arrived and saw darkness, people always smoking, and colors of grey. Now I can see the buildings and churches with a new understanding of this great place.
So I have been in Roma for seven weeks now and it just keeps getting more and more amazing. I am now able to navigate the city on my own, for the most part. The weather is just starting to get gorgeous and I try to spend every waking minute outside exploring the city.
The first weekend in February, two friends and I made the trek to Rome. It had been cold in Florence prior to our departure but we were unprepared for what we were going to see when we arrived in Rome. We had checked the weather and there had been a chance of snow, but when we pulled into the ROME TERMINI train station, snowflakes the size of baseballs were falling.
My first week in Firenze has flown by. Everyday here has certainly been an experience. My roommate and I both attend school in South Carolina where it is warm out and there are plenty of trees and grass everywhere. Not so much here, it is very different. But in this case different is amazing. The historical architecture of all the buildings is absolutely astonishing.
My first day here was a bit stressful. My financial aid hadn’t gone through and we were having troubles with our internet. I needed to contact my family back in Kentucky to borrow money for the permit to stay fee. My student cell didn’t work for my iphone so I could not call. I walked around trying to find an internet cafe but to no avail.
I’ve been in Florence for a week now and it’s definitely been a roller coaster of emotions. I’ve been switching from awe of Florence to just wanting to get back on a plane and go home constantly. Hopefully, in the next week, after my routine is fully understandable my bipolar phase of this trip will be subdued and I’ll relax into daily life.
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.
On January 25th, tired and jet lagged I finally arrived in Italia. While flying over Italy, I caught my first glimpse of Tuscany. Looking outside of the plane window, my eyes landed upon the most breathtaking images. At first, all I could see were massive snow covered mountains. Then slowly the mountains turned into lakes. At last, I saw the image I had been waiting years to see, the picturesque rolling green hills of Tuscany.
I arrived in Italy on January 25 and it was everything I thought it would be. I love walking around the city and all my roommates, but culture shock is no stranger to me. The best expression would be I love it until I don’t.
I have been in Rome for three weeks now, and I can already tell that the next couple of months will be unlike any that I have experienced before. I have quickly discovered that being in Rome as a tourist and living in Rome as a student are two completely different things. I have already seen a new side of Rome that I did not get the chance to see before, and I fell in love with this side of Rome immediately.
The minute I walked through the streets of Trastevere, I knew that choosing to live and study in Rome, Italy was an incredible choice. The streets of Rome are so inviting to any foreigner, with interesting monuments, ancient ruins and a beautiful river that distinguishes this city from any other in the world. Rome is also relatively larger than the other cities in Italy, which I see as a great advantage.
Ciao tutti! Today is now my fourth day in Firenze. The trip to get here went immensely smoother than my previous trip to Italy. I left the Philadelphia airport around 10 PM on Tuesday and after flying through London and Rome, I landed in Florence at about 7 PM on Wednesday. The flights were great, practically empty, and I slept through most of them.
Having arrived in Rome about three weeks ago, my experience abroad has been a dream come true. Thinking back to boarding the plane in New York just a short time ago, I never imagined I would have adjusted so easily and felt at home so quickly. I thought I would be home sick and miss being at school but I have not experienced either.
I have been in Rome for almost two weeks now and I can say with out any doubt that studying abroad was the best decision of my life. I never imagined how inspiring it would be to travel thousands of miles from home and live in another country for a semester.
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.
