Embracing the Journey: Little moments in my time abroad

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Traveling has always been an integral part of my life and my family’s life. My parents have consistently emphasized the importance of being well-traveled and experiencing different cultures and atmospheres. My siblings have all participated in study abroad programs, and I always knew that was something I too would want to do. When I started college, I was out of state, so it was enjoyable to experience a whole new perspective and meet new people. This only heightened my desire to travel abroad. I began exploring various abroad opportunities and discovered the JSB program. I immediately signed up. For the past year, this was all I could talk about, and my friends and family shared in my excitement. Upon arrival, I anticipated differences and numerous learning curves, but I never expected to learn as much as I have from this study abroad experience.

In class, we learn extensively about the culture and history of the beautiful country we are living in for three months. However, I have also gained insights beyond my expectations. It is only week five, and I can only imagine how much more I will learn by the end of this semester. Since arriving, I have learned the importance of appreciating the smaller things and slowing down. Our culture in America is very fast paced, always seeking the next big and new thing. Here, it is quite different, and this has taught me to cherish the experience itself. One significant difference I have observed is in meals and the time spent at them. In America, meals are often quick, even with dinners where you cook or sit down to eat; it’s typically a maximum of one hour. Here, they believe food should be savored with the company you are with. The waiter isn’t rushing you out, and you could be there for hours if you don’t ask for the check. This took some getting used to, but once I adjusted, I realized how much we miss out on in America. These moments of slowing down, sitting, and truly savoring the moment and the people you are with have been highlights of the experience. While the fieldtrip experience and exploring the country have been incredibly fun and enriching, the smaller moments have been even more impactful.

I have gotten to know my fellow study abroad students better, realizing that even though we are all from the same country and attend the same school, we have much to learn from each other’s diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

A particular moment that stands out to me occurred on my way back from my community engagement meeting at the senior center. While we were at the senior center, we wanted to connect with them more and ask them some questions about what they do and what they enjoy doing to best plan events for them. On our way back from this meeting we encountered two locals who were incredibly kind and invited us into what we would call “man caves.” One had a wine cellar and gave us a tour of his place. We learned that he had just freshly packaged the wine himself and showed us some jam that his wife had freshly made. Additionally, we learned that he was born and raised in Ariccia. He generously gifted us some of these items. We also learned that the neighbor was a former jewelry designer, and he showed us the jewelry he had made. Now, he pursues various forms and mediums of art as a hobby, and it was fascinating to see his creations. This experience has taught me that those small experience of getting out and learning about people is something that is not done enough. It was also an extremely cool experience to learn more and experience more of the city we are living in on a more personal level.

While on this experience, I have learned so much about Italian culture and history. More importantly, this study abroad experience has taught me the value of living in the moment and truly getting to know people. I specifically can get caught up in rushing onto the next task or thing. Sometimes I tend to see how I can do this the fastest way possible and can overlook the experience itself. This is a special gift that can sometimes be overshadowed by the pursuit of bigger, more exciting moments.

Caio and War Eagle!

Mary Lu Hudgins

Us in the blacksmiths basement

Learning Every Day, but Not What You Would Think.

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If you were to ask someone who has never studied abroad before to picture studying abroad, I imagine that they would probably picture a group that goes to a few classes together but prioritizes going to places outside their base city. This is what I expected going into this semester, but I have found that it is more fulfilling to me to focus on what I’m learning in Ariccia. When signing up to study abroad, I knew I was signing up to learn new things. However, I expected the majority of the knowledge that I gained to be about academic subjects—which this program is definitely not lacking, but I expected to mostly be learning about the subjects being taught. However, I feel that I have learned more about myself so far this summer and also about culture and living simplistically.

I think I have learned more about myself in the past eight weeks than I have in both years that I have been in college so far. Putting yourself in such an unfamiliar, uncomfortable situation forces growth. I think that growth in myself can be seen in how well I know who I am as a person. I have never had an issue making friends before, but meeting twenty-one new girls at the same time made me somewhat self-conscious about my personality. When everyone was meeting each other at the beginning of the summer, it was hard to feel like people were getting to know me. I felt like I was being overshadowed by people with stronger personalities than me. This forced me to spend a lot of time reflecting about who I am as a person and what makes me, me. I began to rediscover the things that I love about myself. As the semester continued, the girls in the program continued to get to know me more and got to know the things about me that make me who I am.

I never really understood the term ‘culture’ before this summer. Growing up in the south of the United States, we always hear about how we have a different culture than in the northern United States. When I have traveled abroad in the past, I have obviously noticed differences in how foreigners do certain things, but I never understood the reason behind why they do things differently. Italians do things a certain way, different from the United States, because of their overall culture and way of life. For example, we noticed very early on in the summer that you have to ask your waiter for the bill when you are eating at a restaurant, when in the United States the waiter will normally bring it to you when you are done eating. This small difference in how Italians simply eat a meal is the effect of the slower lifestyle practiced in Italy. The fact that this difference is related to an overall difference in lifestyle is something that I would have never realized if I were just on a vacation to Italy. I have realized that sometimes you really have to understand something larger, such as the culture of where you are, to pinpoint why a place is the way it is.

One of the biggest differences that I have noticed between the United States and Italy is in consumerism. In the United States, we are so used to getting exactly what we want within twenty-four hours at the maximum. We consume so many products and discard them when we are tired of them. This has been a huge change for me because you really do not even have the opportunity to consume as much stuff here in Italy. We have access to everything that we need here, but sometimes you have to sacrifice the luxuries that you may have had in the United States. As a result of those sacrifices, I have discovered that I may not need all of those luxuries that I had in the United States. It is very peaceful to live simplistically here with a smaller wardrobe, a smaller room, and just way less stuff in general. I have become very good at using what I have and making it work.

The changes that I have experienced in the two months that I have been here make me feel like the whole experience is worth it. While traveling Europe is great, the self-growth that I have experienced is incredible. I will also never travel the same way I have in the past. Instead I will research the places that I travel before and try to experience some of the culture there when I visit. I will carry everything that I have learned this summer with me throughout the rest of my life.

Josie Buckalew

Making friends was not the easiest thing for me at first, but now I feel like I have been able to make a connection with everyone in the cohort. I have learned about putting myself out of my comfort zone in order to show who I am to those around me. But, I have also learned that it just takes time.

Crossing Borders

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Living in a palace in Italy for three months is an opportunity that only a few people can experience. Fortunately, I had the privilege to be part of Joseph S. Bruno, a studying abroad program that gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves into the Italian culture and be part of transformative experiences. As a graduate teaching assistant, I witnessed first-hand how much of an impact the program had in every single student. 

Being an international student, I was already expecting for students to feel homesick and for some to be challenge out of their comfort zones. A couple of years ago I was in a similar position as them when I decided to move to the United States and study my master’s degree in Auburn. Therefore, I was glad that I was able to guide them and advise them throughout the semester. It was a unique feeling as I felt I was their friend but also everyone’s big sister. Every student grew in different ways, and I was overcome with a sense of pride when together we found solutions to their problems or if they improved their mood after having a conversation with me.

It is true that I am well-traveled and that this was not my first long-term international experience. Nevertheless, students weren’t the only ones that faced different challenges. I am an only child and taking on the responsibility of the well-being of fourteen students was not an easy task. However, I was surprised with myself on how comfortable I was assuming the leadership position. One of the days I experienced a significant amount of personal growth was the second week being in Italy when we came back from an excursion to Bologna. I was in charge of making sure everyone made it back to Ariccia safely and in a timely manner. We had to take a public bus from the hotel to the main train station of Bologna and then two connecting trains. My experience with taking trains was limited because back in my country they do not exists. Nevertheless, I paid attention to the instructions given by Lydia, the program director, and made sure everyone was on time to take the bus and the trains.

That day I learned the importance of paying attention to detail, listening to others, punctuality, and shared responsibility. The successful return to the Chigi Palace could not only be attributed to my leadership skills but also the student’s willingness to listen and follow instructions played a crucial role to our accomplishment. It amazed me how even though the students and I had only met for a week, we had mutual trust.

Despite our differences, me not being from the United States, English not being my first language, not having their same skin color, and having different cultures, they all confided in me, trusted me and accepted me as their leader. My experience illustrates how if people are open, willing to listen, and work with each other, then differences become insignificant. I am extremely grateful to them and to all the people that gave me the opportunity to be part of this amazing experience here in Italy.

– Yasmine Adamali, Graduate Teaching Assistant Spring 2024

My first picture together with all the students. We were all learning about roman history, art, and architecture.

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Try Not to Blink

Welcome to Italy, a beautiful land filled with wonders, history, and a new path to be taken, but try not to blink because it all goes by in such an instant. From day one, every single day has been a constant blur of movement, learning, and a whole new world of experiences for me. I have gone to wine tastings, eaten octopus, climbed hundreds of stairs, missed trains, made trains, broke a bed, fell in Pompeii, made new friends, spoke Italian, helped create a beautiful tiramisù, and explored an ancient Temple of Diana, all things I had never considered or never had the opportunity to do before. Perhaps the most insane part of this amazing experience would be that it is more than halfway done, but there is still so much more to experience.

I will say that not all of this program has been sunshine and rainbows, and it certainly is no vacation. However, it has been wonderful nonetheless and filled with stories that could only be collected through this experience. Who can say that they lost two chunks of their hand and bled all over the historical roads of Pompeii? Who can say they experienced the reality of Naples, the good and the bad, over the course of a weekend? How many people are granted the opportunity to really see and be a part of another culture? Well, I can, and, without the Joseph S. Bruno (JSB) Program, these stories would have remained untold, and these moments of cultural connection would never be mine to cherish.

It is crazy to think about how I ended up in such an amazing place as Italy. To start with, the JSB Program was one of the key reasons I became a Global Studies major, and through this program I have had a chance to interact with so many people and experience so many cultures, both American and Italian, through cohabitation and traveling around Italy. This experience has forced me to grow as a person and further develop my cultural intelligence, which is crucial for my future professional and personal life of collaboration on a global stage. Living with others in close corridors for twelve weeks emphasizes the necessity of problem-solving and working through conflicts together. I came to Italy to see the world, grow as a person, and learn to work better with others, and I have done all of that and so much more.

Before this program, I would be classified as the quiet, introverted, but quirky kid. Someone who struggled to make lasting friends, take chances, and tended to live life without truly experiencing it, preferring to stay in my own world. While I cannot say that I have become a completely new person, I believe I am happier with who I am and what I have been able to accomplish.

During this program I have been pushing my comfort zone and making friendships that I hope and believe will last, taking chances with travel and experiencing Italy, and, most importantly, learning to value myself more. I may not have traveled as far or as often as many of the people on this program, but, when I did travel, it was authentic and valuable.

Much like a crucible burning away impurities, the JSB Program revealed aspects of myself I had never considered and forced me to participate in the lives of my travel companions and local community in a way I had never experienced before. There was always something to do, always some element or activity connected to the culture to engage with. Time to relax and watch television was sparse and far in-between, that is if you wanted to sleep at a reasonable time. But this was a good thing, at least for me.

Without being forced out of my comfort zone, I fear I may never have left it. I hope to continue pushing this boundary and growing long after this program ends, taking my knowledge and drive into the real world and making a genuine difference wherever I end up.

With three weeks left of this program, I am not sure how it will end, but I know I will be trying my best to keep my eyes open and try not to blink. I know that I am better off for this program and feel confident moving forward, knowing that I have gained skills to connect with others from various backgrounds and cultures to achieve a common goal. I know now that I have the ability and drive to overcome any challenge that comes my way through collaboration and perseverance.

Thus, for the last time, I am trying not to blink during these last few weeks, and I will always remember my experiences and personal growth forged during the Joseph S. Bruno Travel Abroad Program of Spring 2024.

Grace Hannah

Melisa Strickland and I on our walk to the Temple of Diana in Nemi. This was one of my favorite days here in Italy, and I was trying to work on my selfie skills. They may still need some work, but it was a truly wonderful adventure!

From Home to Rome

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As I packed my bags, I became aware that I was bringing my small comforts of home to a place that was very unfamiliar and new. I realized that what few garments and American luxuries could fit into a suitcase would become the little reminders of home that I would have for the next three months. As I watched the plane land on the tarmac through my window in Rome, I was compelled to remember a life that was no longer mine and start to dream of what the next three months could be. But more importantly, who I could become. Clinging on to the moment, through heavy eyes yearning for rest, I pushed myself to embrace the journey to Ariccia. Eyes peering out of a window wanting to understand more, I allowed myself to relish in the adventure and appreciate the approaching landscape. 

When I stepped off the bus with luggage in both hands, I looked up and marveled at a palace and culture that was awaiting me. Settling into my nest, I sprinkled familiar faces on my cork board and transformed it into a refuge that I could turn to when everything I knew felt a million miles away. Shortly after, I was brought into a kitchen where local cuisine and introductions of porchetta were waiting for me on white plates. I then realized that my worries would diminish, and I could instead embrace the people, landscape, and culture that was before me. As I began going to Antico Caffè and dining at local restaurants, I was inundated with the feeling that the community was excited for our arrival.

The locals showed hospitality, the owners were friendly, and the adorable Italian ladies at the sandwich shop made me realize that maybe this place was not so daunting after all. Quickly realizing that Italian was a language that I could embrace, I practiced my skill set ordering coffees in the morning and navigating my way through the grocery store. It was here that I realized my major in Communications holds no geographical bounds, and through engaging with the locals, I will gain an enriching cultural experience.

On Friday, our class went on a field trip to Rome, and I was reminded of the history that surrounded me. As we turned each street corner, we found ancient buildings scattered throughout the city and facades with stories to tell. Treading through the streets, we gleaned information about an empire that once was, and our tour guide navigated us through the city with humor. In doing so, he was bringing both education and vitality to a city whose empire had fallen. 

As I returned from the city and went back to my new home in Ariccia, the walk home was accompanied with a breathtaking sunset and bells that rang in the crisp air. With dusk approaching, I found myself in a moment of solace and took the opportunity to venture to a lookout with an amazing view. I saw a variety a of artisans approaching as I took each step and encountered a market with an array of goods. I browsed the white tables with trinkets scattered on top and appreciated the work and craftsmanship of the community around me.

After that, my tired feet begged me to venture back to the palace, yet sounds filled the air once more. I stopped in my tracks and turned around. Confusion was replaced with elation as I saw colors burst into the dark night. They were fireworks. While often used as a symbol for moments of joy and awe, I found it only fitting that their presence marked the end of my first week and the start to my new life in Ariccia. So maybe I will use it as a symbol; being here feels like fireworks.

– Danielle Rabe

Sunset from the Monumental Bridge Ariccia

Looking With Your Eyes First, and Phone Second: The Relationship with Social Media as a Study Abroad Student

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Studying abroad has taught me so much about Italian culture, my peers, and myself. As someone who has never travelled outside of North America before I am so in awe of the beauty that Italy has to offer. During our first week, my teachers Lydia and Cinzia have encouraged all the students to consider and think about the relationship we want to have with social media while all of us are here. They have encouraged us to be mindful in three ways such as, thinking like a traveler and not a tourist, considering how much you want to share online, and being present. All these factors considered, I have been able to reflect and modify my social media use quite a bit since arriving to Italy.

When it comes to thinking like a traveler, I have been able to distinguish myself quite a bit from the people who are here on vacation versus me being here for an educational and immersive experience. The pictures I take and choose to post reflect supporting local businesses and giving back to the community. My pictures and posts also reflect my education experiences (i.e., the people of Ariccia that I am meeting, tours of historical locations, information about architecture and cuisine, etc.). Since the lecture regarding social media presence online and how to distinguish yourself from tourists who are looking to broadcast their experience online, I have found myself able to discern what I want to post, and what I want to keep to myself. I have also made more intentional choices and have been able to find a deeper appreciation for my surroundings and all that Italy has to offer.

Prior to beginning my study abroad experience, I created a separate Instagram that was meant to document my time in Ariccia and to stay in touch with family. I knew I wanted it to become a blog style account, so I created it with the intention of posting as much as possible. Since being here I have truly evaluated the reasons, I post and remain active on the account. While it is a great way to stay connected with family and friends, and give them a sneak peek into my life, I have decided to pick and choose the things I want to share online versus keep for myself. Rather than have the account to parade around my experiences, I have decided to just simply document my highlights and keep it as an online journal of sorts. Once I got here, rather than posting on social media, I created a newsletter email chain with all my close friends and family sharing links to photos and describing in detail all that I am learning and experiencing while abroad. At the end of the day, it is my close friends and family I want to share my experiences with, rather than strangers on the internet. My desire to share for documentation rather than engagement has altered my use of social media and has allowed me to form a better relationship with it.

Before my study abroad adventure began, I must admit that one of the smaller aspects that I was so excited about was all the photos I would take at iconic monuments, showing off to my friends, and boosting my Instagram feed. With having such a busy schedule, I have not had as much time to scroll on social media and catch up on what all of my friends are doing. This has allowed me to be fully able to soak in as much as I can and not be tethered to my device or feel a need to “show off”. I began to reflect on why I felt this way and I began to consider the role social media played in my life. I noticed things like when my food would get dropped in front of me, I would whip out my phone immediately. Another example would be choosing outfits because I knew I would be taking pictures in them, or just simply pulling my phone out at a lookout rather than taking in the view! When I noticed the habit of reaching for my phone immediately, I decided to make the choice of looking with my eyes first and then taking a photo to commemorate the memory second. In doing this, I have been present and awake as I explore and discover new places. I have truly felt that my memories are much more vivid and clear. As I gaze upon my photos, I am taken back to the simple things that are engrained in my memory simply from taking in things in with my eyes first: the sensation of the weather in the moment, the sounds, the smells, and countless other details.

-Emma Cate Sullivan

Taking in the view both mentally and electronically!

Experiencing from a Different Perspective

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Exploring a new place comes with a different perspective for each person. These perspectives may be derived from many different things – previous knowledge & experiences, interests, hobbies, etc. As a group of 14, we all signed up for this program, with a few things in common, wanting to immerse ourselves in the Italian culture and gain cultural experiences through opportunities, however, we are all very different individuals. We grew up in different cities and towns, have different-sized families, some have traveled more than others, and have a variety of majors, interests, and hobbies. These differences cause us to see and experience the opportunities through this program in our own individual way.

Throughout this program, we have many opportunities to not only see different places throughout Italy but also have the chance to appreciate the beauty, design, and architecture of our surroundings everywhere we go. These opportunities, depending on your interests, may be perceived and understood differently. While we all gain knowledge from the things we see, some may focus on certain aspects and find some more interesting than others.

As someone who is studying interior design, I have a strong appreciation for the beauty, design, and architecture of everything we see and get the opportunity to experience. For many years, I have always found interest in art & design history, architecture, and design in general. Taking major-specific courses throughout college has allowed me to gain a lot of knowledge in many of these areas of interest. From learning about the historical past of interior design, architects, and designers to the modern day, there are many concepts, buildings, and architects I have a lot of familiarity with.

This previous knowledge and familiarity have allowed me to approach these program experiences from a different perspective. When visiting a new town, city, church, restaurant, or historical building, I find myself so intrigued by the execution of the architecture and design of each place. There are small, intricate details that come together to tell a story and create a beautiful masterpiece of a church, town, city, or historical building. I have realized because of this, I have much more appreciation for the things I am getting the opportunity to see and experience. While I was intrigued by these interests previously, you gain a new perspective of these interests when you are immersed in such beauty in the architecture and design around you.

While I may pay more attention to the intricate details of the design, execution, and architecture of the places we visit, others may be more intrigued by how it lies in the timeline of history. Even though we each have our own way of experiencing them, we are all able to appreciate the many different opportunities we get to experience throughout this program. Fourteen different perspectives on the places we are going, what we are learning, and the things we are seeing will ultimately provide each of us with a more full-circle experience and well-rounded perspective to look back on and appreciate. 

Hallie Tant

Ornate architecture and design portrayed through a room in The Louvre.

The Other Side of the Coin

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I recited the same story countless times to family, friends, acquaintances, and
strangers in the two years leading up to my departure from Montgomery, Alabama and
arrival to Ariccia, Italy. “I’m going to study abroad in Italy for three whole months!” But,
no matter how many times I said it, it never actually felt real. I had never left the country,
or even the south of the United States for that matter. I wanted to go to Italy for as long
as I could remember and I even signed up for this program my first semester as a
freshman at Auburn.

I completely idolised the experience of visiting another country such as Italy, but
as my flight got closer, I began to feel some serious anxiety about my decision. I did not
know one person going into this experience and I had not flown since I was a child, let
alone by myself. It seemed insane what I had signed up for the closer the time got. This
program was something completely out of my comfort zone and like nothing I had ever
done before. I was very anxious about how different things would be in such a foreign
place and how alone I would be without anyone I know coming along with me.
Once I arrived in Ariccia, the reality of my situation didn’t set in until a few weeks
into the program, if I’m being honest. Some of my fears were realized and the
adjustment curve was steep, but I soon began to settle into my new way of life. I
established routines, found new favorite foods, made great friends, and got comfortable
with navigating and using public transportation. I have gotten to see so many beautiful
things and have learned so much already. I’ve had the opportunity to practice my Italian
in an immersive way that I would not have been able to elsewhere. I’ve discovered
aspects about myself that I never would have if I hadn’t decided to take a step into the
unknown.

There were definitely lots of moments where I felt like giving up and catching the
next flight back, but I would not trade the experience I have had for anything. I have
grown more in the past seven weeks than I have from any other experience I can
remember. My resolve has been tested physically, mentally, socially, academically, and
more since I arrived in Ariccia. I remember writing in my first journal entry for week one
that I knew I would leave this program much differently than I came into it, and I can
already tell that will be true.

As of now, I am more than half-way through my time in Ariccia, and I believe that
the coin has flipped. I can see the brighter side of things and I am now comfortable and
see the Chigi Palace as a home away from home. I won’t lie and say that I don’t miss
my home in the United States, but I’m now completely open to soaking in all of the time
and experiences that I have left in this special place.

Melisa Strickland

– The Ponte Monumentale di Ariccia at sunset on January 31, 2024

Interiors that Inspire

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As an interior design student who had always dreamed of visiting Italy, one of the aspects
of being abroad I was most looking forward to was the art and architecture. Going into it, I was expecting for it to amaze me, but was not prepared for how much it would truly inspire and impact me.

Simply living in the Chigi Palace, a building designed by Bernini, has left me inspired and given me a wonderfully unique experience that not many other design students can relate to. It blows my mind that everyday I get to walk around on the same tiles that Bernini did hundreds of years ago. Although I have seen lots of pictures of Italian design and have learned a lot about it through my classes, getting to experience it in person has been life-changing. Not only does the scale of these designs leave me speechless, but the fact that they have persevered through ages and centuries of time seems unbelievable to me.

Another characteristic of Italian design that has stood out to me is the attention to detail found within each structure. Whether it be a grand basilica like St. Peter’s or a tiny chapel, I have found that there is so much significance and meaning behind each little design decision within each space. It is amazing the stories that can be told simply by the people, animals, and shapes displayed in different ways through design. I have begun to notice how amazing of a storyteller the art of design is through tiny engraved details into columns and magnificent sculptures molded by hand. Moments of glory, strength, and power at other times design tell the story of hardship, defeat, and fear. With such a long and complicated history, places like Ariccia and Rome have so much to say through their art and design. Even today, when experiencing these works I feel like I have traveled back in time and am able to feel the same emotions that the people felt at the time the piece was created.

Although so much has changed since lots of the art and architecture I have experienced was created, it can also serve as a bridge between the past and present. While the circumstances today are very different than they were back in ancient Rome, human emotion and connection were very much alive similarly to how they are today. There were philosophers and deep thinkers questioning morality and working to understand human nature. Today, we can relate to the people back then who were beginning to discover and explore the idea of having feelings and emotions and learning how to deal with them. It is clear that even though centuries have passed, art, design, and architecture all have a great power to not only be a means of emotional expression, but also a way to understand people of the past, present, and (eventually) future.

All of the amazing works of art I have experienced thus far abroad have left me feeling so inspired. I am prepared to bring what I have learned back to the United States and find ways to apply them to my designs as I continue on in my interior design career.

Whitney Robeson

An image of the ceiling in the “Summer Room” in the Chigi Palace.

Growth from Going with the Flow

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As I reached the halfway point of my time here in Ariccia, I started to realize how much I have been growing as an individual. Reflecting on the experiences that I have had so far, the thing that stands out to me the most is how I have learned to become more okay with situations that are out of my control. I am someone who likes to have everything planned out. I even have “plans” for general ideas of what I want my life to look like in the coming years, so it is safe to say that I take comfort in having a consistent routine and knowing what to prepare for and get excited for.

Coming into this experience, we were told to not plan all of our weekend trips before arriving in Italy, so that we could go on trips with new people that we meet through the program. This was very good advice, but definitely led to me feeling the stress of trying to book what felt like a million trips a mere few days in advance in some cases. I am aware of how lucky I am to call planning once in a lifetime trips “stressful”, but what I mean to highlight is how all of a sudden I did not have a concrete plan for the next few weeks or even the next few days.

This was so out of my comfort zone, but as the weeks progressed, I started to see the benefits of being more spontaneous and not having every second of my days planned. There is something so beautiful about being more present and in the moment, rather than having my mind jump ahead to what is next on the schedule. I also realized that learning to be more adaptable and go with the flow is an important skill to have before entering the workforce. I’ve learned how valuable it is to be pushed outside of your comfort zone, and I wouldn’t have been able to have this realization if it wasn’t for this program. I now have so much more appreciation for the little things and the experiences that come up unexpectedly.

I know that in the future and throughout my career, there will be days where things come up at the last minute that all of a sudden need my full attention, or that I may have to rearrange my schedule to accommodate those that I will be working with. By learning to plan in short amounts of time and being okay with sometimes not knowing exactly what my days would hold, I feel much more confident for working in a fast paced and ever-changing environment. I am thankful to have had this realization while still in college, and am so grateful for all that this program has taught me about myself and those around me. There are some things that we cannot control, and it is important to learn to trust the people around you. Staying with a group of new people in new surroundings has shown me how imperative this is, and I am lucky to have had this experience alongside them!

– Milly Montgomery

An unforgettable trip to Rome that came from last minute planning!