It’s been nine weeks since we left the United States and I can’t believe the experiences I’ve had, the places I’ve seen, or the amount of amazing people I’ve met. This program is truly one of a kind, and I will forever be thankful for the time spent here with these incredible ladies.

I had always dreamed of doing a program like this in college, but never thought it was possible. As soon as I got off the waitlist for this spring, I knew it would be a semester to remember.

This week has been leading up to our field trip to Bologna, Venice, and Florence, and it has finally hit home that we only have three short weeks left. I have been blessed with such an amazing group of girls that I have connected with and become closer than I every imagined for people that I had met only nine weeks ago. It has been so eye opening to form such deep relationships with girls in Auburn that I would have never otherwise met if it were not for this program. It has been so important to be intentional from the moment I arrived in Ariccia, and started developing those relationships that will last a lifetime.

There’s no denying that it has been hard to be away from family, friends, and American food, but at the end of the day it is more than worth it. In these last couple of weeks I just hope we can all continue to absorb the culture and not take for granted any of these moments or memories.

Maria Schmidt