Sydney Jaffe 

May 18, 2023 

    People frequently wonder whether it was worthwhile to travel so far and spend so much time studying abroad. I began to wonder: Why should I study abroad? My justification at the time was to challenge myself, participate in another culture, make friends, get some extra school credits, and gain work experience all at once. Making the decision to study abroad wasn’t difficult for me because I’ve always known I wanted to.

    I’ve known for many years that I wanted to study abroad. However, it needed months of serious consideration before deciding where to go. Once I found the Joseph S. Bruno program, it was too easy to say yes! I didn’t know what to anticipate for this international adventure when I initially arrived in Rome. The thought of traveling to Europe for the first time was stressful, but seeing the other girls at the airport made it a breeze! When I stepped off the plane, I was greeted warmly by Cinzia and our TA Sophie and had the assurance that all my concerns would be put to rest. The program also did a fantastic job matching me up with girls who I get along with really well. 

     Once settled in your study abroad routine, time flies by and each trip you take makes it go by even faster. Therefore, it is crucial to reflect frequently. Even though problems can come at you quickly and life can go quickly, it is important to wind down and think back on your trip at some point. Consider what you just went through and how few individuals actually have the opportunity to travel and experience other cultures. Be thankful for your current situation because it may be worse for some people. You won’t often have a moment in your life where you can travel and study at the same time. 

Ciao!

Sydney Jaffe

This picture was taken our first week out at Night at the Museum.