Traveling has always been a big part of my life and an intense passion of mine. I have always known that I wanted to study abroad while in college. However, I did not have a plan or direction for where I wanted to go. When I first toured Auburn University during my senior year of high school, I spoke with a mentor and friend in the College of Human Sciences, Celesta Henry, who helped guide me in my decision-making process to Auburn University and to the Joseph S. Bruno Auburn Abroad in Italy program. This has ended up being the best decision that I have ever made. I was on the waitlist for the program for five months, the longest five months of my life. I received the best email possible about a month and a half before I was to depart from America. Everything moved quickly but since the moment I drove into Ariccia after the long redeye flight, I have been nothing but overjoyed. Ariccia has welcomed me with open arms. I write this in awe of what Ariccia has already given me. It has shown me love and strength. This town is like no other.
I moved to Auburn from Maryland so I was no stranger to moving to an area that is outside of my comfort zone. The biggest thing that I wanted to accomplish during this summer term was to improve myself. There was one word that kept popping up in the back of my mind-Adaptability. I strive to be an adaptable person every day, but I really wanted to focus on this while abroad. I set a goal for myself to participate in every activity, try new things, and never say no. This mindset has led to my happiness in this program. I have already gotten to travel throughout Europe, tried new Italian foods that I normally would never touch, and met new people with so many amazing stories.
My favorite part of this entire experience is speaking with people and hearing their stories. The family from Ireland who walked around The Academia Gallery with me in Florence, the family that owned the Murano glass shop in Venice, and the sweet couple from the Netherlands behind me in line to see the Duomo in Florence, have all helped shape my study abroad experience. I have developed friendships with people who come from different backgrounds from myself because I believe that our commonalities far outweigh our differences. There is always more to learn about different cultures and their perspectives. Studying abroad has opened my eyes to a new world of possibilities.
The people in Ariccia: Cinzia, Roberta, Lydia, Francesco, Maurizio, Paolo and Barbara, and so many incredible classmates are the reason why I call Ariccia home. They are my people. My home away from home. Ariccia is not just a random little town in the middle of Italy. Ariccia is a welcoming home to anyone looking for an amazing experience and a new perspective on life. I am so grateful to Ariccia, and I will continue to value my time in this wonderful town every day.
Abigail Kramer
This picture is very close to my heart because it is the first picture I took in Ariccia. I still remember the feeling of stepping off of the bus and seeing this view.