Being abroad in Italy has been an eye-opening experience for me, especially as a student striving to become a part of the apparel industry. It is impossible to walk down a street in Rome or a hallway in an art gallery without being instantly inspired by the details in the tiled floors or the historical significance of a given object.

This program has allowed me to see my passion and major (Apparel Merchandising, Design, & Production) on an international scale. One of my biggest observations has been that while Italians are more environmentally conscious in their daily lives, the apparel industry is controlled by the demand for “fast fashion”.

The term “fast fashion” refers to the speed at which retailers produce clothing above the standard cycles per season (varying by retailer). An example of this would be walking into Zara or H&M and seeing a new collection of clothing each week, as opposed to seeing new collections only when the seasons change.

In my Human Sciences classes at Auburn University, I have learned the apparel industry is the second largest polluter in the world through its use of dyes, factories, etc. and how important it is to be conscious of my own “fast fashion” consumption.

There are multiple American companies that have shifted their attitudes of consumption and encourage their consumers to be conscious of the environment when selecting a piece of clothing from their label. When I am shopping in stores in Italy, I have not found that the same message is being sent. My main take away is while countries in Europe are in generally more environmentally conscious in their recycling initiatives and use of public transportation, there is still a long way to go in recognizing the long-term negative impact that the “fast fashion” apparel industry will have for future generations.

Caroline Kruza

As I sit here in the Starbucks of London Stansted Airport, I am thinking of what little time I have left of this incredible experience. Prior to leaving, when someone told me 12 weeks would fly by, I shook my head and said it was tons of time. Now time has flown by and I am grasping on to every second left before returning home. I never could have imagined the numerous lectures, cooking classes, tours, field trips and so much more we would be able to squeeze into our time here. Each and every opportunity has helped me to grow in ways I did not know I needed to grow, and pushed me to go outside of my comfort zone and become a more outgoing person. 

I am excited to think of the ways that this experience will help me as I head toward graduation in four short weeks. Having the opportunity to be immersed in another culture is the best way to learn how to interact with, and appreciate, those different than myself. Since I will be graduating with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies, this skill will be useful in any career path I decide to pursue. I am so thankful to the HDFS department for allowing this program to count as internship credit, because nothing else could have compared to the knowledge I have gained here.

With all of this being said, I have two major takeaways. One: I need to absorb every second of opportunities like the JSB Auburn program, and college in general, because it will all be over in what feels like the blink of an eye. Two: I need to keep taking risks, such as going to Italy for my last semester of college, because I have come out of it with so much more than I had before. 

Thank you Ariccia, my 21 roommates, AU Human Sciences, and everyone involved in making the JSB program possible. It is one of the most enriching experiences I have had in these last four years, and I cannot wait to see where I go from here.

Arrivederci (goodbye) and War Eagle! Kat Slyter 

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

If you would have told me four years ago that I would be studying abroad in Italy for 12 weeks, I would have laughed at you. If you would have told me that I would feel at home in a little town called Ariccia, I would have told you that you were crazy. However, we are eight weeks in and, I have never felt more at home in Ariccia.

My favorite thing about traveling on the weekends is the feeling of returning to my “nest” in The Palace. This little town has become such a place of comfort, and a place that will have a special spot in my heart forever.

I cannot lie and say that everything about this experience has been easy, but the things we have encountered as a group and individually have allowed each and every one of us to grow.

Prior to coming on the JSB program, I hated to travel. I hated plane, bus, and train rides. So you may think, “Why would you even go on a program like this?”

Well, this program has pushed me to step out of my comfort zone more than I could have ever imagined, and I could not be more grateful for that. I never thought I would be the person to travel every weekend and constantly be on-the-go but that is exactly what I have done. This program has taught me how to be independent, but also how to lean on people that I did not know before coming on the program. I have made friendships here that will last a lifetime, and I cannot wait to bring these friendships back to Auburn. I am so grateful to be a part of this experience as the program is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

War Eagle, Riley Stofka

As spring break is wrapping up, I am currently sitting on my parents’ AirBnB terrace, munching on some fresh bruschetta, taking in the magnificent view of Ariccia below, and writing this reflection on my past 7 weeks here. I feel so wonderfully content in this moment. I’m thinking about how I want to remember this moment, and the endless moments I’ve had so far that make me stop and think, “I want to wrap this up, put it in my pocket, and keep it forever.” 

That first day, when we walked on the bridge to Albano and saw the view and the Ariccia sunset for the first time. When I enjoyed a cone of Giolitti Gelato (the best gelatto in the entire universe) with my best friend from home who studies in Rome. A week ago, on the first day my parents arrived in Ariccia for spring break, walking to the Chigi palace museum for class, and spotting my dad outside of a Cafe that I frequent across the street, then watching him run across said street like a maniac to hug me. Standing in front of every famous monument we’ve visited for class and thinking, “I am actually here! Doing this! Right now!”. This country is so rich with beauty, culture, and passion, that the moments here just hit different than back at home.

This study abroad program is unique because we’re not just taking random classes in Italy, our classes are about Italy; the history, the language, the cuisine, and that helps us immerse ourselves in, and appreciate the culture so much more.
I love it here. So much. Bring on the moments to come!

Xoxo, Avery 🙂

I am half-way through my twelve-week adventure, and I never knew a place once so foreign to me only six weeks ago could start to feel like home. The other girls were only just strangers, but are now some of my closest friends. We began our very first week planning the many adventures that lie ahead of us.

I knew once I unpacked my bags from my 8-hour long flight from Tampa they would not be unpacked for long. As soon as I landed, I wanted to go everywhere and anywhere. The north, east, south, and west of every country of Europe. I planned weekend adventures to Munich, Paris, Barcelona, Prague, Warsaw, Dublin, and Florence.

It is crazy to look back on these past 8 weeks and really see how each place is special in it’s own little way. Being able to spend the weeks in Ariccia and then ending them in a different country has allowed me to pick out the differences between each place.

During my spring break I traveled to Prague, one of my favorite places I have visited. The history and growth that lies within the city is astounding. A city that was once so secluded and polarized from my culture shows that a place can come out of anything and become one of the most traveled cities in the world. Each place has been so special and so diverse. My travel bug is in full swing, and I would love to go back to these countries and explore even more beyond the big cities.

I am ready to take on these next five weeks and see what they have to offer.

XOXO, Brooks Anne