When I applied to be the Administrative Intern for JSB Spring 2020, all I really knew was that I would get to come back to Ariccia, a place I love with all my heart, a place that changed me as a student of the JSB Spring 2018 class. There was no way I could have prepared for what a life-changing, unique, crazy experience this would be. I could tell you all about the day trips in to Rome and how we got to experience not only the tourist side of the city, but also the off-the-beaten-path side as well. I could tell you about our overnight trip to the region of Umbria and how we got an inside look at the craftsmanship of the people of Italy and once again got to explore a historically rich area of Italy. I could tell you about the different professors and Italian men and women who came to our classroom, invested in our lives and education, and taught us things that we will remember for the rest of our lives. I could tell you about how hard Lacey works to make this the best possible experience for the students. I could tell you about how Cinzia is dedicated to her job and cares for her people so well. I could tell you about how sweet it is to hear Roberta say “Ciao bella” every morning while working hard to make sure our schedule is perfect. I could tell you about how amazing Maurizio and Franceso are and about how much they love this program, Ariccia, and us. I could tell you about how we were sent home six weeks early because of the Coronavirus and how heartbreaking that was for me, not only because I knew what we were all missing out on, but mainly because the girls did not get to complete their study abroad experience they had waited years to experience. I could also tell you about how resilient they have been in completing their study abroad education online from America. I could talk about it all for hours.

But what I want to tell you about most is the sweet memories I made with these 21 girls in the short six weeks we had together. In some ways, it felt like many months that we lived together in the Palace. But mostly, it felt like it went by way too quickly. Valentine’s Day dinner in town, sunsets on the overlook, weekend trips to new places, cooking dinner together, making tik-toks, watching the Bachelor on the projector, sitting in each other’s “nests” to talk and laugh and cry, talking about the hard stuff and sharing in the really good stuff, getting food poisoning, feeling home sickness, having anxiety attacks, laughing until we cry, squealing about a cute Italian boy who wants to take you out for gelato, getting stuck in a different country multiple times, falling in love with Italy. The list truly keeps going, but this is just a taste of the things we got to experience together. If something happened to one person, the group as a whole felt it because there is something so special about sharing this kind of experience and living in close quarters with a group of 21 girls. And these specific girls are the most caring, fiery, supportive, compassionate, strong, welcoming, and fun girls I have ever met.

We will forever be remembered as the JSB group that was sent back to America 6 weeks early due to COVID-19, and we will forever remember that short time we had together in Ariccia as a time our lives really were changed for good.

With love to Italy, Ariccia, JSB, and my Chigi babies,

Emmie Whorton

Although the class of Spring 2020 did not get the full JSB experience and had our time cut short due to the coronavirus, feeling down after coming home from the program is applicable to all study abroad students. Let’s call it the “post-abroad blues.”

Instead of dwelling on all of the fact that we are now home and bored rather than off travelling the world, we have to focus on all of the positives. There are a few things that a student in this situation can do to brighten their spirits and I have listed them here.

Reminisce on the good.

It is healthy to want to remember all the incredible adventures abroad! I remind myself to focus on all the good that happened and allowing myself to be grateful for those experiences that I had. Another option would be to share stories with family members, create a photo album, or edit a fun video. Find something to capture those moments that you’ll hold on to for a lifetime.

Self-care.

This might sound obvious to a lot of people but arriving back home after spending a lot of time traveling is quite an adjustment. Whether it be adapting to the time zone, the food, or a new schedule, it might be challenging to get back into a rhythm is abnormal. Proper self-care is extremely important during this time. Avoid falling into a slump of sleeping until noon, showering once a week, and living off McDonald’s. Being back home should free up time to get back to a normal life routine, even if it takes a little while to do so. Stay hydrated, active, and healthy!

Stay busy.

Whether it be schoolwork, re-finding an old passion, or creating a new hobby, staying busy will be a lifesaver right now. This will allow the mind to be focused on the task at hand, so you are not letting yourself dwell. Personally, this was very helpful for me. Considering our particular situation and being in quarantine, it can be easier sometimes to just be sad which is not good at all. I have started new crafts and painting, which I have found really useful to keep busy when I start to feel this way.

Stay in touch with your friends and staff from JSB.

This one is super important. Stay in touch with everyone from JSB!! These people you lived in close quarters with became family for the past several weeks. Considering that I am no longer living in Italy (which feels like a loss of its own right now), I don’t want to feel like everything from my time abroad is over. Making amazing friends on this program will help in the adjustment back in the U.S. because there is a whole group of people going through the same thing and you have a supportive group of people to lean on.

This is a photo of me and my friends traveling to London for the weekend. I’m missing my JSB girls a lot, but it makes me happy to reminisce on all of our adventures.

-Shannon Lucky

As a Type A planner, I am always awaiting the start of what is next to come. This has been my M.O. as it helps me plan, keeps me motivated, and helps me stay focused on achieving my goals. The downside to this method of living is that I find I am rarely able to take a breath and simply enjoy the moment I am currently in. Throughout my time at Auburn, I have made it a goal of mine to be mindful of my current situation in order to be fully present in all experiences I am fortunate to be in. I made it a goal to continue this practice when I arrived in Ariccia.

It is crucial for me to be present during all Joseph S. Bruno experiences! Admittedly, I have caught my mind wondering off to a different topic or thinking about our next experience and ultimately becoming disengaged with the activity I was presently immersed in. Following my disengagement, whether it was listening to a lecture, receiving a tour, listening to my classmate’s presentation, or even during a conversation with my friends, I felt incredibly regretful as I knew there was never a chance I would have that moment back. I immediately knew I missed out on an opportunity to learn, grow, or connect with my peers.

I am currently writing during the COVID-19 pandemic from my home in South Carolina while I continue my learning experiences online through Zoom and Canvas. At-home learning is difficult, but it is imperative for me to continue being all there in my engagement with the course material. Our staff has facilitated lectures and Q&A sessions with various field experts who we planned on meeting in person. While I am meeting the President and Founder of Connecting Cultures through a camera in the United States, I am no less grateful for the opportunity. 

Aside from never receiving the opportunity again, there is always something to learn. Positive or negative experience, likeable or unlikeable circumstances alike teach us lessons and foster fantastic environments for growth. The biggest lesson I have learned in my life it not to regress during the unfavorable times but allow yourself to grow.

When I find myself wondering off in my head, I practice the mindfulness tool of reconnecting with all five senses. This is a common practice in meditation as well! I identify a few things I can see, touch, hear, smell, and taste (if applicable) to help ground me and connect with my surroundings.

Participating in the Joseph S. Bruno program is a remarkable privilege and I didn’t want to take a minute of it for granted! In short, my takeaway from the program? If you are going to participate and be there, be ALL there!

– Gina Maddaloni

Traveling abroad is filled with a LOT of unknowns. 

Where will I live? Where will I travel? What will I do? Who will I meet? How much money will I spend? How will get from point A to B?

While figuring out the answer to most of these questions and unknowns are all a part of the fun, it can also be scary and frustrating. During my time abroad I was faced with quite a few scary and frustrating moments. I was stuck in London for a night due to stormy weather. I missed out on a weekend getaway I had been planning for months due to the catastrophe in London. My phone stopped working during a weekend away with friends from my hometown. 

I could go on, but these bumps in the road are not the point. 

The point is: I had a lot of time to focus on myself and how I would react to these miniature “international incidents.” Part of the reason I was looking forward to this experience was so I would have 12 weeks to do some major self-reflection, and try to come back with a more positive and grateful outlook on life. So every time I was thrown into a stressful moment I tried to do my best to stay positive and focus on the GOOD. At times, I failed to do so in the moment, but that gave me the opportunity to reflect and try to do things differently the next time. 

Essentially, what I am trying to say is a basic goal in life, but it seems it is important now more than ever. We live in a world that likes to focus on the negative. Every day we turn on the news we are seeing people all over the world getting sick, dying, and suffering from Covid-19. People are out of work, graduations are being canceled, weddings are postponed, and basic human interaction is frowned upon. During a time that seems so bleak it is important to remain positive. I encourage you to think of this every time you get annoyed that you are on the couch watching re-runs during quarantine. Focus on spending time with your family, establishing a healthier routine, or having the luxury of a roof over your head and food to eat. Focus on the GOOD.

-Ally Douglas

Studying abroad is a once in a lifetime experience that most people are unable to repeat. Therefore, I thought I should take advantage of as many opportunities as possible to see the world while abroad. I realized that it is okay if I was unable to go to a different country every weekend, but I made a point of exploring wherever I decided to go. So, I have complied a list of five essential things one should do in order to gain the most from this experience.

Making sure everyone knows the plan.

            I realized very quickly how important it is to coordinate information about transportation plans and where I was staying with the girls I was traveling with during personal travel time. It is very necessary to make sure everyone has booked the same plane tickets, trains, and knows exactly where they are staying before leaving to travel. I was not expecting how much of a language barrier there would be in Italy, and it is so easy to get separated from the group. So, I always made sure I was able to navigate the train or metro systems and have the right tickets in case anything happens.

Stepping out of a comfort zone

            Traveling allows one to experience new, exciting things almost every single day. I learned that while it is important to be cautious, it is equally as important to step out of my comfort zone. For instance, I am sometimes nervous about trying new foods, but when I tried Porchetta for the first time, I instantly fell in love with the local delicacy.

Being aware

After a couple of weeks of studying abroad, I realized that people take advantage of tourists who do not know certain rules or know what they are doing. I learned that it is okay to speak up and politely question a bill at a restaurant or tell them that they did not give me enough change back. Sometimes it is a misunderstanding, but I soon became comfortable with sternly questioning what seemed ‘off’ or unfair.

Doing research

            I personally do not enjoy visiting a place during personal travel time without doing some research about the best places to go. Apps like Yelp, Pinterest, OpenTable, and reading travel blogs have really helped me figure out the best things to do in each place. Yes, it is fun to stumble into a great restaurant or cool area every now and then. But researching the culture, landmarks and museums of the places I visited helped me better manage my time, experience and money.

Managing money

            Although the smaller towns in Italy are very reasonably priced, I found that larger cities in Europe are usually much more expensive. However, even in the most expensive cities, I figured out how to properly manage my money. When in my residence during the week, I typically avoid eating out for meals as much as possible and try cooking most of my meals at home. This saves so much extra money for the weekend and keeps my waistline in check. I also make sure I always have cash on hand, because it makes splitting bills and paying for taxis a lot easier.

Staying healthy

            Like I said before, cooking meals at home during the week really helps me watch my figure. I also limit the amount of pasta and cheese I eat by going to the local butcher and fruit/vegetable stands to get fresh ingredients for my meals. Working out is hard to squeeze into the schedule, but I make sure I go on at least a 45 minute walk every day even if it is just to go run some errands. Getting on a solid sleep schedule also helps me get through my day, and I make sure I have some melatonin or tea right before bed in order to ensure a good night’s rest.

            Studying abroad was not how I expected it to be. The world is full of interesting places, with vastly different cultures and languages from what I am used to. I have laughed, cried, relaxed, panicked, and most importantly learned so many valuable lessons living in a different place than I could ever imagine.

-Madeline Hand

I am a planner, truly, like the color-codes my weekly checklist, keeps all my papers in page protectors, laminates a copy of my passport and insurance card and keeps them with me at all times type. The great paradox, though, is that I am also the world’s worst procrastinator. I think there’s something about the pressure that comes with having a deadline written (in its respective color) a month in advance and choosing to wait until the last possible minute to get it done that’s truly exhilarating. 

With that being said, from the moment I handed over the deposit check, I planned furiously for my time in the JSB program. By the time my plane was wheels-up and on its way to Rome, I was positive that I was going to be an excellent world traveler — I really had it all figured out… not. 

Upon reflection, I have realized that I made a foolish travel mistake in every single week of this program. So, here’s the breakdown, folks: 

Week One: On second thought, this week actually had two mistakes. The first mistake, which probably led to the second, was that I packed the night before I left. Did I mention I’m the world’s worst procrastinator? In the midst of my packing crisis, I left an entire garment bag of clothes, which I had purchased and stored away specifically for this experience, hanging in my closet. 

Week Two: The second week I booked a plane ticket to spend the weekend in Lisbon, Portugal, but I forgot to check-in. Evidently the whole “check-in” process is not merely a suggestion when flying on a budget airline, so I ended up paying 50 extra Euro to get a boarding pass, not to mention almost missing the flight. 

Week Three: The third week I booked a plane ticket to spend the weekend in London with high hopes that my luck would change. Instead, Winter Storm Ciara brought 80mph winds, which canceled our return flight and left us stranded. I was too busy picking out an outfit for high tea; I didn’t think to check the weather. 

Week Four: Despite the harsh luck in London the weekend prior and my father’s better judgment, I booked a ticket to spend Valentine’s Day weekend in Paris. I had big plans to buy myself a Prada bag while I was there (which I did) and where better to do so than the City of Love on the international day of love? So, where’s the mistake? Well, I booked a ticket for a plane that departed from a tiny airport in ‘Middle of Nowhere’, France during an airstrike — this one landed me on a 12-hour train back to Rome. 

Disclaimer: I would do this one again; then again, I’d do just about anything for Prada. 

Week Five: Week five is the most embarrassing mistake of all, I had booked a ticket to spend the weekend in Geneva, Switzerland. So, when Thursday night rolled around, learning from my week two mistake, I logged into the airline website to check-in for my flight and print my boarding passes. Instead, I discovered that the flight I thought I would be boarding the very next morning had actually taken off 24 hours prior. 

At this point you may be wondering why the mistake timeline stops at only 5 weekends. Well, that would be because on Saturday morning of week six the CDC increased the threat level in Italy to a 3, due to COVID-19, and we were evacuated from the country. 

Needless to say, dropping your American life and moving to a new country, even if it’s only for 3 months, is not for the faint of heart. I struggled at times, I made mistakes – a lot of them, and at the end, I was dealt a hand of cards that no amount of color-coding or page protectors would’ve helped me plan. However, not in spite of but truly because of all of these experiences, I left a country that became so dear to my heart, with more grit, more tenacity, more culture, and more experience. Most importantly I left with more compassion. With the world in the midst of pandemic, politics, and self-preservation, we could all afford to practice a little more compassion — remembering a time when you, too, were a rookie, in need of a little grace on the learning curve. 

Megan Jeter

I have been in Italy for over a month now. Just when I think I have gotten the hang of things, like remembering which laundry day is mine, booking flights, making travel plans, grocery shopping in a foreign country, or anything else for that matter, reality comes and hits me right in my face. For example, I have traveled in some form every weekend since I have been here, whether it has been by train, bus, taxi, or plane. Therefore, I have gotten pretty good at planning and booking things correctly. So, when I booked my flight for Switzerland, I was so confident and excited for the weekend ahead of me. My friends and I taxied to the airport and I went to check-in for my flight and the kind woman working for the airline politely informed me that I had missed my flight that had taken off 24 hours prior and there were no open flights leaving that day to Switzerland. So, needless to say, my friends went to Switzerland without me and I was left with no weekend plans because I had accidentally booked my flight for the wrong day, and to make it better, there were no refunds available.

Things like this are going to happen. We are all young students who still have lessons to learn. Instead of getting caught up in what all can and will go wrong, it is such a valuable lesson to learn how to “laugh it off”. If I get upset and miserable about every little thing, I make everyone else around me miserable as well. And no one wants to be miserable when you are living in Italy for 3 months. I ended up taking a day trip and having a relaxing weekend in Ariccia for the remainder of the weekend, instead of sulking in the mistake I had made.

So, whenever we book a wrong flight, forget a passport, get our phones stolen (because this will happen to at least one person), or forget to pack our favorite jeans, we look for a way to get past it and laugh it off with the people around us. JSB study abroad is such an amazing experience and our stories are so much better to tell since we are laughing about them instead of crying. Attitude is everything!

-Sara Hensley JSB Spring 2020

One minute you are sitting on a rooftop in Barcelona watching the sunset, and the next you are trying to find your phone that you realize has just been stolen. These situations can definitely catch you off guard and cause a bump in your study abroad experience. When this happened to me three weeks into the program, I thought my world was ending. However, this unfortunate event has taught me so many things and I want to share a couple. 

One thing that getting my phone stolen has taught me is that I am way too addicted to social media. I didn’t realize how often I would check Instagram and Snapchat until I didn’t have a phone to check it with. Without realizing it, I would spend hours scrolling and trying to keep up with what everyone is doing. When I get my phone back, I want to be more mindful of this and make an effort to not get on social media as much. 

Another thing that getting my phone stolen has taught me is to be more present where I am. I have been able to engage more in relationships with the girls in the palace and spend more time appreciating where I am. Before, my face was usually glued to my phone and I wasn’t taking advantage of everything that Ariccia has to offer. 

While this situation was very hard to deal with, I am thankful for everything that it has taught me. I want to encourage everyone to hang up and hang out. The difference that it makes is shocking!

Kayley Abbott

A few girls and I decided to travel to the historic town of Siena, Italy for a weekend. When I booked my ticket, I was fine with the fact that we had to transfer three times between the four separate trains it took to get us to Siena. However, I didn’t realize that we only had around five to fifteen minutes between departures, which is a considerably short amount of time to change trains, especially if you don’t speak the Italian language or ride the trains often.

We had an early start on Friday, yawning as we walked to catch our first train of the day at 5:57am. A couple of hours (and a couple of transfers) later, we were exhausted and finally cozied up against the train car window to nap as we were on the home stretch towards Siena. I couldn’t help but think to myself, “How could this go wrong?” We’d already handled two transfers successfully, so why would the last one be any different?

Well, I was wrong. Things definitely went wrong.

I woke up from my nap to see which train stop we were currently at, but the speakers that announced the station name were unintelligible and any informational signs were non-existent. One of the girls I was traveling with (who has the gift of always knowing her way around) had told the rest of us that the next stop was ours, so we all prepared to disembark. When the train finally stopped, my good friend Morgan was the first one off the train even though she had also been asleep two minutes earlier. The rest of us were making our way to the exit when I saw the doors close. I looked around for a button next to the doors to open them, but couldn’t find anything. The panic didn’t quite set in until we all felt the train begin inching away from Morgan, who was just watching us struggle from the train platform.

It felt like the world quickly went from slow-motion into hyper-speed in a matter of seconds. Since we still couldn’t figure out how to open the train car doors, all we could do was watch Morgan wave to us as we got farther and farther away. We figured we could just get off at the next stop assuming it’d be close, but the train switched gears into hyper-speed and the distance between us and our friend grew. We soon came to realize that Morgan had gotten off a stop too early, and our actual destination was the next one.

Surprisingly enough, we did manage to get Morgan back and make it to Siena with only an hour delay. Regardless, the reason why we were able to accomplish this and fix the situation was by keeping calm and focusing on finding solutions to our problem at hand. Sometimes things happen that weren’t intended, like accidentally leaving your friend on a practically abandoned train station platform in a quiet neighborhood called Fabro. Sometimes finding solutions to those unexpected obstacles becomes a memorable experience, like how my friend Gina communicated to a group of seven Italian taxi drivers through Google Translate in order to rescue our friend.

Even though our trip didn’t go exactly according to plan, we were still able to recover from our mistake by keeping calm and taking action. In the end, it made for a hilarious experience I will not soon forget.

All the best,

Alyssa Dominguez