Upon arriving in Italy seven weeks ago, I was convinced that I would never think of this small town called Ariccia as my home. Everything was so new and unfamiliar that the thought of becoming comfortable enough in this place to call it my “home away from home” seemed unfathomable. However, I have realized that every time I come back to this place from a long day in Rome or a weekend out of the country, I am relieved to be back in Ariccia and back in the Chigi Palace.
I think being set in a small town has been helpful in making a place in Italy my home for the summer. I have been so immersed in the culture and atmosphere of Ariccia, that is has the same familiar feel that my home back in the States does. Because this town is so used to students living here, we have established relationships with many of the people here. As is appropriate in Italian culture, I have bonded with Ariccia mostly by means of food. One of the first things I learned here is that eating is a social event that is supposed to be shared with friends and family. Meals become an event rather than something that is done as a routine. In my time here, I have established my favorite places to eat, so I see familiar faces all the time.
I strongly believe that creating relationships with the people who live here and appreciating the warm welcome I get wherever I go has made my time here so much more valuable. Ariccia, however small it may be, is a place I am grateful to claim as my home and somewhere that is and always will be warmly received whenever I arrive.
Alex Phillips

On Wednesday, June 1st 2016, I was lucky enough to breathe in the same air as one of the most influential people in the world, Pope Francis. While on the Joseph S. Bruno study abroad program, we get to experience many amazing things every day, but being able to attend the Papal Audience was one of the most surreal events so far. As we entered the Vatican early that morning there were tons of tourists gathered to see the Pope, with the hopes of maybe getting a picture of him riding by in the popemobile! As soon as they opened the gates to sit down, we sprinted to the front row and luckily got seats right by the white fence. This was perfect because it meant we could get a close up shot of the man himself. As we waited for him to come out, I was in awe about how many different people were around me and how far they had all traveled for this event. The sweet lady sitting beside me even gave me a prayer card on protection and healing which was so thoughtful. Finally, after about an hour of waiting in the hot morning sun, the popemobile took off around the center square of the Vatican and Pope Francis was waving and kissing as many babies as he could as he drove past all of his admirers. As he inched towards our section of seats, people were pushing every direction just to get a quick look at the adorable man. Finally, he was right in front of me so I pulled out my phone and at the perfect second I got a selfie with him! I was honestly so excited and felt like I got a picture with the most famous person in the world!
After his renowned car ride was over, he led the audience in prayer that was then translated into what seemed like over 20 different languages. The Papal Audience was something I never thought I would attend, but I’m very thankful I was given the opportunity because it made me aware of the heavy impact the Catholic Church has throughout the world.

Ciao,
Madison Delaney

Hallo aus Deutschland!!
When I first landed in Munich, Germany, I did not know what to expect from my first personal travel time. Walking around I noticed the architecture looked as elaborate as Italy’s. There were ginormous buildings everywhere with a lot of them having Gothic styling. I even went to the top of St. Peter’s Church and saw a sky-high view of Munich, which was beautiful. Afterwards, I tried currywurst with fries. The currywurst was good and the fries tasted like they were from America. I finished my meal and continued to explore Munich. I spent hours looking at shops and going inside those huge buildings from before, making sure to take a millions pictures along the way. One of the places I stopped at was the Hofbräuhaus, which is where Oktoberfest is held. It was really cool to see the place that I have heard about since I was in middle school. I had dinner there that night and it was one of the best decisions of my life. I have never been in a restaurant that was so full of life. Strangers were getting up and dancing along to the live band. It felt like I was at a live concert. Waking up the next day, I was a little exhausted from eating myself into oblivion at the Hofbräuhaus, but I was also excited because I was going to Dachau to see what was left of the former concentration camp. Nothing could compare to walking through the gas chamber. Just knowing what happened there and how many people were probably killed in that room, gave me the most chilling sensation I have ever had. I could not imagine what all of those people must have gone through. To uplift my spirit a little, I went to another well-known restaurant called Augustine-Keller. It was just as lively as the restaurant the night before, which really made me not want to leave Munich, but I had to. The next morning, I got onto a train and rode all the way to Berlin. Berlin was a lot more modernized than Munich, but just as beautiful. I walked around the city and saw a lot of historical buildings, like their government capital and the Berlin angel of victory. The next day I spent all morning shopping and part of the afternoon at the Berlin Wall. Actually seeing the wall was breathtaking, because having it built and torn down was such a huge part of Germany’s history. It made me feel like I was experiencing the wall being torn down myself. Even though I only spent three and a half days in Germany, it was definitely one of the best trips I have ever taken.
Abschied,
Jasmine Freeman

Tucked away in the town of Tivoli, my class had the opportunity to visit one of the most well designed examples of an Italian Renaissance garden.
The Villa d’este was commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este. When Pope Paul III passed away, the Cardinal had a great desire to become the next pope. Although he was one of the candidates, he ultimately lost the position to Pope Julius III. After losing in the election, he started work on the villa and gardens. It is commonly believed that he built it out of anger or frustration, but I believe he was looking for a way to make his mark on the world.
In the past, people would enter the garden from the bottom of the property and work their way up numerous staircases to the villa. As they would walk up towards the villa, they would stop at different points to look out over the garden and get a view of the symmetrical arrangement of flowers, statues, and fountains. Then, when finally making it to the top of the garden to the villa, they would get a scenic view of the entire garden they had just walked through.
Today, however, people enter through the villa and then into the garden, opposite the way that was originally intended. So, I got to see the amazing view of the garden before walking through it! The quality of the architecture clearly showed the attention to detail Cardinal d’Este had paid in order to achieve the desired effect on its visitors.
One my favorite pieces of the garden, and perhaps its most complex feature, is its organ. It only plays at certain times of the day, but luckily the organ played while my class was in the garden. What makes this organ special is that it’s not played by a person, but only by the sounds of water hitting the pipes. Even in modern times, figuring out how to make the water hit the pipes in just the right way to perform multiple songs would be extremely difficult; I can’t imagine how long it took for someone to figure it out in the 14th century! The effort and time Cardinal d’Este put into creating this garden after he wasn’t chosen to be the pope showed me that even if things don’t go my way, it may mean that something better is coming along in my future!
Hayley Hughes | Summer 2016

It’s honestly all the little things that make me stop and put this whole trip into perspective. The little things are what end up being the big things in the long run and it just goes to show how easy it is to get caught up in the day-to-day whirlwind of getting to live abroad for twelve weeks. It is far too easy to forget how incredibly lucky I am to be here in these places. It is hard to remember to slow down and enjoy every experience and opportunity that is being thrown at me.
One thing that always has a way of putting things into perspective for me is nature. It’s chaotic order can be calming and reassuring during times of normal rush. Our recent trip to Positano was a beautiful change of pace from the usual hustle around Europe, and it was one of those times when nature helped me see things so clearly.
The previous week before Positano, Maurizio talked to us about the differences between Southern versus Northern Italy, and Positano was a perfect example of this. The lifestyle of southern Italy seemed so relaxed, and the pace of life was noticeably more slow and peaceful (at least in comparison to Rome). It was neat to see this change of pace, as well as being a cool way to see the parallels between Southern Italy and the South in the United States.
Maurizio also talked about how the South is more agriculture based as opposed to the North being more industrial. I could see this in the fresh foods we had access to, like fresh lemons and oranges, and fresh seafood.
I also could see the agriculture side of the South in the beauty of the nature that surrounded us in the sea and in the mountains.
A few of us hiked the Path of the Gods on Saturday afternoon and it was incredible to experience the raw nature all around us. We were high above the cities off the coast and it was breathtakingly beautiful. The mountains and sea from up that high were so vast and immense that it was easy to see the beauty that was surrounding us.

This is what made me think about how it is so easy to take for granted the incredible opportunities I am getting to experience everyday on this study abroad trip. It’s the grand, vast views overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the clearly (or sometimes not so clearly) cut paths flooded with tourists that allow you to see the beauty of this earth that God has created. I get to go to so many new places and experience countless new things. It is hard to not get caught up in everything and forget to think about what a blessing it is to even be here in the first place. Each and every landmark, nature trail, church, city, ruin, and more are so unique and matchless; I just have to slow down and take time to enjoy each one for what it is.
It’s easy to get caught up in being tired or worn down, but this trip is once in a lifetime and I am so fortunate to be experiencing it.
Kate Snow

As I’m writing this, I’ve just come off one of my most treasured weekends. This past weekend I traveled to Positano–a piece of paradise located on the Amalfi Coast. While the name Positano might not mean anything to many people, I’m certain that Pinterests users have seen this picturesque place amongst your feed. My class arrived by chartered bus on Thursday (5/26), and had the weekend to explore, experience, and discover. First on my agenda was to take full advantage of the cuisine Positano had to offer – fresh seafood (octopus, sea bass) and a regional delicacy – grilled mozzarella over lemon leaves. In addition, the abundance of fresh lemons allowed for the creation of thirst-quenching granitas. Thursday’s evening concluded with a trip to the supermarket for small snacks and a stroll throughout the foothills of the lovely town. Friday (5/27), on a student-planned excursion, we set off on an adventure all our own. We organized a private boat rental to shuttle us around the Tyrrhenian Sea (a piece of the Gulf of Salerno) – exploring sights such as the Blue Grotto and Capri, and cruising us around the crystal blue water. I found an entirely new perspective on the coastal towns of Italy as I experienced it from the sea looking in. The following two days (5/28-29) were spent combing the town’s culture combined with a healthy mix of relaxation via vibrant beachside lounge furniture. From my experience, Positano’s local’s, while few, are welcoming to the visitors who support their thriving economy. As I am advancing further into this summer’s curriculum, I’m witnessing the College of Human Sciences’ engaging academic stimuli at its maximum potential: on a global scale. Living in Ariccia provides a study of slower living, whereas numerous visits to Rome showcase the fast pace of an Italian metropolitan destination. Positano was a welcome addition to these studies – comparing and contrasting cultural differences between Italy’s differing regions. Upon entering Week 4, I am more inspired than ever to delve further into my studies both abroad and in America.
Jeremy Clark | Summer 2016

Mondays. They are a source of stress and anxiety all around the world. The stress of Mondays knows no age, race, or socioeconomic group. However, we in the Chigi Palace are lucky enough to have that stress alleviated, at least for the most part. While school is a major part of what  Joseph S. Bruno Auburn Abroad in Italy is about, our source of knowledge, and how we learn is often much more fun than your average college classroom.
This past Monday, most of us had just returned from our first set of weekend trips. To say we were tired is an understatement. However, we immediately set off for what would end up being one of my favorite experiences thus far. Just up the hill from the Chigi Palace is a local high school that focuses on linguistics. We were given the opportunity to interact with groups of high school students (ages 14-19) and while they got to practice their English, we got to compare and contrast our two worlds. I learned so much from just a 45-minute conversation, that will stay with me for years to come.
After our visit to the high school, we had afternoon lectures, one of which was “Wine History” with Maurizio Antonini, one of our many amazing lecturers. I have always had an interest in wine so I was excited for this lecture and the wine tasting that was to follow. Maurizio is so knowledgeable about so many things, and he definitely deepened my knowledge of wine and wine tasting. How many people can say that they got to do a wine tasting led by a wine expert? Joined by all of their incredibly unique and amazing professors, In Italy! Not many, I know that.
While it is incredible that we are given the weekends to explore the world for ourselves, I have come to realize that some of my favorite moments are the ones that we are making right here in Ariccia. These are the experiences that I will never be able to relive and will never forget. For now, all I can do is keep learning to live like the Italians, slowly and with a glass of wine.
P.S. According to Mary Lou, “Always remember, when it comes to drinking wine, … red on white you’re alright. White on red, you are dead.”

Arrivederci,
Caroline Turner

 
With another day done, and many notes and sketches scribbled in my books, I have finally wondered back to my little corner in Palazzo Chigi to reflect on yet another inspiring day. Today was full of adventures around the Chigi Palace, with a morning walk around the lush gardens with Francesco, cooking class with Mary Lou, and then ending the day with Francesco to study Roman architecture. Knowing Francesco for just a few short weeks, I am quickly finding that with each and every conversation or question I ask, he is one of the most fascinating and well-studied people I will ever meet. Walking into the Palace classroom,  (which is different from the campus classroom) to begin our Roman architecture lesson, Francesco stopped a few of us to point out his personal office. From floor to ceiling, the room (in which Francesco spends most of his days) is covered in overstuffed bookshelves. We began to ask him many questions, and he began revealing answers that had me so inspired that it all seems a blur. After being asked, he revealed to us that he himself was the artist of the painting in his office, which he painted from a painting in Los Angeles and interpreted it quite beautifully I must add. He pointed to various personal pictures that covered his shelves, proudly pointing out his beautiful wife, and a picture of himself in a leather jacket (in Positano)  with one of the first Auburn groups. He had us all laughing when he imitated his younger self in his leather jacket. Francesco continued spinning around the room to point out sketches, paintings, and another special picture of himself with one of the Chigi family members. We were simply amazed.
The man who is the master mind behind anything you want to know about Palazzo Chigi, is also the master of architecture, art, and just about anything Bernini. He even revealed to us a story about how he recently recognized a missing Bernini sculpture, and showed us the book he was published in. It was the most impressive spread, even though he acted like it was nothing. As we proceeded back to the classroom, Francesco rolled in a few seconds behind with a large folder and held up multiple sketches he had done. Ranging from his little brother, to sketches of architecture for publishing, we were awed as we realized he has quite frankly done it all. Honestly, I wanted to ask if I could buy one; he had created the utmost of treasures.
Smiling while typing, I think about how lucky I am to be living in a part of the Palazzo Chigi. I have quickly come to learn this palace’s and family’s importance on Rome and the region, Lazio. Every day I am in class, or exploring a town or city, I think of how lucky I am to be getting to know these truly spectacular professors and directors in this program. Each completely fascinating in their own way, they are by far one of the most unique parts about my experience so far in Ariccia. Cinzia, who seems to have been anywhere I ask her about and can answer all of my questions, to Francesco who has literally found a sculpture, to Sandra who is bilingual and fabulous, and even Mary Lou who has never once repeated a recipe the exact same way according to her husband- they each have already made a personal mark on me. Linda, who knows so much about Rome’s ruins and architecture, and beams while teaching about it, to Maurizio who is the wine expert, and to Roberta, who knows everything there is to know about European travel and who is so passionate about her lectures- these kind of people one only comes across rarely in a lifetime. And to think, we’ve got them all at our finger tips for the rest of the summer! I cannot wait to continue to pick their brains!

Ciao,

Lindsay Rohrer

 

I hear names and titles like Julius Caesar and the Colosseum in almost every history class. I always rolled my eyes and tried to stay awake as we learned about “just another dead guy”. The Joseph S. Bruno Auburn Abroad in Italy trip has completely changed the way I view history and I could not be more excited to make that statement. To walk down the same street that Caesar and some of the most influential people in history have walked down is surreal! To stand in the Colosseum and see how they built such a massive structure with their bare hands and with no mortar to hold the large stones together was bizarre. Trap doors and secret passageways underneath the stage using a pulley system to raise large animals and gladiators, both ready to surprise the enemy above, were engineering masterpieces. It is amazing to stand in front of Michelangelo and Bernini paintings, structures, and sculptures that were once a blank canvas or block of marble and see first hand why they are world renown. There is something about being here and seeing these magnificent works of art that no picture in a history book could ever do justice. There are details on every column and a family crest embedded in every building that I would have never seen or learned about had I not gone on this adventure. With family coming in a few weeks, I have already started making a list of things that they have to see while in Italy because there is so much that remians when Roman civilization is studied. This trip has already been so amazing and I have learned so much! I cannot wait to show off my new knowledge and the place I get to call home for the next three months to my family and social media followers. To say least, the first week and a half have been nothing short of incredible! I look forward to the upcoming weeks and the adventures to be had!
Ame McGraw