When I first stepped foot on Italian soil in August, I had little concept of what to expect over the next 3 months of my life. I did not know the array of experiences that awaited me, the variety of foods I would try, the relationships I would soon form, or the sights and stories that would light my eyes and ears with wonder. I did not know the combination of growth and inspiration that would transform parts of me for the better and fill my soul with gratitude, but I soon found out.

Let me back this story up a little. Before joining the Joseph S. Bruno team as the graduate teaching assistant, I studied abroad several summers ago with a program outside of Auburn University. I had the time of my life, learned a lot about the world, and formed some quality friendships – I could not wait to be a part of a similar adventure but as a teaching assistant this time around. Serving as the TA allowed me a unique vantage point of this experience: in a way, it has been like putting a mirror to myself during my own abroad experience and seeing it all through different eyes. Not only was I an international student and peer alongside my students, but I was also able to watch each of them learn, experience wonder, and form lasting friendships at the same time. At times, it has felt surreal, at times, it has been very challenging, but overall, this journey has been one of the most wonderful, formative experiences of my life.

In addition to experiencing great personal growth, I learned to live in and love a richly cultural country. Italy’s ways are simultaneously so vastly similar to and different from my Alabamian background: we both value food and the community inspired by long nights spent around a table, but Italians do so in a way that is slower – more patient and carefree. Living in Italy has reminded me of the importance of slowing down, taking the time to fully observe and experience everything happening around me rather than moving through the motions and rushing to the next task. In hearing simple stories, like that St. Francis of Assisi “invented” empathy or that Michelangelo had an enormous sense of humor (and talent!), I developed an admiration for Italy’s entire art history and unique world perspective.

To sum this all up, I would like to share a few favorite memories throughout the semester. Watching the Auburn game until 4:00 in the morning with Lauren and Kelsey the first week, hearing to Asheley shout “scusi!” on field trips in Rome, seeing Mallie stop to pet every cat she ever met, watching the Eiffel tower sparkle for over an hour with Skylar and Grace, randomly ending up in a bumpin’ night club with Bailey and Maura, having deep life chats with Ansley and an Englishwoman we met on a wine tour, learning about Olivia’s passion for the world, being with Skye and Mecca for their first Indian food experience, admiring Lindsey’s perfectly-executed outfits, having deep chats with Payton over sushi in Rome, smelling all of the yummy food Eleanor cooked up every time she was in the kitchen, line-dancing with Mariah at the Porchetta festival, Ivana trekking down the steps in Positano, sharing aperitivo and happy hour at Fortini Lab with Cinzia and Abbi-Storm, saying “Ciao bella” to Roberta each morning as she walked in with a smile on her face, cooking with Mary Lou, relating to Lacey (and looking to her as a great mentor) on our love for all things nutrition and mental health, and laughing at pretty much anything Ada ever said. My absolute favorite nights of all, however, were spent with everyone sharing a big meal in the kitchen and lingering for more wine and laughter afterwards.

Ariccia, I will miss you for your sights, sounds, and tastes, but most of all, I will miss you for your people.

Signing out as your Fall 2019 GTA,

Caroline Elliott

There truly aren’t words to describe what I have gained from studying abroad. Thankfully, I chose this program which has been a dream come true. It has been an unbelievable opportunity, allowing me to immerse myself into a new culture during the weekdays while exploring Europe on the weekends.

Personal weekend travel has made for the best memories, friendships, and learning experiences, but there have been many bumps along the way. Traveling in Europe is not always easy but so worth the experience. For example, this upcoming weekend, three other girls and I were supposed to be traveling to Copenhagen, which we were all very excited about. Then, we received an email from the airline informing us that our departing flight had been canceled due to an Italian Air Traffic Control Strike. We soon learned that this is a reoccurring event that happens in Italy, effectively shutting down its public transportation system each time. When something like this happens, I just take a moment, breathe, re-evaluate, and plan another trip because, once again, it’s so worth it! We will now be heading to a beautiful lake in Northern Italy, (depending on the trains and the strike situation, of course), and I couldn’t be more excited. I am sure it will be one of my favorite weekends.

I wish I could say this has been my only traveling incident during my time abroad, but unfortunately, I can’t. Like I said, “Traveling in Europe is not always easy.” My second weekend in Italy, a group of us traveled to Malta, which made for a great weekend full of memories and a series of unfortunate events leading up to a missed flight back to Rome. However, at the end of the day, we all made it home to Ariccia safe and sound with plenty of stories to share!

Sincerely,

Lauren Yates | Senior in Graphic Design

Traveling through Europe can be expensive. The plane rides, excursions, gelato, hotels and many other costs add up quickly. Coming into this experience of studying abroad in Italy, I had a set budget in mind. I quickly learned once being in Italy that it would be much harder to stay in budget than I expected. Along the way, I have learned when it is either necessary to splurge for a once-in-a-lifetime experience or to save money. 

Saving money doesn’t always mean missing out on experiences. Here is a list of different situations on when to save and when to splurge.

When to save: 

• Buy plane tickets through Skyscanner. This website offers the cheapest flights through airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet. These airlines are cheap but charge for every extra amenity, such as baggage. Because of this, travel with a backpack or small, condensed duffel bag. It is only for 3 days, so an abundance of clothing is not necessary. 
• Get a credit/debit card with no foreign transaction fees. Capital One has a great program called Capital 360. This debit card has no minimum, no monthly fees, and no foreign transaction fees. 
• Walk. Walking everywhere eliminates the bill of private or public transportation. This is also an awesome way to explore and see the whole city. 

When to splurge: 

• Reserve a taxi from the airport. Even if you think you can ride the train, book a taxi. The walk from the Albano train station to the Chigi Palace seems much longer with luggage. 
• Lodging in a good location. It is not necessary to stay in the nicest hotel with all the amenities. Although, it does make traveling much easier when staying in a central location. A hostel or Airbnb are good alternatives to save money while still in a good location. 
• If the experience is once-in-a-lifetime. These types of experiences don’t come often, so when they do, it’s imperative to take advantage of them. 

Best,

Kelsey Ching | Junior in Accounting

During our third week in Italy, we had the privilege of being “adopted” by an Italian family. I was automatically nervous to meet my family because I was worried about the language barrier or having any sort of awkwardness between us. Looking back, it is understandable that we were nervous, but things could not have gone more perfectly!

My new family members’ names are Gianmarco (the dad), Cinzia (the mom), Galatea (the older sister), and Clio (the younger sister). On adoption night, we asked each other questions about our travels, our favorite things to do, and what we do for school/work. Due to our busy schedules, we couldn’t see our adopted Italian family until week eight. We were served typical starter foods like cheese, olives, and bread. Cinzia cooked amatrciana pasta, which is basically like spaghetti and tomato sauce except the sauce contains pancetta (pork cheek). The next dish was Pizzette Montanare, which are mini fried pizzas that come from Naples. Dessert was my favorite part – homemade tiramisu!

I felt like a real Italian that night. My family and another group’s family joined together to put on this dinner, so their apartment was a little crowded and loud but so much fun. Something about the cheek-kiss greetings, the passing of all the food, and yelling from one side of the room to the other made it feel like I was right at home. I am continuously amazed by many of the Italian customs. One of my favorite things about Italians is how eager they are to share their culture (and their food!) with you. Our Italian family took us in as their own and made this place feel like a true home.

Needless to say, I will be forever thankful to Gianmarco, Cinzia, Galatea, and Clio for their hospitality and for allowing us to enter their lives and homes. My experience in Ariccia would not be the same without them.

With love from your honorary Italian,

Skylar Biedenharn | Global Studies 2021

Living and studying abroad has been the best experience I have ever had. I have traveled to so many places and learned so much more than I ever could have from a textbook. Some of the best experiences I have had were the festivals that the towns throw.

The Porchetta Festival in Ariccia and the Wine Festival in Marino both occur in the fall, so without studying here I wouldn’t have been able to attend. The festivals offer so much more than a good time; in fact, they are where I have learned the most about Italian culture, as I was actually partaking in a real Italian tradition.

On Sunday, October 6, a few friends and I decided to attend the Marino Wine Festival. Our day started off a few train stops away from Marino. As we walked up to the festival, we noticed crowds of locals that have come to this festival for years. We then made our way through the crowds, passing the many mouth-watering food stands. They offered the signature Porchetta (pork) sandwich and other Italian staples such as their hot, sugary ciambelle (doughnuts). I definitely got one of each!

We then made our way to the main event: the wine. Every stand had glasses of wine for one or two euros. Throughout the day, we walked around and talked to a lot of locals about Italy and what we have been studying. When the clock struck 5:30 PM, we headed to the Fountain of the Four Moors.

Everyone crammed around the fountain with excitement as we waited for the fountain to pour out white wine! Right as the fountain started to gush out the wine, people pushed to get their free glasses. After the chaos, people started to flood to the DJ nearby to dance the night away!

The Marino Wine festival started in 1925 and has been going on ever since. I am so glad that I was able to take part in one of Italy’s long-held traditions. Being at the festival showed me traditional Italian food, wine, music, and dance. The people even taught us some Italian phrases! This festival was definitely a highlight of my trip and a learning experience.

One thing I know for certain: I will definitely miss the porchetta sandwiches and ciambelle!

Sincerely,

Ivana Black

When I was preparing for JSB I had no idea what to expect about the people I would be sharing the next three months with. However, I felt sure enough about the art I might see, the history I would learn more about, and the food and culture that I would experience.

I had always dreamed of going to Italy and I had studied Italian and Roman history and art for years throughout school. I even took Latin for a couple of years and learned about the history and literature and ingenuity of the Romans.

I had a picture in my mind: the landscapes of Tuscany stretching out with fields of grapes and speckled with trees, cafe’s where I would order my espresso in Italian, and the towering Roman ruins that contrast the crowded modern city. I pictured myself in Positano feeling the ocean breeze sifting through my hair while I gazed at the turquoise waters bashing against weathered cliffs. I imagined myself staring in awe at Michelangelo’s Pietà or craning my neck towards the towering gothic architecture of the Cathedral in Milan.

I had no idea what would grow me the most and be the most empowering to me during my time in Italy.

For me, it has been the people.

This semester has been full of experiences and learning that I’ve done all alongside 18 other girls who all have different backgrounds, unique personalities, one of a kind stories, and varying dreams and goals and aspirations. We all live together, travel together, learn together, cook together, and problem solve together. What I’ve realized is that while learning incredible history from intelligent teachers and guides, I am also forging memories with people who have incredible futures. While I am looking at the most beautiful works of art in Italy, I am seeing more of the uniqueness and beauty of each girl who brings their own perspective, thoughts, and ideas to any discussion. While I travel throughout beautiful cities and learn about unique cultures, I am on a journey to learn more about those around me and their life stories.

Not only am I empowered by the girls who are living and studying with me, but I am empowered by the uniqueness of stories from those living in Italy who hold pains and joys and sorrows and experiences that are so different from my own.

This week we heard the incredible story of a refugee who spent years journeying through west and North Africa facing hardship after hardship. The first time he attempted to cross the Mediterranean he nearly died. He told us of the grief of seeing fellow travelers die at sea and the compassion of a young kid who clothed him and help him on his journey. Now in Italy he is using his education to hopefully help many others and his unique story adds a beautiful color to the amazing place that Italy is.

This week we also learned how many refugees can use their skills from their home countries to create beautiful pieces that connect their culture with Italian fashion. We saw and touched their impressive work while visiting The Sewing Cooperative in Rome.

One thing I’m truly learning is that differences bring empowerment. They help shine a light on what is in the dark. They add uniqueness and beauty. The ability to work and learn and travel with unique people is truly growing me professionally and personally. I am learning to understand others better and hear their perspectives and appreciate cultures which will surely go with me in the future in my career. I plan to work overseas and all these experiences are stretching me in ways that I know will help me better understand and communicate with the people around me.

Thanks for reading!

-Olivia Nix

I was once told, “If you want to go somewhere put a picture of it beside your bed and wake up everyday and figure out how you are going to get there.” Joseph S. Bruno was impossible for me based on how much it cost, especially with my parents paying for my sister and I both in college. However, I knew “impossible” was not going to stop me from getting to the place I have always wanted to go to. I woke up everyday and figured out how I was getting to Italy. My appreciation for my time abroad comes all from my determination and the long days at work I put in prior to arriving in Italy. 

I was so anxious before leaving, and it didn’t seem real that I was picking up my life and moving to Italy for three months. I kept waiting for something to get in the way of me going because it seemed too good to be true. I never once was one hundred percent convinced I was coming even after I paid every payment. It wasn’t until my plane landed in Italy and I was looking out the window that I realized I was actually here, I finally achieved the impossible. I had made my dream a reality. I could see my reflection in the window on the plane as I was looking down at the ground, tears of accomplishment ran down my cheeks, there was the moment I knew my adventure had begun, all of my hard work had paid off, and no one could take it away from me. I was ready for everything that was coming my way, but I was also so frightened; I had left everything in my life behind me for the next three months.

Boarding my plane in Atlanta, I remember thinking to myself that I wasn’t going to be seeing a familiar face for quite some time. New people, new country, new everything.  Italy was my first time out of the country, and culture shock was a real thing for me. Realizing that this was going to be my everyday for three months was hard to wrap my head around. But with time, I made it to week eight, and by this point it’s just like any other day. I have fully adjusted.

This whole trip has been a “God thing”.  Every person I have met, every opportunity I have taken and every memory made has truly been a gift from God. Everything seems to fall perfectly into place here; I have made some of the sweetest friendships thanks to Joseph S. Bruno Abroad.  I have learned so much more than I ever imagined I could while being here. I have changed my perspective on life and how I perceive things. Joseph S. Bruno Abroad has definitely helped me grow personally by appreciating every day given and the things that come with them. I have encountered many things that have left me absolutely speechless in awe over standing somewhere I thought I would never be. I thank God for blessing me with an experience that has taught me so much. 

My time abroad has been the opportunity of a lifetime that I will cherish forever.  I look forward to the next several weeks on this amazing adventure. Accomplishing the “impossible” of Joseph S. Bruno has motivated me to accomplish anything I want in life. What a blessing. What an experience. What a dream come true. Joseph S. Bruno Abroad will always be a part of shaping me into who I am. 

Sincerely,

Bailey Reid