Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone

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Emma Walker

During the past 3 weeks in Ariccia, I have learned a very important lesson: open your mind and step out of your comfort zone. 

I will not forget the first few days in the small town of Ariccia. I was dumbfounded by the buildings, the view from the bridge, the art, and of course by the food. I remember being overwhelmed by the cultural differences and almost timid to fully immerse myself. I have come to realize how important it is to open my mind and appreciate every piece of this town and the culture surrounding it. Some of my favorite times here are when we are able to interact with actual residents of the Castelli Romani. For example, when we visited the high school I was blessed with the opportunity of meeting a group of fourth-year girls and hearing their thoughts on their hometowns, learning about their day-to-day activities and having the opportunity to compare it with my thoughts on my hometown and day-to-day activities. This experience was so impactful to me because I was able to learn from girls that were close in age to me about the way others live outside of my comfort zone and outside of my bubble. 

I have not been in Ariccia long, but this experience is beginning to make me not just change the way I see the world, but actually see the world and appreciate places that are outside of my bubble and my comfort zone. I am looking forward to learning more important life lessons over the weeks to come!

An image of us immersing ourselves in Italian culture learning about Italian aperitivo and trying new foods!

Being Present in Appreciation

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About four weeks ago, I was in Auburn, Alabama, stressing about final projects and how much school work was on my plate. I was running around like a crazy woman not able to truly think about or appreciate what I was doing, just trying to get through it all. Sooner than I realized, I would be headed to Ariccia, Italy to take on a great adventure!!

As I have been here in Ariccia for almost three weeks now, it has been pretty surreal to me. There is so much culture and beauty around me I fear that I won’t be able to take it all in! Almost every single day I have learned something new. Whether that be about the beautiful church across the street, a painting in Rome, an Italian phrase spoken with partial accuracy, or a new discovery even about myself. Being in Italy has made me realize what a gift education is, especially when it is interesting and applicable! I appreciate the information that our Italian professors are giving us, especially because you can see the excitement and pride they hold in their hearts for what they are teaching. They love to share the beautiful nooks and crannies of their country and, seemingly, never grow weary of it. I want to bring this energy and motivation to learn back to Auburn with me when I return. We have already learned so much here in Italy, and there is still much time to learn even more! I hope that we can all soak in this gift to its full capacity.

Love,

Claire Darnall

Our first trip to the Ariccia market! Learning to appreciate the little things like fresh food and simple Italian phrases such as “cuanto costa?’ (how much does this cost?).

We Are Here and We Are Empowered

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It’s a little crazy to me that we have been in Italy for just over a week now! It just doesn’t seem real because things are already off to such a great start, it feels like we are in a movie!  I was definitely scared coming here, because I don’t like not knowing what to expect. But this has been a breeze! I already feel connected to all of the other students and even our first week has been amazing. I spent my first weekend here with four fellow new Chigi Babies in Rome, and we had the time of our lives exploring, eating, and simply taking it all in.

           One of my favorites experiences so far was today. Lacey told us we were going to be doing a four hour “leadership workshop” and I could tell by everyone’s faces that we didn’t know what to expect. Little did we know that we were about to have the best day. Carmen Westbrook came to talk to us about leadership and led us through group exercises. The mood instantly changed when the activities began and we realized it wasn’t what we expected at all. We took turns talking about where we see ourselves in five years, and then decided how we were going to accomplish it. She placed us into groups and we brainstormed how each of us could accomplish our dreams. Everyone was glowing and you could feel the excitement from talking about our futures. I am so excited to take back this exercise to my Interior Design cohort because I know that it is something everyone can truly grow from.

           The four hours went by like it had been thirty minutes, and because of those four hours all of our attitudes have completely transformed. Everyone was already so supportive and kind, but now we are fully ready to conquer these next ten weeks and help each other become the best versions of ourselves!

It was empowering.

Allison Elrod

These smiles aren’t just for the picture, we are all truly so happy here at JSB 🙂

Three Thoughts for Abroad

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The gang on the steps of the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument!

We have finally arrived in Italy! This experience is something that I have been anticipating for so long and being here definitely feels surreal. I have always dreamed of traveling to Italy, but I never thought I would have the opportunity to live and study here. After living in Italy for almost two weeks, I have learned three very important things: to have zero expectations, to practice open-mindedness, and having gratitude are the key goals to make this the best experience possible. 

Throw Away Expectations: As young college women, our outlook on study abroad experiences is often influenced by Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, or other social media platforms that portray study abroad opportunities in glamorous ways. However this experience is so much more than fun, partying, or getting the perfect Instagram. It’s about immersing ourselves in a new culture and stepping into a world completely different from what we are used to. It can be hard to not constantly compare yourself to others’ experiences when you see these amazing photos, but again, throwing those expectations out the window is key for experiencing it from your own perspective. 

Open-Mindedness: When signing up for JSB, the only thought in my mind was “that will be fun!”, little did I know that this would be a huge growing experience that would help me expand my personal horizons. It also opens up a world of personal and professional opportunities. It can be tempting for me to overthink, over-plan, and over-worry, but for going abroad I couldn’t understand what I was doing until I got here. That has been a huge blessing. This experience is something that you can try to prepare for as much as you like. But being here has surpassed any expectations. 

Gratitude:  Lastly, whether the experience is going the way I thought or not, I feel that it is so important to simply take a step back and be grateful for an opportunity like this. Each day, I have stepped outside and just looked around—literally looked around—and thought about where I am standing. We will never be presented with a chance like this again, and I am extremely grateful to be on such an incredible journey with an incredible group of students. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the summer holds! 

Con amore, 

Clara Williams 

Ariccia I See Ya

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Where to start? Ariccia, I just adore you. So far, this trip has been one-in-a-million. It is absolutely unbelievable to think that we are only on the second week of our three-month journey abroad. Ariccia has already fit into the category of my home away from home, due to the simple kindness that every local exudes to their new American neighbors. Our random group of 22 strangers has been accepted into this sweet town for the summer to create life long relationships and memories.

I believe that this group (the 50th JBP group EVER!!) is going to be one of the most relational groups to come through the program yet. Everyone is truly fantastic. After our leadership class today and hearing everyone’s five-year plans, I will never forget the amount of encouragement that flowed through each individual after sharing. The support and desire of each person to see their friends succeed is something that I hope we can only continue to pursue these next few months. Everyone is so talented and able to conquer their dreams, today just set the tone for how this program will equip us for more than just a good adventure. We learned how confidence and self-esteem are vital for conquering our future. I believe we can push each other to become the best version of ourselves. From living in such a close vicinity all summer, we get to see each other at our highs and our lows, and because of this, we can create unique and meaningful friendships with our experiences at JSB. Two weeks in and I already see how the Lord brought together each indivdual to Italy for His greater purpose in refining, strenghtening, and growing ourselfves. Looking forweard to all the joyfilled moemnts and travel stories to come!

xx, maggie leigh

survived the rain as we traveled around the local towns of our (mini) grand tour!

No Time to Sleep When You’re Living in a Dream

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It took until my feet touched Italian soil for returning to Ariccia to not feel like a dream. I couldn’t believe I had been afforded the opportunity to come back to the JSB Auburn Abroad program as the Spring 2019 Administrative Assistant. Sometimes it still feels like a dream, especially on days like last Thursday as we walked through the Ninfa Gardens with all the spring flowers in bloom.

While what I have been seeing isn’t always new to me, I am getting to share these experiences with new people. Each one of them has made my time here even more enjoyable. In these final weeks, I hate to go to sleep at my usual early hour as the time is running out that I will get to spend with them all.

Last night a few hours of sleep were exchanged for one last dinner at Fortini and a communal brainstorming and giving out of superlatives. Hearing everyone’s’ humorous quirks and personality traits reminded me how well this program bonds together those who may not normally have crossed paths or become friends back in Auburn but will now be life-long friends after sharing this experience.

I came here with the intention of serving these 21 ragazze (girls) well so as to make their experience the best it could possibly be, and after last night I think I was successful.  While exhaustion or homesickness make moods take a dip every once in a while, I think everyone is leaving with bittersweet feelings because we’ve come to love our time here so much. I know I will continue to miss my favorite place in the world and some of my new favorite people.

Fino alla prossima volta (until next time),

Morgan Winston

A picture I took on our field trip to the Ninfa Gardens

Fast Fashion, Slow Changes

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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

Interior of Zara, a popular store in Rome, Italy

Two Weeks, Too Little Time

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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 

On the colorful island of Burano during our most recent program field trip

On Cloud Nine

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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

View from the top of Monte Cavo!

A Letter To The Girls Here

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Before coming to Italy, I struggled with anxiety. This had plagued me since high school, and I believed anxiety was going to be something that I just had to “deal with” as I grew up. I thought anxiety was a normal feeling everyone experienced.

I would never have imagined the impact the JSB program would have not only on my anxiety, but on my self-confidence. I have been able to conquer this because of all the people here.

In the first week, I was thrown into an unfamiliar place with twenty-one other girls who I barely knew, but lucky for me, these girls are some of the best people I have ever met. Every girl here has had an impact on my life, whether they know it or not. Every morning I wake up and feel completely loved and supported. Never did I think that twenty-one girls who were not in my life before this experience would have such an influence on me now.

I have never been this confident with who I am, and it is because of the people on this program. Living so close to twenty-one other girls forced me to experience the good and the bad within the first couple of weeks. Tears from laughing so hard we could not control them, and tears from being away from home were shed in the first couple of weeks and immediately brought us closer.

Now, nine weeks in, I could not imagine not having these girls in my life.  Every bad day has been fixed with a little a smile, or for this group, a witty comment about what we are doing. I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to meet and become such good friends with everyone here.

As I am writing this, I am sitting in the Palace kitchen, blasting music while we all sing along to “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. It is little moments like these that I am going to miss. I always have said I wanted a sister, well now I have been blessed with twenty-one.

Evan Sharp

This was an amazing moment shared with one of my best friends!