Excerpts from My Study Abroad Journal

May 27, 2022 – I already know I’m going to have the time of my life here. I can’t wait for all of the new experiences I’m going to have and people I’m going to meet. I’m already in love with this place and I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to live here for the next month.

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May 30, 2022 - Italians are simple people; eat, sleep, wine, repeat. They are emotional and expressive when talking to each other and are always dressed fashionably, even if it’s just to walk to the Tabaccheria to get a new pack of cigarettes and the newspaper. They don’t focus on the negatives, but instead they appreciate life and the simple things that come with it. I experienced the first example of this on my way to class every day. I’d pass cafés with tables full of locals, sipping on espressos, and the occasional Aeperol Spritz, chatting with whoever they were there with. They would yell “ciao!” to friends passing by and have friendly conversations with the servers. They weren’t rude or angry, and they weren’t focusing on all the bad things in life. They all have a simple routine and stick to it, and it's the lifestyle that I aspire to have one day.

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June 3, 2022 - I’ve met a lot of people so far, but the little group of friends that I have here are some of the nicest and most fun people I’ve met. They are all so different and unique, but we all get along so well and I never want to leave them. I was so worried about making friends here, but it’s been a lot easier than I thought it would be. Everyone is in the same boat as me, and I think it makes it easier on all of us knowing that we aren’t doing this alone.

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June 6, 2022 - I’m getting really tired of being woken up by a random festival outside my window every weekend. Obviously it’s not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things, but I just want one weekend to sleep in. Whether it’s a marching band or a long line of fiats, I just can’t catch a break. I guess they don’t sleep in here? Not a fan, but I’ll get more used to it when I move out here.

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June 7, 2022 - I knew that I would be happy in Italy, but I didn’t think that I would be this happy. I feel at home here, even more than in America. I feel this sense of belonging, and it’s a completely new feeling. It’s as if I’ve been meant to come here my whole life. My dad told me he felt this way when he went to Venice, but I didn’t think I would ever actually experience it myself. Then I got off the plane in Rome.

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June 20, 2022 - Studying abroad has changed me, and this experience is one that I will never forget. I always knew I wanted to study abroad, but the destination was always changing. I wanted to go to Spain, England, or maybe even France, but Italy was always one of my top choices. Being half-Italian, I’ve always wanted to see where my family came from. When the opportunity to go to Orvieto came up, I knew it was exactly where I needed to go. I had some doubts about studying abroad in such a small town, but I think it was the best thing that I could have done for myself. Sure, there wasn’t much to do other than eat, shop, and walk around the town, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I bonded with locals, created a daily routine for myself, and gained a new sense of perspective on life.