My SYA Italy Adventure

I don't think I can easily express in words how amazing the last week and a half has been. From France to the Netherlands to Spain, I really made my rounds of Europe. I have been so fortunate to travel and do SO many things that rather than try to commemorate each day, I'll give you some travel tips from my experiences. Paris, France When you forget which day your flight is on and need to change hotel reservations, make sure the hotel knows. If you want to fit in with the Parisians, wear black, a scarf, and your hair in a bun (if you are lacking in hair length, rock a bob). On the Love Lock Bridge, take pictures of random couples and let them know you can email it to them! Don't assume the metro will be the most convenient way to get around- there is typically A LOT of walking above and below ground after the train lets out. Paris is all about climbing! Prepare for stairs, but the views from Sacre Cour and the Arc de Triomphe are worth their difficult ascends. Th...

I'm off to explore Europe! Forgive me, for I will be absent from my blog from now until the 27th, but I assure you there will be A LOT to recount upon my return. A presto!

Although not all of these things apply to me, certainly la maggioranza  affected me. If you're searching for a better understanding of the hardships of being abroad, you should really check out the link below. 6 Things No One Ever Tells You About Living Abroad | Thought Catalog by Kailee McEvoy My senior year of college, I decided I wasn’t ready to “grow up”, “settle down”, or take part in the “real world.” I wanted to see what else the world had to offer before I settled into a 9-5 routine and became a boring old adult. At the ripe age of 21, bachelor degree in hand, I moved from suburban Connecticut to Ireland to work as an au pair for a year. It’s been six months now since I took that leap, and I’ve learned more than I could ever condense into one article. Moving to another country alone allows you to see new parts of this amazing planet, meet interesting people from all over, immerse yourself in new cultures, try new things, gain new skills, and overall better yourself...

When I woke up this Sunday morning, I knew it was going to be an interesting day. There was an ucellino  or little bird in the house, causing my host mom and I to scream and duck for cover while my host dad ran around with a broom with the aim of whisping it outside. It was quite the sign I was in for an adventure. My host mom told me we would be spending the morning "trekking". We pulled up into a parking lot off the side of a main road of southern Viterbo where many many people from the university community were listening to two archeologists. These archaeologists were quite the characters. They guided all of us along the side of the road until we came up to a locked gate. Little did I know right off the side of a seemingly normal highway is a medieval villa waiting to be explored. The archeologists pieced together bits and pieces of information about the villa, explaining a rich Viterbese family of the 14th century must have lived there. Between poetry, mythology, and ...

Last night was a night to remember!! Students, teachers, and Italians alike all got together to perform form host families, peers, and friends. A lot of hard work went into making one of our final community gatherings super special and wonderfully musical. Nothing more than some spectacular hosts, renditions of many songs, and a "journey through the decades" for the Second Act. To wrap up the night, all of the students sang one of our favorite songs: Estate  by Jovanotti.  I can't write much because that wouldn't be doing the performance justice. You really had to hear the stage come to life to feel the love and talent in the air. Hopefully some photos will make up for my lack of words.

First Lady Michelle Obama went to SYA China recently. The school was honored to meet her, Malia, and Sasha, and to be honest all of us here in Italy were wondering why Mr. President didn't pay us a visit while he popped over to Rome last week.... Whilst in China, The First Lady spoke on the importance of studying abroad. If you have a couple of minutes, I think her speech is worth a listen.