Study Abroad: Italy

I realized a few weeks into my junior year that I wanted to study abroad. I had no clue what type of experience I was winning up for when I decided to commit to the USAC study abroad program in Verona, Italy. After getting on my Lufthansa flight I made two friends and quickly, we gathered a group of about 9 girls. Not only did I have the opportunity to study but also travel on the weekends. During my time in Italy I went to Milan, Venice, Rome, Positano, Florence, Amalfi, Capri, Sorrento, Naples, Pompei, Lake Garda, and some local places in Verona. The classes that I took were International Marketing and Event Management. These classes helped me apply what I have already learned in my stage management curriculum and then added in extra elements having to do with international concepts such as language barriers and business ethics. I feel like both classes were well rounded and I even got this to apply for my major so I considered the curriculum very important and worthwhile. However, I did not do my learning only in the classroom. I had to learn problem solving skills while in another country and had to do most tasks independently and know what was going on around me mostly because no one spoke English for the most part. I had an amazing time with my friends in Italy and I still talk to them even though our trip has ended. I think the most fun weekend was when we went to Amalfi. We rented a private boat and had a blast learning about the area and being on beaches. I made true friends, I learned about Italian culture, and I got to experience some amazing things that most people have never been able to achieve. I am now using the skill that I have learned in class to help me at work and at school and feel good walking into my senior year with this trip in my back pocket for insight and good stories. I also feel so grateful for the meaningful connections that I have built during this study abroad program and regard this program very well because of that. I hope to maybe travel again after I am done with school or maybe take a job that requires traveling, even nationally.