So I’m going to Siena, Italy

This is the scariest thing I’ve ever done in my life. As many of you already know, I’ll be going abroad to Siena, Italy for four months on September 2. I’ve been to Europe (Germany, Switzerland, and Austria) before on my Dad’s high school band trip, and it was one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life. I followed the passion of traveling and decided to go abroad. I’ll be staying with a host family that I have never met before, speak a language I know nothing about, and take a bus into the city to attend school (fyi I’ve only been on public transportation twice). Completely terrifying and exciting at the same time. I’ll be leaving my adorable puppies, loving boyfriend, and supportive parents in the states. Talk about a shock. But no worries. Two of my friends, Courtney and Micky, are going abroad with me. Lucky for me, they both speak Italian. The city of Siena, Italy:

As scary as this experience might seem, I’m beyond excited because I’ll get to experience a new culture for four months. Not many people can say they’ve done that before. I’ll get to learn how the Italians cook, eat, drink, talk, and dress. I’ll be taking a 16 credit semester while I’m there. If you want to know more about the classes available click here. The classes I’ll be taking are:

Contemporary Italian Literature
Art history: History of the Italian Costume
Flavors and Tastes: An Italian Chemical World (I’m super excited for this class the most because I’m slightly obsessed with how food reacts to the body).
6 Credit Italian language course (the first three weeks I’m there I’ll be learning just Italian)
Reflecting Writing Course

I will also be volunteering once I am in Italy. I have not decided which program I want to do, but hopefully it will be one of these three:

Scuole Pubbliche (Public Schools)
Santa Regina (Youth Home)
Case Di Riposo Poggio Al Vento (Nursing Home)

I want to travel as much as I can while I’m in Italy. We are given a 10 day break where we get to go anywhere possible. I cannot wait to talk more about that when the time comes. I plan to do some (if not all) of the following:

Hike around the 5 towns of Cinque Terre

Go inside the enormous Duomo in Milan

Feel like a princess in the Chillon castle in Geneva, Switzerland

Collect lace in Burano and walk over the bridges in Venice

See the best view in Barcelona from Parc Güell

Wine taste in Florence

See “Juliet’s Balcony” in Verona

Eat tons and tons of Italian Gelato

There is so much more that I want to list, but I’ll just have to get my own pictures to show you! I’m so happy that you’ll be joining me on my adventure. Stay tuned!

Join the discussion: Would you voluntarily live in a country for four months where you don’t speak the language?

As always,