FINAL BLOG POST

1.       How have you changed as a person after studying abroad?

Of course! In more than one way. I feel more capable of being able to explore the world confidently and without any fears of the unknown territories. If I was able to survive 4 months living in a whole other country I am more than able to make it through anything I face in life.

2.       What self-discovery surprised you?

I wasnt AS open minded as I thought! Living out of your comfort zone will really reveal the kind of person you are. After a couple weeks in Italy, I realized how much my perception of certain things had to change if I wanted to make this trip the best I possibly could! 1 thing I did was STOPPED comparing Rome to the US, its impossible to compare. 2nd thing I did was just tried to understand why things were the way they were in Rome, stopped judging.

3.       If you took courses in your major; how has studying abroad impacted your understanding of your major?

There wasn't much of an impact I felt. It was still an American school.

4.       Single greatest benefit of studying abroad?

The feeling of not being scared of traveing to places I've never been and knowing I can find my way around.

5.       How did your life goals change?

My bucketlist for certain things defintely has gotten longer! So many places to go and see

6.       What was your favorite experience?

When my family flew over and visited me! We went to Paris and spent the rest of the time in Rome. Not many people I know can say that they've been to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

7.       Any advice for future participants?

Plan aheaddddd! Go on as many trips as you possibly can!

8.       Would you study abroad again?   Why?

Yes!!! This experience was probably the best thing I've ever experienced in my life. Their memories I will always be able to have.

BITTER SWEET!!

ITS OFFICIAL! ONLY 5 days left in Rome! Time has truly flew by! I cannot believe that I honestly am going back to the states soon! Bitter sweet I'd say. If I had the chance to travel abroad again, I'd do it in a heartbeat! Being in Europe has made my passion for traveling much stronger! I now feel that I can honestly go anywhere in the world and make it. The lessons I've learned while studying abroad are ones I can take back with me and be able to use them. You never know what you miss until your away from your comfort zone for such a long period but I'm proud to say I was never homesick! Its not until recently where my feelings for home have developed and I can honestly say its because I know I'm leaving soon. One thing I wish I did while I was here was travel more hahaha! 10 different places was not enough! Well wish me luck with my finals, UNTIL NEXT TIME!

PICS PIC AND MORE PICS

WINE TASTING IN SANTORINI, GREECE

TOGA PART IN CORFU, GREECE

EATING LUNCH BY THE PANTHEON, ROME, ITALY

EATING LUNCH ON THE BLACK SAND BEACH IN SANTORINI

THE PANTHEON IN ATHENS, GREECE

TEMPLE OF ZEUS ATHENS, GREECE

PARIS, FRANCE

EIFFEL TOWER PARIS, FRANCE

TREVI FOUNTAIN, ROME, ITALY

COLOSSEUM ROME, ITALY

CHURROS IN BARCELONA, SPAIN

BARCELONA, SPAIN

CARNIVAL IN VENICE 

CARNIVAL IN VENICE

NIGHTLIFE IN ROME

So were college students! We spend the week in school and when Thursdays get here, were ready to go out! Here are some places that a lot of AUR and other study abroad students go to: Studio 18, DJ BAR, ON THE ROCKS, COYOTE, GILDA, LA MASION, DRUNKEN SHIP, SLOPPY SAMS and SCHOLARS PUB. A lot of these places have facebook pages so you can find them online and see what specials they are having that night! 

TRAVEL TIPS

USE BUS2ALPS to travel around places that you don’t feel you are able to get around easily but want to go! That’s what I did! I knew I wanted to go Venice but would need some help getting there and that’s what BUS2ALPS was there for. Different places in Europe can be pretty tricky to get around and not just that but tricky to find hotels and modes of transportation. BUS2ALPS is a group of tour guides that essentially plan a trip out for you! Sean, Jenny, Erin, and Alex were the best tour guides ever! They are super nice and very funny. If you have them you’ll have a blast. They know you are a college student so they try the best and cheapest places for you to go. GUARANTEED fun!  You get to choose out of multiple locations that you want to go to and they’ll get you there. DEFINITELY plan all your trips early! You’ll get the best prices for hotels and airlines. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF TRAVELING! START SAVING NOW for your trips. Also, travel light!! You tend to walk a lot when you travel so lugging a huge suitcase will get annoying, real quick! Carry on size is perfect for 10 days belive it or not! A bookbag is perfect for the weekends. Don’t belive me? You’ll see!! TILL NEXT TIME

AMALFI COAST

So before finals I decided to take a weekend off from Rome and go to the amalfi coast of Italy. The amalfi coast consists of capri, pasetano, Sorrento, and Pompeii! Basically we went to 4 different beaches over the weakened. My favorite place by far was Capri! Capri was sooooooo beautiful! I finally was able to eat alfredo pasta! Believe it or not, alfredo sauce is NOT popular in Rome at all! All red sauces… In capri we shopped, ate and did a chair lift to the highest peak in Capri. Capri was so captivating that I definitely would love to buy a vacation house there, that’s how beautiful it was there. Very small but it had everything. The weather that weakened was sunny and HOT! Left the amalfi coast with the best tan ever!  Well UNTIL NEXT TIME

PARIS

AHHHHHH! That is all I have to say about PARIS! I never have fell in love with place like I did with Paris. Everything anyone has ever said about Paris is completely true. ITS BEAUTIFUL, MAGICAL, CAPTIVATING just a land of amazingness honestly. The best part of the trip is being able to share this experience with my mom and little sister. They flew out for a week to visit so we all went to Paris and spent the rest in Rome. In Paris we of course visited everyyyy tourist attraction, the arc de triumphe, notre dame cathedral and of course the EIFFEL TOWER!!!!! We actually waited in line for about 3 hours to go to the top of the Eiffel tower!! I would do it all over in a heartbeat! This is a place EVERYONEEE needs to go to! I cannot wait to go back and every chance you get, eat their pastries!