As I write this post, I’m sitting in a café in Verona and reflecting on the past four months of my life. I hate to sound cliché — as I know I do often — but I am a different person than I was when I first step foot on Italian soil. My perspective of the world is different than it once was. My perspective of myself is different than it was not too long ago.
This, of course, is easy to say. But how have I changed? And why do I think that studying abroad was so crucial to my personal development?
For the past three months, I have been living in a reality that has felt surreal. Studying abroad has been one of my favorite chapters in my life, and has altered who I am as a person. It has opened my mind up to the size of the world, has exposed me to new cultures, has given me confidence in places I didn’t know it was lacking and has challenged me emotionally and mentally in an indescribable way.
One of the most important things that I have come to embrace, as I have mentioned in my previous posts, is being alone.
Sometimes, the scary things in life are the most rewarding. The thought of studying abroad, for example, can seem frightening. Further, actually studying abroad is down right terrifying at times, and traveling alone has the power to turn you into a statue if you let it.
However, making the decision to study abroad, actually following through with it and embarking on travels alone are some of the best decisions that I have ever made — no matter how terrifying they seemed or even were.
We all know the rumor: “studying abroad doesn’t really require studying!”
Of course, that is at least what I had the notion of when I decided to study abroad. In the past month and a half of being abroad, however, I have been proven wrong to an extent. That is, I do have classes and attendance for all of my courses is mandatory. I have exams, and yes, I have essays to write.
I believe that my experience at SDSU as a student has prepared me well enough to take my studies abroad. It has also prepared me to balance study and travel, and BOY have I been traveling!
Continue reading “Actually Studying During Study Abroad? Believe it.”
I have been in Italy for about a week so far, and have found myself in a constant state of wonder.
From making my way to Verona by train with my limited Italian skills, to understanding the bus system, to learning the differences in their grocery stores, my whole time abroad has been a wonderful (though frightening) cultural experience.
However, though of course Italy has been generally wonderful so far, it has been far from easy to adjust to the Italian ways and the distance from home. Commonly, this is referred to as culture shock.
Continue reading “Ciao Italia! Dealing with Culture Shock while Studying Abroad”
Hello! My name is Marcella Anderson and I am a third year foods and nutrition major and interdisciplinary studies minor.
I am about to embark on the journey of a lifetime (hopefully), spending fall semester abroad in Verona, Italy. I am participating in an independent program through the University of Nevada Reno, and will be studying subjects such as art, food and Italian Culture. And I will be taking 14 units that will all transfer back to SDSU with me!
Continue reading “Looking Forward to a Semester Abroad in the City of Love and Shakespeare”
Would it be too much of an exaggeration to say this overnight excursion to Costa Brava has been two of my happiest days of my life? Because it absolutely was.
Continue reading “Visiting the Beautiful Ports of Costa Brava”
If you understand the reference in the headline, then I apologize. That said, don’t bother looking it up because it’s from a pretty bad film. Anyway, this post actually relates to our trip to the La Casa de les Abelles — aka the House of Bees!
After the fiasco of having to arrange a new flight at the last minute, I believed this first day in Barcelona wouldn’t be enough the balance the stress I felt from it all. And yet it completely did.
After having a full night’s rest, I knew that I would be able to take more advantage of today, as opposed to yesterday’s insomnia-driven (yet still fun) day. I started the day with a morning jog to Barceloneta, a popular beach in the southern direction that took about thirty minutes to reach. Normally any run would tire me out well before 20 minutes and yet I couldn’t help but keep pressing on so I could see more of the city.
The global experience, as told by SDSU students 