Italia awaits...

As I begin to write this reflection, I think back to a movie I watched the other day, Letters to Juliet. A cute romantic film, but what really caught my attention was the beauty of Italy. Though we do not lay our scene in Verona like Shakespeare and the movie did, watching the story play out through the Tuscan sun made me as anxious as ever for our upcoming trip. I have a fascination with culture. I want to know what made a country what it is today, from its politics to its food. I am very fortunate in that this will be my third consecutive immersion trip. What intrigued me about Abbey Road is that I will get to learn a language in its native environment and within a college like atmosphere. For me, I have always loved to travel and am interested in languages, but it wasn't until my sophomore year when I had just returned from a month in Spain and beginning the rigorous yet rewarding AP European History class that I came to appreciate the history of a country. When we learned about Velázquez in class, I could say that I had seen the famous "Las Meninas" in the El Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain. That was the moment my textbook came alive. Though two years have now passed, I know I will experience that same revelation seeing the renowned "El Duomo" from my window.

What I hope to obtain from this experience is to expand my knowledge about the culture, art and language of Italy. I hope to expand my independence and to be open minded. I was fortunate to get some advice from my cousin, an alumnus on the Florence program. She advised me to take every opportunity available and to explore the wonderful city. From this trip, I expect to become a better chef, begin studying a new language, find an even deeper appreciation for Italian art, and create amazing friendships. Firenze…here I come!