The Right Way to Kick Off My Senior Year

While I participated in the study abroad program, I continued to grow into a beautiful young lady. This experience was awesome; I met new people and got closer with others. I will forever cherish my first senior semester of college. This journey went better than I expected. This was the right way to kick it off.

I am glad my bestfriend

Lianne was able to attend this trip with me. I can't imagine this trip without her.

    We had so much fun together between sleepless nights, hanging with the boys, and learning another language through the use of context clues. Our last time at the laundromat was this morning. The people here are so nice to you no matter what culture you come from. There were two men that were struggling to work the machines including the coffee machine and detergent vending machine. It was the most comical laundromat experience that we ever had. The men were just so pleasant, and wanted to by us coffee due to the fact that we helped them out. Remember, we aren't fluid in the language so we were using our context clues throughout the conversation.

     I also enjoyed the classes that I took. The European Literature class was my favorite, after Travel Native, of course, because I definitely enjoyed blogging with Lianne. I got so deep into the book that it was unreal. The book was called "A Room with a view" (by E.M. Forester) and it was set in the same place we are located which is Tuscany, Italy. Photography was the second class. Taking pictures is one thing, but to actually take pictures that have meaning is another story. The class made me look at taking pictures in different ways that I didn't even think off. Our mid-term was to take a metaphysical photo and the final was to take a nihilism photo.

Life is a circle. It repeats itself and it's not black and white. It never was black and white, you have to pay close attention to details. The world is colorful.

My nihilism photo has two concepts behind it, racism and abuse. Men didn't care whether you were a man or woman, they still had prejudice. In this picture, the man has the woman in a chokehold. She seems really confused and hurt by what's happening. Meanwhile, the man looks like he doesn't care but also slightly enjoys it.

         It's been real Prato, but I am sad to say it is time for me to head on home. I am truly going to miss this place no doubt about it. This little city is full of excitement and exploration.

 

Beacon in Tuscany: A Reflection of My Experience

Lianne Smith

A home away from home is something that you are lucky to experience. I think I've found a community that has bettered me with all of its culture. This semester has definitely been a jump off a cliff for me. I have been traveling for a significant chunk of my life but this was different.

Different cultures are exciting to me and I enjoy delving in, but this was the first time I have had to travel this far away by self. It has been a long learning experience. I don't regret my decision of applying for this program. It is something I never saw myself doing but I'm glad I did. I learned a lot about myself and how I react in situations where I'm the only one who can help myself. I will definitely cherish all the memories and friends I have made. Learning a new language has proved to be a happy struggle. I went from only knowing "Ciao Bella""to finding my way through several conversations and situations, using Google translate less and less. I can walk into a cafe and say:

 - Table for one, two, etc. = Tavolo per una, due, etc.

 - I don’t eat pork = Non mangio il maiale.

 - Non-sparkling water please = Acqua narturale, per favore

AND

- I’m allergic to soy and peanuts = Sono allergico alla soia e alle arachidi.

 I think my most memorized thing to say so far is when I am ordering pizza from Pizland, which is my final meal in Prato.

- Posso avere pizza Margherita, tanto mozzarella, e ben cotta, per favore. = Can I get a Margherita pizza, extra mozzarella, and well done please.

This experience is going down as one of my most memorable periods of my life. Being able to spend it with my best friend/co-author, Jeunesse, and build relationships with classmates that were only acquaintances when we left Leesburg was awesome. I couldn’t have hoped for a better semester both academically and emotionally. For one last time,

To you, with love, From Prato