Our Undergrads spent the last week traveling around the world on fall  break! This week’s bloggers are theatre students Lulu Fairclough-Stewart, Julia Baker, Josh Young, and Quinn Jones! Read below to hear about their many travels!

Lulu Fairclough-Stewart, Skidmore College

For break I traveled around France visiting friends and family. Initially I was very nervous about traveling by myself, I thought it would be difficult and lonely. Much to my surprise I LOVED it. I was a much more capable traveler than I had expected and I really enjoyed the freedom traveling alone gave me. At the villa we are lucky to always be surrounded by friends and stimulated by activities and classes, but this week was a very nice break from the hustle and bustle of Accademia dell’Arte. I loved being able to plan my own schedule and explore at my leisure. I highly suggest that everyone spend some time traveling alone while they are studying abroad. It was a one of a kind experience that I am very grateful to have had. I happy to end this week feeling very liberated and independent.

Julia Baker, Muhlenberg College

ADA fall break was easily one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I decided early-on that I only wanted to go to a couple places and really try to get a more cumulative experience than hopping around Europe, only spending a day or two all over the place. So, I decided to do Paris for 4 days, a longtime dream of mine, and then finish off the trip with 3 days in Prague. Paris was exactly as I expected it to be, which was absolutely perfect. Every moment was breathtaking, and since it was the first time I’d ever coordinated an entire travel plan without the assistance of my parents, every checkpoint reached felt like a little victory. And I had absolutely no itinerary, so I felt totally in control and much less stressed than if I had made deadlines for myself. I took in the city at my own pace and found that I enjoyed it more to simply go and be. As for Prague, I had absolutely no idea what to expect, so all of my expectations were bound to be exceeded. Prague is the most interesting city I’ve ever been to. It has all of this amazing history, while also carrying this insanely modern feel. And the cooler weather was a nice break from the hot French days. Plus, I think I ate the best falafel I’d ever had in my life. I’ll attach a picture of Prague, for reference. All in all, fall break was enlightening–Europe is a place I could see myself having a future in, and that’s liberating. Not everything has to be so American-centric.

Josh Young, Muhlenberg College

Over break, I traveled to Dublin and to London.  It was a truly incredible experience, as both cities had so much to see and do.  My personal favorite sites were the Guiness Factory, the cliffs of Howth, and the London Eye.  It was very exciting to really see these things, and I definitely was able to check some boxes off the bucket list.  However, I think what sticks with me more than these landmarks is the experience I had just walking the streets and going to eat at small restaurants.  In those moments the cities felt less like beautiful paintings and more like places actual people would live in.

Quinn Jones, Coastal Carolina University

We are now halfway through with our semester here at ADA and we can all agree that it has flown by! The past few weeks have been so busy, from putting up out first cabaret to traveling around Europe on fall break. I traveled to Amsterdam with some friends, and had an incredible time. Originally, I didn’t feel any particular inclination towards visiting Amsterdam, but I decided to go because I wanted to be with my friends– but I ended up falling in love with the culture and energy there! It’s a beautiful city, full of history, great food, and unique places to shop. I will never forget my time there. Now, classes are starting up and we’re back in the swing of things. We’ve come a long way since first arriving here in Arezzo, but there’s still so much to learn and experience. I can’t wait to see where we go from here.