The thing I will miss most about studying abroad in Italy is the community I have felt here. From the open doors extended by faculty at the Accademia, or the laughs I had with the clerk at the farmacia last night because overcoming the language barrier was an ordeal. I’m going to miss the smiling faces in the Mensa, where the food never fails to be delicious and the staff never fails to make me laugh. I’m going to miss the pride that I feel when the clerk at Stefano’s smiles and gives me a thumbs of for ordering “un cappuccino e una pasta” in Italian. I’m going to miss the friendships I’ve forged here. From late night talks with Madison, to feeding pigeons with Alex, to stifled laughter during music history with Anna and Jack, to hugs from Sophia and making tea together every day with Ryan, to getting to know Elmira and Elysia, who have been an amazing addition to the Furman group! I feel sad when I remember that they won’t be at Furman with us in the spring. Every person here has impacted me in some way. From TJ bringing me to tears with a glimpse of his story at the Cabaret, to Bear’s amazing ability to “be a cat” in every situation, every person here is unique.

Even the seemingly small and insignificant moments have had a great impact on me. I will never be able to look at a pigeon the same way thanks to Alex’s love for them, or hear the words “Hello, I can help you!” without thinking of the overly aggressive street vendors at every corner. I have two weeks left here, and I am SO READY to see my loved ones back home, but I’m thankful for EVERY hug that I have been given by a friend here when I was missing my boyfriend or my family. The bonds that I have with my friends here at the ADA will hold a special place in my heart. It’s a beautiful thing when such a diverse group of people comes to a completely new environment together and becomes a little family by the end of three short months. Italy is beautiful, and so are the people I’ve got to experience it with.

 Madison Allen, Furman University

Reasons to be Thankful

This semester has flown by in a whirlwind. Not too long ago I had just set foot in Italy for the first time and was admittedly somewhat scared and nervous of the semester to come. My fears were quickly dissipated by the delicious food of the Mensa, the friendly greetings from teachers and the people who make the Accademia tick, and the people along this journey who have become like a family to me. I never imagined growing up that I would get to travel extensively… let alone to my top two destinations in one year; Italy and Ireland. This semester has had its share of hardships and trials but it has been some of the most fulfilling three months of my life. As I reflect on my time spent here, I can start to see the growth I’ve had as a musician and more importantly, as a person. I have each and every person at the ADA to thank for that. From the people who were there for me needed something as simple as laundry money, a laugh, or a hug in times of hardship. Arezzo will always be a home away from home and the memories I have made during my time here will always be ingrained in me. I plan to make the most out of my last two weeks here and hopefully to return to my beautiful home Arezzo again in the future.

With the end of this program quickly approaching, I feel a small twinge of anxiety starting to build in the pit of my stomach. I start thinking of all the assignments I have to finish, gifts and souvenirs I want to buy, and places I still desperately want to visit. With everything whirling around me and trying to squeeze in studying, writing, and traveling in these last two weeks, it’s beginning to feel a bit overwhelming. The thing that’s helped me most these last few days is simply reflecting on everything I’ve already done and accomplished since being here. I think back to the first day we walked to the Arezzo city center, took our first train ride to Florence, and planned our group trips to Cinque Terre and Rome and how excited I was in every moment. I also think back to how in the midst of all this traveling I still had assignments to do, music to learn, and tests to study for, everything seemed to turn out alright in the end. This puts me at ease with things coming at me all at the same time.

When the program ends, I undoubtedly know that I will miss being a part of this community and the Italian culture and lifestyle I have become accustomed to in the past three months. However, I’ve never been so excited to return home to see my friends and family. With this being my first time traveling outside of the states, I know I will return home with new perspectives and changed attitudes. Even though I may not have time to check everything off my bucket list before I leave, at the very least the memories of this place will last a lifetime and give me more than enough reasons to come back in the future.