College is the perfect time to travel internationally. The opportunity to explore through study abroad is priceless.
This past spring, I had the privilege of wandering around the historical ruins of Rome, climbing up the steep steps of an old Italian village, and venturing around the artistic French capital.
For years, I’ve heard wonderful things about Europe. On the flight under a sea of stars, I envisioned quaint streets with cozy homes enveloped by rolling hills in the Italian countryside. I couldn’t wait to experience it for myself.
I traveled with a group of about 25 people. Some I knew, others I’d never met. Our beloved tour guide, Paola, led us on the most delightful 12-day journey across Italy and France.
Over the course of our European journey, the group grew closer together. The muted discussions over breakfast slowly transformed into booming conversations at an outdoor restaurant by the end of the weekend.
Each day we had something fresh to experience and something new to witness. Bus rides took us to places we’d never been.
My group was together all day. We walked the lengthy streets of the ancient city that stretched for miles. I saw the monuments that I learned about in class. The outer walls of the Colosseum towered over us as we surveyed the historic arena. In the Forum, I left the flowers of my footprints in the muddy Roman gardens.
When nightfall came, I had the worst pizza I’ve ever tasted in my life. It was cold and soggy, paired with bland bread and thick red wine.
“Do Italians know how to make pizza?” I thought.
But in the Vatican City, I had the best pizza I’ve ever had. Maybe because it was so close to God, it was required to be perfect. The crust was so crunchy, the cheese so delicate, and the toppings delighted the tip of my tongue.
Throughout the trip, we followed empty paths through the maze of jumbled buildings and explored the intimate details of quiet corners in the dark of night. Everyone tasted new foods with careful intrigue followed by often loud feedback.
Some of us braved the horrors of infamous serial killers in a small museum basement. The searches for the nearest ATM machines, souvenir stores, and restaurants to eat at were the greatest scavenger hunts I’ve ever participated in.
Every late-night bus ride left me looking out the window while I reflected on my day. In those silent moments, my thoughts were often the loudest.
Going on a study abroad trip helped me open my eyes to another reality.
Too often, I believe that we don’t think about the grand scope of this world. There are billions of people spread across the land spanning centuries of history. Different languages, cultures, religions, and lifestyles are abundant.
If we’re content to stay on our home turf, are we really living? If we don’t experience another country, are we really human?
Human experience across history has always been about being interconnected with each other as a species. Humanity learned to map the world to trade between nations. We construct beautiful architecture by working together. People communicate their innermost thoughts and feelings with each other.
We as humans are not designed to be alone. We thrive off human connection because that’s what binds us together. Alone, we achieve nothing. But together, we can accomplish anything.
The next study abroad trip will travel to London, England, and Dublin, Ireland, in Spring 2026. For more information, contact Dr. Elizabeth Medley (elizabeth.medley@abac.edu) or Ms. Suzanne Smith (ssmith@abac.edu).