2 Years After Studying Abroad in 3 Countries

Fun fact: in college, I won the class superlative for “Mostly Likely to Talk About her Study Abroad Experience”! As someone who has LOVED her study abroad experiences in college, I am proud to be able to talk about and share the good in studying abroad. In fact, I did study abroad in three different countries while in college: Italy in June 2018, England in July 2018, and Belize in June 2019. If you know me in real life and especially on my college’s campus when I was a student there, then you know that my study abroad experiences have shaped me into the person that I am today. My moments studying abroad remind me of who I was before I left to go abroad and the woman that I have become and will become.

If you follow me on my social media, then you probably know that I LOVED my travel experiences over the few years prior to COVID-19. Indeed, I loved those experiences OH SO MUCH that I shared some of my many memories from my study abroad and even travel abroad and stateside experiences on my Instagram Stories on that day that I was there just years later. Yes, my study abroad and travel and even stateside travel experiences have been formative experiences for me, but they also ignited my personal passion and lifelong investment in travel.

I am one to believe that travel does not have to be a trip where you hop in your car or on a plane and spend 1+ hour in travel mode. You can, indeed, check out the nearby park in your neighborhood or the next town over to get a great experience, too. For example, my college town of Raleigh, North Carolina is a much different city than my current hometown of Washington, DC. Raleigh has a warm, Southern culture, meanwhile, Washington, DC has a big city and a hustle and bustle feel to it. In the case of both of these cities, if you drive 30 minutes out, then you will get a totally new, fresh, and different feel in the cultures, looks of the towns, and things to do. Both of those cities allow for day trips that can bring about personal learning and growth without spending a fortune to go far away. This same idea goes for your own hometown, too! Trust me, I will say this and I will say it again: EXPLORE WHERE YOU LIVE!!!!

Now, you may be wondering, what did I do when I studied abroad and where exactly in Italy, England, and Belize did I reside?! Well, in Italy, I studied abroad in the small Tuscan town of Sansepolcro – it is about an hour outside of Arezzo and 90 minutes outside of Florence. As cliche as it sounds, while in England, I studied abroad in London – the capital city of both England and the United Kingdom. And, in Belize, I studied abroad in San Ignacio the capital of the rainforest region in Belize known as Cayo. It is a smaller sized town in relative to many many cities and towns that I have visited in the past, yet it is a mighty hub in Cayo and Belize as a whole. I also visited Scotland, The Vatican, and France as well as various cities in Italy, England, and Belize. Each of these places are very contrasting amongst one another, which makes it a great fit for learning, growing, and engaging within another culture.

Besides engaging with other cultures, study abroad brought me a whole new perspective onto life. I was pushed beyond my limits in several ways, which I think was a blessing in disguise. The only way that you grow and expand your limits is to push yourself, and study abroad presented me with that opportunity. Similarly, I was presented with the opportunity to utilize my problem-solving skills on the spot, which, in fact, help me in my everyday life in my job as a data scientist and in everyday situations. Case in point, a few weeks before I left for Italy, I was visiting my friend in Philadelphia and ended up putting my credit card into a machine to get a train ticket that ended up being broken. The card got stuck and I ended up in a panic crying outside of the train station for a good 15 minutes. I figured out a solution, but it took some time. However, in the past few days, I can problem solve literally on the spot. And, I can thank study abroad for those experiences and that newfound gift that I have.

I also experienced a newfound sense of pride and independence since studying abroad. I used to be afraid to do things alone. I was uncomfortable with the idea of doing things by myself. A lot of other people are and maybe some of y’all are too. Don’t worry – we ALL have been there! But, study abroad pushed me to be able to be comfortable doing things on my own and navigate a brand-new place on my own. It has been super rewarding to be able to have that comfort and peace of mind knowing that I can do it all on my own. Personally, I probably would not have made the move to Washington, DC if it wasn’t for study abroad!

Overall, study abroad has been able to open my mind up to this extraordinary world that we all live in. My experiences studying abroad help me to this day in my day to day life and I am grateful for that.

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XOXO – Katie <3

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I Lived in London for a Month

Cheerio! As highly requested on my Instagram story survey a few weeks ago, many of y’all wanted to hear my experiences studying abroad. I have been lucky enough to study abroad in 3 different cities in 3 different countries: Sansepolcro, Italy (a small town in Tuscany), London, England, United Kingdom, and San Ignacio, Belize (a town in the rainforest region of Belize). Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing my experiences studying abroad in each country, along with some advice that is specific to each place. It is important to note that each of these study abroad programs were done through my school – Meredith College. Today, I will be sharing my study abroad experiences in London, England, United Kingdom.

When I was 12, I dreamed that I lived in an apartment right across the street from Big Ben. As cheesy as it sounds, even as a college student, I really wanted to live out my dream of living in London, even if it was temporary. Luckily for myself, that dream of mine came true in the summer of 2018 when I studied abroad for a month in London.

My Home: Heythrop College

While in London, my classmates, faculty, and I stayed at Heythrop College. Heythrop College is located in Kensington Square, right by the famous Kensington Palace where Prince William and Kate Middleton reside. When I was living there, there were several other programs with students from all across the world besides my Meredith classmates, faculty, and I. Although we did not really interact much with those outside of Meredith at Heythrop, it was still super cool to be in an environment with others from all across the globe. Since Heythrop hosts numerous programs, the rooms were essentially dorm style with a dining hall for breakfast and lunch where they served more traditional British cuisines. In England, dorm rooms consist of a private tiny single bedroom with a bathroom and shared shower. Living at Heythrop definitely allowed me to truly live out the British culture and way of life.

Heythrop College is located right by the High Street Kensington Tube station. The Tube is essentially the name for London’s underground subway system, which I took EVERYWHERE, in order to get around. Taking the Tube all across London truly showed me the city way of life, which I enjoyed. Besides enjoying the London way of life through taking the Tube, I gained a much greater sense of independence that I did not have before. I felt super free and able to go wherever I liked, through living at Heythrop College in a central location of London.

Courses I Took

One of the most important things about studying abroad is that you are there to STUDY. Meredith’s Office of International Programs staff member Liz ALWAYS emphasizes how study abroad is NOT a trip or vacation as you are there to study. Liz’s emphasis on study abroad as a time to study and learn and grow as an individual in a brand-new culture is extremely important to myself as well. Study abroad is a time for nothing other than self growth while having an educational experience in a brand-new country and culture. Personally, I find this very important to remember. While study abroad is exciting and may feel like a trip/vacation, it is anything BUT that.

The first of the two courses that I took while studying abroad in London was an Arts and Artifacts course that was specific to London as well as British life and culture. My professor Dr. Rodgers who has taught this course to Meredith students for years in London really prides on teaching about the diverse and lively life that the city has to offer. For example, as apart of this course we were all required to attend London’s Pride event over a weekend, which was an AMAZING and such a beautiful experience! Dr. Rodgers also had us visit several different sites in London, which made it such an incentive to truly explore the city as well as other parts of the United Kingdom. Besides exploring London, one of my favorite parts of this course was getting to learn from some Meredith alumni who actually moved to England after graduation. That experience of mine showed me the special connection that these alumni had to Meredith, Dr. Rodgers, and the study abroad program that I went on. Taking Arts & Artifacts London edition was most definitely an experience like no other, as it truly took me out of my shell!

Secondly, I took Shakespeare’s London with one of my favorite professors Dr. Walton. Dr. Walton has a passion for Shakespeare’s plays and performances, which is truly shown in all of his work and even simply having a conversation with him. While taking Shakespeare’s London, Dr. Walton had my classmates and I read and watch live productions of five different plays written by William Shakespeare: Hamlet, As You Like It, Romeo & Juliet, The Tempest, and Othello. Getting to watch Shakespeare’s performances was such an awesome experience. My classmates and I actually saw two plays at Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, which is a re-built version of the original Globe theatre. At the same time, Dr. Walton showed us how several variations of one play can take place. Since Shakespeare’s play scripts have remained the same over the years, people have created their own versions of his iconic plays with casting, props, and costumes to make it original and such a neat contrast to watch. Taking Shakespeare’s London definitely allowed me to learn more about Dr. Walton’s passion for Shakespeare, which truly ignited my own love for the English play writer.

Life In London

My typical day in London consisted of classes in the morning, lunch, and then off to explore the city. Usually, the evening was filled with dinner and a show of some sorts (more on what I did and saw in the next sessions!!!). Everyday was different than the next, which I truly LOVED!! Since there is so much to see in London, I barely got any sleep while there. However, I did get to truly see a ton of London, so it worked out for the better đŸ™‚

Sights I Saw

Big Ben, Parliament, and the London Eye OH MY! As apart of my Arts & Artifacts course and just solely being in London amongst several sites to see, I got to tour A BUNCH of the monumental places in the city. My friend Kaylee and I made a list and checked it twice for what we wanted to see and do before we even left. One of the places that we both REALLY wanted to see was Buckingham Palace. Buckingham Palace only opens to the public for a few weeks out of the year when Queen Elizabeth travels to Scotland for her summer retreat. Both of us could not pass up the opportunity to go, so we went! Along with Buckingham Palace, I also got to see several more sites in London both with my study abroad group and with friends and myself. I have all of them that I can remember listed below!

  • Kensington Palace (including the Princess Diana fashion exhibit!)
  • Buckingham Palace
  • Parliament
  • Westminster Abbey
  • St. Paul’s Cathedral
  • Shakespeare’s Globe
  • Harrod’s
  • Fortnum & Mason tea shop (the tea endorsed by Queen Elizabeth herself!)
  • The British Museum
  • The National Gallery of Art
  • Tower of London
  • Big Ben
  • The London Eye
  • Tower Bridge (what we refer to as London Bridge)
  • London Bridge
  • Chinatown
  • The Victoria & Albert Museum
  • ZSL London Zoo
  • Hyde Park
  • London Pride
  • Holland Park
  • Kensington Gardens

Shows I Saw

One of my favorite parts of studying abroad in London was getting to see shows all across the city. Unlike New York City’s Broadway, London’s performances are at a much more affordable rate for an entire family to enjoy and see together. One of my favorite memories was getting to see Mamma Mia! live and meet the cast afterwards. The same goes for practically every other show that I saw as well, which are listed below:

  • Dream Girls
  • Hamlet
  • The Merchant of Venice
  • Kinky Boots
  • The Lion King
  • Mousetrap
  • The Woman in Black
  • As You Like It (saw once at Shakespeare’s Globe and another at an outdoor theatre!)
  • Romeo & Juliet
  • A Monster Calls
  • Wicked
  • The Tempest
  • Othello
  • Mamma Mia!

Getting see each of these performances really ignited my passion for the performing arts even more than it was before. Moreover, knowing that I saw each of these shows in London truly makes me feel grateful knowing the current times with Covid-19 and how they have affected the theatre industry globally. My hope is to most definitely go back to London and see more performances someday đŸ™‚

Excursions

Besides London, I was very lucky that I got to explore a few different places in England. These include: Brighton, Stratford Upon Avon, Bath, and Windsor. While most of them were done with my classmates and professors as a group, it was still super fun to get to explore and see new places in England. Each of these excursions taught me different things about British life and culture as well as allowed me to see England beyond the big city of London.

Brighton was the first of these excursions and the one that I did not take with all of my classmates and professors. I went with Dr. Walton, my friend Kaylee, and one of our other friends. Brighton is a notable coastal hub in England. While there, we toured the notable Royal Pavilion and got fish n’ chips at a seaside pub while also admiring the English coast along the British Channel and the gorgeous streets. Like Charleston, South Carolina, Brighton also has very colorful buildings that became an obsession of mine! At the same time, we joined Dr. Walton to see William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice at an outdoor play area. Going to Brighton was definitely a really great experience, as I got to bond with some of my friends while studying abroad as well as Dr. Walton.

Stratford Upon Avon is the home of William Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Coincidentally, we all toured Shakespeare’s Birthplace and family home. The streets there are super adorable and filled with shops with so much merchandise *it was dangerous on my wallet let me tell you* . In addition to exploring the downtown, my group and I also saw Romeo & Juliet at the Shakespeare playhouse in town, as apart of our Shakespeare’s London course. I definitely hope to go back and explore this sweet, adorable town much more in the future!

As implied in its name, Bath is known for its site of ancient Roman baths. With it being the most notable site in town, my classmates and I each toured the ancient Roman baths as apart of our Arts & Artifacts course. While there, I learned about fashion during the Roman Empire as well as Roman Empire life and culture. Along with exploring the ancient Roman baths, I also went to the Jane Austen House and Museum, as she lived in Bath for some time, where I got to dress up as if I was living in the 18th century when Austen was living and writing her books. Lastly, my study abroad group and I went to have tea with a former Meredith professor and her husband at their house in Bath. All in all, my experience in Bath was most definitely one for the books!

My favorite of all of the excursions most definitely had to be Windsor, England. Windsor is known for Windsor Castle, which is one of Queen Elizabeth’s residences. It is also where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married in May 2018. Growing up, I used to read my dad’s travel books, which included a book on Windsor Castle where he would go sometimes for business trips. Since then, I knew that I needed to visit Windsor, especially after Harry and Meghan got married there! After touring Windsor Castle and its several shops where I also did a lot of wallet damage, my friends and I went to the Prince Harry Pub and got some fish n’ chips. It was an amazing way to end an amazing day in Windsor!

Travel Breaks

Most Meredith College study abroad programs allow for independent travel breaks. On these independent travel breaks, students can travel to different cities and even countries (depending on the program) on their own. Personally, I saw independent travel breaks as a way for me to become more strong and independent as I navigate a brand-new place. While in London, I got to visit Edinburgh, Scotland and the Scottish Highlands on my first travel break and Paris, France and Giverny, France on my second travel break, which you can see my post on that experience of mine here! While I will not get into my travel breaks very much in this post (I feel that they are each better served in their own post as I have SO much to say about each), I will say that each of these experiences was extremely neat, fun, and rewarding!

Most Meredith College study abroad programs allow for independent travel breaks. On these independent travel breaks, students can travel to different cities and even countries (depending on the program) on their own. Personally, I saw independent travel breaks as a way for me to become more strong and independent as I navigate a brand-new place. While in London, I got to visit Edinburgh, Scotland and the Scottish Highlands on my first travel break and Paris, France and Giverny, France on my second travel break, which you can see my post on that experience of mine here! While I will not get into my travel breaks very much in this post (I feel that they are each better served in their own post as I have SO much to say about each), I will say that each of these experiences was extremely neat, fun, and rewarding!

Getting to study abroad in London was most definitely a dream come true! From my days of dreaming of living there as a little girl to getting to, I knew that I totally hit the jackpot! While I am extremely lucky that I was able to even go to England, I know that so many have not. That being said, I want to utilize my study abroad experiences in England and beyond to share with and empower others to go out and see the world while also learning about it. Wherever this world may take us, being able to learn about the various cultures and history that different places have to offer is extremely valuable. Not only does getting to travel somewhere brand-new help us to expand our minds, but it also helps us to grow into the strong and independent people that we are meant to be.

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I Lived in Belize for 3 Weeks

I cannot BELIZE it!!! As highly requested on my Instagram story survey a few weeks ago, many of y’all wanted to hear my experiences studying abroad. I have been lucky enough to study abroad in 3 different cities in 3 different countries: Sansepolcro, Italy (a small town in Tuscany), London, England, United Kingdom, and San Ignacio, Belize (a town in the rainforest region of Belize). Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing my experiences studying abroad in each country, along with some advice that is specific to each place. It is important to note that each of these study abroad programs were done through my school – Meredith College. Today, I will be sharing my study abroad experiences in the town of San Ignacio, Belize located in the rainforest region of Cayo not far from Guatemala.

My Home: The Cahal Pech Resort

When thinking about a study abroad experience, you may be thinking that a resort will provide anything but an authentic Belizean experience. On the contrary, I found my experience staying at the Canal Pech Resort to be exactly the opposite. The Canal Pech Resort is located on a hilltop right by the town of San Ignacio. It is conveniently less than a half a mile away from one of Belize’s notable Mayan ruins sites known as Cahal Pech. The major reason why my group and I stayed there was due to safety, since Belize is still a developing nation. Personally, I found my experiences staying at the Canal Pech Resort to be extremely rewarding to the entirety of my study abroad experience.

The Canal Pech Resort’s staff is mostly filled with people who are local to the country of Belize. Everyone in my group and I truly got to know and bond with the resort’s staff over the course of our three weeks staying there. I found this to be an extremely special part of my study abroad experience, as it made it so intimate and ten thousand times more meaningful than simply staying at a resort.

Each night, my group and I would have dinner at the resort, where we got to know the staff and talk about our days and/or excursions/trips. The same went for our times before and after dinner at two of the resort’s pools to cool down. My professor Dr. Roberts who came with us truly took on a mom role for us all while we were studying abroad. She has taken students to study abroad in Belize on multiple occasions, so it was real special to get to know her as well as some of my classmates. One of my favorite parts about going to the pool was getting to see and know a bunch of local’s as well as tourists in the area. The Canal Pech Resort’s pools were open to locals who had a pass to come in along with guests. I have ALWAYS been one to love to get to know others, and to be able to do it on a global front was such a cool and rewarding experience.

The Benefit of San Ignacio

When most people picture Belize, they picture beaches for never-ending miles. Besides, its beaches, Belize has a TON to offer. San Ignacio is located at anywhere but the beaches in the rural rainforest region of Cayo. Cayo’s location also borders Guatemala, which I could see a few times on some of my excursions. Staying in San Ignacio allowed me to truly learn more about the authenticity of Belizean life and culture beyond its beaches.

The Canal Pech Resort is located on a hilltop overlooking the town of San Ignacio. The resort’s convenient location to the downtown meant that there was a ton to do outside of it. On many occasions, my group and I would check out the local restaurants to get milkshakes or chicken and rice (a Belizean delicacy). Unlike many United States cities and towns, San Ignacio’s downtown was super bright and vibrant with so many colors painted on buildings and walls. San Ignacio definitely made for a sweet second home while in Belize!

Courses I Took

One of the most important things about studying abroad is that you are there to STUDY. Meredith’s Office of International Programs staff member Liz ALWAYS emphasizes how study abroad is NOT a trip or vacation as you are there to study. Liz’s emphasis on study abroad as a time to study and learn and grow as an individual in a brand-new culture is extremely important to myself as well. Study abroad is a time for nothing other than self growth while having an educational experience in a brand-new country and culture. Personally, I find this very important to remember. While study abroad is exciting and may feel like a trip/vacation, it is anything BUT that.

I took two courses in Belize with the first of the two being my Belizean Service and Life & Culture course. In this course, my group and I volunteer at a local school in San Ignacio. While there, we read books to the children and simply hang out with them. My professor Dr. Roberts has had ties with this school for a number of years now and it has become a special part of her and her family’s (who she takes with her on her study abroad adventures) lives too. Dr. Roberts’ openness of how extraordinary the school is that we volunteer at and its community truly made me feel at home and welcome there too. The school that we volunteered at definitely became a vital part of my experience and outlook in life as well – it’s the pure joy that brings the most to us all in the long run! If I had not volunteered at that local school, then I never would have learned how valuable some of the simplest things are in life.

The second of those two courses was my independent research project. I collaborated with three different Meredith professors including Dr. Roberts to conduct a qualitative research study on special education in the region of Cayo. While conducting research, I interviewed seven different teachers at three different schools in San Ignacio and the nearby town of Santa Elena. Through doing my independent research, I learned two things: one that Belize unfortunately does not have nearly as many special education resources as the United States which most definitely needs to change and two that conducting special education research was not my true life’s calling for my career. Although I really enjoyed making a positive impact on teachers in Belize, I knew that I did not want to do it forever like I had considered using my Math major for beforehand. Moreover, I realized that my true passions are in data, fashion, and marketing. Getting to conduct independent research in Belize that made an impact on others was such a rewarding experience for myself, and I know that I would LOVE to do something else with data analytics that helps others in the future. My independent research made me realize that I have a passion for speaking up for and helping others – something that I strive to do each and everyday.

Life in San Ignacio

Life in San Ignacio varied each day, however, on most days it remained somewhat consistent. On a day-to-day basis, my group and I would have breakfast at the resort which was an AMAZING Belizean style breakfast, go to the school to volunteer, have lunch typically in the town of San Ignacio, and then go back to the resort to do the remainder of our coursework. After a full day of coursework, we would spend our evenings at the pool before having a group dinner. If it was not an ordinary day in San Ignacio, then my group and I were probably on one of our many excursions in Belize which were some of my favorite parts of my experience!

Excursions

While studying abroad in Belize, I was very fortunate to be able to explore many parts of this tiny yet extraordinary country! In the three weeks that I was there, I went to the Canal Pech Mayan Ruins Site, the Lamanai Mayan Ruins Site, the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Site, the Belize Iguana Project, the Barton Creek Cave, and a Butterfly Sanctuary. Each of these excursions were super cool yet unique in their own way. In fact, I truly gained a passion for touring Mayan Ruin Sites while in Belize, and I cannot wait to tour many more across Central America once it’s safe to do so!

The Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins Site is located less than a mile from the Canal Pech Resort that I stayed at. It was even walking distance from there! Cahal Pech was my first-ever Mayan Ruins Site that I had ever been to, and it was a really awesome experience! There, my group and I had climbed several of the temples (which is allowed for tourists to do!) and explored all that the site has to offer. In fact, Cahal Pech is a site that is known to have great significance in Mayan history which made it even more of an awesome experience to be able to visit it!

Lamanai was by far my favorite of the Mayan Ruins Sites that I visited! Upon arrival, my group and I had to board a motor boat that was about an hour long ride away to the actual site. Since it is SO hot and humid in Belize, causing on a motor boat was one of the best feelings in the world. Not to mention, I LOVE riding on boats in general, so it was definitely a highlight of the experience for me. Fortunately for us all, we had arrived before many of the tourists did which meant that we got to explore Lamanai without many others there. Before leaving, our tour guide and his super sweet mother had prepared us a lunch of Belizean chicken and rice which was AMAZING! The lunch was definitely the icing on an extraordinary cake called my experience at the Lamanai Mayan Ruins site!

The final of the three Mayan Ruins sites that we visited was Xunantunich. When Belize was a British territory, Queen Elizabeth went to visit Xunantunich and more recently Prince Harry had visited it. As a British Royals fanatic, I got really excited about visiting Xunantunich just knowing that some of my favorite British Royals had also been there too! Xunantunich is home to the second-largest Mayan temple in Belize, which we got to climb while there. I had been nervous about climbing to the top of a temple, but decided to simply go for it, and it was SO WORTH IT!!! Most definitely a rewarding experience overlooking the hill country off Belize and Guatemala – that actually looks a bit like the Tuscany hill country!

As an animal lover, I most definitely HAD to visit both the Belize Iguana Project and a nearby Butterfly Garden! The Belize Iguana Project is actually located right by the Cahal Pech Resort just like the Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins site. During my time at the Belize Iguana Project, I got to hold and play with several iguanas. Before going, I was literally TERRIFIED of reptiles, so this was a huge breakthrough for me. At the same time, the Butterfly Garden allowed me and my group to learn about and see butterflies that are native to Belize. Although there sadly were not that many butterflies out and about, it was still a super cool time. Being the animal lover that I am, getting to visit two animal sanctuaries was a highlight for me!

Unlike Cahal Pech, Lamanai, and Xunantunich, the Barton Creek Cave is a Mayan Ruins Site that is in the form of a cave. Knowing this, the Barton Creek Cave was used as place to make sacrifices in the Mayan culture over the years. My tour guide was a Belizean local who emphasized the value of the Mayan life and culture, which is still existent to this day. Unfortunately, the Mayan people are a small minority in Belize today; Belize is in fact a melting pot of ethnicities and races. That being said, while their culture still persists as it has for centuries, the Mayan people are under-looked in their own society. Through visiting the Barton Creek Cave, it almost felt magical on the outside while in the inside it taught me about a really special culture still alive today in our beautiful world.

Travel Breaks

Most Meredith College study abroad programs allow for independent travel breaks. On these independent travel breaks, students can travel to different cities and even countries (depending on the program) on their own. Personally, I saw independent travel breaks as a way for me to become more strong and independent as I navigate a brand-new place. While in San Ignacio, I got to visit Caye Caulker and the Belize Zoo on my first travel break and Placencia on my second travel break. While I will not get into my travel breaks very much in this post (I feel that they are each better served in their own post as I have SO much to say about each), I will say that each of these experiences was extremely neat, fun, and rewarding!

Having the ability to study abroad in Belize on such a unique program that allowed me to serve others while exploring a brand-new country and culture was a remarkably rewarding, eye-opening experience. While I am extremely lucky that I have been able to even go to Belize, I know that so many have not and may never even get to. That being said, I want to utilize my study abroad experiences in Belize and beyond to share with and empower others to go out and see the world while also learning about it. Wherever this world may take us, being able to learn about the various cultures and history that different places have to offer is extremely valuable. Not only does getting to travel somewhere brand-new help us to expand our minds, but it also helps us to grow into the strong and independent people that we are meant to be.

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I Lived in Tuscany for a Month

Love me some Tuscany!! As highly requested on my Instagram story survey a few weeks ago, many of y’all wanted to hear my experiences studying abroad. I have been lucky enough to study abroad in 3 different cities in 3 different countries: Sansepolcro, Italy (a small town in Tuscany), London, England, United Kingdom, and San Ignacio, Belize (a town in the rainforest region of Belize). Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing my experiences studying abroad in each country, along with some advice that is specific to each place. It is important to note that each of these study abroad programs were done through my school – Meredith College. Today, I will be beginning my sharing of my study abroad experiences by sharing my study abroad experience in the small Italian town of Sansepolcro located in the dreamy region of Tuscany.

The Benefit of Sansepolcro

When most people picture study abroad, they picture college students living in a massive city, such as Florence, Milan, or Rome. The majority of study abroad programs in Italy are, in fact, held in these major cities. Unlike Florence, Milan, and Rome, Sansepolcro is a tiny Italian town located in the hill country of Tuscany. There is not even a train station in the town – the nearest one is an hour away in Arezzo. What Sansepolcro does have that Florence, Milan, and Rome do not have is drop dead gorgeous lush hill country that goes for miles and miles on end along with locals that are extremely friendly. Sansepolcro’s small town charm could not be bought or even found in either Florence, Milan, or Rome.

The special thing about Sansepolcro is Meredith College’s relationship with the town. For decades now, Meredith College has sent their students to study abroad in Sansepolcro on study abroad programs through the school along with trips for alumni. Like myself, Meredith College fell in love with Sansepolcro due to its down to earth and authentic charm, which Italy’s major cities lack. The locals in Sansepolcro and Meredith College students, faculty, staff, and alumni have established a close-knit bond that has lasted throughout the years. This bond is so strong that Meredith College purchased a Palazzo (like an apartment) above a pizza place in the town that its students and faculty live at when they study abroad. Before me, many of my Meredith sisters have lived in Meredith’s Palazzo in Sansepolcro and many more will after me. I have found Meredith’s Palazzo in Sansepolcro to be such a special asset to studying abroad in Italy, as not many students can say that they lived in a small town in Tuscany that their school has maintained such strong connections with.

Living in Meredith’s Palazzo was an experience like no other. The bedrooms were most definitely authentic to the Italian lifestyle – simplistic and beautiful. Not many Italians and Europeans for that matter have their own closets – they have wardrobes instead. Laundry in Italy is only washed and hung to dry. In Italy, the Italians eat lunch as their biggest meal like dinner is in the United States. At Meredith’s Palazzo, we were lucky enough to have a lovely chef named Margarita to cook us our lunch each day. Each day, Margarita made something completely different yet still very Italian and authentic to the Tuscan region. Every single one of Margarita’s meals was AMAZING, and I wish I could enjoy one of her extraordinary creations as I write this!! The Meredith Palazzo lifestyle allowed me to live the life of a Sansepolcro resident, which truly allowed me to experience living in a different country as if I were a local there. You know what they say: when in Sansepolcro!

Courses I Took

One of the most important things about studying abroad is that you are there to STUDY. Meredith’s Office of International Programs staff member Liz ALWAYS emphasizes how study abroad is NOT a trip or vacation as you are there to study. Liz’s emphasis on study abroad as a time to study and learn and grow as an individual in a brand-new culture is extremely important to myself as well. Study abroad is a time for nothing other than self growth while having an educational experience in a brand-new country and culture. Personally, I find this very important to remember. While study abroad is exciting and may feel like a trip/vacation, it is anything BUT that.

While in Sansepolcro, I took three different courses: Arts and Artifacts (a class on the history of Sansepolcro and Italy), Nonverbal Communication, and Yoga. Each of these courses was unique in its own way and provided me with different facets of knowledge that I take with me to this day. Both Arts and Artifacts and Nonverbal Communication were taught by Meredith professors who lived with us at the Palazzo. I definitely saw both of my professors studying abroad with me as my Italy mom’s! Meanwhile, my Yoga instructor was a local to Tuscany who has a popular yoga blog in Italy. I found the value of having classes taught both by Meredith professors and a Tuscan local to be priceless.

In my Arts and Artifacts course, I got to learn about Sansepolcro and Italy while write about what I saw. One distinct thing about the Arts and Artifacts course is that it is taught on every one of Meredith’s study abroad programs with it being unique to each country that it’s taught in. I took this course in both England and Belize as well. In this course, students get to learn about the part of the world that they are studying abroad in while getting to see the places/sights that they are learning about. In Sansepolcro, I learned about the town of drop dead gorgeous medieval Angihari right before I visited it. The same went for the sculpture of David at the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, the origin of Murano glass on the island of Murano, and the Duomo di Siena in Siena, Italy. At the same time, I also got to use class time to plan out my independent travel breaks with my classmates. Through it all, the Arts and Artifacts course was an extremely helpful course in getting to know the place that I was studying abroad in and help me to better understand the culture of Sansepolcro as well as the differing regional cultures in Italy as a whole.

My Nonverbal Communication course was one that was extremely valuable to me. My professor Dr. Ross is extremely passionate about communication and especially nonverbal communication, which truly showed throughout the course. Dr. Ross worked really hard to promote our self growth as students not only academically through learning and living in Sansepolcro, but also as strong young women. Each class day was something new and different, as Dr. Ross strived to discuss her own personal experiences with nonverbal communication in the United States and connecting them to Italian life and culture. For example, each student had an assigned partner that they had to do an activity with that was out of their comfort zone – mine was to strike a conversation with a total stranger on the streets and see how they reacted. We, then, each had to work with our partners to describe and reflect on our own experiences through that social interaction and pick up on their nonverbal cues as to how they compared to the United States. Each class day, a new pair shared their communication experiences with the class, and we built off one another in class discussion. My experience talking to a total stranger in Sansepolcro really helped me to get out of my shell with talking to people who may have not have spoken much English, and it, more importantly, helped me to learn more about Italian life and culture as well as myself. At the same time, Dr. Ross had each of us take the Myers-Briggs test (I’m an ESFJ – I think!) along with another personality test, which we wrote about in class as we grew and learned as young women throughout our time in Sansepolcro. I found Dr. Ross’s course to be one of the most valuable in my entire college experience, as it is one of the few that had emphasis on self growth which I find to be such a blessing. Not only does Dr. Ross care about her students academically, but she also cares about their personal self growth and she especially did when we studied abroad with her, and I cannot thank her enough for it!

Taking Yoga in Sansepolcro with an Italian yoga instructor was such a cool experience! Each class period, my instructor spent some time talking about the history and origins of yoga. I found my instructor’s lectures on yoga to be extremely valuable, even though I was trying to stay awake sometimes during them LOL! We also got to do some yoga exercises, which was extremely fun and relaxing! There are not many yoga classes where one gets to learn about the history of yoga AND actually do yoga. It truly was the best of both worlds!!

Life in Sansepolcro

When in doubt, life like a local! Each day that I was in Sansepolcro, I spent about 4 hours in the morning in class, an hour for lunch, and the afternoons varied. Every afternoon began with an hour before any other academic-related activity would occur. In Italy, the Italians have usually 1.5-2 hours for a lunch break where many of them take naps or do other activities after eating their actual lunch. Being the avid napper that I am, I took naps! After my lunch and nap break, I would either attend another class for 2-4 hours or have the afternoon off to explore the town, get some gelato, or do homework. Sansepolcro is a small yet charming town with much to explore!

As for dinner, I would usually have a small snack of cheese, tomatoes, crostini’s, and prosciutto. My classmates and I were taught how to navigate an Italian grocery store on our first full day in Sansepolcro, which was SUCH A BLESSING. When I’ve traveled abroad with my mother, we went to a grocery store in Athens, Greece which I really enjoyed. One of the things that I really value about most European countries is that their groceries are a lot more fresh than in the United States, as they’re usually locally sourced. As odd as it may sound, you really truly get to learn SO MUCH about a place and its culture from its grocery stores. Grocery stores tell a TON about its people and culture from simply what they eat and shop for. I really enjoyed getting to shop at Sansepolcro’s local grocery stores, as they taught me a lot about what the locals seek for and value in their groceries.

Sansepolcro is notable for its works of art. It is home to artist Piero della Francesco whose works are featured in the Museo Civico Sansepolcro. In fact, during World War II, Sansepolcro was saved from being bombed due to it being the home of some of della Francesco’s masterpieces. While in Sansepolcro, my classmates and I got to see some of his works of art at the Museo Civico Sansepolcro. Knowing Sansepolcro’s historical significance during World War 11 and even before then was SO neat and such a bittersweet experience. The Italian people have been through so much historically and go through a lot today, and to know that sweet Sansepolcro was saved due to della Francesco’s pieces being kept there was really heartwarming.

Excursions

Besides living in and loving life in Sansepolcro, I also got to explore nearby towns and cities in Tuscany. The excursions that I went on included: a day in the nearby Tuscan towns of Anghiari and Arezzo, an afternoon at the Il Fugetto olive oil farm in Anghiari, a day in Florence, a day in Siena, and a hike to Montecast. Each of these excursions allowed me a learn A TON about Tuscan life, culture, and history.

Anghiari is a magical medieval town that is conveniently located about 10 minutes via bus from Sansepolcro. Upon pulling up to Anghiari for the first time after taking the bus over, my classmates and I were immediately in awe with what a dream this town truly is – it looks like it comes out of a Disney movie!!! The town is suited on a hill and it contains several streets that are filled with something new and beautiful everywhere you turn. Anghiari remains one of my favorite towns to this day, and I really hope that I can go back when it is safe to!

Arezzo is a much bigger town that both Sansepolcro and Anghiari. It is located about an hour away from each via bus. While some didn’t necessarily enjoy the long and hot bus ride from Arezzo to Anghiari, I really enjoyed it as the views of Tuscany were truly breathtaking as I looked out the window. I used my time on the bus to clear my head and enjoy the stunning Tuscan scenery that I so truly rarely get to see. I’m SO glad I took those moments to my advantage, too! The town of Arezzo, on the other hand, is home to the train station that my classmates and I would utilize on our independent travels. Besides its home to the train station, Arezzo had a ton to offer! It was home to some stunning cathedrals, museums, and everything in between. The streets of Arezzo, like Anghiari had something so great to offer everywhere you turned. Unlike major Italian cities and some Tuscan towns, there were not as many tourists in Arezzo which made it such a cool and authentic gem to visit.

The Il Fugetto olive oil farm was an experience that I will NEVER forget! While there, my classmates and I were greeted by one of the owners of the farm. She took us on a tour of it where we got to see where all of the olives to make olive oil grew. I also got to take in ALL of the stunningly gorgeous Tuscan views and enjoy some of the region’s fauna – including the farm’s super friendly dogs! At the same time, we learned about the difference between extra virgin and regular olive oil as well as how to determine whether or not a bottle of extra virgin olive oil is actually extra virgin (hint – MOST ARE NOT!!!!). The owner was also kind enough to let us make our own pizza dough and bake ourselves mini pizza’s as well as prepare us one of the best meals I have ever had in my life – complete with a cheese board and wine!

Florence is definitely the main hub of Tuscany. Moreover, Florence is a main city hub in all of Italy and a notable city in our world today. My classmates and I spent a day there where we went on a group tour of the Galleria dell’Accademia home of the Sculpture of David. Besides that, I went to the Galileo museum and walked the city’s many markets while taking in many of the city’s sights to see. In fact, I loved Florence SO much that two of my classmates and I chose to come back during one of our independent travel breaks to explore more of it.

Fun fact number 1: my step-sister is actually named Siena after the notable Tuscan town that I got to visit. Fun fact number 2: my step-father proposed to my mother in Siena in the main square. That being said, getting to visit Siena on a group excursion was most definitely an amazing opportunity! My classmates and I started off the day by visiting the Duomo di Siena – a cathedral in the town that took centuries to fund and build. The artwork and construction throughout the cathedral was extremely intricate and you can tell that the artisans who helped design it put in a ton of time, thought, and energy. Besides visiting the Duomo di Siena, I strolled around the town, visited museums, and got to get a sneak peek at the 2018 Palio di Siena in the main square where my mother and step father got engaged. The Palio di Siena is the town’s annual horse race, where native families have competed against one another for centuries. When I arrived at the main square, the bleachers were packed, so my group and I ended up watching a bit of the Palio from underneath the bleachers, which was still SUCH A COOL experience!!! Through it all, Siena is truly an Italian wonderland. Let’s just say that Siena was even more stunning in person than in the pictures!

Although I was not much of a hiker two years ago, the hike to Montecast was totally worth it! Montecast is a monastery that is located on top of a Tuscan hill outside of Sansepolcro’s downtown. It has been there for centuries. Even though the hike felt extremely painful at times walking up the hillside on what felt like a never-ending trail, it was TOTALLY worth it all when we got to the top to the monastery that had been there for years. Montecast was such a cool experience, even though it felt painful at times just to get there and back!

Travel Breaks

Most Meredith College study abroad programs allow for independent travel breaks. On these independent travel breaks, students can travel to different cities and even countries (depending on the program) on their own. Personally, I saw independent travel breaks as a way for me to become more strong and independent as I navigate a brand-new place. While in Sansepolcro, I got to visit Florence and Lucca on my first travel break, Venice, Verona, and the islands of Burano and Murano on my second travel break, and Rome and The Vatican on my final travel break (this one was with my faculty and all my classmates but it was mostly independent). While I will not get into my travel breaks very much in this post (I feel that they are each better served in their own post as I have SO much to say about each), I will say that each of these experiences was extremely neat, fun, and rewarding!

Getting to study abroad in Tuscany was truly a dream come true. Many people dream of visiting Tuscany and getting to do so myself was such a dream. While I am extremely lucky that I was able to even go to Tuscany, I know that so many have not. That being said, I want to utilize my study abroad experiences in Italy and beyond to share with and empower others to go out and see the world while also learning about it. Wherever this world may take us, being able to learn about the various cultures and history that different places have to offer is extremely valuable. Not only does getting to travel somewhere brand-new help us to expand our minds, but it also helps us to grow into the strong and independent people that we are meant to be.

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