Ciao e Ciao ( Hello & Goodbye)

And just like that, the trip has come to a close. I have learned things about myself I could never have learned in a classroom on campus. Seeing the slower paced Italians really enjoying their time, I learned to take it easy and really observe my surroundings when I come back to Boston.  Additionally, my Dialogue group was filled with people from all over the world ( Saudi Arabia, Panama, Peru, India, Vietnam, etc.) and from different cultures. There is no other setting in Boston where we would be forced to interact with people of different cultures for this long of a time period. This as well as the immersion in the Italian culture has taught me to be open to different perspectives and opinions. I am shocked about how much I was able to grow and develop in what I thought was too short of a time.

In regards to my professional and academic goals, my plans have been reconfirmed. Coming on this business dialogue, I really got to see an inside look into businesses both big and small. We went to 32 different companies in over 15 different industries. Ultimately I am looking to become an auditor, and ultimately delve into different companies of different industries- the trip has reconfirmed this interest for me. I hope to one day start my own business and seeing how things run on the management and marketing level has been an invaluable experience.

Any fears that I may have had coming to this trip were not an issue. Running out of money, worrying about being homesick, etc,  With careful budget planning, I was able to stay within budget and in regards to being homesick, everyone on the dialogue was so supportive and nice that I never once felt alone. We all are going through the same experience and everyone was always there for each other.

Studying abroad gave me a different perspective on the world entirely. I never knew that the USA and European countries could be so different. In regards to culture, sustainability, and interactions, there are many differences I never was aware of. More notably, the fact that Northern Italy and Southern Italy could be so different in these same aspects, yet in the same country, was really shocking to me.

The biggest benefit of studying abroad was learning a culture different from my own that couldn’t be read about in a magazine or online article. Ultimately, the biggest benefit this has led me to is curiosity. Before this trip I didn’t desire going abroad to other countries. I thought this dialogue would just be a nice break from being in Boston. Now, I really want to make it a priority to travel the world after college and see how people live worldwide.

My favorite experience was when we were hosted by a Sicilian family for a home cooked BBQ with an abundance of Italian cuisine. It was the best meal I had on the trip and also right after Memorial Day in the States. The family taught us with that meal what it truly meant to Be Sicily, the pride they show for their city, and a real taste of Sicilian hospitality. I will definitely make a trip back to Italy in the future.

Unfortunately, my schedule doesn’t have the flexibility to study abroad again, as I will be graduating in a year.  My only regret is not doing a dialogue last summer as well. However, this trip has sparked my interest in doing an international co op. It has always been my dream to go to London, and lucky for me they speak English there. Fingers crossed I can find one!

For anyone thinking of studying abroad in the future, my best piece of advice would be to just do it.  You won’t regret it.