Italy: Sophie Fellinger
Program: Santa Reparata International School of Art (SRISA), Summer
Sophie’s Majors: Legal Studies, Psychology
What is your advice for someone considering your program?
Talk with, meet, and interact with as many people as possible! (Safely, of course). Some of the most memorable moments from my experience abroad were those in which I connected with locals. It was an incredible experience getting to hear perspectives different from those I had been accustomed to from living in the United States my entire life. I had the opportunity to create genuine bonds, share joy with those of differing cultures, and experience kindness in a whole new way. By striking up a conversation with a barista at a café, I learned that an acquaintance of mine I knew in high school had frequented that same café when she had been studying abroad in Florence during the previous Spring semester. From this chance connection, we were able to grow our own friendship- a bond that will no doubt endure even while living an ocean apart. Needless to say, the world is smaller than it may seem, but you may never realize that until you find those connections for yourself.
I had the opportunity to create genuine bonds, share joy with those of differing cultures, and experience kindness in a whole new way.
What challenges or barriers did you face as you prepared to go abroad and/or during your time abroad? How did you work through them?
At times, it would be easy to forget where I was and the uniqueness of the opportunity I had as a student living in Florence. I noticed moments when I had let go of some of my initial awe and forgot where I was, due in part to the minimal time I had to pause and take everything in. When I noticed myself letting my guard down, I would remind myself of my intent, my goals, and the massive privilege I had in being able to take part in my program. Through this, I was able to ground myself and bring back my focus to what I knew was important to me. Since the conclusion of my program, I feel confident that I made the most out of my time in Italy. I sincerely cherish the opportunity SRISA gave me to live and learn in Florence and explore Italian culture, art, and history.
What is the moment you are most proud of?
I am incredibly proud of all that I had accomplished just within the first week of my program. During my first week, I flew internationally for the first time ever (not to mention I was completely solo!), learned how to navigate my way through a new city, found a new home in my local Florentine apartment, and adjusted to language and cultural barriers I had never experienced before. I also made friends with many students from my program, signed up for local yoga classes, connected with locals, and explored Rome with my roommates. Looking back on all that I had done in just one week still shocks me- never did I think I would be able to learn and experience so much in such a short period of time!