You Don’t Know What You’ll Learn Until You Go
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Being a freshman studying abroad in Italy during my first semester, I’m presented with a unique experience of college. Before this, I had never been away from home for a long period and, whenever I was, I would get homesick.
So, months before leaving, I made a conscious effort to prepare myself. I had two jobs this summer, working at a golf pro shop and serving tables. I saved as much as I could so I can travel around Europe. Also, to stay locked in, I have been journaling since New Years. I have made sure to continue that resolution into the summer. Journaling is something that I think everyone should do, as it is a great form of therapy. For me, it provides a space where I can say whatever is on my mind and be heard, even if there’s no audience. Another big component was Duolingo. It helped me to prepare for the language barrier, as previously I didn’t speak a lick of Italian.
Shopping, Money & Food
Since arriving in Italy, I have learned a lot about myself! I am growing, picking up confidence in skills I wouldn’t regularly use back home in Michigan. For example, shopping in Europe at small supermarkets feels a lot different compared to shopping at Meijer, a massive store where just two months ago, I shopped for a two-week supply in one trip. Nowadays, I have a 10-minute walk to Conad, where I get a bag of groceries for a couple meals. The options are much more limited, but I still try to make new dishes every week. I have already made burgers, quesadillas, sandwiches, tacos, gyros, and, of course, lots of pasta. I try to cook all of my own meals to save money.
To maintain a solid budget, I track all of my spending every day and insert it into a chart to make sure I stay on track. Some common items are groceries, gelato, paying to use a public bathroom (something you sometimes have to do in Italy), and my morning cornetto. The big ticket items usually fall on the weekends, when I travel around Italy. I’ve been to Florence and Genova, but I booked flights for Barcelona and Athens later in the year. Thankfully, getting around Italy is easy and relatively cheap. FlixBus, my preferred method of travel, is very comfortable and clean. On the bus, I get time to reflect and write about the weekend. I love the rides back to Siena because they always feel so special. It really feels like I’m coming back to my home, and with a new appreciation for it.
Writing, Instagram & Classes
Every day, I write a long paragraph about all the things I did and how they went. I include pictures that I took throughout the day and a song that fits the vibe. Then, I post it to my Instagram account dedicated to my abroad experience (@Ognigiorno_atoscana). This is my way of expression, and I also have something to remember each day. Trust me, they pass so quickly. Every time I look at a clock, I’m shocked at how the day progresses. The same goes for calendars. It’s hard to conceptualize the time that I’ve spent away from home. It feels like I’ve been here for one week and one year at the same time.
Even though I’m learning so much outside the classroom, my four classes here—First Year Seminar, Creative Writing, Italian, and History of Siena—have taught me a lot. Learning about the complex history of Siena is very interesting. I have a three-minute walk to the IES Siena Abroad Center, where everyone in my program studies. We’re intertwined by our classes and trips, and also do activities together, like when we volunteer at a local elementary school. We teach English to first through fifth graders, all very smart and fun. It’s a good way to look at how culture is formed. The teacher gives us the floor to teach how we want, encouraging us to come up with mini lesson plans. For example, I made a slideshow presentation with facts about the United States, and had the students write them down in their notebooks.
Still Learning
I definitely miss life back home, and sometimes it’s the little things like my car and smoothies. But, I know being here was the next step for me. Spending time on a cultural island in Italy helped me to see my emotional tendencies. I have learned a lot about how to be patient with myself. All of my experiences are preparing me for the next chapter of my life, even though it isn’t a clear road. The important thing is that I have become a better driver, and no matter what I face, I know that I can get past it.
Writer’s Bio
Graysen Thomas is a first-semester student at Hope College, on the Hope in Tuscany first-semester-study-abroad program in Siena, Italy, a program that seeks to establish the community of Hope in an international, diverse context. This is his first column for the Hope in Tuscany blog.
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