Estonia Here We Come
Estonia Here We Come! I had the pleasure of traveling with my host family to Estonia, never heard of this country. Its located South of Finland and West of Russia. It’s a small country but rich in history. We traveled to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Estonia became...
Forward To Finland
Cold, Cold, Cold…more like Freezing and Guess What I Ate For The First Time???.... It was cold when my host family and I landed in Helsinki, Finland by ferry across the Gulf of Finland that took about 3 hours from Estonia. It was a “Why Not?” quick visit, meaning “Hey...
To Squat or Not To Squat
Squat Toilets in Italy: A Fun (and Weird) Cultural Experience Hold Up! I’m here in Italy to experience culture and learn a new language but I didn’t know it also meant having to use a squat toilet. Yes, A Squat Toilet!I wanted to share something pretty funny (and...
It’s the Small Things That Matter, Like Cheeseburgers!
Italy has the best food ever. It’s a fact! From the pasta to the pizza, everything is fresh and bursting with flavor. You can literally smell the deliciousness wafting through the streets, and every bite is a reminder that food here is made with so much love and care....
When In Rome…
Rome was founded in 753 B.C.E. by Romulus, its first king. In 509 B.C.E. Rome became a republic ruled by the Senate and the Roman people. During the 450 years of the Republic, Rome conquered the rest of Italy and then expanded into France, Spain, Turkey, North Africa,...
Embracing the Challenge: My Year Abroad in Italy
Ciao! As I dive into my senior year abroad in Italy, I find myself in a whirlwind of emotions. Here I am in Pavia, surrounded by breathtaking architecture, rich history, and delicious food, yet I often feel waves of homesickness wash over me. I miss my friends back in...
A First Time For Everything…Even Sushi!
Went to school today and had a date with friends from school, we went to the plaza that is a mile away from the school and visited some local shops. Pavia is so different from Charlotte, North Carolina, you can walk down street and feel like you are in a village then...
My First Italian Cathedral Experience
Okay, so I went to an Italian cathedral for the first time, my Italian Family took me on a little tour around our town to show me a couple sites. Since this was my first time, I was amazed by the beautiful buildings. It was like taking a trip back into history. Our...
Meeting My New Host Family
Meeting My Italian Host Family: A Dream Come True Oh my gosh, you guys! I just had the most incredible experience ever—I met my Italian host family for the first time, and I can’t even describe how nervous and excited I was! Picture this: I’m standing at the airport,...
The First Step Is The Hardest
The night before I was going to fly out in the morning, I must have stayed up till 1:00am in the morning talking to my friends. I started crying a little because I was a scared of not knowing what to expect and I was going to miss my friends. So many thoughts running...