What I did this summer

The best part about studying abroad is the people you meet... I made friends that I hope to keep for a long long time and did all this while getting to experience the beauty and wonders of Italy.

For my last summer of “freedom” ( I am currently a senior at Chapel Hill), I went to Florence with UNC study abroad and I have to say, it was one of the best decisions I have made here. I never wanted to go abroad for a whole semester because I did not want to leave UNC for that long, but going for a summer session of one month was perfect.

The UNC program in Florence is wonderful; the study abroad advisors are friendly and very accommodating. They walked me through step by step to get ready for the trip so I never felt lost or stressed about missing documents. When I actually arrived in Italy, there was a UNC study abroad advisor there to help me get settled, which was also very comforting.

The classes I took in Italy were challenging yet fun. I was able to take a drawing class, an art history class (which basically entailed visiting museums), and a cooking class! But the best part about studying abroad is the people you meet. I met dozens of UNC students and many from other schools across the country. I made friends that I hope to keep for a long long time and did all this while getting to experience the beauty and wonders of Italy.

While the school offered many planned trips, we went many places on our own and had a blast. I only regret not being able to go on another UNC study abroad trip as I am graduating this year. Wherever you may end up in school, make sure you take advantage of the study abroad program …you won’t regret it!