What is your favorite travel memory?
I’ve been lucky enough to study abroad four times and I think my favorite memory from each experience was the moment I realized that the city/town had become my home.
It’s hard to explain but in each location I had this feeling of comfort and happiness, of feeling like, “this is where I belong”. I had a routine, friends, a favorite spot to listen to street musicians, and a favorite coffee shop.
I left each city with a heavy heart knowing that I was leaving so much love behind, but I know that I will always return and the cities and memories will be waiting for me.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
It is difficult to choose just one story to share. My favorite stories are from students who go on a SAI program and then return abroad again, either through SAI or on another journey.
Each student that returns abroad has an incredible story and reason for returning from falling in love, to pursuing additional schooling or a career abroad, or becoming a vagabond.
It is amazing to work for SAI and be a part of guiding/changing the path of someone’s life.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
I would go on our summer program in Syracuse, Sicily. I studied there for a summer during undergrad and it was a completely different experience than studying in mainland Italy.
The language, culture, history and food were fascinating; not to mention studying on an island and being in a small town made it incredibly easy to make Sicilian friends.
I felt so immersed in the community and have since returned multiple times to visit my friends and favorite panini shop owner.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
Our company is an intentionally small, family company and students become a part of that family from the beginning of their experience with SAI. As a student, I felt like SAI invested in me before, during and after my study abroad terms.
Now that I work for them, I see the importance of being a small company and I realize that's how we can provide students with personal attention. I feel proud when I share that we will remain a small, niche company because our founder and President wants us to be the experts on the cities and universities where we are sending our students.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
I believe the biggest factor is having employees that work as a team and all believe in the company’s mission.
At SAI, we all are dedicated to providing experiences that enhance students’ global awareness, professional development and social responsibility. We want students to be travelers and not tourists; we want them to try new things, meet new people, and look beyond what is right in front of them.
At SAI, every day is meaningful knowing the work we are doing is ultimately changing students’ lives. I think having this positive energy and motive for working is a large part is what makes us a successful company.