Never Wanted to Leave

Uni Salento has figured it out. You don't study abroad imagining that the classes will be one of the best parts of the trip but for 4 hrs a day, I did nothing but laugh with those hilarious, amazing professors, who managed to sneak in an unparalleled—and I mean unparalleled—education at the same time.

Classes are very conversational—just a bunch of us sitting around a table talking through the lessons and as a result, learning to speak naturally, without having to mentally translate before speaking. An ancillary result of this style that I couldn't have expected was that our entire class became a family. We'd have lunch together, go on weekend excursions together, take cooking and art classes together, etc. I have made lifelong friends on that trip that today I can't imagine life without.

Aside from all that, the food, climate, and beauty of southern Italy is everything you've heard it to be. The one downside of visiting Lecce is that when you return home you'll only wish you had more time there.