CIS Abroad Semester Programs in Italy

I loved my experience during study abroad and I'm owe a lot of that to CIS Abroad. CIS provided immense support and extra excursions at no additional cost. I took a trip to Arezo, went to a soccer game, Gucci Garden, and more. They had a group chat with our on-site coordinators and I never felt afraid to ask questions. Especially hearing from students in other programs, I saw how CIS Abroad really does go above and beyond. Their communication prior to me arriving on-site, during, and afterwards was above average. I would do it all over again if I coud because of how much I loved my semester.

My study abroad experience in Florence was incredibly transformative, for both my personal and academic growth. When I finally made it to Florence after a year of preparation, the beauty of the city and the warmth of its locals affirmed to me that this was the right decision for myself after so long of dealing with setbacks and doubts. Finding myself suddenly in a foreign country at 20 years old forced me to be more independent, confident, adaptable, and aware both self and socially. It even acted as a first step, a push even, toward the dreams I had been building up in my mind for years, providing clarity about my future goals and helping me refine them. While I, of course, encountered challenges, those difficult moments added valuable lessons and memorable stories I would never replace. Study abroad allowed me to live more in the present and appreciate each moment, something I have always struggled with. I loved soaking in every bit of Florence, sometimes choosing not to travel around to other places just so I had more time in my host city. Ultimately, my experience expanded my perspective on life, cultures, and the world, making the lessons learned abroad an irreplaceable part of my personal growth.

In short, studying abroad in Sorrento is more than just an academic endeavor; it’s a chance to grow personally and culturally in one of the most beautiful corners of the world. The combination of high-quality education, breathtaking scenery, and rich cultural experiences makes Sorrento an unforgettable destination for any student.

Beyond academics, Sorrento offers an unparalleled cultural experience. The town is renowned for its friendly locals, who are eager to share their traditions and cuisine. From tasting authentic limoncello to exploring ancient ruins and picturesque islands like Capri, you'll find endless opportunities to immerse yourself in Italian culture.

Encapsulating my study abroad experience is nearly impossible. The time, experiences, people, and places I had the honor and pleasure of meeting and visiting were bountiful. Words could never possibly capture the human experience however, as a creative writer, this is truly something I attempt to perfect with every poem, essay, and short story that leaks out of my fingers and onto a white pixelated screen.
Firenze, Italia was my home for only a few months and yet I know the changes I experienced have taken residence deep within my new persona.
In order to fully appreciate Italy, I made conscious efforts to try and eat different regional dishes (made easy and affordable with the meal plan provided by The Social Hub), visit different cities small and large. Such as Prato, the most important manufacturing town in Italy, an experience provided to me by CISAbroad. But I also went on my own excusions too, like visiting Rome and Milan. I took an Italian class offered by my chosen university to make every attempt at conversing with the locals when ordering a meal or asking for the price of a cute handmade trinket.
I made sure the classes I attended at FUA (Florence University of the Arts) were specific to trades or passions of Italy. Examples of this were Wine Marketing and Fashion Marketing to satisfy marketing electives for my Marketing Major. And "Florentine Literary Walks" and "Love Letters by Great Men and Women" to satisfy English electives for my Creative Writing Major.
CISAbroad provided mentors to guide me. Like gifting me advice on which grocery stores to buy food from, where to buy hangers or notebooks, where to buy authentic leather, and which bars to avoid sleazy men. My program coordinators created activities to keep me busy and introduce me to other study-abroad students in my same program and new experiences, such as visiting small towns near Florence, local pastry shops, and even the Gucci Gardens!
Another activity I was super happy to do in Italy was to attend a concert. Something I'd highly recommend trying to experience if you chose to study abroad. I saw Pinguini Tattici Nucleari (a super popular band in Italy that had over 35 concerts within Italy that all sold out!) live in Bologna and Alfa (He does a duet with RosaLynn from the song Snap, I'm sure you have heard of it) in Florence. Just a 30 minute tram ride from TSH. As someone who has been to over fifteen concerts in the United States within the past two years, one of them being Taylor Swift, let me just say the Italians know how to 'concert' properly. It was the grandest experience to be so wholly immersed with natives and their language and culture at full height.
Italy was such a delightful life-changing experience I still cannot believe I was so lucky to experience it.

Throughout my time in Sorrento with CIS, we were able to experience so many incredible things that I never thought I would be able to experience. Between a gorgeous boat tour to Amalfi to incredible dinners, it truly was the best five weeks of my life. I met so many incredible people from all over the United States and got to see the most breathtaking places. Italy truly is one of the most stunning places I have ever been to and the food was incredible. All around, the five weeks I spent in Sorrento with CIS were some of the best weeks of my life and I would do anything to be back.

I absolutely loved every single second of studying abroad at Santanna Institute in Sorrento, Italy. Through their immersive program, I was able to attend weekly cultural immersion events and really dive into the local community. Santanna Institute has classes Monday-Thursday and encourages students to travel safely on the weekends. With this opportunity, I was able to travel almost every single weekend making my time abroad just that more magical. Not to mention I met some of my best friends and made memories I know will stay close to my heart forever. My best advice to someone who is thinking about studying abroad is to just do it, I can guarantee that you will not regret it.

One of the most valuable lessons I learned regarding travel came in the form of getting gelato in Florence. The CIS ambassador touring us through the city made sure to highlight what signifies that the Italian dessert is in its authentic form. I realized the mountainous piles of gelato I had seen in pictures, pictures that made me want to travel to Florence, were just a variation of ice-cream whose excessive appearance marked a successful attempt to attract tourists. It is little pieces of information like that, gained with the help of on-site CIS representatives, who are locals within the area, that transport students into a wealth of knowledge that they did know they would receive from the beautiful city surface that drew them there in the first place. The people who make up this program make sure that you become a part of something real, by showing you how locals live in the city, making the commitment to this period of time in a foreign place a truly unique and fulfilling form of travel.

Studying abroad was easily one of the best decisions I have ever made. The benefits go beyond what the classroom will give you. During studying abroad, you will encounter challenges including navigating language barriers, new cultures, new locations, and travel plans (making them and all that can go wrong); the list goes on! These are common, though challenging, occurrences that give you the opportunity to adapt and put your problem-solving skills to use, sometimes on the spot. Being overseas will also give you a level of independence that you may not have experienced before! This is a great thing! Without the immediate support of friends and family, it pushes you to rely on your own skills and trust your instincts to make decisions and how to spend your time. It may seem like even just a semester is a long time, but it isn’t going to be enough for you to do all you want. Trust me! I thought I had so much time at the beginning and the semester flew by! Sure, living abroad is amazing. But the soft skills you gain, the character development and growth that come from how you chose to handle the experiences will be invaluable.