Italy: Reggio Emilia - Education, Health, Communications, Italian

This trip was the most life-changing experience of my life. On the day of my departure, all of my flights were cancelled/delayed. I was feeling SO helpless and wanted to back down, but my support system encouraged me to go. I am so glad they did because I had the change to visit Rome, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast; I got to meet lifelong friends; and I had the chance to be fully immersed in Italian culture. If I had chose to back-out of the trip, the learning experiences and beautiful things that I saw would have never happened for me. Everyday I am so thankful I was able to make this trip happen, and I encourage everyone to MAKE. IT. HAPPEN. You can do it!

Green, for erbazzone
sparkling, for cappuccino
interesting, for the kinds
home, for Reggio Emilia, for its streets, its colors, its size
Delicious: the parmiggano cheese!
Walking, talking, learning, enjoying, seeing, discovering, traveling, adventures, challenges and incredible moments.

The experience in Reggio was beautiful, now I miss it and I can't wait to go back. There are many reasons to go, for me it was a 100% Italian experience, you feel at home, you feel part of it.

I miss you Reggio

Living in Reggio Emilia for the Summer was the most amazing experience. I truly felt emerged in Italian culture, as I lived alone in the studio apartment, above lovely restaurants and shops. I made so many friends, both from America in the USAC program, as well as befriending local university students. As a woman, concerns of solo travel of course arise, but here I always felt very safe and taken care of by the administration. The food was incredible, considering I am vegan and still had many options of authentic Italian cuisine. Reggio Emilia was also the best location to be able to take weekend trips. I did this every weekend as train costs are fairly cheap. Every weekend I took the train; I went to Florence, Venice, Ravenna, Rimini. All were about a 2 hour trip from Reggio Emilia. I could go on and on about the growth I experienced over this Summer, and would love to go back one day.

Reggio Emilia is a hidden gem! It gives a smaller-town feel, which completely embraces you in the culture. The language barrier was a bit difficult at first, but the people in the town are so friendly and are there to help you! Reggio is also one of the cheaper programs that USAC offers, so if money is a trouble, it wouldn't be a bad idea to look here! Traveling is also so easy due to the high-speed train station in the town, & there are so many beautiful places to visit that are just a short train ride away. The classes I took were both educational and fun, and some even offer field-trips outside of class. Best of all was the relationships I made while studying abroad. The friendships I made will truly last me a lifetime, and our program advisors became our "Italian moms" while we were over there. My time in Reggio is a time I will never forget!

Reggio Emilia was the perfect location to study abroad. All students could find a place to blend in, whether outgoing or introverted. As a member of the LGBTQ community, this city welcomed me with open arms. Reggio Emilia is engulfed with culture, innovation, and good vibes all around. The location of the city made it easy to travel all across Italy. Reggio Emilia is one of the most cost-friendly USAC programs which allowed me to not stress about money. The professors and USAC employees care about their job and are very passionate. I came into this experience nervous, but the truth is, leaving is harder than arriving. I would recommend this city to anyone who enjoys culture, food, and small-town vibes with easy access to big cities.

Studying abroad in Reggio Emilia, Italy, truly changed my life in so many ways. Studying in a smaller town was something I worried about in the beginning. My worries melted away quickly with the charm of this lovely city. USAC staff in charge of this program were amazing. They answered every and all questions had my me and my fellow students.Group trips were well planned and always neat and interesting. I had so much fun exploring this town with my fellow students. On the last day of my program, I didn't want to leave and wished I had signed up for a year program. I met my best friend through this program, we have each visited each other in Ky and Iowa!

I could not have picked a more perfect destination for my study abroad experience. Reggio is a smaller, intimate city in which tourists are uncommon. With its beautiful streets, kind residents, and central location, it is truly a great place to live. I felt safe once I was in the city, but I will admit my apartment had a somewhat sketchy walk from my apartment. I loved that through this program, we had multiple opportunities to bond as a group, including our welcome dinner and a few different excursions around Italy. The train station was only a short walk to get to, and there are truly so many places you can easily get to from Reggio. My favorite memories were going to K2 for gelato, Candor for pizza, and hanging out with my friends at Piazza Fontanese. My life truly changed from this program, as it immersed me into a new culture, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and allowed me to make friends from both Italy and the U.S. Reggio was small enough to feel like a part of the community, but big enough to truly experience all aspects of Italian life. I would recommend taking the cooking class- it was truly one of the best parts of my experience!

Overall,
USAC Reggio Emilia was everything I could have hoped for while studying abroad. Starting with the USAC Staff in Reggio Emilia, 3 of the nicest, most supportive people I could have hoped for. Housing was great (very nice apartments in close proximity to the school and city center with gated complex for safe living) and the academics were taught very well by accommodating teachers with intercultural backgrounds.