Why did you pick this program?

I had only been to Europe once and wanted to go back, but I wasn't sure which country I wanted to live in. Going somewhere off the beaten track, where I could fully immerse myself was something I was looking for in a program.

I had family from Italy and some still living there, so I thought it would be cool to see where I came from. The program I went on
(USAC Torino, Italy) also fit perfectly with my major so it all just kind of fell into place.

What do you wish someone had told you before you went abroad?

I wish someone had told me to push my comfort level more. Looking back on it I wish I had gone somewhere even crazier, like Thailand. I am still very happy with my experience though. I also wish someone told me to bring a "real" camera. I got some amazing photos on my phone but the quality could have been a lot better with a real camera.

What do you tell your friends who are thinking about going abroad?

Stop thinking and just do it! And do it for at least a semester !

Pick a place you don’t think you’ll go to a lot when you’re older. Like I know I’m going to Paris, but India that a place I wouldn’t expect to travel a lot too when I’m older so why not go now. However if that’s the only thing that works then do it, cause you’ll have an amazing time wherever you go!

Bring a journal, you will want to remember things that you might not want to post on a blog. I loved writing in my journal and keeping tickets and restaurant business cards, to remind me of my time abroad.

What was the hardest part about going abroad?

Coming back to the States, and not traveling all the time was/ is definitely the hardest part about going abroad. I caught myself speaking Italian to people and trying to order food in Italian. I had also had finally gotten use to Italian customs and then I come back to the States and have to relearn ours. It was also hard not seeing a new place every weekend. I found a hunger for exploring so know I try to visit places in the US I have never seen.

What's your favorite story to tell about your time abroad?

Ummm all of them, haha. I don't even know where to begin here, there are soo many sides to studying abroad.There are stories of travel, miss communication, culture, night life, making new friends, exploring, and so much more.

What made this experience unique and special?

You are getting to live in another country, with out having to worry about all the things that adulthood will one day bring. Nothing is holding you back, you get to see a place in the world and actually experience it. You're also learning skill you never knew you had or could have.

Going abroad knowing no one can seem scary but trust me, you'll make friends. I loved freshman year of college and to me the first weeks of studying abroad were just that. Everyone wants to make new friends and lean all they can about you. The bond you make with the people on your program will be like no other you will ever have again. No one will ever understand what you guys went through.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Read-up on the place you’re going to live and places you are going to visit, and read more than one source. This is so important so you don’t miss anything and you can truly appreciate what you’re seeing.

This will also help you know what to pack. I packed a ton of heavy winter clothes after reading one source and when got to Torino it only snowed once, only one time, and here I was with the heaviest of winter clothes and hand warmers. So I ended up having to buy a lot of new clothes so I wouldn’t be sweat to death.

What is your favorite study abroad quote?

The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only one page

Did YOU study abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

Ryan: One of the main reasons I chose to study in Turin, Italy, was to connect with my family that is located in the southern end of Switzerland. Before gaining dual-citizenship between USA and Switzerland, I could only visit my family for a short period of time during the summer. Having the opportunity to study abroad, expanded not only my relationship with my family, but helped me see their daily lives and appreciate them in another way.

I also wanted to study abroad to meet new people. Through my language and business classes at Scuola di Amministrazione Aziendale (SAA), I was able to not only meet other USAC students, but students in the Erasmus program, and local Italians as well. One of the biggest satisfactions from studying abroad was the new bonds I made with family and friends.

What about the future of the industry? How do you think study abroad and international education will change over the next 10 years?

Ryan: I think studying abroad and international education will continue to make strides from a technological aspect. I have noticed more students are willing to study abroad because of accessibility to information and services they can receive instantly. Technology has not only made communication around the world easier (apps like Skype and WhatsApp), but more people are creating travel apps for smart phones and tablets that give you directions, popular locations to visit, translate languages, and book flights or hostels.

International education is beginning to embrace this by creating apps that let students easily access their program information and talk with other students who are going abroad. In the next 10 years, I see study abroad companies including more cultural, pre-departure, and re-entry information in their apps to help students adjust before, during, and after their study abroad.

What was your favorite traveling experience?

Ryan: My favorite traveling experience when I studied abroad would most likely be when USAC had arranged for the students to travel to Venice, Italy for Carnivale. Words can’t express how much fun and fascinating the experience was.

From seeing the different costumes and masks replicating the Renaissance era, to visiting a city that’s main mode of transportation is boat, it was truly a one of a kind. One of the best things about traveling to Venice was to be able to do this with friends. Exploring the city’s many confusing routes and enjoying some of the freshest seafood I have ate, made for a memory I won’t forget.

Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of the USAC team.

Ryan: A situation arose recently where an airline had cancelled our optional group flight we offer to students two days before the program started in Italy. With the help of the travel agency we book our group flight through, the resident directors of the program site, and me, we coordinated a new alternative solution for the students.

Not only was a new group flight created, but the resident directors and I worked with students who booked individual flights and coordinated where they needed to arrive and let them know if other students would be arriving around the same time so they could travel to the program site together. It was rewarding to see that all students arrived safely and the USAC staff had kept its composure dealing with a difficult task.