Summer on the Amalfi Coast

I went into this experience planning on going to Greece. I had everything scheduled, and then was informed that they ended up dropping the photography class that I was very anxious to take. I then went into a mind set of just looking through programs that offered photography, and came across Sorrento. I had actually never heard of Sorrento before finding out about the program and doing my research. I agreed and signed up, which ended up being one of the best decisions I have ever made. Growing up, I wasn't even keen on spending the night at my friends houses, much less spending weeks somewhere foreign, but I decided it was time to experience something other than the midwest. No one from my university joined me, I didn't know anyone in the program, and I flew out there alone. 5,000+ miles away from anything that I was comfortable with for 5 weeks, and by the time my weeks were up, I didn't want to leave. The people, the culture, the food, and the scenery were indescribable. The university/learning environment was awesome and I learned more in those 5 weeks than some of my semester programs. We were also fortunate to live in apartments around town as apposed to the dorms, which really gave us the full living experience. The group of American students who were in the same area studying/interning ending up being some of the most amazing people I had ever met. I had made life long friends, that I still talk to a year later, in that hectic 5 week period. We were all in the same mindset to do anything and everything that we could with each day that we had in that beautiful place. I found people who were willing to travel, hike, experience the night life with, jump off cliffs, and I even found two people crazy enough to ride a bus for 4 hours to jump out of a plane at over 14,000 feet! Free-falling along the Amalfi Coast is an experience that I wish I could give to everyone, because you never experience life more until it is happening right in front of you. Along with my external experiences, I couldn't even begin to justly explain what I learned about myself while there. I am more driven to experience life, confident in myself and who I am, and socially equipped to handle any situation just because of my experiences abroad. My only tip for people who would even consider going abroad is to just do it. It is scary and incredibly stressful leading up to the experience, but if you just continue to see that this will be the most amazing learning experience you will ever have, you will be just fine. Do your research about the area before you go, learn some of the language beforehand (especially things that would help in an emergency), be incredibly social and open to the people around you, and experience everything that you can while you are there. The time will fly by incredibly fast and then you will have to return home. Take risks, but don't do anything stupid enough to get you into big trouble. Look out for those around you and they will look out for you. Try all the foods, even the weird looking ones because those might end up being the most delicious. Make friends within the local community, because as easy as it is to relate to the Americans that are there with you, it means so much more to the locals if you attempt to make a connection with them. Most of all, just have fun and be your most authentic you. I promise it will be a blast.