This summer, 2018, students who were SPC early college, dual enrollment, early admission and/or collegiate high school studied in Italy! SPC High School student Chase Wilson share his journal entries during study abroad and after arriving back home in the states:

“In country reflections:  As soon as I arrived in Rome, I was awestruck. There were ethnicity and religions present all around me and there was a sense of diversity unlike anything I have ever experienced. When we got on the bus and began riding to the hotel, I could not take my eyes off the stunning landscape. After we dropped our bags off at the hotel, we began the very short walk the St. Peter’s square to watch Pope Francis give his Sunday blessings to the people of Rome. Just as we began walking we stopped at one of the many aqueduct supplied water fountains, the water was incredibly refreshing. When we finally got to St. Peter’s Square, I was confused at first because everyone was just standing around looking up at a seemingly uneventful building. After five minutes of fascination while observing the many statues around and the many cultures of the people present, I heard a loud cheering begin to erupt, I turned around and there he was at the top floor window waving to the crowd, Pope Francis himself. Although I am not the religious type, chills and goosebumps overran me and all I could do was look on and smile. We listened as the Pope addressed the people of Rome and offered his blessing. The service lasted about 10 minutes and when he was finished, the people of Rome continued their days. When we finally went for dinner, the pasta was divine, I have never tasted tomato sauce, bacon, or pasta as savory as it was at that restaurant. The many simple flavors came together to create an orchestra of taste that left me all but satisfied when the plate was empty. Luckily, the flavor train did not end there! Next was the tiramisu! Although I am not a huge coffee person, I adored the espresso soaked cake and everything else within. The flavors, once again, came together to create a profound mixture of flavor.

The third day started off with a very wonderful class session that really tied together the way religion and certain aspects of international relations has effected Rome. For example, we discussed the symbolism of certain imagery and depictions we saw in different churches and landmarks and it really enhanced my understanding of the whole subject. We were also able to see the effects of terrorism as there are armed guards located around major landmarks or large meeting areas to monitor the people to keep the peace. After class, we met our tour guide and we made our way to take a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica. I had only examined the building from afar, but as we inched our way closer I became overcome by its hugeness. The symbolism related to the immense size of the building is all too clear; the building was meant to dwarf humans because it is a representation of God himself. When we made our way inside, the carvings on the walls and ceilings were incredible, the size and depth of the building was impossible to look away. At the very top, the view was completely unlike anything I have ever seen. In my opinion, the Empire State building has nothing on the view from the top of the dome. From there I could see everything; all of the old-style houses and buildings, the many other famous landmarks and everything filled me with awe. While at the top, I met a small group of nuns from the order of the Imitation of Jesus and got to take a picture with them. Being able to see so many people with so many different backgrounds, traditions, and beliefs is truly fascinating for me.

Stateside reflections: After coming home and finally making sense of the past 10 days and the overwhelming excitement and learning I can finally formulate my thoughts properly. My trip to Italy was absolutely one of the best experiences of my young life. Being completely immersed in a completely new and different culture brings out so many emotions and feelings I’ve never felt before. I am a very passionate learner and I am driven by the desire to learn more, and just visiting Rome for 10 days I feel as if I have learned so much. Whether it be about the culture and the customs of the people living there, or about myself and my inner desire to see more of the world. The best part about this trip wasn’t just seeing all the historic monuments and tourist attractions, for me it was creating lasting bonds with new people and exploring Rome on our own terms. In other words, getting free time at the end of every day to explore and walk around with my friends was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The whole trip seemed to be a blur but looking back at all the pictures brings back the memories, the laughs, and the learning associated with each of them. There was never a dull moment in Rome and we were always on the move seeing different things, meeting different people, and trying new foods. In a way, it doesn’t seem right to pick a favorite moment because, just in case I haven’t made it clear, every single second had me on my toes and I was constantly ready to walk around and see everything I could. The teachers and the guides we had made the whole trip so much better. I recall one of our guides, Fabio, was a very personable and amusing guide, he carried around a lightsaber so we always knew what to look for and we all sang the imperial march as we were walking and it was just a very warm and friendly experience to have. Our other main tour guide Anna always sat at a different dinner table so that she could meet and talk to each one of us and she cared so much about our group and would go to great lengths to make sure we were all satisfied. In conclusion, Italy was beyond any words I could find to describe it and if given the chance, I would live there in a bush for the rest of my life with no regrets.

On the fifth day, we were able to explore the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and the Tiber River. The day started with just a short but scenic walk to the entrance of the Vatican Museum. The line was stretching quite a way which instantly told me that it was a very popular, must-see tourist spot. The Vatican Museum is the second largest museum in the world and it is a must if you are in Rome. The time flew by because I was kept company by the other students in line and we strengthened the connections we’ve made so far. When we eventually got into the museum I was already feeling very excited by the few art pieces along the way to the top of the building where the real museum begins. When we reached the top, our tour guide gave us a synopsis of the things we were going to see ranging from statues to carvings, the Sistine Chapel to Papal weaponry. The first long hallway we were in had busts and statues lining the walls for what seemed like a mile, there was so much to look at all at one time. As we made our way through we stopped at a few as our guide explained the history and importance. After that hallway, we kept venturing through many hallways, all with very intricate carving and painting adorning the ceilings. It was an absolute spectacle. When we finally began nearing the end we walked through a couple short hallways until finally coming out under the immense size and beautiful paintwork of the Sistine Chapel. The Sistine Chapel is one of those things you’ll never be able to describe because there is so many little details and they all fit together to create the true image. Today was amazing and I cannot get enough of the history and culture Rome has to offer.”- Chase Wilson, SPC High School student, Italy 2018