My trip to Italy was a trip that I will never forget. I had never been before, and it is where my family is from, so I was already very excited to see where my grandparents came from. I don’t travel well, meaning I get nervous on airplanes, but I felt very comfortable after takeoff.
On the first day, we took a trip to a few places in Rome with our tour guide, Andrea. I really liked Andrea because once you start up a conversation with him, you start to realize how much he knows and how knowledgeable he is about other cultures besides Italian culture. My favorite place we visited was Naples, even though we got very little time there and I wish we had gotten more time. Pompeii was extremely interesting and being able to view the ruins of the once bustling civilization was a bucket list opportunity. I also very much enjoyed having my daily cappuccinos, as the Italian coffee is unmatched. 

I think about the Spaghetti pomodoro I had for lunch near the Colosseum at least twice a day. The place my friends and I had the Spaghetti Pomodoro at was this very small, family-owned, slightly run-down establishment, and the owners were so genuine when giving us our food and were very kind when I attempted to order in Italian. 

I also very much enjoyed walking around the cities we visited and seeing the country and immersing myself in Italian culture during our allotted free time. Everyone I met in Italy was so kind and understanding when I struggled to communicate with them in the very little Italian that I knew. I had an amazing time at the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and the Basilica. I took the opportunity to pray while I was in the Basilica because my family is Catholic, and I felt a strong connection to the religion at that moment. To be able to walk down the same hallway the Pope walks down every day was truly life changing. I know that was not the last time I will go to Italy because I still have so much left to explore. 

Last but not least, the most life changing experience that I had the opportunity to experience in Italy was being able to see the Statue of David. The Statue of David has always been one of my favorite pieces of art of all time, so to be able to stand in front of him and fully observe the way he has been so carefully crafted, changed my view on sculpting forever.
– Lola, SPC Italy (High School) Study Abroad Program, March 2024