This was one of the greatest experiences I have ever had especially due to all the amazing people on the trip with me. When I first arrived at the airport I was a little nervous as I didn’t know anyone going on the trip. As soon as I got in line to check in though, I was greeted by my teachers and a couple students. My nervous thoughts were instantly gone and I made a good amount of friends the next couple days.

I loved all the scenery in Rome and Florence. Never was there a time where I got the chance to be bored. I was constantly admiring buildings such as the colosseum, the leaning tower of pisa, the catholic church, and the catacombs. I think one of my most vivid memories was when me and a couple of my friends had free time at night. We walked around in Rome and went to a local grocery store. The things I found inside were things I could never get at my Publix here in florida. I ended up getting a pistachio pesto, some pasta, and chocolate filled croissants. The reason that night was so fun was because of the light rain. It almost felt like I was in a movie.

Another thing I loved about this trip was the delicious food. Every morning I had some sort of pastry with eggs or sausage. For my lunches I was able to go to local corenerstores and try the most amazing sandwiches or pizza. For our paid dinners we always had a pasta dish and a meat dish. But I think my favorite food memory was towards the end of the trip when we did out gelato tasting. The lady who was giving us a full breakdown of how gelato was made actually made some in front of us. My favorite flavor was definitely mango as it was a flavor I had never had before. Overall I had the best time and am already missing it.
– Arsh, SPC Italy (High School) Study Abroad Program, March 2024