I recited the same story countless times to family, friends, acquaintances, and
strangers in the two years leading up to my departure from Montgomery, Alabama and
arrival to Ariccia, Italy. “I’m going to study abroad in Italy for three whole months!” But,
no matter how many times I said it, it never actually felt real. I had never left the country,
or even the south of the United States for that matter. I wanted to go to Italy for as long
as I could remember and I even signed up for this program my first semester as a
freshman at Auburn.

I completely idolised the experience of visiting another country such as Italy, but
as my flight got closer, I began to feel some serious anxiety about my decision. I did not
know one person going into this experience and I had not flown since I was a child, let
alone by myself. It seemed insane what I had signed up for the closer the time got. This
program was something completely out of my comfort zone and like nothing I had ever
done before. I was very anxious about how different things would be in such a foreign
place and how alone I would be without anyone I know coming along with me.
Once I arrived in Ariccia, the reality of my situation didn’t set in until a few weeks
into the program, if I’m being honest. Some of my fears were realized and the
adjustment curve was steep, but I soon began to settle into my new way of life. I
established routines, found new favorite foods, made great friends, and got comfortable
with navigating and using public transportation. I have gotten to see so many beautiful
things and have learned so much already. I’ve had the opportunity to practice my Italian
in an immersive way that I would not have been able to elsewhere. I’ve discovered
aspects about myself that I never would have if I hadn’t decided to take a step into the
unknown.

There were definitely lots of moments where I felt like giving up and catching the
next flight back, but I would not trade the experience I have had for anything. I have
grown more in the past seven weeks than I have from any other experience I can
remember. My resolve has been tested physically, mentally, socially, academically, and
more since I arrived in Ariccia. I remember writing in my first journal entry for week one
that I knew I would leave this program much differently than I came into it, and I can
already tell that will be true.

As of now, I am more than half-way through my time in Ariccia, and I believe that
the coin has flipped. I can see the brighter side of things and I am now comfortable and
see the Chigi Palace as a home away from home. I won’t lie and say that I don’t miss
my home in the United States, but I’m now completely open to soaking in all of the time
and experiences that I have left in this special place.

Melisa Strickland

– The Ponte Monumentale di Ariccia at sunset on January 31, 2024

Coming into this program, I was excited to put my excel sheets aside and discover a new learning perspective amongst a new array of students in a hands-on classroom contrary to the computer labs I am accustomed to. As a finance major, this program which entails attaining a minor in Humanities Studies was not marketed in our major curriculum or by any of our professors, but I set out to find a study abroad program in Auburn that would offer me a hands-on cultural experience before going into the banking corporate world. Coming to Ariccia has offered me exactly what I was looking for, a challenging journey with new experiences that accentuate and force the growth of my creative abilities.

Originally, I was very nervous to be amidst predominantly fashion merchandising and interior design majors, coming from classes where all of my tests were building financial models in excel. This curriculum has allowed me to develop a new perspective and expand my once naive thoughts to a lot of cultural concepts including religion, diet, fashion sustainability, and art. What I have appreciated the most is the thought-provoking design that encourages us, as students, to be able to think about the meaning and impact behind what our bare eye initially sees. It goes way beyond just seeing beautiful sights on field trips and teaches us where these cities are derived from and what actions and thoughts went into cultivating the beautiful landscapes and diverse cultures. I have found the perfect balance between being able to showcase my financial skills while also integrating myself in a humanities curriculum through our Elevate Ariccia project. I am getting the opportunity to help build an urban development business proposal which is allowing me to harmonize my talents with the new skills I am building each day.

There is also so much to learn from the other students around me and my environment. I feel like I am truly out of my comfort zone in the best way possible. In my finance classes back in Auburn, all of the other students fit a certain mold and mindset that does not allow for a lot of variety in perspectives. It is easy to fall back into comfort and reach a standstill when all of your peers around you share the same opinion and outlooks. It does not allow for any factual counter-arguments or stimulating observations. The amount of hospitality and intrinsic creative curiosity amongst the other students around me has truly taught me how to learn and adapt in a different format. It also has impacted me to be in the Chigi Palace and around so much beauty constantly. As someone who has always been concerned about how to get the highest rate of return or close a deal that results in revenue growth and increased relationships, it is nice to slow down and listen to outside perspectives while taking in the stillness of the beauty around me. I think these tools and resources that I have gained since being in Ariccia are going to serve as an asset as I start my working professional career upon graduation.

Angela Makuck

This is me with my film camera capturing the beauty around me.

My freshman year at Auburn University was one of the happiest moments in my life, particularly because that was the day, I signed up to study abroad with the JSB Program. Within my three weeks of being here, I feel much more confident about life after graduation and the opportunities that await me. I initially signed up to study abroad for the opportunity to travel and my love for change, but the self-development I have experienced is the best reward yet.

After my first week in Ariccia, my self-awareness grew as I experienced what it was like being a minority in a foreign country. Unfamiliar with the main language and customs, I often was humbled in the many mistakes I made. Luckily, the locals of Ariccia were expecting our arrival and would kindly offer help when we needed it. I never asked the elderly man to help me withdraw money from the ATM or the store owner who taught me how to order properly, but they did, and so generously. Through these experiences, I’ve realized how hard it must be to move to the United States, learn the language, and to adapt the customs.

The stories of strangers I heard during my second week in Ariccia changed my entire perspective of life after graduation. As our group traveled around Ariccia’s neighbouring towns (the Castelli Romani area), I engaged with many business owners and learned a lot about betting on yourself. One small jewelry store owner encouraged my friends and I to follow our hearts in our career. After working a corporate job for twenty years, she quit unexpectedly and decided to open her own store in the countryside. She claims she’s the happiest she’s ever been. It was extremely refreshing to hear this because there are endless amounts of pressure to be rich or successful back home. Sometimes Americans will base their whole life around their career and while I do strive for success, this stranger encouraged me to follow my heart.

As this third week comes to an end, I am so graciously thankful for the other students that are here with me. I have learned quite a lot about the importance of compliments and little acts of kindness. While exploring Castel Gandolfo (a neighboring town of Ariccia), one of the girls complimented me on my laugh and how it always made her giggle when she heard it. My heart was filled with so much joy and it easily became the best compliment I’ve ever received. It’s the act of noticing the things about one another that I find extremely special. Three weeks I’ve been here in Ariccia, but the people are making it feel so much like a home. Sometimes, I wish time would slow down a little bit more because I dread the morning I wake up and it will be my last day here. Meeting and getting to know the faculty, locals, and students has built many of my personal skills and I am looking forward to all the discoveries and lessons yet to learn.

Ava Caroline Lewis

A beautiful sunset picture of Castel Gandolfo, a neighboring town of Ariccia.

Traveling over 5,000 miles away from a place I have called home for all my life, to a new country that speaks a totally different language than I do, was definitely an experience I was nervous about but also excited. There have been a few different occurrences where I have had to make new places home (like going to college), but never somewhere quite as far as Ariccia, Italy. As we embark on our last few weeks in this wonderful, quaint town, I can confidently say that this place feels like home. There are many reasons why Ariccia is so easy to call home.

I think in order to make a new place or country feel more comfortable and like I am home, it is important to reintroduce familiar routines and habits to help create a homey setting. For example, decorating my bedroom area with some personal artwork, as well as some pictures of friends and family help create the feeling of home. To feel more comfortable, especially at the start of moving to Ariccia, it was important to me to have foods from home that I knew I enjoyed and gave me a sense of comfort. However, to fit in with Ariccia and make this town a new home, trying their foods that are a delicacy to the town was very fun. Specifically porchetta di Ariccia, which has become one of my new favorite things. Trying the foods and creating a home-like setting are just a few of the things I have done to help make Ariccia feel like my new home. However, there are many other things that have contributed to this sense of belonging to the town.

A key part in making a new place home is engaging and getting involved with the community. Although I do not speak Italian fluently, it has been a joy and a pleasure to be able to engage with the wonderful community of Ariccia. Through our semester-long project, Elevate Ariccia, I have gotten to engage with the community during English nights, a sip and sketch night, as well as going to the senior center and getting to know some of the elders in the community. Getting to know the members of the community in this way has made Ariccia a joyous place to live. Although these events are great to get to know the people in the town, one of my favorite activities is to go and sit at Antico’s Cafè every morning and be welcomed by the friendly faces who work there. Abu, Paulo, and his family, are one of the leading factors to Ariccia being a place I can happily call home. From the beginning they have welcomed me with open arms and always have a smile on their face. Everytime I step through the doors to the cafè, it is as if I am walking into a friend’s house.

I have been so fortunate as to get to live in this town, meet all the wonderful members of the community, and call this place home. All of these factors and more are how I have made Ariccia my home away from home. I am so sad to leave, but I know that whenever I come back, it will be like coming back home.

Ashby Lambert

View of the amazing sunsets from the main square in Ariccia!

After only two and a half weeks of being in Ariccia, I have experienced so many incredible things that I could only dream of before. The day we got to Italy I travelled for so many hours and felt a lot of exhaustion, but I will never forget the feeling of driving across the bridge and seeing the city for the first time. The bridge was bathed in golden light, and the palace was surrounded by beautiful a forest full of colors. After unpacking and finally having a good night’s rest, we were finally able to explore our home for the next few months. The small town of Ariccia has such a wholesome and pleasant atmosphere that makes me feel so comfortable being here in Italy.

Traveling has always been a huge dream of mine, and I have already visited so much since being here. This includes Rome, different parts of the Castelli Romani, and Bologna. Each of these places gave me an inside view of Italian culture in new and exciting ways. I was bewildered seeing ancient structures scattered across every city, each one telling the story of a different time. Our Rome Scavenger Hunt introduced me to so many breathtaking monuments and structures, and stepping off the train and seeing the Colosseum for the first time was probably what made me have my “I can’t believe I am here!” moment.

Also, being in the main square of Bologna, listening to street performers play music at sunset is one of the most surreal moments of my life. The city itself was so full of life and laughter it made me feel a new sense of belonging. Last week we were able to meet with many locals throughout the Castel Romani, and it allowed me to better relate to their lives and connect with them. For instance, we met a restaurant owner in Castel Gandolfo, and he described the delightful ways he connects with his community as well as his passion for his work. He also served some of the best fettuccine I had in my entire life!

One of the most valuable experiences I have had so far is going to the local high school and getting to know some of the students. As soon as I stepped into the building I felt very out of my element, but I was still eager to meet more members of the community. I loved getting to know the daily lives of each student and hearing the questions they had for me about American culture. It was amazing to hear how much English they knew, and it makes me want to continue to progress in my Italian. Communication is so important when adjusting to a new environment, and my goal is to be able to hold a thoughtful conversation in Italian by the end of the semester.

Although I love my time in Ariccia so far, it has been a bit of an adjustment. Meeting new people, trying new foods, and learning new things all have opened me up to a whole new world around me. I can’t wait to continue my journey and become more courageous and take risks. I am having so many unique experiences and emotions, that at times I feel like I am in a fairy tale waiting for my next adventure.

-Emma Kimball

Seeing the sunset from the clock tower in Bologna!

Over the past three weeks of being in Ariccia, we have learned all about Italian culture and have had so many new experiences. I have had a lot of time to think back on my life at home, and how I haven’t had any chance to be uncomfortable or break out of my shell. Growing up, I always picked the safest choice, even if it wasn’t the right one. Choosing to embark on this once-in-a- lifetime adventure, has opened my eyes to so much more than I could have ever imagined, and we aren’t even halfway done.

Before my plane to Ariccia, I had never felt so nervous about something in my life. I had never been away from home for more than a few weeks, much less out of the country! Packing all of my life into three tiny suitcases made the feeling all the more real, and soon enough after winter break it was time to head off. It was a whole new journey and saying goodbye to my loved ones made me rethink my choice to Study Abroad.

Once we landed in Italy, I knew immediately that I had made the best decision of my college career. The sheer excitement and unfamiliarity I experienced were like no other, and I was ready to take on whatever came my way. During these first few weeks, we have met all sorts of new people and tried new foods, such as polenta and carbonara! I think my favorite was making the carbonara and learning how to incorporate eggs into a pasta sauce. Learning Italian and trying it on the community has been a scary, but wonderful way to gain familiarity with the town as well. I would have never thought that I would be the type of person to leap at new opportunities and learn new languages, but something about Ariccia and the positive energy created here makes you want to be the best version of yourself.

Talking to the community members of Ariccia has been one of my favorite parts of Study Abroad so far. We have learned all about the lives of people who have lived here for 6 years, and also 60 years! They have all had great stories about their childhood, and it has been so eye-opening to hear the differences between growing up here versus in America. I have always been known as the shy friend, and I am not one to speak up first, but one of my goals on this experience was to become more confident with myself. Being able to branch out and experience the unknown with such an uplifting environment makes all of the uncomfortableness and awkwardness go straight out the window.

After only being in Ariccia for a short time, I know there is so much more to experience with this program. I cannot wait to see what is in store for me and my friends while we are here. Ariccia is truly a special place, and I believe that it is such a blessing to be able to call it my home for the next three months.

– Anna Denney

I loved being able to experience all of the beauty within Italy. I have never been to so many
museums.

Italy is the heart of European culture she is home to sites such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon representing the ancient world. While also housing The Ecstasy of St. Theresa and Basilica of Sant’Andrea della Valle to represent the Baroque world. However, my greatest interest in Italy has been the food which is offered. It is unlike anything that I have tasted before. Being based in Ariccia I have tasted Porchetta, a succulent pork roast, which represents the essence of this quaint town even being honored with a festival every year. I have found it is best when trying on a Panino, which is the proper name for a singular panini, served with Buffalo Mozzarella and some of the seasonal vegetables, right now it is chicory (known as chicoria here). You can’t come to Italy though without trying some homemade pasta and believe me there is a huge difference between what is served here and what is available in the United States.

In the Lazio Region there are 4 main pastas that almost every restaurant has: Cacio e Pepe, Gricia, Carbonara, and Amatriciana. The best part about these pastas is that they all start with the same basic ingredients of Pecorino and Pepper each then builds upon each other with more ingredients to make a more complex pasta, this is fun to anyone who is interested in food and developing of flavors like me. The first is Cacio e Pepe, which has only cheese and pepper, then to move to Gricia by adding Guanciale to the previous dish. After, this is where you can choose one of two ways to have a more creamy and rich pasta one can add eggs to Gricia and you would get Carbonara, or you can add tomatoes and red pepper flakes to get Amatriciana. Amatriciana is my personal favorite due to its depth of flavor beyond creamy through a savory flavor with a light spice to add to the dish.

However, during our time here so far, we have gone to 3 other regions all having different food cultures than Lazio. In the Abruzzo region, where we went on a day trip, we got to try a pasta with Saffron which is only grown in this region in Italy and is actually protected by the DOP, Denominazione d’Origine Protetta, Status meaning that to bear its name it must be grown in the Abruzzo region of Italy.

Moving north of there we enter Emilia-Romagna where we visited Bologna, the capital of this region. In this area we found a heavy base in the ragu sauce. Not the one that we can by in the store in the US but instead it was what we in the US call Bolognese as it is a meat-based sauce with tomatoes. Additionally, they are very famous for their meat filled Tortellini that is often served in a meat broth. Personally, I really enjoyed mixing the two so having my Tortellini in the ragu sauce.

The final region we have visited, and likely the most famous for their food, was the Campania region where we visited Naples. Now the obvious answer here for food in Naples is the Neapolitan Pizza that must be cooked in a wood oven. When we visited the area, I had enjoyed the Margherita Pizza, which is named after Queen Margherita and resembles the Italian Flag. As you can see, we are only through four weeks of classes and have experienced so much food culture across the many regions of Italy. As we continue through the remainder of the semester, I look forward to eating more food across all of Italy. Buon Appetite!!

Shane Berner

This dish is one of the 4 pastas of the Lazio Region. This dish is known as Carbonara and can generally be served with any form of pasta. Traditionally though you will see it served with long noodles such as Spaghetti or Bucatini. The star to this dish is the Guanciale made from pork cheek.

Leaving your family, friends, home, and routine can be uncomfortable, especially when walking into the unknown. When I stepped onto my flight to Rome, I was scared not knowing what my life would look like. I was worried I would struggle to live with so many people. The thought of sharing a room, a bathroom, the kitchen, and trying to plan trips, dinners, and coffee runs made me anxious. I’m so used to having the same schedule each week, my own room, and overall my own life that is separate from my friends.

All of my friends coming to this program told me how excited they were to study in Italy and take weekend trips all over Europe. They had talked about how excited they were to travel all over Italy, and travel to countries like France and Spain. All my friends who have previously studied abroad told me how amazing and life-changing studying and living abroad was, but I was still unsure of what lay ahead of me.

When I arrived, I was overwhelmed. I had asked all of my friends who had studied abroad in the past about their experiences, but even upon arrival, I could tell my experience would be entirely different from theirs. At first, I struggled to get acclimated. My nightly routine, from bedtime to shower time, hinged on the schedules of others, forming a routine of its own. I woke up at the same time as my friends, went to coffee together, and attended all of our classes together.
Whenever I wanted to take a trip somewhere, there was at least one friend eager to come with me, and occasionally numerous friends were enthusiastic about exploring the same destination. When you spend 24 hours a day every day for 3 months, you get to know one another really well, and you always have someone to talk to, do homework with, or grab a coffee with. You also get to have once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will bond you forever. They become more than just friends, they become almost like your best friends and siblings all in one.

I’ve always struggled not having a routine and a space to call my own, so despite all the amazing and wonderful things I had seen and read about the JSB study abroad program, I was hesitant. So, if you are also worried about not having a routine or a space to call your own, and you are reading this blog trying to decide if you want to do the JSB study abroad program, then this is your sign to do it. The experiences and friends you make within and outside of the program are a once-in-a-lifetime experience you will never regret.

It’s only 3 weeks in and I already feel like time is going too fast, and now looking back on my feelings that I had my first week, I am glad that my experience with the JSB study abroad program is a unique and different experience than my friends. I’ve gained more than just 13 roommates in my study abroad program, I’ve gained a family.

Maddie Ball

— The JSB Spring 2024 Family Goes to Pompeii