One of the main things I’ve heard from others studying abroad is how easy and affordable it is to travel Europe. I think this is true to some extent but, as we’re approaching the end of the semester, my group has decided that it is okay to take a weekend off in-between trips! We’ve seen some truly, incredibly breathtaking places, but our bodies are constantly telling us to slow down.

Beautiful Palermo, Sicily

At the beginning, we all felt as though we had to utilize every weekend and go somewhere we’d never been before, but now I’m reminding myself that I need to explore my home city! Taking a weekend to feel like you belong where you’ve chosen to stay is so important. There are tons of things to do in and around your home base that you will regret not doing just because you felt like you had to rush around Europe. Don’t get me wrong, if you stay in too many weekends you will definitely feel the homesickness hit you hard, but take a look outside your window and ground yourself for a second.

View from Path of the Gods

We went to Greece for Fall Break and it was so beautiful. However, it was a lot longer than we were used to traveling and by the end of the week we were ready to come home. We’ve decided the three day weekend is a perfect amount of time to explore a city and come home feeling refreshed. Study abroad is such a life changing experience unlike any other. Don’t rush through it – make every day count!

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Frances was a fall 2017 SAI Sorrento student from Belmont University.