Brooke was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. She is a current student at University of South Carolina studying at Sant’Anna Institute (SA) in Sorrento, Italy during the Spring 2015 term.

Tell us why you chose to study abroad.
When it comes to my choice of whether or not to study abroad, it was an easy one to make. When else am I going to be able to put my life on hold and live in Italy for 4 months? I don’t like that the answer is probably never, but realistically I’m going to make sure I take full advantage of this opportunity.

Tell us about your school, major, interests, clubs (you in a nutshell).
I am a junior at the University of South Carolina studying both marketing and management at the Darla Moore School of Business. I recently became an ambassador for the business school which includes giving tours of the new school to alumni and prospective students. Along with being a business student, I am also an Art Studio minor with a concentration in painting. Art has always been one of my favorite hobbies and I plan on continuing to do my own, as well as exploring others, while abroad.

Another interest that I have is reading. When I’m not addicted to a new series on Netflix, or hanging out with friends, I love to explore a new book. I have a long list of books that I have read and an even longer list of books that I want to read.

A great day for me would be spent on the beach with a great book, but this doesn’t mean I don’t love an adventure. Traveling has become my passion, and even though my funds are limited as a college student, I have tried to do as much as I can recently. I’m definitely one of those people that would choose to spend money on experiences, such as travel and concerts, instead of material things.

What are you most excited about re. studying abroad?
Honestly, everything excites me about studying abroad. I can’t wait to experience as much as I possible can during the time I have. I want to try as many foods that I can, visit as many cities as I can, and truly make the most of every moment I have in Sorrento. I have an ever growing list of places I want to visit, but I also want to truly immerse myself in the culture of my host city. I plan on leaving Italy feeling like a local and/or like I am leaving a second home.

What are you most nervous about re. studying abroad?
I think I’m most nervous about being out of my comfort zone. I feel the first couple days will be difficult to adjust (different time zone, new people, new place, etc.). I don’t like feeling uncomfortable, no one does, and I know that will be case in the first couple of days.

What are three goals that you would like to achieve/accomplish while abroad?
My three goals consist of things I want to personally overcome.

1. My first goal is something that I want to accomplish before I jet off to Italy and while I am there. I want to do my best to learn as much Italian as I can in order to be able to communicate with locals. Though it may be common of Europeans to be familiar with English, I want to be able to communicate as best I can with locals in their native language.
2. Secondly, I want to take chances and live out of my comfort zone (with food, travel, etc.). I don’t want to look back on this experience abroad and think, “I wish I would have… (fill in the blank)”. That’s no way to go through life as it is, and that’s definitely no way to take advantage of 4 months in a foreign country.
3. Lastly, like I mentioned before, I want to leave Sorrento feeling like I am leaving a second home. I want to feel as if I took advantage of doing everything I could possible do in my host city.