I can hardly believe I am already looking back on March and getting ready to leave for Spring Break! Another month down abroad and so many more memories to look back and smile on. The first weekend of March my roommate and I traveled to Cinque Terre.  It was absolutely breathtaking and it was nice to get out of the city for a while and be on the coast. One of the five islands, Vernazza we climbed through a small cave to find a small beach where huge waves were crashing up on the rocks. Traveling Europe has really sparked my adventurous side and taught me to loosen up and be more patient about things that may normally frustrate me back at home. We were able to see 4 of the 5 islands and ended up having a fantastic day despite missing our first train and a little bit of rain throughout the day.

In March we also traveled to Tuscany, Pisa, Siena, and Lucca – an included excursion with SAI. The study abroad program this semester in Milan is very small so we have had the chance to become close friends with everyone and most the people in our program were able to come. It was such a fun and relaxing weekend and Tuscany was absolutely beautiful and so different than anywhere I have been yet.

Another highlight of March was meeting some new Italian friends who have taught me so much more about the culture of Italy. They ended up inviting my roommates and I to a dinner party–we all sat in a circle in the living room and discussed so many different things and ate and laughed, it felt like a scene out of a movie. The next thing I know 4 hours passed and 5 courses of dinner later and it was time to leave.  I feel infinitely thankful for the sweet new friends I have made during my time in Milan.

Claire, University of South Carolina