Author: Chloee Gallamore | Major: Agriculture Business | Semester: Summer 2024
Capri Boat Tour
My name is Chloee Gallamore, and I attend the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where I study Agricultural Business and Marketing Management. After being invited to join the Honors College program at my university, I quickly accepted, primarily because they help fund study abroad opportunities. This had always been a dream of mine, but the expense had kept me from pursuing it. In the spring of 2024, I decided to participate in the CIS Summer on the Italian Coast program, following a recommendation from my study abroad advisor. While other programs seemed appealing, none excited me as much as this one. The moment discovered it, I knew it was perfect. I eagerly signed up and began sharing the news with my family and friends about my upcoming adventure, including my school and dorm situated right on the Italian coast. Thanks to
scholarships, I was able to cover most of my program expenses, which was incredibly helpful.
This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad for five weeks in Sorrento, Italy, where I took enjoyable classes that counted towards my elective credits. I enrolled in the History of the Mafia to delve into Italian history and Drawing on Location to enhance my art skills and create handmade paintings of Italy.
Initially, I was a bit disappointed to learn that my two classes were three and four hours long, two days a week, with some field trips lasting around eight hours. I worried about missing out on time to explore Italy. However, I ended up loving both of my classes and looked forward to attending each session. The professor for History of the Mafia was hilarious and made the class and fun. The three-hour sessions flew by because I was so engrossed in the material. My favorite class, Drawing on Location, was a daily field trip in itself. We would start with skill practice in the classroom and then venture to beautiful spots in Sorrento to draw. Our professor introduced us to many hidden gems in the area, which I later shared with friends. She also helped me improve my painting skills, allowing me to create numerous beautiful pieces to gift to my family and friends.
After living in Sorrento and visiting several other cities in Italy, I am incredibly grateful for my choice. My friends and I often remarked on how much better Sorrento was after returning from a weekend or day trip. There was so much to see and do. My friend’s boss, who has lived in Sorrento for ten years, still hasn’t seen everything it has to offer. Living at Sant’Anna, we had the beautiful beach at Marina Grande just a five-minute walk away, the train and ferry stations a fifteen-minute walk, and the town square with hundreds of shops and restaurants only ten
minutes away. Sorrento was less busy than other places we visited, such as Capri, Florence, and Positano. Those cities were lively enough to have great nightlife and we met many people. We spent many days simply walking around and exploring Sorrento, enjoying its unique stores, beautiful cathedrals, museums, and countless delicious restaurants. My friends and I are already planning to move back to Sorrento after college because we loved it so much.
My greatest success during my time abroad was meeting all of my amazing new friends. I was extremely nervous about studying abroad alone, in a new country, and not being able to return home easily. Although I am an outgoing person, I sometimes struggle to step out of my comfort zone. After five weeks in Italy, I met some of my best friends and formed incredible relationships. I chose the five-week program thinking I would be homesick and to return home, but now I deeply regret not opting for the ten-week program. I am dreading the end of the
program and having to leave my new friends. If you are nervous about going abroad by yourself, don’t be! Everyone studying abroad wants to meet people and make friends. The housing in dorms and apartments and the group events make it easy to connect with other students and make plans together.
One thing I didn’t expect was the number of excursions included with the CIS program that other programs at Sant’Anna didn’t offer. I initially thought the program cost covered mainly housing and courses, but there was so much more. We got to experience wine tasting, gelato making, welcome and farewell dinners, a fisherman beach local experience with kayaks, a day at a beach club, and a day trip cruise to Amalfi, along with the excursions provided by Sant’Anna. All of these included food and drinks, and everyone had an amazing time. The program coordinators, Frankie and Emma, attended all events and were fantastic. They were fun and genuinely cared about all the students, always wanting to get to know us better. Minerva Micro-Credential Earning the Minerva Micro-Credential helped me get the most out of my program by encouraging me to dive deeper into various aspects of my trip. It provided an opportunity to reflect on what I learned while abroad, how it changed me, and whether it met my expectations. Answering the weekly questions allowed me to reminisce and appreciate my trip even more. It also pushed me out of my comfort zone, prompting me to do things I wouldn’t have done on my own, like asking a local about their pop culture. I thoroughly enjoyed the process of clearing my mind and writing about my study abroad experiences.