St. John's Global

Why Would I Travel Alone?

While studying abroad, we all make new friends and on weekends we plan trips to neighboring countries to see as much of the world as we can. There will be times when you may want to go somewhere that nobody else wants to go. This does not mean you shouldn’t go! By all means, pack your bags and see the world on your own! Just take a few precautions that I can help guide you on. Recently while studying abroad in Rome, my friends purchased a package to Pompeii and I decided to sit that trip out because my mom was coming to visit me in Rome and we already had a Pompeii tour planned, so why pay for it twice? I still wanted to get away for the weekend so I planned a trip by myself to the Amalfi Coast. The weather was going to be nice, and it was just a great weekend for a beach getaway. So let’s go over how to plan a solo trip, effectively.

The Location

Where you go on your solo holiday is very important. St. John’s sends out weekly travel warnings on areas you should avoid, this is for your own safety. Places around the world can be going through war times, natural disasters, or changes in political leaders which can all make the area unsafe for a college student traveling alone. Please note, that even with a group of people you should still avoid areas with travel warnings. So after doing your research on what you want to do, and you find a safe location that can satisfy your needs, figure out how to get there. GoEuro.com is a good place to start, they have plane, bus and train tickets for decently low prices to almost everywhere in Europe. Before booking your transportation be sure to find a place to stay. When I went to the Amalfi Coast, I found a bed & breakfast that came with a private room with a king sized bed for just $40 a night. No matter where you stay, be sure to check out the reviews of the place and don’t pick a place with no prior reviews, just for your own safety. I suggest booking a place close to the train/bus station since they’re usually centrally located.  You also want to make sure you have access to restaurants, shops, and local transportation.

Most Importantly…Have Fun

           Remember to enjoy yourself. While it is important to be cautious and vigilant, don’t be afraid to actually enjoy yourself. I suggest making a list of places you want to go and buying tickets for excursions, museums, and tours in advance so you have some sort of structure to your trip. Planning once you get there takes away from the time you will have to enjoy yourself! You will be seeing all the great sights the world has to offer. Take plenty of pictures and share your location at all times with 2-3 people abroad and your parents; spare them the worry. Bring emergency cash for an unprecedented taxi ride or if you’re in dire need of a gelato from a local cart. If you are going to a smaller town bring more cash because local vendors tend to not take credit cards. You may be a little nervous at first, but try to focus on all the independence you’re gaining and I’m sure you’ll walk with your head held just a tad bit higher. Travelling alone doesn’t have to be scary or expensive, if I can do it, so can you!

Studying abroad gives you an ample amount of time to visit other countries nearby your host country, letting you make the most out of your study abroad experience. Try to see as much as you can while you’re abroad because when else will you have the chance to spend 15 consecutive weeks in Europe? I can only write this article based off places I have personally visited and how my experience went but I’ll pass along tips and tricks that worked for me and that you can use too!

While visiting anywhere while abroad always try to stay as close to the city center as you can because that’s where all the attractions are and since you are going to only be there for a short time you want to get in as much as you can without wasting time on traveling to the attractions. When it comes to housing, airbnb.com, Hostel World, and Hosteling International are good if you’re looking for someplace inexpensive. Most importantly before going anywhere – do your research. Make sure where you are going is safe! Check what kind of currency they use – not everywhere uses euros! Map out what attractions you want to see and how much they’ll cost before you go – who knows you might even be able to get a better price or avoid a long line by booking in advance.

While in Paris, it was super cheap to visit Amsterdam by bus – tickets can be €20 or less if you schedule it early enough in advance. We stayed at a very nice place right outside the city center just a short walk from the tram into the city center. I would recommend going to the Anne Frank Museum and if you can make it into Amsterdam by Friday night, the Van Gogh Museum has a great night time tour/ mixer happening for a decent price – about €16. I also went to London while I was doing my 5 weeks in Paris. In London, I would recommend doing a traditional tea tasting, you can find really good deals on groupon.com. I found a tea tasting package that takes place on a boat with finger foods and pastries included and came with tickets to a boat cruise of London for less than €45. The boat cruise took us by the London Eye, Big Ben, and gave historical information on the big buildings along the water. I would recommend going to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and taking a stroll through Hyde Park.

While in Rome, my mother came to visit so I had a really good week of trips, that I didn’t have to pay for. We visited Pompeii on a package that took us on a guided tour and then a tour of the town Sorrento about 30 minutes away from Pompeii and it included lunch.  There are tons of packages that leave from Roma Termini (the main train station in Rome) and I would definitely recommend doing that.  I also went to Tuscany and a day trip to Pisa is worth the trip. You can even take one of those iconic photographs holding up the leaning tower!

While in Seville, I went on a trip to Morocco through a package with discoverexcursions.com. It was definitely my favorite trip from my whole study abroad experience, but it was also the most expensive. The trip was €200, which included transportation, a four-star hotel for 3 nights, all meals, a guided tour of the blue city of Chefchaouen, a camel ride on the Tangier Beach and a tour of the city of Tangier. The trip was worth every last dime! I know the Seville rotation will be ending this semester and students will be instead staying in Limerick, Ireland. I have never been to Limerick and unfortunately have no specific tips for where to go from there, but that’s the fun part. It’s a brand-new place with a whole new set of adventures to be discovered! Good luck on all your travels!

Before coming on my study abroad expedition, I never really knew what to expect from this whole journey. I had no idea I’d meet the people I have met and see the places I’ve seen.  I have heard the celebrated tales of study abroad; about it changing lives and making people grow. I didn’t believe I would change. Honestly, I thought I’d travel and just have a good time, but truthfully this experience has changed me forever. I have gained more insight to so many cultures. I have had to be responsible and manage everything from time, money, my health, and fun all by myself. If you ever felt like you needed something to make you jump start the “growing up” process within you, study abroad will force you to do just that.

Being separated from what you know – friends, family, food – you begin to realize who and what really matters to you. I missed my friends in New York a lot, but being away from them not only made me grow to appreciate them more, but also made me realize why I value them and appreciate having them in my daily life. I have contemplated many relationships I have and was able to decide which were beneficial to me and which ones were holding me back. The new friends I made during study abroad were unexpected, but a blessing. You see the world with people who you never even knew 15 weeks ago, and it brings you close to people you would’ve never taken a second look at on campus. I’m grateful for my little study abroad family and we all plan to keep in touch when we get back to St. John’s.

I personally wouldn’t change anything about my study abroad experience. If I had to do anything differently I probably would’ve saved up more money for this trip. I was definitely able to do all the things that I wanted to do, but I did have to practice budgeting. I think that is a good thing, especially for college students. This was the first time I had to really budget without my parents breathing down my neck and I had to take complete responsibility when it came to purchasing everything from daily meals, to plane tickets for weekend getaways. So, if you are studying abroad prepare to do a lot of “adulting” because while it is fun, you do have to think wisely about all your decisions.

If I could give advice to anyone thinking about studying abroad it would be to “just do it” – sorry Nike. With all of the excursions St. John’s offers, like walking tours, cooking classes, day trips outside the host city, and service opportunities, you will be doing a lot and you will feel tired all the time, but you didn’t come halfway across the world to stay in bed. You can sleep later. There is so much for you to see. Don’t waste a whole weekend in the campus building. my rule of thumb was to try and see one new thing or do something you’ve never done at least every other day. Try a new restaurant, ride the bus one stop further and see what’s there, go to that museum, take that weekend trip, do everything while you can. Although 15 weeks seems like a long time, I am baffled that my journey is at its end and I’m writing this. Make the most out of your study abroad experience, there’s nothing else quite like it.

As a study abroad alumna in my senior year of college, it is safe to say that going abroad is the best decision I have ever made. I traveled to Rome, Italy with the Global Passport Program, offered to first year students, as a freshman in May 2015. I then headed to Paris, France with the Staten Island Vice Provost Program as a sophomore in January 2016. Since these were only one week programs I was not expecting for my life to be impacted the way it was. I often find myself looking back into the thrilling blur of those week-long programs and catch smiling. How had I become so fortunate to be presented with an opportunity such as this? St. John’s has given me ample resources and possibilities for an enriched college and future career, but studying abroad has to be my highlight. It has enhanced my own personal growth and has given me a taste of the large world we are a part of. I decided to become a Global Studies Ambassador to pass along my knowledge, experiences, and profound gratefulness for study abroad to my fellow students. Although I have vastly grown due to my study abroad experience, there are several specific qualities I have attained while gallivanting through Rome and Paris and engaging the local cultures in my short time abroad.

In New York, we are lucky to be surrounded by different cultures, languages, customs and religions. Being and acting different is a part of what makes up our society. Abroad, it’s a whole other ballgame. You are in another country, another city, and you must be conscious of their society. In Paris you will draw attention by simply talking too loudly. There is often the stereotype that people may be rude or simply not like you in some places because you are an American. Yet, there are many people in other countries who actually love Americans! In Rome people would greet me and my classmates with kindness, joy, and even speak to us in English, knowing right off the bat that we were American. People would tell us stories about when they had gone to America or how much they wish to go. Always research the location you will be staying in to gain greater perspective and preparation of their culture. Did you know that most Italians, would never order a cappuccino after breakfast time (usually 10:00am)? Going abroad, you must learn to adapt and assimilate in order to be respectful but also for safety reasons. You want to have fun and an impeccable experience, but also to stay safe. Studying abroad has helped me gain adaptation and assimilation skills in unfamiliar situations which will be skills I’ll be able to use for the rest of my life.   

While being away from home and out of your own comfort zone, there is definitely more independence but also responsibility thrown your way. You might have to learn to navigate without Google maps or your parents’ directions, wash your own clothes if you don’t already, enhance your decision-making abilities (especially when it comes to your finances) and be courageous in a place you have never been. Although that might seem intimidating, do not be afraid to go alone. While gaining self-sufficiency and fulfilment, you also gain life-long companions. People bond through the experience of something new and unfamiliar. I vividly remember walking alone through the Rome campus on the first day, past a group of my peers that I had never really spoken to. One of them looked at me and asked if I had lunch yet. When I responded “no”, they invited me to go eat with them and we were inseparable the rest of the trip. Some of us ended up going to Paris together the following year. I still remain in contact with them and we love to reminisce about our memories abroad. They made the trip even more unforgettable and I utterly cherish their friendships to this day.  

As I reflect on my experience I recognize the consciousness and appreciation I have gained for the world. There were countless times I would stand in awe at the breathtaking sites before me. I can still feel my relaxed and serene state of mind every time I look through pictures or even think about my time abroad. The experience was absolutely surreal and a once (well, twice!) in a lifetime opportunity. While going through our everyday lives it is easy to lose track of all that is out there in the world. My problems become smaller as I think about the bigger world we are a part of. Heading off into the world of “adulting” you realize there is less time for soul searching and more time for soul selling. I was truly at peace and had become one with myself during my short time traveling. I am forever indebted to St. John’s for giving me that opportunity and fulfilment. My ONLY regret was not doing a full semester abroad because I feared all the responsibilities and things I would be leaving behind. My advice, be daring. Take on all opportunities presented to you. You will regret it if you don’t.

Buonasera! (This means good evening in Italiano) I have now been mixing my six years of perfect Spanish practice with Italian for almost three weeks. I didn’t need the school’s provided crash course on Italian Culture to realize that I didn’t fit in. My blonde hair and green eyes have become my trademark American symbol in this newfound home of mine. When any waiter, cashier, store owner or even pedestrian on the street spots me, they immediately want to test their English on me. Yet, I am still making the effort to learn the new language, even if everyone here speaks some English. I’ve come to realize that the locals really appreciate my effort even if it’s inaudible due to embarrassment. Me: “Buongiorno!” Store owner: “It’s night time, you say buonasera. Here, now you say it!” Me: “Boney Sarah”. And then they laugh and act like I’m learning.

Another newly discovered challenge is for my stomach.  Italian’s sometimes eat four separate meals daily—if they even qualify as meals: a small breakfast (Example: croissant or fresh fruit), lunch (which can be anything from a panino (sandwich) or pizza to a sit down 3-course meal at a restaurant), aperitivo (you pay between five and seven euros for a drink and appetizer-like foods are included in the price) and finally dinner between 9 and 11 PM. In general, Italians can become very offended when their servings are not finished and there is no such thing as doggy bags, left overs, or to-go, so be sure to finish your entire meal. This brings me to another food difference that I’ve struggled with; sitting down to eat/drink. People stare at my American way of drinking or eating while walking. You must make time to sit down to eat and drink in Italy, which is why some businesses close for some down time between 1-4 PM which they call “pausa pranzo” or lunch break.

 The strangest thing to me thus far here is preservation of history. The craziest thing is touching a tree whose roots grew exactly where Julius Cesar was stabbed, 0r walking inside of the Pantheon that was once flooded by the Tiber River. I am not a history buff by any means, but it’s different when you are taking up residency in one of the greatest Empires that ever ruled ancient history. The stories, the legends, the sights, and the beliefs, the traditions: Roma has come alive for me. Every day I am learning so many new things and adapting myself to the culture. I can already feel myself opening up to their way of life. I was embarrassed to walk with a to-go cup of “Caffè Americano” (they do not have American coffee, this is two shots of espresso filled with boiling water). I was not embarrassed because of my American culture, but because I am embracing the difference. I am doing as the Romans do. When in Rome, right?

At the start of it all I was very frazzled with the course load, student teaching (I’m in the Rome semester Education program), exploring, and home-sickness (which has slightly kicked in). However, I am going two weeks strong and I have even begun to travel. I spent a weekend in Venice for a festival called Carnevale.

I need to acknowledge something that happened, during my first excursion which I was unprepared for: the liberation. Traveling by train for five hours each way was dreadful, but going somewhere, making memories and returning on my own will, with my own plans, through my own want, that was a feeling unlike anything else. I was amazed by what I was able to do on my own, what I made happen without the aid of others. I guess it is true when they say that you find yourself when you travel. I’ve only been here a couple weeks but I’ve already made a home here for myself.

Before leaving for the Dominican Republic, I’d read about how travel is the only thing you buy, that makes you richer. I wasn’t quite sure what I’d “gain” from such a short trip, but now that I’m back home, and have had time to reflect, I feel like I’ve gained the world. The small island put the concept of intersectionality, that I’ve so desperately tried to master, into perspective. Through religion, politics, citizenship, race, and gender, the DR beautifully paved out the importance of not just using the term “intersectionality” to describe “diversity”, but instead, using it to ensure that we don’t overlook the challenges and grievances of people who belong to MULTIPLE marginalized communities. It helped develop my understanding of the hierarchical nature of power, and the struggles that come forth by trying to “belong”. And most importantly, it has shown me how important it is for people who have lived through their own struggles, to write their own narratives, and work towards a better future for themselves. #nowesternsaviorneeded

As a School of Education major studying in Italy, I participate in six hours a week of student teaching. One other SJU School of Education student and I were placed in a British International School, St. George’s, in which most of the teachers hail from the United Kingdom but the students range from all over Europe. Because of the large difference between these students, the accepted spoken language is UK English which is formally the same spoken language as American English but in reality, it’s very, very different. When the teachers speak very fast, I have a hard time understanding them especially when their accents are coupled with phrases that one does not typically hear in the United States. For example, rather than, “Act appropriately when walking down the hall to lunch please.” A teacher at St. George’s may say, “Now don’t forget to act sensibly, we don’t want a rise, do we?” The most interesting thing in terms of language for me is that these students may be speaking three to four different languages throughout the day, but they are all developing British accents because of their academic culture. Many of these students have diplomat parents or come from affluent backgrounds who do not originate from Italy but have settled in Italy. For example, I have a small girl in my class who speaks Slovakian at home with her mom, her dad speaks French, she is learning Italian (as the school’s foreign language) but is only allowed to speak English outside of play time and Italian class. She is not the only student with these circumstances either. A child’s capacity for language has never seemed so extensive to me until I stepped into this school.

Because of these language complications, I have noticed particularly in the younger grades the struggle to read and write. I’ve also noticed many learning devices put in place to aid these students with normal development despite the challenges they face learning as many as four languages at once. Another large difference worth mentioning by now is that this private school starts their students in Kindergarten at age four. So during their academic career, they are always a full year ahead of where they would be in the United States. When I’ve brought this up to teachers, I’ve heard mixed feelings. Some say that it’s wonderful and gives them a chance to push themselves and learn more from a younger age in which it is easier to learn and retain larger sums of knowledge. Others have said that it is too much because they are not socially developed to match their intellectual development with this structure. I can see and agree with both of these sides. I have witnessed the challenges of teaching six year olds division when it would normally be a seven year old’s academic duty. However I have also witnessed five year olds write creative narratives with ease, which would normally be expected of a first grader at age six. The argument can be made for either side however, working with the students who struggle is what has made me so confident in my decision to follow this career path.

These students are so bright, especially facing the challenges that they do. Being a private school, students have access to all of the resources they may need. A student with number confusion can use different manipulative (blocks or counters) but if that doesn’t work, perhaps a simulation on an iPad app, or maybe written numbers appeal to him more on the projector. Watching these students struggle and finally succeed, having pride in what they worked hard to accomplish makes it all worth it. Without a doubt, the School of Education students have a lot on our plate: on top of six classes every semester to graduate on time, we have to add six hours of student teaching every week which is the equivalent of two more classes including the homework and prep but not the commute. I commute about a half hour to St. George’s twice a week in between classes. While it may be more challenging to be here in Italy, studying our major, I believe I can speak for all of us SOE students when we say that it’s worth the commute and extra work to see how happy those students get when we walk in the door or when we come to help them with a subject they’re having a hard time with.

       Studying abroad is about many things but so often it becomes a race to the finish, a contest about how many countries, cities and world landmarks you can fit into our small duration of time while studying in a foreign country. Most of the time when encountering another study abroad student the conversation goes as follows:

“What school do you study with?” “What are you studying?” “Where have you gone so far?” “Did you like _______ (insert country not yet visited)?”

        Not only are we getting accustomed to our new home in a different country, but also who knows when we will get the opportunity to return to Europe, so the program encourages weekend excursions to other countries in and around Europe. Often traveling between countries in Europe can be comparable to traveling between states in the United States. Not only is the price range similar (or less for that matter), but so is travel time. It takes longer to get to Florida from New York than it does to get to Athens, Greece from Rome, Italy.  So many major world landmarks are accessible once settled in Europe and it’s less intimidating because now they are only an hour and a half or so away, as compared to the nine hours these popular bucket list items would be from New York.

           Initially, the first trip is always intimidating. While studying in Italy my first weekend abroad, I chose to stay in country and visit Venice for Carnivale. This is a wonderful masked festival that takes place at different times throughout the first couple months of the year in Italy. The planning of these trips is a bit frightening: everything is up to you! All of a sudden you have to find 1. Timeframe, how long do you (personally) need in that area? Is a day trip enough? Will you need the whole week of spring break to see all that you’d like? 2.  Transportation: How will you get there? Trains, flights, bus, a way to and from not only to the city itself but from an airport, train station, bus station, or wherever you are getting dropped off 3. You have to find your own accommodations (Airbnb, VRGO, hotel, hostel, etc) 4. Touring! This also consists of seeing everything regarded as important throughout the area in such a short time span. 5. Food. Sometimes accommodations have kitchens and for longer trips, this may be more feasible and save money for more important things like the 45 euros it takes to see the Last Supper painting by Leonardo Di Vinci in Milan, Italy, or the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, France.

           Sometimes it becomes hard to make the decision of where to go or if we’d just like to see the place we are taking up residency. Because St. John’s has students located in so many major cities around the globe (Paris, Limerick, Rome, and many other exchange programs) I can speak confidently for us as a whole when I say that we all have so much to see in so little time. It’s more common to see that students have mapped out every weekend until we leave to catch early deals on expensive flights or make it to certain events in different countries (St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, Easter in Rome, Carnivale in Venice, etc). Sometimes there are so many things to see, it becomes hard to just slow down and enjoy what is right in front of you. I live a ten minute walk from the famous Vatican City and have only been there twice since arriving four months ago. However, I will never regret the numerous adventures I’ve found thanks to St. John’s University’s Global Studies Programs.