Tavolo per uno or Tavolo per tredici? (Table for one or Table for 13?)

Getting a second chance to live in the Chigi Palace in Italy for three months is an opportunity not everyone has. With this in mind, I have tried, sometimes through trial and error, to find a way to have the fullest JSB experience a second time around and make the most of what time I have been graciously given.

When I got on the plane for my second semester abroad it was very different from my first JSB experience. Firstly, I already knew and had experienced a lot of the things that were mysterious and exciting or intimidating the first time around. I was also alone. It was my first time flying on an international flight alone, which did not have an emotional effect on me until I saw the mother crying and embracing her child at the gate as she sent him off to be an unattended minor passenger and realized that he and I were not that different. I too, felt like I lacked the life experience necessary to be an entirely independent individual making my own choices and taking on the world alone, yet here I was, taking that plunge.

I was not alone for long though. After being packed onto a full flight for 7 or so hours, I was greeted on the ground in Italy by none other than Patrizia, a woman many JSB students get to know when they come on the program, because she is our go to taxi driver. While I fought off sleep in the passenger seat of her car, Patrizia helped keep me awake with conversation about our shared hot summers. When we crested the hill in Albano and I finally saw the Chigi Palace again after almost a year away, I felt like I was in a dream. Here was that familiar place I had seen so many times in my mind’s eye, but it had not been tangible until now. Once we got to the palace, I wheeled my luggage in and was greeted immediately by Maurizio, Cinzia, and Roberta. In my jetlagged state I felt extremely vulnerable, like a baby bird, but seeing these people made me feel safe.

In the next couple of days Lydia and the students arrived and the semester really kicked into gear. Like any other semester as an Auburn student, I could feel the potential for success and growth the semester could provide, and I saw on the students’ faces an eagerness to soak it in. They were definitely quick learners; I watched them rapidly apply classroom guidance on navigating Italian transportation and our class field trip to Rome to their own personal travel plans. I was pleasantly surprised and proud of their progress.

I too was eager to apply my knowledge to be able to see places I hadn’t been to before, like the city of Bologna, where I spent my first free weekend roughing it alone in a hostel for the first time. I loved being able to move around the city at my own pace. When the crowds got too overwhelming, I could duck into an empty museum and browse the exhibits for literal hours and not worry about not matching someone else’s timetable. The problem came at meal-time. Though I had researched the best foods of the region and the best places to eat alone, sitting at a table for one was a strange new experience I wasn’t adjusting to very well. Where does one cast their eyes when there’s no one across from you to look at and engage in conversation? (Especially when my elementary Italian was not quite at the place where I could eavesdrop on my fellow diner’s conversations) Italy is a place well known for its food but one of the most important ingredients of Italian cuisine is not edible—it’s good company. I wasn’t fully participating in the tradition of Italian dining because I was missing that key element of sharing a meal with others.

When I got back to the palace that weekend, I could tell that my introverted self was itching for more interaction with people. I babbled to my roommates about my terrifying experience climbing the Asinelli tower and explained that staying in a hostel wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. As the rest of the students filtered in from their travels, we gathered in the living room and in the kitchen, making separate meals but sharing the same table.

Throughout the semester, I and the rest of the students gathered in that kitchen to share a meal or share time together. Sometimes when we were traveling, we shared one big table and a meal together at a restaurant. Even as an introvert, I can definitely say that meals spent as one big group were some of my most cherished memories of this semester. From the amazing and massive dinner in Sicily to the bizarre pizza dinner in Tuscany to the Thanksgiving dinner we had in a cave in Matera, I found each experience to be funny and memorable.

Something a lot of JSB students find challenging during their time in the program is finding that much needed “alone time.” Sharing the palace with 10 to 20 other students means that there is not much space available that isn’t taken up by someone else. It can be a lot of fun to spend time with brand new friends going through the same international challenges as you, but sometimes we need a break. However, during my second time around I realized that a careful balance between striking it out on one’s own and sharing time with others is really the best way to make the most of your JSB experience. 

Maggie Tennant- TA Fall 2023

A picture from our cave Thanksgiving dinner in Matera!

It’s a Wonderful Life

Reflecting on my program experiences thus far has been quite easier than initially thought. I feel that during my travels to Italy I have already changed exponentially. Learning independence was easy for me as a child and it also came with ease into my adult years but I still carried the reserve of someone who had lived a sheltered life. Even more so now due to the developmental years that shaped me so much taking place during the pandemic. My golden age in which I was to purge all restless desires to reach corners of the world that seemed so hidden from me were stolen. These are my thoughts as those two wheels of the plane touch down onto the tarmac. 

Stepping off the plane I felt as though the new faces, languages, and atmosphere squeezed me into a hug. Familiar like the hugs I received from grandparents at Christmas. Almost as if to say to me, “welcome, we have missed you.” I barely had the energy to take in my new home. It was a blur of anxiety and excitement, pulling my mind into the-depths of my skull, and tucking it away where the memories seem to vanish as I try to recall them now. 

Upon arriving in Ariccia, the palace took my breath away as the Chigi crest greeted me in the entrance. I stopped to pause only for a second before I emerged into the fast paced classroom environment that was set into place to help me adjust to my new ‘home.’ The first day of lessons taught me about the inner-workings of Chigi itself. Ranging from the tour of the palace’s art to the tour of the classrooms drawers full of hidden essentials at my disposal. 

I have not felt inspired in so long. Therefore, walking into the palace and seeing art at such a scale  made my hands itch to hold a pencil to paper and see where it takes me. The town itself invoked sadness at first, because through my eyes I saw a town of so much value and culture that has been overlooked by an era of influencers who only travel to influence their own egos. There is instead a lot to value in Ariccia. The people here are hard workers. You see it in the old man’s hands that swept outside his shop. Knuckles torn, repaired, and hardened through the years of duty to his home. The man who bakes in darkness. Using the scents of dough and herbs to light the way for people to find him. The children here I find most interesting, I want to know their dreams. I want to listen to their stories and watch them grow. There is so much potential in this town that I have seen and wish for the rest of the world to see as well. I wonder if they can see it too?

Avery Johnson

Fast Fashion or Sustainable Fashion?

This study abroad opportunity has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We have traveled and learned about so many different and fascinating things. But this week, we learned all about sustainability in fashion. This included looking at fabrics at Esquilino market and visiting Coloriage, which is a store that is a human rights project. Esquilino Market had so many fabrics that immigrants can purchase and have traditional clothing custom made or regular clothing custom made. At Coloriage, they hire refugees and use sustainable fabrics to make clothes and accessories. They will then sell the products in their store where you can see the tailors at work.  

We also went to the Mercatino Usato Roma, a vintage market. It was so much fun and similar to a flea market and thrift store but so much more, and some items sold were really cheap. Learning all about sustainable fashion has opened my eyes to how to better shop for clothes that are both wonderful for the environment and support local economies. I look forward to looking more into ways to be sustainable both with food and fashion. 

Going into the vintage market also showed a sustainable side to fashion as it showed the continuous circle that clothes can take. This process isn’t just for clothes but for other items as well.  It is safe to say that those clothes and other things are being saved from landfills in another country. I am seeing ways to incorporate sustainability into my clothes. The whole discussion reminded me of something I experienced while in Madagascar. My family and I saw a lot of clothes that may be considered out of date or trash being worn or sold on the streets.  This connects with what I have seen in Italy as it shows that clothes don’t always have a good cycle whenever it comes to being trashed. This is important wherever I buy clothes and even donate clothes as I need to remember what I have learned about being sustainable in the art of fashion. 

Olivia Stanwick

Esquilino Market- Fabrics that can be purchased and taken to a tailor to have a piece of custom clothing made.

Learning to Live on Ariccia Time

As I approach the halfway mark of the Joseph S. Bruno program I reflect on how time has already seemed to slip away so quickly. As a senior, I reflect on my life and the decisions that have made me who I am today. My life on the other side of the world in Auburn, Alabama seems to move one thousand miles a minute, meanwhile, in Ariccia everything seems to move at a gradual pace. 

The two most important perspectives I’ve received from this program are being present at the moment and discovering new joy. Ariccia, I feel as if I have found a place that is not looking for short-term satisfaction. This town has an appreciation for the mundane. These people live in the present and rest in the plenty that they have been provided. These are things I hope to reflect in my personal and professional life as I continue on this journey. 

Presence and joy can be seen as my dinners get longer with two hours to three hours of fellowship and camaraderie. It can be heard in the simple “ciao” or hello as I pass my favorite coffee shop in the mornings. It can be felt in a hug and kiss from Mary Lou after sharing her stories of the past. 

My time may be fleeting as a student at Auburn University, but what I have learned from these short weeks is more than I could have ever imagined. Ariccia has wrapped its arms around me and told me to slow down, enjoy the present, and uncover new joy.

Campbell Sandlin

“Happiness, not in another place but this place…not for another hour, but this hour.” ― Walt Whitman

A Good Kind of Uncomfortable

We have been in Ariccia for eight days, yet most of us will agree that it has felt like 60 days. We have our nests organized and arranged the way we like. I have a picture board smattered with

photos of family, friends, and pets. We have showers and laundry figured out and things seem to flow smoothly in our personal spaces. My classmates feel like old friends and there is a connection among all of us. 

We all joke that we are locals, yet we are just learning how to order a pastry. Even though things were comfortable and fun today, I was uncomfortable and anxious that first day. I was starting a new semester as an Auburn student, but on a different continent, and I knew one person in the program. 

Before landing in Italy, I was worried about showers,groceries, teachers, and so many other little things. It wasn’t Auburn’s beautiful campus, lunch with friends at Hey Day, or Samford’s bells. We were all out of our comfort zone.

I relate this to getting a massage. When someone pushes or squeezes a muscle it really hurts, but I don’t tell them to stop. As odd as it sounds, we kind of like the discomfort, because of the result. So, if there is any hesitation about the JSB program, embrace the discomfort and love the results. All the little stressors that I had are gone and that first day feels like a distant memory. As cheesy as it sounds, I can’t imagine starting my last semester anywhere else.

Natalie Oslund

The view from the Palazzo Chigi overlooking a bar in Ariccia.

Experiencing Nature Abroad

Seeing all of the beauty that Europe has to offer in nature has been something that I will always remember about my time abroad. I have loved experiencing the culture and what cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice have to offer, but I am a person who thrives in the outdoors. Many people come to Italy not knowing about the beauty that is found outside of the main cities, as I myself came in without full knowledge of what I would find.

In America, I have always been one to choose to go to the beach or the mountains over a big city, and I was hesitant to leave the nature that I am so easily able to surround myself with in America when I chose to come abroad. I thought that I would only be able to spend time in the cities on the weekend, which is something that I looked forward to coming into the program, but I was nervous that I would get burnt out of it quickly. 

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to check off a bucket list item that I have had for quite a long time, which is going to the Dolomites. I did not think that I would be able to go see the Dolomites, since it is not as easily accessible as many places in Italy are, and I was unsure if anybody else would want to go with me; however, after talking to different people about their experiences in the Dolomites and putting lots of time into planning, we pulled it off and were able to go! 

I have never experienced beauty quite like the Dolomites. Everywhere that I turned my head, I was able to see the snowy landscape and beautiful mountains surrounding me. It is a place that I will never forget and will always be working towards being able to go back. 

One of the nights in the Dolomites, we went to a local bar to get hot chocolate to warm us up. It was in a very small town that only comes alive during ski season. We were approached by a local, wondering what it was that four 21 year old girls were doing in such a small, dead town. We explained that we were going from place to place in the surrounding areas, and he was surprised that we knew what the Dolomites were. He told us that there was not much to do in that specific town and told us that we should rather go to Milan or Bologna instead of being there, since that is where the young people go.

This opened up my eyes to really see how some of the most beautiful places in Italy are not commonly known about, because they are not advertised or commonly traveled to. Even the locals who are able to experience the beauty surrounding them in the Dolomites everyday were confused on why we would want to visit there.

From this experience, I have learned that the most beautiful places are not the ones that I see in the most liked Instagram posts or “top ten” lists in the magazines, but that I have to look further to find these places that will be the most unforgettable for me.

Kate Johnson

Sophie Berry, Sara Fewell, and I enjoying the view at Alpe Di Siusi!

The Beauty Around

I cannot believe that I have been in Italy for two months now; time has flown by! There has been so much I have learned. I’ve learned how to adapt in a new culture, how to live with 12 other people and never have privacy, and even how to reschedule trains when you missed your last three. I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is seeing how God reveals himself everywhere.

I have always lived in Christian community and have surrounded myself with believers who live for the glory of God and chose Him daily. Having my specific community at home not around me constantly for the past two months has helped me have this realization. I have always been taught in church the importance of a community of Christ followers, but for the first time I have truly seen why this is important. A community pushes you in your walk with Christ and helps you know Him more. Even though I haven’t had this particular community while being in Italy, the Lord has still allowed me to know him better.

The Lord has truly shown me his beauty all around. We have walked in and out of different churches, each with so much history. To see that these buildings were made to glorify the Lord and they were built centuries ago leaves me in awe. This puts the term omnipresent in a whole new perspective for me. Yes, God is present everywhere, but his omnipresence also means that he has always been and will always be. When people built churches in the 3rd century it was to glorify the same God that I worship now. What a cool gift that the Lord has put this into perspective for me. 

One of my favorite things I have done in Italy was visit Favignana, which is a small island off the coast of Sicily. All 13 of us got to go as an optional field trip one weekend and we were able to have a beach day. I remember laying on the beach staring out at the most beautiful water I have ever seen listening to worship music, and having a tear stream down my face. This was a tear of joy and amazement. I was so amazed at the beauty that the Lord had created before me and that he made it for His glory and that he allowed me to enjoy his beauty. God truly is so loving that he allows us to see his wonderful works and appreciate them. I cannot help but sing praises to God for all that he has blessed this earth with.

I have one more month in Italy and I know the Lord has so much more to teach me. I have come to him with an open heart posture, ready and eager for him to continue transforming my life not only in this next month but for eternity.

Lindsey Galvan

Swimming in God’s Beauty in Favignana 

Unexpected Adventure

Before studying abroad I had always considered traveling outside of the country as something that was a once-in-a-while thing that I was extremely lucky to do. I was also under the impression that trips had to be planned months in advance. While traveling and studying abroad is something that I am extremely lucky to do, studying abroad has made it so much easier for me to travel, plan, and make trips happen in a couple weeks or even days.

I am super lucky to come from a family that values travel and have grown up traveling with them to several countries. However, usually these trips took months and months to set in stone and plan. While I acknowledge that planning for a trip for a 5 person family is much harder than for yourself, I never considered that I would be planning trips to places like Greece in just a couple days. This is definitely one of the luxuries that I have as a student in Europe, which is a super easy place to travel around since it is so small and the EU makes it super easy for me to travel between countries. I also have the luxury of much cheaper travel due to being in and traveling within Europe.  

As someone who lives in America and has always heard about the expenses and time it takes to travel to new countries, it was a huge shock that I am so easily able to take a weekend trip to another country, and traveling every weekend is something that I never imagined I would ever be doing, especially at age 21 as a junior in college. Not only is doing all this travel and planning super fun, it is also helping me get so much better at using public transportation, booking hotels and flights, and adapting to changes and plans. It has definitely given me the skill of quick planning for sure.

I am fully savouring these moments and appreciating just how awesome study abroad is. I am so lucky to be able to have this opportunity to travel so many places and gain so much worldly knowledge from doing so. Never in my life would I expect to be doing all this, but I would truly not change a thing. My advice is travel as much as you can and don’t think twice! If you think too much, plans may not happen and you only study abroad once!

Sara Fewell

This is a photo of all of us in Greece! We planned the trip a week before and it ended up being so fun.

Lucky Girl Syndrome

Before starting the program, I was so scared of what this experience would be like and if I would get along with everyone else on the trip. I quickly realized how lucky I am to be here with Lydia, Cinzia, Roberta, and all of the other Fall 2023 JSB students. 

This semester is special to the program because it is the Joseph S. Bruno Auburn Abroad in Italy 20th year anniversary. The lucky girl syndrome really showed when we were invited to the 20th anniversary party and to a trip in Tuscany to celebrate such a momentous occasion. We were not only celebrating the anniversary, but also the official approval of making renovations to the Chigi Palace to add more bed spaces so more Auburn students can get the opportunity to participate in this program. 

The anniversary celebration was such a uniquely beautiful event, and I do not think that I will ever attend anything like it again in my life. The opportunity to meet and spend time with numerous Auburn faculty, guests visiting from the states that love and support our program, and people from Ariccia that continue to welcome JSB students each semester, gave me a better appreciation for all that goes into making the JSB program as amazing as it is. Getting to know so many people that are so supportive of this opportunity and excited for us to be here was very heartwarming. 

Overall, I feel so much lucky girl syndrome just from the past five weeks, and I know that I will continue to feel it for the rest of this trip. I am so appreciative of this opportunity and all of the experiences and emotions that have come along with it. I hope that the future Chigi babies all feel and know just how lucky they are to get to experience the wonderful town of Ariccia. 

Nicole Fanning

Golden hour before the 20th anniversary party started. 

Taking Comfort in the Uncomfortable

“By failing to prepare, you prepare to fail.”

This is a phrase I have lived by my whole life. This phrase guided plans for which college I would attend, what extracurriculars I would participate in, research studies to work on and more. Having this plan provided a rigid outline of life where most of my days would be scheduled down to the minute. 

The opportunity to study abroad has changed my perception of what “achievement” is. I used to measure achievement by what I made on an exam, if I was awarded a position in a club or by marking things off of my to-do list. Achievement, now, is when I order a cappuccino correctly in Italian, navigate the metro correctly or eat food I have never tried before. The small victories in life eventually add up. 

My main goal coming into this program was to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. This started in the context of not planning my days; however, this mindset has expanded into different dimensions. I take comfort in this phrase when trying to order at a restaurant that does not cater to English-speakers, when I do not have a plan for the weekend, struggling when speaking with locals and being so far from home. 

Stepping outside of my comfort zone and experiencing life as it comes has been challenging but so rewarding. I have never had an opportunity that allows me to learn and grow as much as I have in the past 5 weeks. 

Learning that it is okay to “be” is sometimes harder said than done. I hope to take this mindset back home by starting to place value in connection and experiences over awards and high scores.

Merrill Ann Culverhouse

Having 0 plans and going with the flow has led to some of my most cherished days.