I have been absolutely loving my time abroad in Italy and my favorite part so far has been taking weekend adventures to other cities in the area. Siena is very centrally located with a great train and bus system that makes it easy to get around Tuscany. In my time here I have visited Genoa, Portofino, Castiglioncello, and Florence. Traveling around and seeing different cultures and traditions in Italy has been spectacular and has fulfilled my desire to stay active.

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In Genoa, I stayed in a hostel for the first time which was honestly such a great experience. On our way, I was nervous about what the hostel would be like and if I would feel safe, but once I arrived, my nerves were instantly eased. The staff was super friendly, and I felt like I really got a true taste of the European travel scene. All the travelers were super friendly, and we ended up chatting with lots of people from all over the world. One interesting thing that we came across when meeting non-American travelers was the questions that they had about what it was like in the United States. Many people were quick to ask us about American politics and how we see the US, which was shocking as people from home don’t typically ask me my direct views on wars and elections. From our hostel in Genoa, we took the train to Portofino and had a wonderful day swimming in the crystal-clear ocean and soaking in the sun. I was super thrilled to find that the public transportation in Italy is much better than what we have back home in the United States. Trains are consistent and make it so easy to get from place to place.

The following weekend when I traveled with three of my fellow classmates to Castiglioncello I felt like we had found a classic Italian beach town. Packed with beach goers, it was shocking to see that most of the sand space was reserved for private beach clubs. Unlike in the US, rows of lounge chairs line the beaches for vacationers to rent. Coming across instances like this is a common occurrence, as many things that you can do for free in the United States cost money in Italy. For example, you will be charged a bit more in coffee and sandwich shops if you opt to sit down rather than take your food to go.

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Also, traveling to Italy has made me consider water as a luxury now. Everywhere we go, we are charged for water and water fountains can be found almost nowhere. As someone who typically drinks multiple Hydro Flasks full of water each day, it has taken some getting used to having water less readily available at my fingertips. Finding healthier food options such as salads and protein bowls is much harder to come across in small Italian towns than it is in the US. With this being said, I think having fewer options has made me appreciate Italian food so much more. I love how fresh the pasta is when we go out to eat and I can always look forward to a pizza that seemingly has just been taken out of the oven. Overall, my time in Siena has allowed me to learn so much about Italian culture and fully take in the differences between my host country Italy and home in the United States.

By Charlotte Stratford, Diverse Duck Ambassador

Advancing Your Academic Success: Pre-Freshman Studies in Siena, Summer 2024