There has never been a feeling comparable to the one I felt when I left Siena this past August. You tend to not realize the full impact of an experience you go through until it's left in hindsight, and that has never been more true than last week when I said goodbye to Siena. So many aspects made my month in Siena truly unique, and to this day, I haven't really missed anything as much as my time in Italy. Even though there were rough times, the challenges I faced while I was there were temporary; homesickness, looking for connection, and feeling lost in a city I've never been to all come to mind as examples of this. The one part I failed to consider was how accustomed I became to the city as I was going through all of my personal struggles, to the pointed where it seriously felt like a part of me was getting ripped away as I was leaving. Sitting in my hotel room after I departed the program felt like some of the loneliest hours I had ever experienced, but what made that loneliness feel more like a silver lining than a negative memory was the reason behind the feeling. I had never seen such beautiful places in my life while also being able to travel so freely. At all of these places I was able to connect with so many locals and peers, which really elevated my experience. After looking back to my time in August with all of the love, growth, and cultural immersion I was able to experience, I truly recommend everyone study abroad at least once in their life.
Image
Ending my month-long Judaism deep dive came with some mixed emotions, too. In my last blog, I expressed how safe I felt and how Siena truly felt isolated from the conflicts that have affected Israelis and Palestinians. Unfortunately, I can't still back that statement wholeheartedly, since after writing my second iteration I did experience multiple instances of antisemitism, in forms of verbal harassment as well as visible discomfort from multiple people when I revealed my Jewish identity. While I still hope for a world soon where the greater population focuses on connection and unity instead of moving in the direction of extremism, I understand the issue at hand is immensely complex and neither side will be able to live normally until peace is eventually found. Nonetheless, I didn't let that seep into my experience as a whole because Italy was still a wonderful time. My time there, from a Jewish perspective, was simply a reminder of my need to stay educated on the conflicts happening in the Middle East while remaining truthful to who I am and not letting myself fall under the trap of fear.
Most important of all, this trip provided the best segue into college I could've asked for. It shows you what common college troubles could feel like, such as battling homesickness, figuring out how college classes differ in structure to high school, and other unfamiliar endeavors. It also provides the opportunity for you to form a built-in friend group, which for an out-of-state student like myself, was very relieving. By experiencing what college will feel like for a month in a place much further than I'll be most of the time, I really have gained a sense of comfort and familiarity for my future in Eugene. If any rising first-years were to ask me if they should go on this trip, I would say it's the best decision you could make. You get a deeper insight into yourself and how you function in new environments and the ability to preview how college works, all while making friends along the way. It is truly the best of all worlds, and I would have been sad to have gone to college without my past month in Italy.
Image
That's all I have for now, but if you're on the verge of studying abroad, especially as in a pre-freshman program, do yourself the biggest favor and sign up for what will become the best month of your life. Ci vediamo a Eugene, e Arrivederci
Luke Friedman, Diverse Ducks Ambassador
Advancing Your Academic Success: Pre-Freshman Studies In Siena