- Apply Online
- Call 1800-AFS-INFO
- Request a Catalog
- Program Details
yler spent his spring 2009 semester in Livorno, a coastal town in Tuscany. "Big cities (Florence, Venice, etc) are nice to visit", he says, "but the true character of a country exists in the small towns." Tyler planned to study abroad years ago. Why? "I have a hard time saying no to adventure!"
One of many defining moments took place during the AFS Exchange Week. "I was at the beach chatting in Italian with friends from China, Turkey, Brazil, and Norway when it hit me - there I was, speaking a language I had learned 4 months prior, having a wonderful time with people I would've never been able to understand before any of us had set off for new lives. At that moment, studying became more than an experience: it was a choice to live."
Italy offers a European experience unlike any other country. Italians are friendly and curious, the food is as delicious as one might...
suspect, and the culture is bold. Italian is also a Latin-based language, making learning a bit easier for those who might have taken French or Spanish in high school.
My favorite activity was taking classes at the local community theatre. After several months, I was able to participate in a production...
with kids I had gotten to know over several months. It also provided an environment in which I could have fun being my goofy self while making friends.
Italy made me much more open to choosing a career abroad in an unfamiliar place, and I'm pursuing a degree allowing me to do just that.
Studying abroad was the foundation upon which I was able to build my resume for college, as it had changed my perspective and lifestyle more than any other choice I've ever made; I strongly credit the experience for being the reason I currently attend one of the top schools in the nation.
