Ava Terfehr

Overall Experience

My study abroad experience in Italy was a great opportunity to travel to another country and learn from experiences alongside other students in my college! Our days were packed full with sight seeing, cooking, tasting foods, and tour guides like parmigiano reggiano, olive oil production, and art history walks. My program traveled to Rome, Tuscania, and Florence with a few day trips to Bolsena, Modena, and Siena. Every place we went offered something new whether that was historical artifacts, local Italian life, or different foods to try. This experience allowed me to grow in my independence and sparked a new interest in learning for me. It was such an amazing experience and I would encourage everyone to take a study abroad trip if they have the opportunity!

Learning experience

One of the most valuable learning experiences I encountered was touring a farm in Tuscania. It was so interesting to see the similarities and differences between farming in the Midwest compared to Italy. We were shown around the farm where they grew olive trees, vegetables, fruits, and lavender. We learned a lot about the process behind growing certain crops at different times of the year and what they can be used for. We even got a homemade lunch to see how the food went from their farm to the table! The women who ran the farm truly loved their jobs and you could see the joy it brought them. This taught me that the most important thing is to love what I do and to share it with others! This was a very interactive and fun learning experience.

Memorable experience

One of the most memorable experiences I have from the trip is the time we got to spend as a group journaling about our days. One of the requirements for this course is to submit a journal at the end of the experience where you document what you did on your trip. I loved getting to do this and it was a great opportunity to get together with the other students on the trip and reflect on the day together. It really helped me to live in the moment on the trip and remember each experience. And I now have a journal to look back on in the future!

What did you not expect?

Something that I did not expect during this experience was the adjustment it would take to get used to being in Italy. Not only the jet lag, but also differences in restrooms, hotel rooms, restaurant service, lots of travel, and being with new people. It was a bigger adjustment than I thought it would be but I was able to learn new ways to adapt to new and uncomfortable situations. Learning how to solve problems to overcome situations and being adaptable was an area I grew in. I am now more comfortable being uncomfortable and I think that this will help me a lot in my future career when faced with unknown circumstances.

What advice would you give?

Say yes to any opportunity you get to study abroad in college! This is one of the best ways to experience new things, grow, learn, and travel. Every worry that I felt about studying abroad ended up working out just fine and I had one of the best experiences of my life. While studying abroad, make the most of your time there. Document your trip, pour into the people you are traveling with, and live in the moment!

How has this experience impacted your life?

This experience has impacted my life in so many positive ways. I had never traveled out of the country before and it was amazing being able to experience the culture in Italy. It gave me a different viewpoint on life and I learned many things that I wanted to take back home with me. I grew in my independence, curiosity, and learned how to have fun while learning! I gained new skills through traveling with our group as well. I was able to branch out, make new friendships, and connect with others based on our interest in food and traveling. The educational experiences we had were great! It reminded me why I love my major and made me want to be a life-long learner because there is so much to learn and see in the world. Long-term, studying abroad showed me a new way to approach nutrition and food and I can carry this experience with me as I begin my career to offer the best advice I can to patients!

How did you learn about this experience?

I learned about this experience through a poster hanging in one of the buildings I had a class in. I then did some research on my own and attended the study abroad fair to learn more about it.

International Connections