To the Aggie considering the Italy Business study abroad, all I can say is that it will be okay and you can do anything for four weeks. I would consider myself a more anxious person, so I had a few fears going into the program, but now that I am on the other side, facing those fears was definitely worth it to gain the experience I had.
If you are worried about not knowing anyone, there will be quite a few people who do not know anyone either so you will not be alone. There will also be a greater sense of camaraderie because you spend so much time with your group and the people you travel with represent a link to home. I went on my program not knowing a single person, but I fell in with a great group of people and it was the biggest blessing. We would go on long walks for gelato, cook dinner once a week to feel a sense of normalcy, and just enjoy each other’s company.
If you are worried about something unexpected happening, it might, but your professors will be there to help you. On my program, I ended up having to go to the hospital after contracting food poisoning and becoming dehydrated. It was a scary experience, but my friends and professors took great care of me and got me the help I needed. No one can promise that nothing will go wrong, but I can promise that someone will know how to help and you will ultimately be okay.
Going abroad is a daunting undertaking, there are a lot of unknowns. However, for every scary unknown, there are 10 exciting unknowns to experience too! I learned how to make fresh pasta, went to the Ferrari museum, and saw some of the most breathtaking sites that could not exist anywhere else. Embrace the chance of one thing going unexpectedly to experience the hundreds of things that will change your life, teach you something new, and make your summer one to remember forever.
