Since starting my study abroad program in May, I have traveled to Venice, Milan and Rome—not to mention studied in a beautiful small town in northern Italy.

Aside from that, my program, The Consortium Institute of Management and Business Administration, has taken me on local trips to see castles, explore towns and stand on the highest mountain around.

Some of the best places in Italy are the ones out of reach from tourists. I have eaten at a café where Robert Browning and other famous people used to go. I stood on top of Monte Grappa, where Italian troops fought off Austrian enemies during WWI.

One of the most well-known places I’ve visited is the Vatican. My favorite part was that we were able to touch nearly everything in the museums, including statues and Egyptian hieroglyphics. In Rome, I walked through ancient ruins and explored the town and its history.

While in Milan, I experienced firsthand the Italian soccer culture. The second night there, Milan played Madrid in the games toward the World Cup and won. I went to the Duomo where thousands packed in to watch the game. People were climbing onto sides of buildings and crowds of people were pouring out of the sides of the plaza.

One of the biggest things I have learned so far is that I love my home. Some of the things in Italian culture that differ from American culture the most have to do with their perception of time.

Italians sit at cafés for hours, while we run in and out of restaurants and value fast service. Also, Italians have very little personal space. I went to the marketplace in Milan and I must have touched shoulders with hundreds of strangers. It’s the same way in the metro.

Italians also have a different and more relaxed view about cleanliness than most people in America. Mainly, this has to do with the cities. In the U.S. we are all about beautifying the cities, and Rome and Milan were the two of the dirtiest places I’ve ever been.

Once out of the city and into the country, the people are friendly, happy and very slow moving. The scenery is wonderful, and things are clean and colorful. If you ever go to Italy, make sure you see some small towns in northern Italy. There are plenty of historical places, not to mention the place where “Romeo and Juliet” was set.

Next, I will be heading to Croatia to see more ancient sites, dinosaur footprints and bright blue beaches. Although all of this has been amazing, I will be really happy to get back home to Alabama.