Monday, May 16
Nervous and excited, I walked wobble-legged through Philadelphia International Airport to meet up with the rest of my class. Stockton University has a host of study abroad programs through the Office of Global Engagement. Having never been out of the country, I figured a Faculty-Led Program would be a perfect match for me instead of a semester-long stay. The Hospitality and Tourism course with Professor Donna Albano is aimed at exposing students to the tourism industry of Italy which focuses on destination marketing for hotel and event venues.
I've only been on a plane by myself once last spring break- a three hour ride to Texas. My flight experience was tolerable, but like many people, I'd prefer to be on solid ground. The thought of being in the air for 8 hours terrifies the bejeezes out of me! I was stocked with sleeping pills, dramamine, meditation music to help me survive, but the most powerful thing I packed was a prayer.
I've only been on a plane by myself once last spring break- a three hour ride to Texas. My flight experience was tolerable, but like many people, I'd prefer to be on solid ground. The thought of being in the air for 8 hours terrifies the bejeezes out of me! I was stocked with sleeping pills, dramamine, meditation music to help me survive, but the most powerful thing I packed was a prayer.
After two Disney movies (free, courtesy of American Airlines), and only an hour and a half of sleep total, broken up into small naps interrupted by a small jolt of turbulence and checking the plane's GPS system, nine students and one professor landed in Aeroporti di Roma.
 | As soon as we were on our feet, we hit the ground running! It was morning in Italy so we had a whole day ahead of us, on top of the lack of sleep. We met our tour guide, Jordan, a representative from the organization that partners with Stockton called Study Abroad Italy (SAI). Then lugged our weary bodies and our belongings into a bus that hauled us to our first destination. The adventure begins. |
