Alumni Interview with Jessica Vass

What inspired you to go abroad?

I grew up traveling a lot and wanted to know what it was like to live in another country. It was important that I would be able to take classes in my major and I wanted to be in a central location so that I could travel easily.

Why did you choose SAI Programs?

I studied abroad in Florence, Italy at Florence University of the Arts with SAI. I choose SAI because they offered classes in art. I am an art major and wanted to make sure that the classes I took would count toward upper level courses in my major. What better place to study art than in the birthplace of the Renaissance? No place! Also, SAI was one of the cheaper options as far as third party study abroad options go. While it was less money than other options, it was still expensive, BUT they offered SOO many scholarships. I was awarded a $5,000 scholarship which covered most of the program cost. In return, I had to work in the study abroad office 5 hours a week which was a really great experience and something I can put on a resume.

What was your favorite part about Florence?

TIP: Spend time in the city that you are studying! Don't spend EVERY weekend traveling. When I arrived in Florence I was shocked to learn that my peers had been planning trips long before the semester began. I felt like I was rushed to schedule trips to other countries so I did. I booked several trips that took me to Croatia, Morocco, and small cities within Italy. But there was a moment when I realized that I had not taken the time to learn about Florence. Leaving the city every weekend is extremely exhausting. If I had continued to travel I would not have become a local, I would not have ventured off the beaten path, nor would I have experienced all that the city has to offer. My favorite things about Florence! It's connection to art, its size, how easy you can become a local, the street performers, the holiday lights, and especially the coffee and gelato.

What made your experience abroad unique?

1. I was a sophomore when I studied abroad. Almost everyone else in my program were Juniors or Seniors in college. I'm not sure why people think that's the only time to study abroad because I am thankful I did it early in my college career.

2. I had never lived with anyone other than my family before going to Florence to study abroad, and my biggest fear was that I would not like my roommates. I was worried they would be messy and our personalities wouldn't mesh well; however, my roommate that I was paired is now my best friend. We have visited each other several times since the trip ended and even met up in Florence a year after our study abroad. SIA tries to pair students with people they think will live well together and if there are issues they are helpful about resolving issues and accommodating the students. There were a few roommate problems in our apartment, but it was a good lesson on living with other people.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

SAI was very helpful. They send you SO much information before you go on your trip and it’s all SUPER accurate. Read the stuff programs send you. They dealt with most of the logistics like when to arrive, get you to your apartment the first day, help you get acclimated to the city, arrange your class schedule, assist with transfer credits after the program ends, and they even planned some day and weekend trips for us that were included in our program fees. They had an office super close to our school and were open every day of the week. You could pop in and ask questions about the city, or let them know about maintenance needs in your apartment, or sign up for weekly activities that they planned.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I wish I learned Italian. Almost EVERYONE in Florence spoke English so I never needed to learn the language. I never even tried because English was so readily available. One of the most common questions I have been asked since coming home is, "Can you speak Italian now?" The answer is no! I spent an entire semester in Italy and all I can say is hello, good morning, and can I have a cappuccino? I regret not trying. Attempt to learn the language wherever you go.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

I took a total of four classes. Art History, Film Photography, Digital Photography, and Drawing. Each met once a week and I had them spread out for a total of three days. So Monday - Wednesday I had classes. Then I had Thursday - Sunday off. I spent most Thursdays doing homework and classwork, and either traveled on the weekends or explored Florence. Florence is small for the most part. Everything is in walking distance. There is no public transportation except a bus, but it's rarely used unless you're trying to leave the city. I lived very close to school, where I worked, and to the grocery store. So I usually grabbed a cappuccino on my way to class, walked home to make lunch, swung by the grocery store to buy dinner ingredients after my last class, and I may have finished the evening with a yoga class at a studio in town.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

I regularly went to a yoga studio. They spoke Italian most classes, but some instructors would also speak english. I loved to explore other cities in Italy, and of course, my favorite free time activity was enjoying gelato.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

My apartment was BEAUTIFUL. It is typical to have small beds, no dryer, and limited kitchen appliances in Italy. But we had high ceilings a lot of space, and a great location. Fun Fact: You hand wash all your dishes and hang dry your clothes!

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

Ask your home school about the transfer credit process when your program ends. It took me almost a year after the completion of my program to get my credits in their correct places on my transcript. Also understand who is whom. SAI is the program provider. FUA is the school. They are different entities and very separate.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

It has sparked the travel bug. It also made me realize that I love living in a small-ish town. I loved the culture of living in Florence. It's something that I end up talking about all the time.

Would you recommend SAI Programs others? Why?

I would recommend SAI especially for those interested in the arts. They have so many art options and many scholarships available. SAI is super helpful and offers opportunities to stay connected with the company and Intern with them after your program. The relationship they build with students during your study abroad and after is great!