Alumni Interview with Nylah Rose Moore

What inspired you to travel abroad?

I decided to study abroad because since a young age I’ve always been intrigued by different cultures other than my own.

Being raised in a state like California, I had the privilege of being surrounded by diverse communities that furthered my desire to learn about cultures such as Mexico, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the desire continued to grow from there.

I previously traveled to China with my school but Italy was my first time in Europe; it just seemed like a must on the study abroad bucket list.

Why did you choose CAPA The Global Education Network?

I chose to study abroad in Italy specifically because of its well-known rumors of love and romance. Family and adventure. If I was going out of the country, there didn't seem to be any better qualities to be around.

I chose to study abroad with CAPA specifically because of the support they've shown me from the first time I was introduced to a CAPA representative through my study abroad office. My institution is unique because it is amongst only a few of its kind; an historically black all-women's college.

CAPA was open and supportive to create a program that mirrored the values and teachings of our institution and that went a long way for me.

What was your favorite part about Florence, Italy?

My favorite part of Florence was its quietness. It was so refreshing to wake up and enjoy breakfast every morning at my own pace in a quiet city where others seemed to value the same. 

Coming from the city, Florence was definitely a breath of fresh air. I specifically enjoyed the way everyone ran in the mornings as if they were enjoying the freshness of the quiet I described. 

People seemed to take their time and be more at peace. Tension is something I believe can be felt in the air and I didn't feel it once while in Florence.

What made your experience abroad extraordinary?

My professors Dr. Guido Reverdito and Adriano Boncompagni! Touching again on this point of how amazing CAPA was for tailoring and personalizing the study abroad experience for my classmates and I, Adriano and Guido played a massive role in this too.

Not only did they create and personalize a curriculum unique to our institution, but they also sought our opinions on class excursions around the city. Adriano and Guido went beyond their roles as our professors and made the experience of exploring Florence really come alive.

How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?

Local staff assisted me in planning daily excursions with my friends. From gondola rides to homemade pasta class, CAPA staff had resources for just about everything there was to do in the city.

My friends and I actually participated in the homemade pasta cooking course that was offered. It was really affordable and fun! We got the chance to make the dough and actually cut the individual pasta noodles needed for the dish we were making.

The class was very hands-on which I enjoyed; we got to season and prepare our dishes to our liking rather than just watching an instructor cook in front of us.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?

Travel to neighboring cities! While CAPA was plentiful in Florence resources, travel to neighboring cities was such an easy possibility and I definitely regret not taking advantage.

I enjoyed the peace of the small town of Florence so much it didn't seem like a priority at the time to go to the beach and shop at the malls.

While regret may not be the best choice of wording, looking back on it I do wish I engaged in more of those once-in-a-lifetime moments with my friends while I was there.

Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.

My mornings typically started around 7:30-8:00 a.m. Breakfast would be served at the hotel we were staying at and then we were expected in class around 9:00-9:30 depending on the day. 

Until about noon we would learn about the history, agriculture, and of the traditions of the city as well as the country. We would typically be given an hour for lunch, then we would return back to the CAPA center to either learn the local language with an expert or explore the city with Adriano and Guido.

After the class was dismissed, with the exception of completing homework, we had the rest of the day to ourselves.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?

During my free time while in Florence I enjoyed exploring different restaurants and dishes with my friends around the city, shopping at the local plaza, and journaling either by the bridge that crosses the river that flows through the city or in the garden patio of my hotel.

Each day I was able to reflect on the experiences I was having, in the quietness of the morning I mentioned earlier. It was surprising to me, however, the number of shopping stores that Italy shared with the U.S. I was able to shop at places like Zara and Forever 21 just as though I was home.

What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?

I stayed at a local hotel because my institution traveled with CAPA through an institutional lead program that ran shorter than the other programs offered.

Besides the garden patio I mentioned earlier, I really appreciated the complimentary breakfast that was served at the hotel daily. The hotel manager was kind and helpful to assist my group and me in any issue that arose.

For example, there was another large group that shared the hotel with us during their travels, and breakfast got kind of crowded the first few days, but our manager worked out a schedule for everyone to eat according to their travel itinerary and out of the way of the other group. It was more than he had to do and it was greatly appreciated.

What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?

Classes may be longer than what you're used to. I can't speak on whether my classroom experience was a product of the Italian education system where all institutions are governed by the same teaching styles or if it was just the way CAPA structured their courses and travel itinerary.

However, I do think it's fair to warn that classes can last at least 2-3 hours and if that's something different for you, I would recommend getting a good night's rest so you are alert in class, and talking to your professor about taking mini-breaks throughout the lecture.

Would you recommend CAPA to others? Why?

Absolutely! I actually serve as a CAPA student campus ambassador and my primary role is to share and recommend CAPA to others. CAPA supports all of their students in every part of their experience as they make it FUN and that's the best part to me.

Personally speaking, I dislike study abroad trips that are limited to learning about the city in the classroom, leaving no room to explore, but CAPA beautifully finds a way for every student who travels with them to do both. For this reason, I've already recommended CAPA to everyone I know lol.

What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?

Independence and perspective! I know for me, my education about a country only came from what I was taught about it in the classroom, but study abroad allows you to go so far beyond that.

Being able to live in the city that you’re learning the history of, interact with community locals, and explore their reality, as well as teach others about your home country in return, creates an international web of relationships that I feel is vital to positive global interactions.

Finding the courage to even decide to study abroad is a huge step away from comfort but amidst the uncomfortability that comes with studying abroad, one begins to grow, discover, and love a different part of themselves; I believe being in a different country better helps you make sense of your own life and your place in it, and that has a lot to do with identity.

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

I personally learned the art of simplicity while in Italy specifically. Many of the locals lived a simple and content life full of love and adventure.

These qualities were ones I hadn't been used to, living a fast-paced life myself, so the experience definitely humbled me and painted a different image of life for me.

Now, every day I find myself reminding myself to slow down and be present in little moments and I've noticed huge differences in my life following this concept. I find myself more focused on school work and more loving towards those around me.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Meaningful travel to me means that one is traveling with intentions and purpose. With this, I do not mean that an individual should create an extensive itinerary for their visiting country and make it a point to achieve all of the activities on it.

Instead, I'm referring to a person who knows WHY they are traveling. Besides scenery and food, I believe knowing the purpose of travel makes it more meaningful. Whether that be to just have fun, hone in on a craft, or develop international relationships for an occupation back home, I believe setting intentions before traveling allows the individual to have purpose in each day they are abroad, and it enables them to be able to feel more confident that they gained something from their experience while there.