What inspired you to travel abroad?
I wanted to explore outside of the United States and see the world. I also wanted to challenge myself and grow as a person.
Seeing and experiencing other cultures for even a short time is such a valuable experience. I also heard from my mother that Europe is beautiful so I wanted to see it for myself.
Why did you choose International Experience Srl?
I chose You Can Camp at first because of the affordability of the program because you pay very little besides the obvious plane ticket to spend two to four weeks in Italy. I thought that was a great deal at the time and I was proven right. I also felt comfortable knowing that other Americans had done the program and were still doing it.
These were many of the counselors celebrating after a successful two weeks of camp.
What was your favorite part about your host country/city?
My favorite part of Italy was the culture. Sure I probably stuck out like a sore thumb due to my American fashion sense but that’s what makes this experience great. You are learning what another part of the world experiences every day and it is completely different from anything I had experienced in the United States.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The camp directors and the other teachers made my experience extraordinary. I was a little bit shy at first being so far away from home but everyone made me feel at home quickly. Also, the counselors are from all over the world, and meeting people who speak English from different places such as Canada, South Africa, Australia, and the UK was amazing.
Me and a couple of the counselors on a night out between camps stopping for local gelato.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
They did everything they possibly could to help you throughout your stay. Whether that was arranging a night at a local hostel that you could stay at for free or ordering dinner for free as well. While you’re at the camp the camp directors are always checking in on you and it’s genuinely like having a second family.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I could’ve opened up myself to the experience a little earlier. It’s hard to realize how good you have it while you’re there but just try to live in the moment. Take it one day at a time and don’t worry about what’s going to happen after the experience is over. You never know if you’ll get to go back to Italy again.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
You get up and head to breakfast at around 8 am. Then you split off into activities with the kids mixed with ESL games. You go to the pool twice a day and also get two rest breaks throughout the day. After dinner, you usually are involved in some sort of team-building activity or a fun game with the kids such as dodgeball.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I enjoyed sleeping in the hammocks they had set up around the camp, chilling in the pool, and playing soccer with the other staff and kids. I also enjoyed just sitting around and talking with the other staff and learning about their life experiences. I learned a lot just sitting there and listening to the other staff members.
Here's a picture I took of the beautiful view we had from the front of the camp.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
You are housed in a camp-style cabin in which the beds vary. I enjoyed this accommodation as it brought me back to when I went to summer camp as a little kid. It was fun to go back in time a little and love that experience again. I also enjoyed sleeping with the windows open as I never really do that in the US due to the fact we have A/C.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Well, my time abroad has led to the career path I am trying to follow in International Business. I realized how much I love traveling and that that is something that I want to continue to do throughout my lifetime and to have a career that allows me to do that will be very beneficial and rewarding to me.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
You should know that you will be cared for and supported throughout the program. Don’t worry about being lonely or homesick as the staff goes out of their way to take care of you and make sure that you are well taken care of and enjoying your time just as much as the kids are while at the camp.
Would you recommend your program/provider to others? Why?
I would fully recommend this program to others. I know that it’s always a little bit of a risk traveling abroad especially if you do it alone like I did but this program will set you up for the experience of a lifetime. I felt like part of a family, which I think is quite rare in programs like this, especially when it only occurs for four weeks.
These were all of the male counselors standing together posing for this picture.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I feel like the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is the growth it allows you to experience. Before traveling abroad I had no idea about little things such as everything being closed on Sunday in Italy, and that they take breaks in the middle of their school day and just go home. That is so different from the U.S. and I thought it was cool to see.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel to me pushes you outside of your comfort zone and makes you try different things you wouldn’t otherwise do where you are from. For example, I went swimming in a sea with no waves. I’d never get the chance to do that anywhere in the U.S. and it was so weird and amazing at the same time.
