Abbey Road Programs

Getting involved is a matter of getting out there! The best way to get involved in a new area is to do something--anything, really--where you have a natural reason to interact with locals. For example, I love playing pickup soccer wherever I go. I’m at four continents so far, and I would love to hit all seven! If you are not an athlete, the arts are another great option: attend a dance class, join a drum circle, or do whatever you like to do back at home. It is much easier to build relationships across cultures, languages, and nationalities when there is a common interest to start! In addition, my group will tell you that I am fairly religious about avoiding tourist restaurants--I want to eat where the locals eat, and I will strike up a conversation with anyone to find the best meal. Recently, I learned about a great food truck in Ljubljana, Slovenia from our guide on another activity--and it was one of the best meals of my summer! The rule is to plan carefully, but be prepared for serendipitous diversions, because that’s where the best experiences always happen.

Upon arrival in Florence, one of the first priorities is communication; we make sure students are in contact with parents, and we set up a WhatsApp group so that they can be in touch with staff and other students throughout the program. Another top priority is safety. Many have traveled quite a bit, but usually with their parents, so we talk about personal safety in the city, being aware of your surroundings, and never going off on their own without other students and/or staff. A discussion of health is important at this time too; they need to eat right, drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, and always communicate with staff day or night if there are any emergencies or concerns. Finally, we talk about why they came to Florence, and how we can work together to make sure it’s a fabulous program!

I wanted to travel, specifically to Nice, France. I was interested in developing my French, and I was desperate to be independent.