SAI Study Abroad at John Cabot University (Rome, Italy)

Absolutely loved being abroad. Sai was wonderful and supportive (academics, visa, financial, etc) the whole way through. My living situation was nearly perfect, the location was relevant and local. Viva activities were great. Staff was exceptional.

I truly recommend SAI's amazingly seamless study abroad program. SAI prepares you for your adventure before departing and provides support through every step of the way (if you need it). I really admired the SAI on-site staff - they led with authenticity, were very helpful, and always made sure we knew their offices were available to us for anything and everything. SAI also provides program enhancements like cultural experiences (cooking classes, day trips, etc.) for FREE which is just incredible and provides amazing opportunities for foundational friendships to form! The Global Leadership Certificate is another enhancement that makes this program unique - it allows you to (if you choose) complete a number of community service hours and reflect often on how your experience abroad is helping you grow as a global citizen. I chose to complete the Global Leadership Certificate and am so grateful I did - I met wonderful locals during community service and gained a unique perspective by reflecting on my time abroad. Rome/Trastevere in itself is an amazing place to study - it is rich with culture, many locals, and a bustling yet home-y feel. By studying there and befriending SAI friends, locals, and JCU students, I grew immensely and became more spontaneous, appreciative, present, and joyful. If I could say one thing that really captures this experience, it would be this: SAI has great resources and runs a seamless program, but what really makes it memorable is the heart put into every part of the experience. That's what leaves me still thinking about it and so grateful for every moment.

SAI was by far the best program I could have chosen to work with during my time abroad. From the moment I registered all the way to months after being back in the States, SAI went out of their way to meet my needs. They picked me up from the airport and took me to my apartment (which they provided), making me feel safe in a country I’d never been to. They had an orientation teaching us the do’s and don'ts of being abroad and the difference in our cultures, which was very beneficial. All semester long, they hosted events that allowed me to explore different parts of Italy and meet amazing people in my program. My favorite events were the pasta making class and wine tasting, as well as making chocolates in Perugina. Even when I got back to the states, they continued to reach out asking how I was adjusting and what they could have done better, to improve their program for the next students. SAI is dedicated to giving students an amazing experience abroad and you can truly see that by the way they care for you. Couldn't recommend SAI enough!

I highly recommend choosing a program like SAI for your study abroad experience because it offers you much more flexibility and opportunity for free time unlike university sponsored trips. I was able to travel to different cities around Italy whenever I wanted by simply taking the train after class. We also had very free weekends to do anything we wanted, like travel to other countries (I went to 4 others in only 5 weeks!). My experience was even greater than I expected because SAI helped make everything go so smoothly and I was never stressed out about anything. They also had plenty of activities for us to get to know each other before classes started which helped with making friends and getting familiar with the city in general a ton. The location in Trastevere was the perfect combination of locals/non-tourists and other study abroad students or families who ventured over the Tiber to our side of the river. Such a cute town with great restaurants and night life (from dancing in the street to little bars!). Close enough to walk and see plenty of the touristy or historical areas in Rome too. SAI takes care of your transcript forms at the end and everything too which was so helpful. I can’t recommend them enough!

I believe that studying abroad is something that everyone should do, if they have the opportunity to. This was an amazing experience where I got to live in a whole different country for five months and experience a whole new culture and people that I am not use to. I had to put myself in situations that I never thought I would, and it was very beneficial for me. I got to experience a new language where I was able to pick it up after just living there for a short while. You become accustomed to their way of life, and it changes who you are and you get to bring all your new knowledge back to home to share it with others. While being in one country, the cheap airplane tickets to a close country was how some weekends were spent. This journey opened up more of the world to me and never did I think I was going to be able to say I have visited eight new countries in a short amount of time. Studying abroad was a beautiful experience, and I would go back in an instance.

Studying abroad with SAI is hands down the best decision I have ever made. The process if preparing and getting to Rome was seamless as the staff were the most friendly and informative individuals I had the experience of getting to know. Not only was there over 10 planned outings (included with tuition) through the SAI program, but they also ensured everyone felt safe and comfortable. I made lifelong friends on this journey and have some of my most fond memories from this trip. Planning on taking my boyfriend to Rome to show him what my time was like here just a few years ago. If you're debating studying abroad, DO IT!

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Studying abroad in Rome, Italy through SAI programs was the experience of a lifetime. During my semester with John Cabot University, I was able to truly embrace my Italian heritage through many aspects. Living in the neighborhood of Trastevere, I was connected to many methods of transportation. This allowed me to take regional trains and international bus rides to explore on my down time. Some of my adventures included visiting different historic hotspots across Italy like Venice, Florence, and Naples. I was even able to visit my ancestral village of Moio Della Civitella in the province of Salerno. Meeting long lost relatives and learning to live independently on my own really made my study abroad experience with SAI worthwhile. Their staff I was very supporting when it came to concerns that I had prior to making a full commitment. I would truly recommend that anyone looking to study abroad do so through SAI. SAI opened up the world to me in ways I previously never would have imagined!

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I studied abroad at JCU in Rome, Italy through SAI programs and had an amazing semester that I still think about. I was supposed to study abroad my junior year, but COVID made that impossible. When I thought about studying abroad senior year, Rome was the only option that really worked as all the classes I needed to graduate were offered. Even though Rome wasn't my original plan, I'm so happy that is where I ended up. They made the process super easy from visa help to everyday questions about living in Rome. There were plenty of included excursions that I definitely recommend taking advantage of. I met some of my closest friends and was able to learn surrounded by people from all over. I 10/10 would recommend studying abroad, especially through SAI.

My experience studying abroad was unique unlike any other year that will go. We were the first class to go after COVID, so it was a fluid situation for us. SAI did their absolute best to keep all the activities they safely could for us. On the ground, Jordan and Marco were more than helpful, and were there whenever we needed them. They never held our hands, but knew when to step in for help. They were always smiling faces to see around campus as well. I have wanted to study abroad since I was in 8th grade, and was very appreciative of everything they did to make that dream a reality after COVID. There were plenty of activities to do, even with some removed due to the pandemic.

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I spent spring 2022 in Rome and had the best semester of my life. My housing was a cute little apartment and under ten minutes from campus and my assigned roommates ended up being my best friends. I tried to go to almost all of the SAI excursions and they were always so much fun and the on-site staff was great. Even when not on SAI travel, they always had awesome recommendations for where to go and where to stay. I also ended up having to see a doctor while I was there which was super nerve-racking, but they were amazing at helping me find an English-speaking doctor and helping me organize everything. If you have a chance to study abroad with them, you won't regret it.

Studying abroad with SAI is the best decision that I've ever made. SAI helped me throughout the entire process, from pre-departure, while in Rome, having to come home in the middle of the semester due to COVID-19, and afterward. SAI provides you with a ton of resources to make the process of applying for visas, booking flights, and obtaining a permit to stay as easy as possible. While in Rome, SAI gave us many opportunities to get to know the other students in the program and learn more about the city and country that we were staying in. The amount of students was perfect because there was a small enough group to where we all knew each other's faces but a large enough group to where we could meet new people and have different friend groups. COVID-19 put a huge amount of stress on the students in the program, but the on-site staff helped us through the entire process by providing assistance in arranging flights and reassuring us and giving us kind words throughout the entire process. SAI made the difficult (but responsible and correct) decision to send all students home when some universities did not make the decision for themselves. When I arrived home, SAI staff reached out to make sure that I had settled back into life in the United States and worked to provide us with as much of a refund from the time that we had to leave early. I loved every moment that I got to spend in Rome and without SAI I would not have been able to enjoy my experience as much as I did.

Like most people say, studying abroad was one of the best experiences of my life. Choosing an SAI program was one of the best things I could have done for myself because they made this transition as smooth as possible. Moving to a new country can be a very scary task, but SAI helped guide us as best as anyone could. They planned activities, Italian language survival guides, taught us how to use the public transportation systems, showed us neighborhoods to venture to, and much more. They went above and beyond to make sure students became more comfortable in those first few weeks and the weeks following. They were always available if we needed something and they encouraged us to come in and chat or ask questions. Im so thankful for SAI and all the hard work they put into their programs— it truly makes a difference!

I studied abroad for an entire semester in Rome through SAI and it was undoubtedly the best experience I've had in my life. I ate some incredible food, witnessed incredible places, met and connected with people who have changed my life, and learned much about myself. It was a semester of self-exploration and global-exploration! I have come back to the States as a culturally competent and well-rounded person who is able to adapt to situations. I became close friends with Alessandra and Jordan, the coordinators from SAI, and I truly enjoyed their company and learning from them. During my time abroad, I pursued the Global Leadership Certificate SAI offers which has supplemented my resume.

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SAI made it very easy for me to transition to life in Rome. They set up housing arrangements, helped with our student visas, and provided excursions around Italy. The SAI program leaders were always accessible to us! I was able to enjoy my time in Italy and focus on my studies and relieved a lot of stress by how well structured the program was. I highly recommend SAI if you are wanting to study in Rome!

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It would be an understatement to say that I was nervous before leaving to go study in Rome for four months. However, through SAI, my worries went away shortly after arriving. Everything with SAI was incredibly organized and well planned out, from getting picked up from the airport, to all the planned activities and experiences throughout the semester. The onsite coordinators were always available and willing to help us with anything throughout my four months abroad, they were so caring and full of great suggestions. Additionally, the apartment that I stayed in through SAI was wonderful, so spacious and in a great location. During my semester abroad I learned a ton about myself and became so much more independent and confident. I had so many new and incredible experiences and I made so many new lifelong friends. These four months in Rome were some of the best of my life and I am so glad I decided to study through SAI. Studying in Rome through SAI was one of the best decisions I ever made for myself.

SAI made my time abroad as great as it could be. The transition into Italian culture was not as harsh as I envisioned it to be. The program also set up great activities that helped us interact with other students, while also exposing us to the daily life of the locals. I had an amazing apartment and made some of my best friends till this day through my housing assignment. SAI has influenced me to continue to look for opportunities abroad- something I had never considered prior to this experience.

I loved studying abroad in Rome, Italy! Not only was I able to travel the rest of Europe, but I was immersed in the Italian culture in a way that resulted in me feeling like Rome is my second home. I am already making plans to go back; I have even considered applying to John Cabot for graduate school. While studying abroad was fun and amazing, it was also really difficult--in a good way. Never have I felt so alone and independent as I did while living abroad in a different country. It forced me to grow up and helped me understand who I want to be as a human in this great, big world. I wouldn't change anything about my experience abroad! If you are on the fence about studying abroad, I'd say: Go for it.

Studying abroad, anywhere, is often very scary. The first day we were dropped off at our apartment with no exact direction. This was absolutely terrifying for me. After getting to know the neighborhood and Trastevere/Rome, the SAI office started to become a second home or place to go for me to feel comfortable in. The SAI office was always there when I just wanted to talk, had questions about study abroad, questions about where I should visit the next weekend, or seeking advise for the future. I completed the SAI Global Leadership Program, which allowed me to enrich in the Italian culture more and get to know more locals. Also, I also had to take a class relevant to Global studies. The weekly meetings at SAI were very helpful and allowed me to understand more of what global leadership means and how each of us can do it. I am truly thankful there was a program like SAI to make Rome more of a home while I was there.

Choosing to study abroad in Rome, Italy was the best decision I could have ever made. It was an experience unlike any other and I fell in love with the city of Rome. I would absolutely recommend studying abroad to anyone. I was gone for a 5 week summer term and stayed an additional 3 weeks after. Looking back, I wish I would have studied for 10 weeks because it goes by so fast and I never felt like I was there for too long. There is so much to see in Rome alone and in other places around you. Being able to immerse yourself in another culture is such an amazing experience and you become so familiar with the places around you. My study abroad experience is something that I will never forget and has me constantly dreaming of when I will be back in Italy!

My study abroad experience was very different than my peers. My mother was born in Italy and came to America when she was four years old, but the Italian culture has always stuck within my family. I was able to meet so many people where I created memories with people who became life-long friends. I was also able to learn more about heritage and meet family members along the way. Studying abroad was an amazing experience where I grew as an individual. I became more independent, brave, adaptable to new situations and cultural differences. I recommend SAI Programs because they are always there to help, but they give you the independence and learning experience every student should have.

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