Semester Abroad
Rome, Italy
While in Rome, the first place I visited was Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica In the following weeks, my class took walking tours around Rome where we climbed Capitoline Hill, witnessed Roman history in the ruins of the Roman Forum, and climbed the steep stairs through the levels of the Colosseum. Other excursions included seeing the Pantheon and the Twin Churches. There were numerous grand churches all over the city as well. It allowed us to see the magnificence of historical churches and get a feel for how they city was in the past. |
Assisi, Italy
I traveled to Assisi with my class for a retreat weekend. We went with the Seminarians who were part of the program assigned to work with students attending my university. We visited the church of St. Francis, hiked a mountain to reach the hermitage of the famous saint, delighted in authentic Italian cooking, and enjoyed the sunsets and beautiful scenery the area had to offer.
I traveled to Assisi with my class for a retreat weekend. We went with the Seminarians who were part of the program assigned to work with students attending my university. We visited the church of St. Francis, hiked a mountain to reach the hermitage of the famous saint, delighted in authentic Italian cooking, and enjoyed the sunsets and beautiful scenery the area had to offer.
Krakow, Poland
Part of the study abroad program is student-planned travel weekends. I chose to travel to Poland at the end of January. With a group of other students, I went on a guided tour of the Auschwitz concentration camp. While it was difficult to fully grasp such a gruesome piece of history, it is important we never forget these events in order to ensure history does not repeat itself.
We stayed in the heart of Krakow and had plenty of time to explore the area which included a massive basilica. On our final day, we made a mini "pilgrimage" to the Divine Mercy Shrine. It was an inspirational way to end our stay!
Barcelona, Spain
For my second travel weekend, I decided to spend time in Barcelona. I had not previously planned to go to this location but the opportunity arose and I seized it. The group I was traveling with made it a top priority to go and see Sagrada Familia, a massive basilica that has been continuously under construction during the past 200 years, This church still reminds unfinished to this day. The tall stained glass windows and detailed sculpting on the outside of the structure were breathtaking. My group had time in the following days to wander around the city and visit the beach. It was so strange to experience such warm weather during a winter month. |