Campus Reporters
current students tell us all about life at school and in their community.
SYA France Storyteller Posts
Abbie shares about the transition from tourist to local using a book SYA France read in English class as a starting place for her reflection.
Malaika reflects on her feeling of "winning"; her days in France, and how she began to feel comfortable and adjusted to her French life.
Shaila writes about her exciting trip to Paris to welcome the Semester 2 students to SYA France!
Shaila reflects on what it will mean to say goodbye to her semester one friends who are leaving this week.
Malaika writes about her independent travel to Nantes and the close friends she has built at SYA in just one semester.
Abigail writes about her gratitude for the SYA community and her host family during the holiday season.
Shaila writes about SYA France's class trip to Bordeaux and her three favorite places they visited.
Malaika writes about her trip to La Dune di Pilat and the sense of freedom she felt playing in the sand and reminiscing with her classmates.
Abigail reflects on her daily schedule and shares how, though at first glance her life feels very different in France, there are a lot of similarities with her American schedule.
Shaila writes about her initial fieldwork in Rennes and how her time exploring not only helped her feel comfortable with the city, but built community with both American and French friends.
Abigail reflects on her transition to living in Rennes and overcoming initial feelings of loneliness as she become more independent and made friends at SYA.
Malaika writes about SYA France's trip to Mont Saint Michel and her experience visiting the island.
SYA Spain Storyteller Posts
Amiya reflects on the question, what does it mean to travel? and ponders her increased confidence while traveling thanks to her time at SYA.
Victoriah writes about celebrating the festival of los Reyes Magos, or the three wisemen, in Spain over winter break.
Rose writes about her love for Zaragoza in the winter and conquering the winter blues.
Ayla writes about returning back to Zaragoza after winter break and the wonderful feeling of arriving home again.
Victoriah takes readers through a visit to the Zaragoza Christmas market, transporting readers to a chilly evening in Spain!
Amiya shares her experience living with a host family, and reassures incoming students that though the beginning can be awkward, it gets so much better!
Ayla writes to the semester two students, reflecting on her semester and telling readers what they will experience as they adjust to life at SYA.
Rose shares her "why SYA" reflections after her first semester abroad!
Victoriah writes about her trip to Castilla la Mancha, inviting the reader on a creative reflection of her quest to explore the town.
Rose writes about her recent trip to Barcelona and her determination to explore the city with her friends, making the most of their time in the city.
Ayla writes about her trip to Barcelona and is grateful for the ability to experience so many different parts of Spain through academic travel.
Amiya writes about her experience learning Spanish and how living in Spain has made becoming fluent in Spanish possibile.
Rose writes about meeting her host family, and shares stories from other SYA Spain students about their first memories with their own host families.
Amiya writes about the unexpected moments in her first weeks at SYA that have made living in Spain switch from feeling foreign to feeling like home.
Ayla writes about meeting a shop owner in Madrid and the power in forming new relationships in Spain, whether with friends or people she interviews for fieldwork.
Victoriah writes about the Basílica del Pilar in Zaragoza and her experience getting to know the building as she's gained independence and confidence moving to Spain.
SYA Italy Storyteller Posts
Lukas writes about his experience showing the Semester 2 students around Viterbo on their first fieldwork assignment.
Elizabeth reflects on the arrival of the Semester 2 students and encourages readers to stop and notice new little details in the place where you live.
Farah gives advice on how to combat loneliness while studying abroad.
Lukas writes about his mission to blend in as an Italian speaker in Florence, challenging himself to step out of the touristy bubble and put his Italian studies to work!
Farah writes about making chocolate chip muffins for her host family, and the adventure required to acquire all the necessary ingredients.
Elizabeth writes about visiting a Christmas market in Florence with SYA and her love for this season in Italy.
Farah writes about traveling with her host family to Venice and Rome, and reflecting on what it means to live in Italy but not be a tourist.
Lukas writes about learning how to take the bus to a local Italian town for fieldwork!
Elizabeth writes about her experience maintaining a local archeological site and participating in a dig of an old Etruscan Tomb.
Elizabeth writes about SYA Italy's trip to Terracina to conclude the immersion unit. She reflects on what it means to embrace the unknown each day as she explores Italy!
Lukas writes about a recent fieldwork day where students walked to a local hot spring and explored the countryside near Viterbo!
Farah writes about her transition to Italy and how moving to Italy without knowing Italian has challenged her and also been incredibly rewarding.