Isabella Nastas: Blog Post #1

Hi! My name is Isabella and I am a junior at TCU majoring in Strategic Communication. Next week I will be starting my journey to Rome, and I could not be more excited! I am from a suburb of Chicago, Illinois and have lived there my entire life, so going to TCU was a way for me to explore a new part of the country, and now I get the opportunity to explore a whole new part of the world. Studying abroad has always been something I’m passionate about since visiting my sister in Italy eight years ago. I am looking forward to embracing the different cultures and immersing myself in a new environment filled with new experiences.

I will be taking an Italian language class as well as an Italian culture class. I’m excited to start learning the language to help ease my transition into the Italian lifestyle. This will also help me work at one of my goals of the semester which is to learn and improve on my Italian. Another goal of mine is to take all the opportunities that will come my way this semester. I hope to visit many different European cities and do lots of sightseeing. My last goal is to meet new people, from TCU and also from other places around the world. I believe the best way to do this will be reaching out to classmates and sparking conversations while at cafes or stores. 

What excites me the most is being able to travel on the weekends and explore small towns, big cities, and hidden gems across Europe. I know each place will be unique in its own way, and I am looking forward to learning the different cultures and ways of life. I can’t wait to document these experiences through blogs and lots of photos so I can keep these memories forever.  

This semester will be an amazing opportunity for me to grow as a person and push out of my comfort zone. I am ready to embrace the Italian lifestyle and reflect on myself every step of the way. Let the pasta eating and gelato tasting begin!