The Traveling Journal: My First Trip Abroad in Italy

Student Ambassador Haley Ross made the bold decision to step outside of her comfort zone and take her first trip out of the country. Her adventures in Italy were unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Read on to hear what Haley had to say about her exploration of Italy with WorldStrides.

“What an incredible trip to say the least! This was my first time leaving the country and I am so thankful that I was able to go with my mom, my closest friends, and my teachers. On our route to Italy, we unexpectedly ended up having to travel to Switzerland for a night, but we go to pass through the beautiful alps. This trip taught me a lot about patience, perseverance, and going with the flow.

After a fun stop in Switzerland, the group arrived in Venice to meet with our amazing tour guide, Elizabeth. She traveled with us throughout the entire trip and had a never-ending supply of knowledge and fun historical facts. The first day in Venice was spent walking around the city and visiting a glass blowing shop. We ended our time in Venice with a wonderful gondola ride.

After Venice, we found our way to Florence. We entered the museum—Accademia Gallery of Florence— where Michelangelo’s sculpture David was. The next day we went to my favorite place on the entire trip, San Gimignano. It’s a lovely town full of little shops and the best place for taking photos! We also had the world’s best gelato, they won three years in a row. Later that night, back in the busy part of Florence, we danced our way through the streets. This day was by far my favorite memory of the entire trip.

We had a fun time visiting Capri, Pompeii and Rome, and then ended the trip at the Vatican. It was such an incredible experience to walk through the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. I have never been in such a beautiful place in my whole life. I enjoyed every second at the Vatican.
I learned so much on this trip: how to sing happy birthday in Italian, how to make pasta, the rich history of Italy, how to do the tarantella dance, and so much more. Not only was this trip a great vacation, but also an amazing learning experience. I highly recommend that other students join a WorldStrides trip if they can. It’s a once in a lifetime experience, an unforgettable adventure, and an opportunity that you don’t want to miss out on.