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Bearcats on the Road

Reflecting on Italy: Some of the Best Days of My Life

Posted by Emily Samara on Sat, May 07, 2016 @ 10:00 AM

As I enter into my final week in Rome, I am overwhelmed with joy. These almost four months have been some of the best days of my life. Not only did I find my new home in Italy, I learned to live on my own, I can say some words in another language, I found THE best gelato place ever, I have seen so much history and I have made some incredible friendships. I was so blessed to be able to share this experience with the people closest to me and show them a place that I now call home. I made my way not only around Rome but to Venice, Milan, Assisi, Florence, Tuscany, Turi, Positano, Sorrento, Capri, Naples, Pompeii, Sicily, London and even Stockholm. And I met family I didn’t even know existed!

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Topics: study abroad, Italy, travel, Rome, Emily Samara, family, gelato

Reconnecting with family in Turi

Posted by Emily Samara on Thu, Apr 14, 2016 @ 03:49 PM


Well, these past two days have been some of the greatest in my life and were also some of the most challenging. My parents and I departed Rome at 10 a.m. on Monday in our Volkswagon Passat station wagon and headed toward Bari. For this part of our trip we were going to meet our relatives that live in Turi, which is right outside of Bari. My great-grandfather Angelo Spinelli on my mom’s side was born in Turi in 1902 and came to America in 1921 to live and raise a family. He left behind his parents and two of his sisters to go to America to join his oldest sister. Once in America, WellAngelo had two children, my grandfather and great aunt. Although my grandpa Perry never met his aunts or cousins, they were in touch by writing letters and sending photos.

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Topics: study abroad, Italy, Emily Samara, family, Polignana, Turi

The best cannoli and pizza I ever ate

Posted by Emily Samara on Tue, Mar 22, 2016 @ 04:08 PM

These past two weeks have been quite the adventure, from giving another Bearcat the grand tour of Rome, to traveling to Sicily for the weekend and celebrating my 21st birthday, I have never been so exhausted and excited at the same time. Like I have mentioned before, it is my goal to try to get to as many places in Italy as I can and Sicily was next on my list.

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Topics: study abroad, Emily Samara, cannoli, pizza, Pisa, Sicily, Mt. Etna

When in Milan

Posted by Emily Samara on Tue, Feb 23, 2016 @ 04:00 PM
It's safe to say that so far my favorite place I have visited in Italy is Milan. The minute I got off the metro and walked up the steps that exposed me to the main square, I fell in love. The way I felt when I was in Milan is one of those feelings that you know can't last forever but you are just so happy it doesn't even matter that it'll be over soon. 
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Topics: study abroad, Italy, Emily Samara, fashion, Milan, shopping

The Student of Venice

Posted by Emily Samara on Tue, Feb 09, 2016 @ 04:00 PM

After a busy, busy weekend of traveling I am back home in Rome ready for this week of classes! Last Thursday a group of ten other students and me traveled to Venice, Italy. 

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Topics: study abroad, Italy, Emily Samara, Murano, Venice, Piazza San Marco, Burano

One Week In Rome

Posted by Emily Samara on Fri, Jan 22, 2016 @ 12:00 PM

Today is Monday, Jan. 19, and it's my first day of classes here in Rome! I am studying at John Cabot University (America's University in Rome). I had my tour the other day, but today I got out of bed early and met my roommates for lunch on the Tiber campus (right across from the Tiber River), and then we started heading toward the other parts of campus.

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Topics: study abroad, Steelers, Saint Vincent College, Rome, Emily Samara

Finally Here!

Posted by Emily Samara on Fri, Jan 15, 2016 @ 08:52 AM

It's day three here in Rome and, after all the walking and eating, I notice how adjusted I am becoming to living the Roman life. I arrived on Tuesday around 4:30 and was shuttled to my apartment here in the city. All of my roommates were already here and unpacking, so I had some catching up to do. 

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Topics: study abroad, Italy, Rome, Emily Samara, Exploring

One Step Closer

Posted by Emily Samara on Mon, Jan 04, 2016 @ 02:23 PM
Well, it's been quite a journey to get my visa for my trip to Italy and I could not have done it without my parents. The first day we went to get my visa from the Italian consulate at the embassy of Italy in  Washington, D.C. (thankfully only a 30-minute drive from home) I quickly realized I left my visa application at home. During the drive back I realized how important organization will be when I get to Italy. 
 
After a lot of copying and many calls to the Embassy, we headed back four days later. We had all the paperwork we needed and I got the confirmation that my visa would be ready on Dec. 31. Today we set out for the third trip to the Embassy! After many phone calls, a lot of copying, two separate trips to D.C. and double checking, I received my visa!
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Topics: study abroad, Italy, Rome, Emily Samara

Getting Ready for Rome

Posted by Emily Samara on Wed, Dec 16, 2015 @ 03:42 PM

In less than a month I will be making the trip to Rome! All my final preparations are being made and when I get home from my last exam on Thursday I will be in full Italy mode. Its been pretty difficult trying to figure out all the fine details with my parents being in another state but with all the help from Ms. Hart and even my friends this is already an experience I would not trade for anything. Just yesterday I received an email giving me my apartment address and the names of my roommates in Italy! I am so excited to immerse myself in a new culture and environment not knowing anyone or really anything. I might need to learn a few Italian phrases before I leave!

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Topics: study abroad, Italy, Rome, Emily Samara

About this Blog

In Bearcats on the Road, students chronicle their lives while studying abroad or completing internships away from campus.

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Paige Casario

Paige Casario is a junior International Business major with minors in Spanish and Operational Excellence. She is studying Business and Spanish and living with a host family in Sevilla, Spain, for the spring semester. She is very excited for this opportunity and experience and can't wait to venture all over Spain and Europe.

Nicole Reitz

Hi! My name is Nicole Reitz and I’m a junior psychology major at SVC. This spring, I’m studying at Edge Hill University in England.

Gianna Boburka

Hi! My name is Gianna Boburka. I am an international business major with minors in operational excellence and entrepreneurship. I will be studying abroad in Thessaloniki, Greece, this summer for five weeks. In addition to taking two classes abroad, I will be exploring many different sites around Greece.

Theresa Thimons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theresa Thimons is a sophomore majoring in mathematics. She is the proud little sister to nine siblings and aunt to seventeen nieces and nephews. Theresa believes that each encounter she has with another human is an opportunity to better understand the heart of Jesus, as every person is the result of God’s love. In whatever career path she ends up taking, she looks forward to solving problems and hopefully inspiring more people to explore the world of fun that is found in math.

Sam Geer

 

 

 

 

 

 

My name is Sam Geer. I’m from Murrysville, Pennsylvania, and I’m a junior at Saint Vincent. I’m getting my major in Environmental Science and minoring in Public Administration. I’m a work study at the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve and am a member of the Benedictine Leadership Studies Program. This summer, I'll be traveling to Bhutan in the Himalayas of Central Asia, home of the bearcat, where I’ll be studying environmental sustainability and Bhutanese culture. 

Gabrielle Kohl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi! Im Gabrielle Kohl, an avid reader who loves to travel around the world! I love to experience new culture, literature, people and food. I aim to make a positive impact in the lives of people with whom I interact in order to make the world a happier place.

Nicole Berry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi! My name is Nicole Berry and I am currently a junior studying communication and psychology. I also am minoring in children studies. I am a commuter and currently live in Delmont, PA. I am hoping to graduate in May 2017 and go on to graduate school for my Masters in Social Work and Juris Doctorate.

Anastasia Jaeger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anastasia Jaeger is a junior English education major with a minor in German and a minor in peace and justice. She has always dreamed of being able to travel around the world and is thankful that Saint Vincent College has these opportunities available to students. When she is not at college, she is likely working her part-time job at a local bakery. In the future, she hopes to travel more and do humanitarian work or teach high school students English.