Throughout this semester abroad I remained baffled by the idea of traveling for 21 out of the 30 days of November. I couldn't perceive such a prolonged absence from Siena, and I knew that it would only allow time to slip away more easily and undetected. Then it actually happened. Next thing I know I am standing underneath the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and following our Imagery and Public Space professor, Peter, around the streets of Rome as a part of the CET traveling seminar. Although I loved how Peter took us into the smaller churches around the city - each revealing a distinct beauty and history, having been to Rome twice in the past eight years, I wasn't as excited initially about having to do the touristy activities all over again. However, aside from what I would like to call my maturity over the course of this semester, there was a major impression made that allowed me to see Rome with fresh eyes and an open mind during my third trip. Thinking back to the first IPS class when Peter talked about the importance of knowledge when it comes to interpretating and appreciating art, I realized how meaningful it would be to really take in Raphael's "School of Athens" and Caravaggio's "The Calling of St. Matthew" now that I understand the subject matter - the story and implications behind it - and can recognize the artist's style, rather than simply admiring a pretty canvas. Thus, I discovered that some of my favorite places were actually ones I revisited. After spending so much of my time abroad being bombarded by new things, it was refreshing to form new memories on top of past experiences. I walked through the falling autumn leaves in the Villa Borghese and unwittingly stumbled across the Roman Forum at two in the morning - each moment unfolding a new chapter in a story that could have been predictable.

Directly after the traveling seminar, I ventured outside of this beautiful country for the first time in three months to Spain. After reluctantly leaving behind my Let's Go: Italy - which was deemed the "Book of Knowledge" after it got us through La Spezia (the group's first independent weekend trip) - I boarded my AirEuropa flight a little restless, but with high spirits. However, the second I landed in Madrid I knew I was in a different world: all of our baggage came to us right away, and everything was so, well, efficient. After so much time with the Italian standards of proficiency, it seemed almost eeire how the metro system was actually connceted to the airport (almost too convenient) - and was nearly spotless. Additionally, considering the several days I had just spent on Rome's virtually useless, graffiti covered metro and my whole semester with Italy's unpredictable buses and trains, I felt a little out of place amongst Madrid's pristine arrangement. However, once we met some of our good friends who are studying there, they first directed us to our hostel and then immediately brought us out for a night of La Vida Espana, making our integration into the Spanish culture and lifestyle a bit more manageable. The Prado was a dream - I was so impressed by the extent of the art collection there - and all over Madrid for that matter. I was blown away by Picasso's "Guernica" and fell in love with the incredibly soft impressionist works in La Casa Sorolla. Everything we came across in our tour was fascinating and made the trip so worthwhile, especially the surprise awaiting us outside of the Reina Sofia: Starbucks. I am a coffee fanatic so, needless to say, I was completely overcome with joy after a three month drought. We were all thrilled actually, and the vanilla lattes and blueberry muffins gave us sanity once again to venture on through the city, exploring and soaking it all up.

Somewhere throughout the seemingly flawless day, I got to the point where I thought - if I had done it all over again - maybe I could have studied in Madrid. I mean, why not? I would still be in a home stay, could run in Retiro Park, be trendy and eat tapas, take lots of siestas - the workload wouldn't be a problem - and still have the time and energy to go out with some of my best friends every night. However, amongst all the glitter and hype I also realized that my experience in Madrid would be less authentic than the semester I am spending in Siena. Madrid is a wonderful place, but the appeal of its refreshing modernity was a little deceiving since it strongly coincided with my excited to be in a big city after such a long time. Barcelona, on the other hand, was far more chaotic than Madrid, with its outrageous nightlife and infamous pickpockets - it was all so foreign to me - and thus, I did not grow as attached to it. Although I will never forget dancing on the tabletops at Razzmatazz, a five-story discotheque, until the wee hours of the morning, in terms of growth and experience, I'm not sure I would get very much out of that lifestyle. Siena is a gem because it doesn't have to be over the top to be special. Although my semester in Siena is very different from my life back in America, it's still the place where I feel the most connection and comfort. It's the place I am dying to come back to after a stressful weekend of traveling. It's my city that I know and love, but more than anything else now, it's home, and that is always what brings me back.

CET Siena Student Correspondent
Erika Bush