Submitted by Cierra Spruill on the 2018 winter session program in Siena, Italy sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures…
My name is CC Spruill and I am currently studying abroad in the quaint town of Siena, Italy. I have officially been in Italy for a week and I can now say that I truly do LOVE it here. The best part of my program so far has been meeting new people, and not just those in my class.
On the first day of class in Siena I met a student from South Africa, named Alessio. Alessio’s family was from Italy, but moved to South Africa before he was born and never taught him to speak Italian. Therefore, he took it upon himself to learn. We learned that Alessio has been living in Siena since September on his own while taking classes. Luckily for us, Alessio knew the best place to get lunch; “una salumeria.” “Salumeria” is the equivalent to an American deli where they have amazing foods. It has now been three days since we found this salumeria and some of my classmates and I have vowed to go almost every day because it is just that good.
I’m extremely happy to have met Alessio and have gotten to know him better over lunch. People like Alessio are just another reason why Siena has stolen my heart so quickly.