This past weekend I traveled to the romantic city of Venice! My friends and I were able to get a bus ticket straight from Siena to Venice for about 64 euros with only one transfer.

Unfortunately, we booked a hotel off the island and had to find another hotel the night before! After hours of searching, we found one for 48 euros close to the train station. The hotel name was Hotel Tre Archi. To my surprise the hotel was beautiful and surpassed my expectations. The bed could have fit three people and there was air conditioning.

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Venice is a car-free, beautiful city on top of hundreds islands. Instead of cars, boats are the main way of transportation. This touristy place is filled with hundreds of thousands of people and can easily become an expensive trip.

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There are millions of bridges that connect each island together! Be prepared to walk a lot and try to pick up a map at your hotel or an information booth!

I would highly suggest taking a gondola right while in Venice! They can be easily found by the train station. They start at about 80 euros for 40 minutes for six people during the day. Try negotiating with the men because we convinced them to go down 5 euros per person. Try walking away after asking the initial price and they will give you another deal.

Gondola rides are a great way to get off your feet and see more of the beautiful city. It was one of the most memorable experiences and I loved it.

Another must see of Venice is the St. Mark’s Square. This is the political and religious center and holds the Clock Tower and St. Mark’s Basilica. Surrounding the square are restaurants with live music playing for tourist to listen to.
Be careful to look out for pick-pocketers, my friends had a group of men surround us claiming that they were a bachelor party wanting a picture with us. Luckily, we protected our belongings and nothing was stolen.
Also there are hundreds of birds in the square. There is a man who feeds them and tries to get you to take food so he can charge you. Be careful of the birds that fly low because they will poop on you.

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To get back to our hotel we had to take a water bus. When we bought our tickets, it began pouring down rain, thundering, and lightening. We waited on the dock that was being violently shaken by the storm. Every few minutes we could see lightening light up the sky or touch down to the water. Everyone was shoulder to shoulder and apprehensive of the storm. When our boat finally arrived, people shoved on to it and our group got split up. Two of us were left on the dock and had to wait for the next boat to come. After a long wait, the next boat came to pick us up. It was packed and we were hoping not to get struck by lightening on the water. Nine stops later, we got to our hotel in one non-electrified piece.

Until Next Time,
The Italian Duck

I am coming to the end of my first week in Siena. Words cannot describe how beautiful this city is. I feel like I am in a movie. My days have been jammed packed with excursions, orientation, and finding my way around the city.

I finally got to try the amazing gelato and it was just as good as everyone was telling me!

The Piazza del Campo is the heart of Siena and was constructed in the 12th century. It is a great meeting place and people come here at night to sit under the tower and hang out with friends.

Here is the my first Italian dinner!

The Duomo Cathedral is breathtakingly beautiful and contains art of Pisano, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Bernini. Every corner of the cathedral has extremely detailed art and paintings. This gothic-Renaissance style cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and represents the history and people of Siena.

Overall this has been a great start to my great Italian adventure and I can’t wait to start school tomorrow!

Until Next Time,
The Italian Duck

Ducks can fly, right? Well this one can. After thirteen hours of flying, a five hour layover in Chicago, seven hours in the Rome airport, and a three hour bus ride, I have finally arrived to my destination of Siena, Italy.

To start my trip, I woke up at 3:30 am and headed to the Portland International Airport to catch my 7:05 am flight. Make sure you give yourself PLENTY of time to get through security, check in your luggage, and find your gate. Luckily, I sat by the wings of the plane on the isle seat by a friendly mom who showed me pictures of her kids.

When I landed in the Chicago airport and I had a five hour delay, where I bought plenty of snacks and explored the ODR airport. Luckily I meet a southern family of three who were also heading to Rome. After the five hour delay, I boarded the plane and sat next to a vibrant Italian man who was visiting his family for the first time in ten years. He was impressed with my existing Italian knowledge and I got to practice my Italian with him.

After nine LONG hours of flying and drifting in and out of sleep, I finally made it to the Rome airport. Unexpectedly, customs and baggage claim went by quickly and I was done within twenty minutes. There was no lines at custom and they didn’t ask my any question about my trip.

Unfortunately since my plane was delayed, I missed my bus and had to wait seven hours in the airport for the next bus to Siena. And let me tell you, seven hours in an airport is brutal. For anyone flying into the Rome airport, the bus station is crazy and there are tons of people. Luckily, most signs are in English and you can easily find someone who knows a English and can help you. Also there were no outlets to charge your phone or computer, so be prepared with a full battery!

The bus ride over was fairly easy and I was able to see the tuscan country side. Siena is about three hour ride from the airport and you are dropped off at the Piazza Gramsci, which is only four blocks away from the Hotel I was staying at.

Finally I made my destination, checked into my hotel and meet my roommates for the night. They updated me on what I missed during orientation and told me about their stores getting over here. Apparently one of them had to pay for 350 euros for a taxi because they missed their bus and someone else in the program has lost their luggage. One thing I have learned about traveling, is that it is hard and exhausting but having a positive attitude is key. Overall, I am so excited and relieved to have made it safely to Siena and I can’t wait to explore the city.

Until Next Time,
The Italian Duck

Tips:
1.When you exit the airport you will be bombarded with people trying to get you to take a taxi.
2.Don’t assume everyone knows english.
3.You are able to buy a bus ticket when your bus arrives.
4.Expect delays.
5.Don’t be afraid to make friends.
6.Everyone has a rough time making it over here, don’t think you’re the only one.
7.People walk around with large guns in the airport. Don’t be surprised.
8.No matter what happens, stay calm and be patience, you’re in Rome after all.

Here is a look at some of the stuff that I have packed away in my suitcase!

Euros: When I arrive at the airport I don’t have much time to catch my bus, so I have purchased 100 euros to start off my trip! For those of you traveling make sure to let your financial institution know that you will be out of the country.

European Adaptor: Make sure to get an international converter to charge your phone, laptop, and other electronic devices! I found mine at target for about $25.

Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Swimsuit, and a Reusable Water Bottle: There will be a possibility of 100-degree weather in Siena, so I have packed away all the essentials to fight against the Italian heat. Sunscreen to protect my skin, a reusable water bottle to avoid dehydration, and a swimsuit and sunglasses for when I escape to the Tyrrhenian or Ligurian Sea.

Rick Steves Italy Book: After telling one of my co-workers I was traveling abroad this summer, he suggested I get Rick Steves book. This book is filled with helpful tips and tricks about walking tours, must see sights, and everything in between. It is a great way to familiarize yourself with the country and know the “hot spots” to go to. I found my book on Amazon for about $20 and there are many other guide books about Spain, Russia, Ireland, and more!

Passport: I would highly suggest renewing or getting your passport as soon as you can. It took me six months to get mine. But when I started to think about studying abroad, it was one less thing I had to do.

Plane Ticket: I found the best deal on Student Universe (Link on top of Blog). I would highly suggest using this website because it is user friendly and can help you find great deals.

Go Pro: This isn’t an essential but I am excited to capture all the memories I make and share them with you.

Hope this give you an idea of what to pack for your travels.

Ciao,
The Italian Duck

January 19^th, 2016. That was the day I received my acceptance letter to the Social Media and Marketing study abroad program in Siena, Italy. Six months later, my plane is booked, my suitcase is packed, and I’m ready for an adventure of a life time. With only four days left, my anticipation is at an all time high and all I can think about is the hilltop city that will become my home for six weeks.

Siena, Italy is located in the heart of Tuscany and has a riveting history that dates back to pre-Roman beginnings. The city is known for its breathtaking architecture, tasty food, and their annual horse race, the Palio. Unlike Oregon’s abundance of trees and greenery, Siena is composed of red brick and their 17 contrades (neighborhoods) that have their own unique identities. Their relaxed culture and rich history provide the perfect place for anyone to experience “the good life” of Italy.

When I first decided to study abroad, I went to the Global Education Office (GEO) website (link located at the top of blog) and started looking at their programs. This program immediately caught my attention and I soon realized it was the perfect fit for me and my educational goals.  With the Marketing and Social Media class, I will be completing some of my business requirements and be able to work on my intercultural competency skills. In addition, the Cross-Cultural Communications class will help me learn and appreciate Siena’s history and people. After researching more about the program and looking at other student’s pictures, I knew that this adventure was the one for me. After a couple essays and one recommendation, I got accepted to the first session the program.

June 21^st, 2016. That is the day I’ll be boarding a plane to travel five thousand miles to experience foreign food, Italian beauty, and new company. Cheers to traveling, new adventures, and living the Italian dream.

Until next time,

The Italian Duck