My trip to Cortona, Italy was not only my first UGA study abroad trip, it was also my first time going abroad in general. Before this trip, it had been 8+ years since I had even been on an airplane, and I have never flown for more than two hours at a time. To say that I was nervous for this trip would be an understatement. Everything was new, but luckily, I made some friends at the airport on the way to Italy that quickly became my best friends for the duration of the trip. Arriving in Rome was surreal. It only added to the nervous excitement of the mood. Once we navigated our way through customs and to our program leaders, our nerves disappeared. Finally, once I got into Cortona, it was love at first sight. The small, quiet town that would be my home for the next three weeks was absolutely beautiful and full of breath-taking views. Even the large hill leading up to the dorms was made manageable by the scenery. I was excited to see what the rest of the trip had in store!