I am Isabella Varano, a sophomore biology major at the Honors College of Charleston studying at the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento, Italy. Here in Sorrento, I am taking Italian 201 to better my Italian speaking and grammar skills. I chose this program because I wanted to experience living in the country my grandparents were born in. I wanted to immerse myself in a different culture and learn from the locals of southern Italy. For my study abroad I set a goal to try something new every day and to try to speak as much Italian as possible. I feel fortunate to have some Italian language basics before my arrival in Sorrento, as I feel I can communicate and better connect with the local people. When researching my host country I paid attention to the different lifestyle habits as well as logistical matters such as currency exchange, Covid-19 protocols, and much more to ensure I would have a safe and exciting experience for my month of study.