I'm studying abroad in Rome, Italy for the Spring 2010 Semester at a school named the John Felice Rome Center. Through this blog, I wish to share with all you readers as vividly as possible all my encounters in the Eternal City and throughout the rest of Europe. I hope you enjoy my stories and insight, and have a good time keeping up to date on my life for the duration of this four month adventure! I appreciate everyone who is taking an interest in this and I miss you all! Love always, Zach
Travels are well. Prague is amazing, might be my favorite place ever. Last day here tomorrow before an overnight train to Budapest. Everything is going smoothly now and its been an awesome trip up to this point :-)
Check in when I can ---
Zach
PS - Welcome baby Avery Jordan D'Arienzo to the family! Excited to meet you!
I'm Zach D'Arienzo, ethnically Italian with minimal supporting practices to show my heritage pride, besides a little pinch of blood. I'm one of six kids, three sisters and two brothers, all of whom are my best friends and the most influential people in my life. My parents, Steve and Eileen, are the two people who I could not give enough thanks and praise for directing me towards where I stand in my life. I've never traveled outside the US, but I have taken a month long cross country trip through the central and northern United States in August 2007. On the outset of this study trip, I have negligible knowledge pertaining to basic travel practices or cultural living in Europe. I do speak Italian fairly well however.
I would describe myself as an adventurous, fun-seeking person that lives with a large focus on working hard and playing on the same level. I go to Marquette University for Biomedical Sciences and Physician Assistant Studies. I grew up in Rochester, NY in a suburb named Irondequoit. I love submersing myself in music and friends and enjoying a conversation mutually instead of a TV show. I love meeting new people and hearing anything that they have to tell me about their life. I need to stay busy and active, and the minute I feel like relaxing has moved beyond that and into time being wasted, I must get up and do something fun or productive. I'm excited to spend a lot of time in a culture that emphasizes enjoying one another's company, time with people that may choose a glass of wine and some cheese in the piazza instead of a movie.
People have consistently asked me why I chose to study abroad, and the simple answer is to have fun. I came into Marquette with sophomore standing due to AP credit, but I could not get ahead and graduate early because I had to wait to apply to the PA program in my sophomore year. Consequently, I finished all my Pre-PA requisites in my first three semesters and found myself with no agenda for Spring 2010. Therefore, why sit around Milwaukee biding my time instead of adventuring around Europe and having one of the best experiences available to me? Thus, my main desire for this escapade is to grow as a person, make some memories, and receive some amazing tales.