We now head to Siena, Italy, to catch up with softball junior Hanna Caiola. She is studying at Siena Italian Studies and she is a neuroscience major and Italian studies minor. Here is her report on her time abroad.

Have you visited any other countries? Which was your favorite?
I have visited a lot of places in Italy such as Venice, Rome, Turin, Milan and Florence. I also traveled to Zurich, Switzerland, which was really fun because there were so many Christmas markets and a lot of food. I will also be traveling to Paris next week so I'm excited for that. Even though I've traveled to the big cities like Rome and Venice, I would have to say my favorite place is Siena, where I live. It's such a cool medieval city with so much history and I absolutely love it.

What classes are you taking? Which is your favorite?
I am taking Italian Language, Medieval History and the History of Italy Through Cuisine. My favorite is definitely Medieval History because it's really interesting to be learning about certain things that happened in the city that I am living in.

What made you go abroad?
Being Italian, I have always loved Italian culture and wanted to learn more about it. I also wanted to increase my knowledge of the language so studying abroad was the perfect solution. Not only am I living with Italians, but I'm speaking Italian everyday. Studying abroad is an amazing way to experience other cultures and I would recommend it to everybody!

How are you training and preparing for your sport while so far away?
Unfortunately Siena doesn't have any softball fields, or any grass for that matter. However, I would run outside when it was warmer in the beginning of the semester and then a couple of weeks ago when it started to get colder I joined a gym. Now I go there every day that I'm not traveling so that I can be ready for the upcoming season.

Any words to your team back home?
If I could say something to my team back home it would be how much I miss them. They are some of the best friends I will ever have and I can't believe I've gone so long without seeing them! Of course I am having a ton of fun here in Italy but I definitely can't wait to get back to see everyone and get back into the swing of things. 

Previous "Postcards":
Kaci Gregory, Track & Field (Aix-en-Provence, France)
Shana Joseph, Track & Field (Sydney, Australia)
Erin Pachter, Track & Field (Florence, Italy)
Michael Havkins, Track & Field (Maastricht, the Netherlands)
Amelia Shelley, Softball (Salamanca, Spain)
Kailey Fandl, Women's Lacrosse (Maastricht, the Netherlands)