Ciao! Arezzo, here I come!

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The last few days have gone by so quickly. I am taking all of this glory in and appreciating every single moment. I am so grateful for the study abroad program at OU because of all the precise planning for such a large group. From the Trevi Fountain to the Colesseum to the Vatican and the Spanish steps; we have seen all of Rome. In all, there are 24 of us. We are made up of mostly Microbiology majors with Pre-Health career tracks. Everyone is unique in his or her own way and everyone has a different narrative. I have gotten to know a few people and have even connected with them as well. I did not really know anyone too well from the beginning. Yes, I recognized some faces from around campus, but I felt very out of place to be honest. Luckily, everyone has been super friendly and open.

Our next stop is Arezzo, where we will spend the next 4-weeks living and breathing Italy! Also, we are taking two rigorous Microbiology courses. The professors keep telling us of the small town feel and the fact that people are much nicer than the ones in Rome (many unfriendly people in Rome). I cannot wait to see what Arezzo has to offer. I have a picture in my mind of a quaint town, where everyone knows everyone. It’s a beautiful thing to imagine. I cannot help but imagine making connections with the people in the town and hopefully some lasting friendships. Italy has been quite good to me so far. The food has been phenomenal, although I feel like I will be on an all carb diet it seems (haha). That is just fine with me, though. Bread, pasta, cheese are two things I could never get tired of.  Arezzo will be my new home and I am more than excited to see what adventures await me. Wish me luck! 

Tory Kappel

HELLO! My name is Victoria Kappel and I am in my fourth year at the University of Oklahoma. I have had quite the journey throughout my college experience, as I have attended two other colleges to play collegiate volleyball. I started my college career at Seminole State, transferred to the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, and now I am attending OU, where I have fully committed myself to my major in Microbiology. As a Pre-PA student, I devote much of my time to the rigorous coursework prerequisites, but my other love is to learn and educate others about feminism and cultural differences. I come from a very diverse family, and even though I may not look the part, my parents are from Hispanic and Native American descent. I can definitely say I have had to overcome challenges to get to where I am today. As a first generation and self-sufficient college student, I never imagined study abroad to be an option for me. My study abroad trip to Arezzo, Italy is important to me to inspire other students to achieve what they may feel is out of their reach. I want to empower young students and be an example that no matter where you come from, or how much money you have, there is always a way. Through hard work and dedication, anything is possible. This opportunity will be a completely life-changing experience for me, and will continue to shape me as a student and person as a whole. My chosen destination is Arezzo, Italy. In Italy, I will be taking two upper-division science courses, which include Immunology and Pathogenic Microbiology. With Italyโ€™s rich history, our class will have the chance to cross history and science through research into events such as The Plague. Not only will this experience educate me on coursework, a new language, and the history of Italy, but it will affect me on a personal level as well. This life-changing experience will continue to shape me into the woman I am to become and empower me to achieve the unthinkable. โ€œYour aspirations are your possibilities.โ€