Alysia Burdi

You can tour many of the famous architectures and landscapes of Italy, but to become a part of the culture by learning their trades and their stories is much more than a typical tourist photo can ever explain. Becoming a journalism exchange student in Urbino, Italy has forced me to test my own boundaries in language and cultural barriers. Although I took some Italian words and traditions with me from back home, nothing compares to the experience of meeting locals and learning their story in a place where their lives and stories of the past are combined. I have walked these streets like they are now my own. I have made new friends; new memories and I carry more knowledge with me now than when I first arrived. Nestled between the historic walls and aromas of fresh foods and wines, I am one step closer to understanding how curious a journalist might actually become when foreign barriers force you to start from scratch.