Words by Kaitlyn Chauvette, who studied abroad with ASA in Sorrento during summer term 2023.
When I first saw the table for ASA at my university in Tampa, Florida, I had no intention of going to Italy that summer. I was gearing up to study in Norway, France, or England. But there it was a flyer for the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento, Italy, almost as if it was fate. A few months later, I was boarding a plane to Italy, unaware that this decision would lead me to a dream job, ignite a new passion, and introduce me to the love of my life.
EARLY WEEKS: CHALLENGE, LOSS & GROWTH
The first couple of weeks were hard. I had left my family behind and dove headfirst into a new country for the first time. On top of that, I was processing the recent passing of my grandfather. Most evenings, I walked the cobbled streets of Sorrento alone, pausing in beautiful churches, letting the weight of everything settle in.
It was in those moments that I found true self-trust. I built self-trust in ways I never had before, navigating daily life, doing my schoolwork, adapting to a different culture, and leaning on no one but myself. While I attended every school event I could and absorbed the local culture, I also took on a part-time internship at a small local bed & breakfast.
My internship wasn’t just a typical job. It required that I step up quickly. As the one-woman
marketing team, I developed ideas, executed them start to finish, and learned to own that
process entirely. Then I’d walk the 30-minute route back to my small Italian apartment that I shared with other American students. Life in Sorrento was slow and peaceful. I adored it even as my skills and mindset were being tested daily.
MID-TRIP: FEELING ON TOP OF THE WORLD
Halfway through the program, something changed. I felt like I ruled the world. I had healed
pieces of myself that once seemed impossible to reach. I felt inspired both professionally and personally. I realised how important travel and adventure had become for me. I came to understand that I could trust myself, and that trusting myself meant there was nothing I couldn’t overcome.
The magic of being completely present hit me: new culture, new people, and amazing scenery allowed several weeks of clarity. They say what you want most always appears when you stop looking for it, and Sorrento showed me how true that really is.
CONNECTION AND DISCOVERY
His name is Conan. One evening, I went to a soccer event where students from my school
played. He was the goalie, a fellow study abroad student from New York. His energy was
magnetic, positive, and full of enthusiasm. We became best friends with the assumption we’d likely never cross paths again. But we shared dinners nearly every night, and there wasn’t an outdoor Italian restaurant we didn’t try. We went paddle-boarding at the famous Regina Giovanna pools, cliff-jumping into the deep Mediterranean sea water. We journaled about our dreams and the healing we had done on the trip. He knew my deep, dark secrets as I came to know his. We worked together on school projects and shared in the grief of both our grandparents’ passings. It was a connection I’d never felt before, yet I was fully detached and accepting that even the best things come to an end.
Then, one week before the summer ended, Conan received some interesting news. His mom was moving to Tampa, Florida, only forty minutes from my home. There went our notions about never seeing each other again. After a few months back in the U.S., and many nights spent avoiding sleep to talk to each other, our friendship became something more romantic.
LOOKING FORWARD
As I write this, we are now celebrating our two-year anniversary in Edinburgh, Scotland.
We’ve moved here together to study abroad once more. I will forever be grateful for the experience we shared in Italy, for the self-trust I gained, the professional skills I developed, the personal healing I experienced, and the love that found me when I wasn’t even looking.
WHY ASA MADE THE DIFFERENCE
Choosing ASA was more than just a placement. For me, it meant being part of a program where culture, support, and growth were second nature. Their focus on smaller groups, attentive site directors, and immersive experiences made all the difference. My Italian summer wasn’t just a trip; it helped lay the foundation for who I am today.
Thanks Kaitlyn!