Hi, my name is Julia Tsesmetzis and I am studying abroad in Italy this summer with Brother Rob for a religion class we call; Saints and Catholic Imagination. We started our journey in Rome and visited as many sites as possible in such a short time including the colosseum, the Forum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and more. Straight from the jump, I was enjoying every moment of being here and became beyond grateful of my decision to study abroad. I was able to get to know everyone immediately in my class and even shared unforgettable moments with Brother Rob. From there, we travelled t ..read more

These past few weeks in Florence have been so surreal. In the mornings you hear the sounds of church bells and birds chirping. Throughout the day there’s so many people walking through the small streets of Florence. There is so much to do, and so many options for food. Everyday is like a new adventure walking through the streets and looking for what to do or what to eat. We have gone through so many gorgeous churches that are so different from the ones in the United States. Museums have been very interesting with many different paintings and statues. My favorite thing about living here is how ..read more

     My classmates and I have now been in Italy for about 2 weeks, and I can already say it has been a life changing experience. I have met such great people and made memories I know I will never forget. I owe this in big part to the generous donors that have funded my scholarship. I've now been able to enjoy this trip with more financial flexibility and I could not be more grateful. Yesterday we took a train ride from Florence to Pisa where we spent the day. It was my 21st birthday and I would not want to spend it anywhere else than the beautiful city of Pisa. We got to see the ..read more

 Welcome to my blog dedicated to the Vatican City. We explored the fascinating history, art, culture, and religious significance of the Vatican City with Brother Robert. Join me as we delve into the rich tapestry of this unique city-state and its role in the Catholic Church! Since we first arrived in Rome one of our stops had to be the Vatican. The Vatican is the spiritual enter of the Catholic Church. It is home to to priceless artworks, such as Michaelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. Getting to see it in person is such an amazing experience. I was so overwhelmed with the beauty ..read more

 Ciao! I am having such an incredible time here in Italy. So far, it has been the most special experience ever. Every day I wake up, remember that I am overseas, and become excited about the adventures in store. Each individual experience I've had has been one-of-a-kind and super educational. I have learned so much about the history of religion in Italy by being able to go to and experience for myself the cultural and historic sites located throughout the cities we've visited. The day we visited the Forum in the heart of Rome was my favorite moment of the trip. We started the day with a ..read more

The last of my semester abroad I was able to enjoy traveling a bit more with the end of classes. At the end of April, I went to Lisbon, Portugal for a weekend and had a really lovely time walking around the old neighborhood called the Alfama, and going to the beach.  Towards the beginning of May, I was fortunate enough to see my family in Málaga over the course of a few weeks. My time in Málaga was extremely relaxing and I had a lot of fun exploring the south of Spain with my family. We visited Seville, Ronda (a mountaintop city), and Rincón de la Victoria, which has a set of caves called ..read more

 A Journey Through Time: Reflecting on Our Visit to Castelo de São Jorge On May 26th, we embarked on an enriching journey to the historic Castelo de São Jorge in Lisbon. This imposing fortress, perched high above the city, is believed to have been constructed during the period of Moorish control over Lisbon. As we explored its ancient walls and breathtaking viewpoints, we delved deep into the historical influences that have shaped Portugal, particularly those of the Moors. This visit was a profound experience, offering a comprehensive lesson on the multifaceted history of Portugal. Unveil ..read more

 Good Afternoon Everyone,  The image above shows Chef Ceci preparing chicken to go into a fire pit to slow cook. Here in Pachuca it is called Barbacoa. Which is a certain way to prepare any kind of meat. As you may see the chicken is split in half and seasoned on the inside topped with sliced cactus and some other herbs. It is then dressed with a adobo sauce and salt. After we seasoned it up it is then wrapped in banana leaves and aluminum foil. Once it is wrapped it is then placed in a fire pit built underground to smoke, this allows the meat to become very tender and juicy. This ..read more

 Hello from Japan! I was extremely excited to visit Japan, as it is a culture that is different from anything I had experienced before. As I exited the plane, I realized that I could not read any of the signs, and I began to feel lost and nervous. With my professor helping to translate and my new friends at my side, I overcame my nerves and started to enjoy Japan! I have loved learning about Japanese cultural and religious norms on this trip. I will share what I have learned so far.  I am going to take you through a day in my life in Japan. On Tuesday, May 28th, we visited Nara Park ..read more

I was unsure what to expect on our first day of class abroad. I was extremely overwhelmed, nervous, excited, and abundantly grateful for the opportunity to come to Europe for the first time and for Portugal to be the first country I visit. When we first met in a group in the lobby to go over some basic religious history in Portugal, I knew my expectations would be exceeded. We first discussed the empires and how the capital of Lisbon and other parts of Portugal came to be. We also learned of the two saints that are heavily involved in Portuguese culture: Saint Anthony and Saint Vincent. The da ..read more