I've made a lot of great decisions in college: my major, my friends, lacrosse, my sub order at the on-campus cafe. But one of my best decisions I have made, not only in college, but in life, was to study abroad. In the summer going into my junior year, I traveled to Italy for five weeks for a study abroad semester and one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life.

I never thought I would want to study abroad. A few of my friends had talked about it, but it never appealed to me. I went to the interest meeting and texted my parents after to see what they would say to my "I need to go to Italy" text. A few months, a lot of begging and a lot of money later, I was on a plane to Rome.

I arrived in Perugia after an extremely long day of airports, buses, and a lot of coffee. After meeting my friends at our apartment for the duration of our stay, the journey began. I was given a tour of the small, beautiful town of Perugia. Small restaurants had patios that filled the streets. Residents sat on the steps of the church with books and cigarettes, as small cars raced around all the walking people and busy streets. After only one day, I had no problem making this place my home for the next couple weeks.

Weekdays were filled with classes and school work. Nothing out of control, but we couldn't forget why were really there. After classes me and my friends would head into town to grab some dinner. A plethora of choices made it hard to decide where we would eat, but wherever we picked was never a disappointment. You could taste how fresh every ingredient was in every dish consumed. Sharing your entree was a must because everything tasted as good as it sounded on the menu. And well wine, we always had wine. And stopping for gelato on the way home only seemed right.

Weekends were booked with excursions to the famous cities of Italy, including Rome, Florence, Naples, Pompeii, Venice, Sorrento, Capri, Assisi, several more. We saw the Trevi Fountain, St. Peters Square, the Blue Grotto, the Mediterranean Ocean, the Vatican, the ruins, the Colosseum. And, most importantly, we had pizza.

I know studying abroad isn't for everyone. It costs a lot of money and it's a lot of work. But in the end, there really is no price for the experience you will have. Europe is historic, every part of it has a story and a past. The architecture is unlike anything you'll ever see. The food is unforgettable. The language is beautiful. I guarantee the day you leave will be the first day of you wanting to go back. There's so much more out there than people realize, and culture is so important to take advantage of.

The world is such a beautiful place. Go see it.