1/22/2013

Sophomore journeys to Rome

During the fall 2012 semester, sophomore broadcast journalism and sports marketing major Kylie McCracken was not waking up in her dorm room in Vickroy. Instead, she was in Rome, Italy as a participant in the university's study abroad program.

McCracken, who describes herself as the type of person who can make friends with a group of people she just met in a half hour, had no problems making friends while traveling around Europe.

“My favorite memory would be traveling around with all the friends I made,” McCracken said. “They were just great company and we had a ball.”

With her European friends, McCracken carried on the same daily routine as the one she practices on the Bluff, except after class, she explored the town. Though she saw the Vatican and tasted a fair share of authentic Italian cuisine, there was still some territory left undiscovered.

“I would of liked to do day trips to the beach and to little cities around Italy that I never got the chance to go to,” McCracken said, pondering what she would have done differently.
All regrets aside, one memory that McCracken will never forget is seeing the Pope on five separate occasions.

“I feel like I'm blessed for life,” McCracken said, chuckling. “You have to embrace it and enjoy every time there. And he's a great guy. I enjoyed his company.”

While expressing how much the trip made her “more worldly and more independent,” the sophomore added that she barely missed Pittsburgh.

“It goes so quickly. Never once did I get homesick,” McCracken said. “I actually dream every day of being over in Europe. I miss it so much.”

McCracken plans to study abroad again in the fall of 2013, this time to Dublin, Ireland.




You can keep up with Kylie by visiting her website or by following her on twitter @Cracken_me_up. I suggest you do so.