Studying Abroad in a Small Town

Words and photos by Makenna Kaminski, our Jetsetter Journalist studying abroad in Sorrento, Italy, during Spring semester 2023.

The city of Sorrento may be small, but it still has so much to offer. There are days spent lying in the sun, walks through lemon groves, and tastes of authentic foods each and every day. Studying here is surely different than a bustling city like Rome or Florence, yet there is still so much to experience and love.

Choosing a small city for my study abroad is probably the best choice I made when deciding to spend a semester in Europe. I enjoy city life, but I know that I didn't love it enough to experience it full-time. Instead, I opted for a small town, where I might find myself living a slower-paced lifestyle which I enjoy far more.

Slowing Down

Studying in a small town like Sorrento offers you a chance to slow down. Where in a city everything is fast-paced, a small town is the exact opposite. Here in Sorrento, I often find that I have time to appreciate the little pleasures, like going on long peaceful walks, sitting by the waterside, and reading books in the lemon garden. The small-town aspect makes each of these even sweeter.

As much as the city offers excitement and new experiences, I personally don't think I'd be able to keep up with the busy lifestyle each and every day. Having a small town to call home for a few months has given me the chance to detach from the rest of the busy world when I want to and enjoy a simpler style of life in Italy. In Sorrento, it's easy to go on long walks and explore, sit for hours by the water, or take your time and relax on a large balcony. Here, the people themselves move a bit slower, which makes it that much easier for you to do the same as well.

It's so refreshing not to be caught up in the busy world. Sorrento seems to operate on its own time, and I love being able to be a part of it. If you have any interest in slowing down and enjoying a calm semester away from the hustle and bustle, then a small town away from it all could definitely be for you.

Nature and Outdoors

One of my favorite parts about studying abroad in a small town is the constant connection to nature and the outdoors. My school here in Sorrento is located right on the water and is surrounded by beautiful mountains which offer the most amazing views each and every day. There are small paths that take you right along the coast and the cliff views are to die for. Everything in Sorrento is also on a mountain which gives you a hilltop view practically anywhere you go.

There's hikes just a short bus ride away and walking paths all over, making it hard not to get outdoors and explore. Here, people also walk everywhere so it's easy to be active and go on long walks to the market or local shops.

When you study in a small town like Sorrento, you're also immersed in all the beautiful land that surrounds the area. There's lemon and orange groves all over as well as olive trees, tomato farms, dairy farms, and large plots for gardens. It's such a wonderful change from the fast-paced city life. In a small town, you're surrounded by so much land and farms that grow everything naturally. You can see the food that you're eating being grown right before your eyes.

At my school we have dozens of balconies where you can sit and enjoy the stunning views. In the dorms, students can usually be found enjoying the sun on the two large patios, appreciating both the quiet and fresh air. The classrooms also have either balconies on the garden side of the building or huge windows on the marina side, both of which are equally spectacular.

My dorm windows also overlook the peaceful marina below. Every day, I wake up to the sounds of seagulls and the water crashing on the shore right below. It's something you can surely never get while living in the middle of a big city and it'll never get old.

Weekend Travel

Sorrento is a small town, but there are still great options for transportation. The city of Naples is only an hour away and it makes a great hub for weekend travels through the airports or large train stations. There are trains that run from Sorrento to Naples every 20 minutes or so, making it easy to get to those further-away destinations.

From Sorrento, I've traveled all around Italy, to France, and to Belgium. Just because the city might be tucked away on the coast does not mean that it's impossible to travel elsewhere like some think. It might require one extra train ride, but every part of Europe is still accessible.

What I think is best is how students are able to travel from Sorrento to these other cities on the weekends but return to the small town on Sunday night. Doing this allows students to easily access those larger places within Europe and get a city experience without living in that environment all week long. It's refreshing after a long weekend away to return to the calmer life Sorrento offers for classes during the week. It helps create a balance between busy travel and a smaller place that truly feels like home.

Authentic Experience

Studying abroad in a small town can also offer a more authentic cultural experience. Larger cities are accustomed to accommodating tourists which creates a much different lifestyle than a small town might offer.

When it comes to language, I've found that I can often practice my Italian with the locals in Sorrento. Meanwhile, whenever I go to a large city like Rome, the workers automatically switch to English without giving me the chance to practice in any way. Even when I attempt to continue speaking in Italian, they continue to answer in English which makes it discouraging for someone who is dedicated to learning.

The food and culture in these places are also quite different. In the larger Italian cities, I've noticed a big difference in the foods which are offered. In Rome, for example, I've seen many "American" food accommodations like speedy to-go foods, and also other ethnic foods from around the world. Meanwhile, things like this can't be found in Sorrento. In Sorrento, there's practically only Italian food and much less accommodation to the tourists who visit.

I've started to see things become a lot more tourist-oriented as the months move closer to Summer. Yet, during the earlier part of the semester there were close to no tourists around and it was mostly locals in Sorrento. The students from my school were some of the only Americans in the town, so we got to see a completely different side of Italy than we would have if we were to study elsewhere. We saw Sorrento when it was still shut down for the Winter season, so we had such a different appreciation for all the shops and businesses once they opened back up. Getting to see a city in Italy without tourists is something that I think helped make my experience even better.

At first, I had some regrets about my choice to study in a small town in Italy as opposed to a larger city. However, as the semester started to go by, I quickly realized how great of a decision I made. Studying abroad in a small town has given me the chance to not only slow down, but also enjoy the simpler things in life. I've come to enjoy long walks and spending hours reading in the garden as opposed to always being on the go. I've also gotten such a great cultural experience in Sorrento. It's here where I've gotten so many more opportunities to speak Italian to the locals and try authentic foods. The stunning landscapes right outside my window are also an added benefit that I don't think I could ever get in any big city.

Spending a semester tucked away in a small town truly helped me see Italy. I am so grateful to be able to call this adorable little town my home.