Just when you thought I couldn't talk about my semester abroad more...here comes the Season 1 finale! After three months at home, I've had time to collect my thoughts and really reflect on how study abroad changed my life. I talk about my favorite day from each block, the culture shock coming back to America, and my five greatest lessons from traveling. I delve into my stance on having kids and what I want out of my twenties, and tell a few stories that showed me how the world is big, but the universe always finds a way to remind us that we're never alone. It's been an incredible first season, and I am beyond excited for what's to come! I promise never to bring up how I studied abroad again...until Season 2, probably.

The long-awaited recap of Block 3 in Rome, Italy, is finally here! Sure, my semester studying abroad ended in May...but Rome wasn't built in a day, and clearly neither was this episode. This block, I was in a homestay with the wonderful Ricupero family, where I got to learn about and experience Italian culture firsthand. I talk about their immaculate cooking, readjusting to family life, and how my host mom ruined tiramisu for me. I also discuss my escapades outside of Rome: hiking through Cinque Terre, having my picture taken by a random man in Croatia, experiencing Space for the first (and only) time in Florence, being a performative Game of Thrones fan, and more. My eight-year-old self wanted to move to Italy, so I think she would freak out if she heard this episode. Ciao!

Ever wanted the unfiltered truth about Italy? You're in the right place. Meet my host sister, Martina Ricupero! In this episode, we talk about growing up in Rome, learning to drive, shopping habits, and the excitement ahead as she starts her Master's degree in Portugal. Martina ranks her top 10 cities in the world, gets real about what foreigners can expect from Italian culture, and shares her favorite Roman dishes. You're probably going to crave pasta after this...my apologies in advance. Grazie per l'ascolto!

A year ago, if you had told me I'd have the best time of my life living in Japan for six weeks, I would have laughed in your face. But now? Consider me driving the Japan bandwagon. In this episode, you guessed it - I finally recap Block 2 in Kyoto! From my favorite foods (as a girl who used to hate rice) to the philosophy of Kodawari, no stone is left unturned. I also talk about how I ended up in Tokyo every other weekend, my horror story of feeding the Nara deer, and the one sunrise that changed my life. Oh, and did I mention how my nervous system reset here? For a block that almost didn't happen, there's a lot to unpack. Kanpai!

Did someone say quadruple feature? Meet Reilly Baker, Leo Zanotti, Bret Williams, and Blake Podewils; four students from Indiana University spending their semester studying abroad in Kyoto, Japan. In this episode, we talk about our biggest culture shocks, what we miss from home, and how we all ended up in Kyoto. Later, we debate Greek mythology and reflect on the ways living in Japan has and will continue to change us. If you don't laugh at least once, just wait until you hear Bret's freestyle.

This episode is not sponsored by Sushiro.

What better way to kick off a semester than with a beer class and some of the world's most beautiful beaches? In the long-overdue first solo episode of Sonder, I recap Block 1 in Sydney, Australia! I talk about the underwhelming culture shock, Yo-Chi, the highs and lows of a six-week vacation, and everything I would have done differently if I were to study there again. From the coastal walks to trying kangaroo meat, it was the perfect start to Open Campus. What I wouldn't give for one more bottle of chocolate coconut water. The Sydney Sonder Setlist is coming soon, cheers!

In the second episode of Sonder, I sit down with Sydney native Jessie Ramsey to learn all about life down under! In addition to Australian culture and Jessie's positive and negative experiences in America, we discuss the universal post-grad identity crisis and how finding the right friends can change your life. If you've ever debated taking a live (and nude) drawing class, this is your sign to do so - it might just change your life.

In the first episode of Sonder, Anthony Makhlouf joins me to talk about study abroad expectations, transfer origin stories, and why his nickname is affectionately "Dr. Miami". We laugh, reminisce, and look to the future before analyzing the roles our friends play in our lives and dissecting our relationships with our siblings. It's fun, lively, and the perfect way to kick off the season.