“To anyone who is interested in ACA, I would say do it. Studying abroad gives you the opportunity to experience new cultures, see new countries, learn a new language, and make new friends.” – PUC student Josue Hilario

Wisconsin native Josue Hilario is a junior film student studying at Villa Aurora in Italy. He has always been interested in studying abroad since high school. Although Josue has studied abroad before, this is his first time going through Adventist College Abroad. Also interested in languages, he knew that going to Italy would give him an immersion in the language he’d enjoy. “Plus, who wouldn’t want to study in the heart of Florence, Italy?”

How did you decide which ACA school to attend? 

What initially motivated me to choose Italy was the fact that I had heard it was the most popular ACA program. Also, a lot of my close friends chose Italy. It wasn’t until I got here that I realized why Italy was such a popular ACA program. Studying in a school that’s only 20 minutes away from the center of Florence, you are literally surrounded by history and art dating all the way back to the 6th century AD.

How are classes and learning the language going for you?

Although my classes here start at 8 am, everyone finishes all the language and history classes by noon. After that, we have the rest of the day free, or if you have any art classes like ceramics, fashion design, etc., you will have those in the afternoon. Best of all, we have Fridays off! So, we only have school from Monday to Thursday. As far as the language, I am proud to say that I’ve reached a level of fluency where I can have a conversation comfortably in Italian. Sometimes, I’ll talk to the older man who works at a coffee booth outside our school in Italian.

Describe your typical day there. 

My typical weekday starts with waking up at 7 am and getting ready for school so that by 7:30-45, I’m walking down to the cafeteria to grab a light breakfast. My first class starts at 8 am, and my last class ends at 12:35. Lunch is at 1 pm (Italians eat late), and after that, I have the rest of the day to myself.

Can you share some places you’ve visited and are planning to visit?

So far, I’ve visited the UK, Austria, and the Netherlands. I also plan to do a couple more trips before the year ends. Regarding places in Italy, the school has taken/will take us to almost every region here. 

What have been your favorite things so far about studying abroad? 

My favorite thing about studying abroad is acquiring the Italian language. Reading, writing, listening, and speaking a new language has given me the confidence to continue learning other languages. It has also allowed me to connect to the culture more deeply.

Has there been a favorite meal or dessert you’ve had? 

It goes without saying that pizza is on a different level. The Italian pizza is delicious, and of course, the pasta is as well. 

What would you say to someone who is interested in ACA? 

To anyone who is interested in ACA, I would say do it. Studying abroad gives you the opportunity to experience new cultures, see new countries, learn a new language, and make new friends.