Al Dente Diary 🇮🇹

June 29th 2026

Everyone moved into the residence housing! Nicky, my roommate, and I share a cute little studio apartment. We have twin beds, an adorable kitchen nook, and a huge balcony!

Nicky and I checked into the residence hall before the rest of the group got there, so we were able to get situated and run to a market to get a few essentials like olive oil, eggs, sandwich essentials, paper towels, cured meats, cheese, fruit, and limoncello!

After all of the other USAC peeps were able to check in, we all met downstairs and walked to this wonderful pizzeria place for a group dinner. Everything here is so narrow and uneven so it was funny watching such a large pack of people hobble through the tiny sidewalks and cobblestone. I find myself staring at the ground most of the time in an attempt to not fall off the skinny sidewalks.

Nicky and I befriended two other people in our USAC group, Matt and Tanner, to venture off with afterwards for more Aperol spritzes!

Matt is 19 years old, in a fraternity, and so confidently referred to this experience simply as “vacation” which has become a running joke between the four of us. Can you imagine being a 19 year old frat dude, visiting Europe all summer, with zero supervision?

Tanner has his pilots license and is from Cincinnati, he got here about two weeks ago but wasn’t able to unpack any of his belongings upon checking in because the place he was using to store everything was closed yesterday. We are taking the same Food & Culture class together and are looking forward to the olive oil tasting.

Day one officially starts tomorrow!