I’m a Classics Major at small Liberal Arts College in the Midwest. I’ve loved Ancient Rome…pretty much since I could read, and the more I learn, the more fascinating it gets. At my college, it is traditional that most/all students study abroad at some point in their time at the school. I was planning to go next school year, but looking at the finances, my situation was grim. The program was to spend a semester in Sicily, learning about Classics in the places where it actually happened. But $10,000 is a lot of money and despite the scholarships offered to defray that cost, my family still couldn’t afford it. I vowed to go, and I found the cheapest living situation I could for the summer to save money. I work at a museum gift shop, which pays relatively well and live with friends. I spend as little as possible and read voraciously. I’ve even started learning Italian in preparation for the trip. I’m not going next year, but I will go the year after that. It seems like College is such a short time and that I should make the most of it while I can. That’s why I’m here. I want to make sure that I don’t waste any opportunities, and I make sure I can have this experience that I know will be worthwhile. I’ve talked to many people about the program and it sounds wonderful. I’m not earning much here, but I’m working on it bit by bit.