By Brooke Biolo;
Media Credit: Salve Regina’s Main Web Site
Mosaic Staff Writer,
Did you know that 42% of Salve Regina students study abroad? Whether it be a yearlong or a program that lasts only a few weeks, more and more students are gaining culture and intellect through the experience, taking their talents to other countries all around the world. Although almost half of the Salve community study abroad, to the university’s Study Abroad Student Association, that is not nearly enough.
Salve junior, TJ Zandri, who founded the organization after returning from his semester abroad in Rome, Italy, is the current president of the club. After a mandatory probation period of one semester, the club has officially taken off and has big fundraising plans for the upcoming semester, including a possible bake sale as well as soccer tournament. Profits from fundraisers will go to help one student to buy their ticket for their travels next semester.
The club serves as opportunity for students who have not yet gone abroad to meet up with students who have just returned. The idea is that the abroad alumni can help to alleviate some of the fears the prospective students may have regarding going abroad. It is also a great experience for abroad returners to have an easier time of easing back into campus life and numbing the nostalgic pain they are feeling for their study abroad lives.
The club also serves as a way for returning alumni to share their experiences with people who maybe do not understand each individual experience, but do understand the desire to share and talk about it with other people. The group is planning a multi-cultural dinner where all alumni will bring a dish from their destinations and share stories over dinner.
A statement from Zandri really sums up his dreams for the club, as it states” I’m really looking forward to getting the ball rolling and building SASA into a student organization that can effectively help incoming study abroad students and provide a forum for study abroad alumni to share their experiences and put on events that can be exciting for the entire Salve community.”
Study abroad advisors from the gatehouse are encouraging returning abroad students as well as students going abroad to join the club as well.
So there you have it, now get your SAS on and join SASA!
