Those attending Seventh-day Adventist universities and colleges have the unique opportunity to study abroad through Adventist Colleges Abroad (ACA), a program designed to immerse students in a new language and culture all while staying on track academically.
What makes ACA unique is that students studying abroad stay enrolled at their home university or college. This means the credits they earn at any ACA university can be applied towards relevant general education requirements and tuition for a school abroad can be paid through their home university’s student financial center.
In this Q&A, Victoria Westcott, junior elementary education major, and Ethan Haglund, junior business administration major, who both spent time this year at Instituto Avventista Villa Aurora, the ACA university located in Florence, Italy, share some insight into the day-to-day life and their favorite parts of studying abroad:
Q: Why did you choose to go abroad?
Westcott: For me, going abroad offered the opportunity to travel while continuing my learning, go to a country I’ve always dreamed of living in, and encounter several new cultures. These are all things that have given me new experiences I wouldn’t have had while living in the U.S. I’ve been doing the same type of schooling my entire life. Choosing to study abroad has provided me with a new type of learning, one focused on culture and language. I wanted to try something new, and ACA has more than exceeded my expectations in providing a space for that while still maintaining a religious atmosphere.
Haglund: Studying abroad was something that I have wanted to do for as long as I can remember. The idea of living in a different country sounded exciting and I love learning about new cultures and lifestyles. As a business student working towards a B.B.A., I also need a minor to graduate, and studying abroad made it easy to prioritize my minor here at Villa Aurora because they offer both an Italian minor and an arts minor. I chose Italian.
Q: Why did you choose Villa Aurora?
Westcott: Living in Italy is something I’ve always wanted to do, so when I learned about Villa Aurora, it was an easy choice. My choice was also affected because I knew people who attended the school before me. Two of my best friends did ACA at Villa Aurora last year, and they had lots of good things to say about the program.
Haglund:. I chose Villa Aurora because of its location and experiences past Villa students have shared with me. I also knew that the school campus was placed right outside the city. It only takes a 15 minute tram ride to be right in the city center, and the school provides a transport pass so we can use all the public transport in the city. I also knew that I could eat pasta every day for the rest of my life so why not go to Italy!
Q: What does your typical day look like?
Westcott: On a weekday morning, I will wake up around 8 a.m. and get ready for the day. Classes held in the morning are typically language-focused with a mix of culture and history lessons, depending on your schedule. In between morning classes, I will visit the coffee shop near the school and get a drink or a snack. After my morning classes, I usually get lunch in the cafeteria with my friends. In the afternoon there are elective classes. These are art classes like ceramics, painting, and tailoring. I don’t have afternoon electives every day, so on my free afternoons I will go into the city center or rest on campus. If we aren’t on campus in the evening, it’s because we’re getting gelato.
Haglund: If I’m up before 7:30, I go to the cafeteria for breakfast, but most mornings, I make coffee in my room and then head to the nearby coffee stand to grab a pastry. In the morning, I have my language classes (grammar, conversation, composition) which are required for students seeking a language minor. I usually eat lunch at 1p.m. in the cafeteria. A couple times a week I have art classes such as ceramics, tailoring, and cuisine. On the days I don’t have these classes I like to go to the city center with friends and get coffee at one of the specialty coffee shops. On weekends I like to travel or explore new spots in the city.
Q: What is something you didn’t expect?
Westcott: Before coming abroad, I would hear countless stories about the traveling opportunities studying abroad offered. I didn’t expect to stay in Florence as much as I did, but I ended up loving certain parts of the city and the different activities it has to offer. I thought I would travel around Europe more, but I ended up spending many of my weekends in Florence.
Haglund: I didn’t expect to go on such fun trips with the school. Each quarter the school takes us on a few trips. One of my favorites was a five-day trip to Napoli and the Amalfi coast. We visited a pasta factory and had tons of free time to explore the beaches and cities. These trips are also nice because the school brings professors to talk about the historical sites and buildings, so I always felt well informed about what makes each place so special.
Q: What is your favorite thing about studying abroad?
Westcott: There are so many wonderful things about studying abroad. It’s hard to choose between the people, the places, and the memories I’m getting to make. But, my favorite thing about studying abroad is by far the people. I’ve met wonderful people here and have had the blessing of growing close to them through this shared experience of living abroad and traveling the world together. I’ve made several lifelong friends who I would not have met otherwise. This is an experience I would not ever want to change.
Haglund: My favorite part of studying abroad is the freedom to travel. We don’t have classes on Fridays so my weekend starts at 12:35 p.m. on Thursdays. This makes it super convenient to travel. I’ve been to nine countries since I’ve been here and I hope to get to at least two more before I head home in June. My favorite country I’ve been to has been Switzerland, where I went to Interlaken, Geneva, and Zermatt. These were truly the most beautiful places I have ever been and I can't recommend them enough.
Q: What do you miss the most about WWU?
Westcott: I miss the people at WWU the most. I expected that before leaving, but I’m not sure I realized just how different it would be. It’s hard going to a place where you don’t know many people. I was blessed to come to Villa Aurora knowing a few people, so that made my adjustment a bit easier. WWU has such a good campus life, and that’s hard to replicate in other places.
Haglund: I miss the The Atlas community the most. As a former Atlas employee, I spent a lot of my time and created many friendships through The Atlas, so it’s been hard without that community around me. However there are also tons of ways to meet new people and make friends here in Florence.
To learn about more opportunities like this, please visit wallawalla.edu/ACA.
Posted April 10, 2025.
