Help Kendra Learn Italian in Italy!

Kendra Alexson Start Date: Aug 22, 2014 - End Date: Oct 5, 2014

My Travel Story

by: Kendra Alexson Start Date: Aug 22, 2014 - End Date: Oct 5, 2014
I fell in love with Italy; with the scenery, the food, and most importantly the families and friends I had the priviledge of meeting. 

I discovered that a master's in Art History is a really good fit for my career interests. And, a requirement for a graduate degree in this field is a proficiency in Italian. Therefore, my goal is to return to Italy by the end of October and learn Italian for the next year! Wowza! 

Other reasons I have to go back:

*You learn a language so much faster while living in the country.
*This is the best time in my life to travel since I'm 23 and just graduated from college. 
*While learning Italian I can research master's programs and/or internships for my return back to the US. 
*I can visit all the places I wasn't able to see, such as Rome, Pompeii, Sicily, etc. 

The problem I am facing is that, to study for an entire year, I need a student visa. This process has a lot of requirements, the biggest being, I have to show proof that I have enrolled in an accredited school and have payed the full amount for my entire stay. These schools are very expensive and can range from $4,000-$10,000, but of course I am only looking at the cheaper end of this range! I have looked into even cheaper options but with no success :( So far, the cheapest course I have found is $4,226 for the entire year! 

To help cover the rest of the costs, I will au pair with a local family, providing a cultural exchange, and improving their english with the parents and their children. This will also include 20 hrs/week of babysitting, which will provide me with housing, food, and a montly stipend. So, my biggest expense to make this trip possible is the language school.   

I am kindly asking for any support so that I can take this next step in my life. I know that it will lead me to many great experiences and I'm so ready! My goal is to raise $2,000-$4,000 to help pay for courses and I GREATLY GREATLY GREATLY appreciate any help.