What I’ll Miss about Doha, What I Can’t Wait For as I Study Abroad at Georgetown’s Villa Le Balze in Florence, Italy

By Sama Alissa (GU-Q’27).

Ever since my first semester at GU-Q, I’ve been looking forward to going abroad. Not because I couldn’t wait to get away from GU-Q, but because I heard from upperclassmen how their study abroad experiences changed them, and I’ve always felt a longing for that feeling that they described. 

As my junior year was approaching, it started becoming a reality. I filled out the applications, packed my room, and left Doha knowing that I would not return for another 8 months. 

I got home for the summer and it started to hit me, I’ll be away from Doha for 8 months! Immediately, I started longing for the feeling of comfort, safety, and excitement that GU-Q has provided me with for the last 2 years. Doha has become so much more than the city where I study — it has become a second home. There are so many things I’ll miss about Doha, but three stand out the most.

I’ll miss the places. Climbing up the hill with my friends just to pause and take in the view became a little tradition that made the campus feel like ours. And of course, there’s nothing quite like watching the Doha sunset, which somehow has the power to make even the busiest day feel lighter.

I’ll miss the moments. Some of my fondest memories are of those late-night shawarma and dumplings orders when we were cramming for papers and exams, or the quiet satisfaction of finishing an assignment surrounded by friends who were all struggling through the same deadlines. These small, shared experiences make the stress of student life feel more manageable.

And most of all, I’ll miss the people. The familiar faces that greet you in the halls, the conversations that flow across cultures and languages in the student lounge, and the friendships that have turned campus into a true community. It’s the people who have made Doha feel like a second home, and leaving them — even for a little while — that makes going abroad bittersweet.

At the same time, I know how transformative studying abroad can be. This fall, I’ll be spending my semester at Georgetown’s Villa Le Balze in Florence, Italy. The villa sits on a hilltop overlooking the city, surrounded by olive groves and centuries of history. It feels surreal to imagine myself studying in such a beautiful and historic place — taking classes in the villa’s rooms, walking through Florence’s cobblestone streets, and living in a country whose culture and traditions I’ve admired from afar, and always dreamed of experiencing up close.

I’m excited for the challenge of immersing myself in a new environment, learning from professors and peers on a different campus, and discovering what I will learn about myself when I am outside of the comfort and familiarity that Doha has provided me. Just as I’ve built traditions at GU-Q, I can’t wait to create new ones in Florence, whether it’s sharing meals with my classmates at the villa, exploring Italian markets, or traveling across Europe on weekends.

In many ways, going abroad is about holding two truths at once: missing the familiarity of home while embracing the thrill of the unknown. I carry with me both a deep sense of gratitude for GU-Q and Doha, and an eagerness for the adventures ahead. I know when I return, I’ll come back with new stories, new lessons, and a renewed appreciation for the community that has shaped me.

And maybe, just like the upperclassmen who once inspired me with their stories, I’ll get to inspire future GU-Q students to take the leap and study abroad, to step away from what’s familiar, and discover a new piece of themselves in the process.
If you are curious about GU-Q’s study abroad program, learn more here.

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