Ciao! My name is Kaden Keipper and I am an Electrical Engineering student at the University of Michigan. This past summer, I studied abroad in Sorrento, Italy.
During my time here I've taken Physics 2 and History of the Italian Mafia, and participated in a work-study program. I worked with the company OBlu, an ecotourism company helping to bring tourists to preserved areas in Italy. One such location was the Ieranto Bay, where I had the opportunity to work.
At the bay, my responsibilities included collecting data on blenny populations and marine pollution while ensuring human activity was sustainable in the area. Atypical day on the job started with an early morning bus from Sorrento to Nerano. We would typically arrive around 9 a.m. and get started on our walk down to the bay after getting breakfast at the local coffee shop. The hike down was a bit challenging but it kept us awake and in shape. After reaching the bay, we would set up the info point, where tourists could ask questions about the bay and sustainability efforts we made.
While the point was being set up, a few of us would bring out kayaks and snorkeling gear for our tasks at the bay, counting blenny populations and collecting marine pollution. I would typically join the snorkeling team with counting blennies, navigating the bay for roughly an hour, once in the morning, then once in the afternoon.
During our time in the water, we saw plenty of fish, including starfish, sea cucumbers, and an octopus, although I wasn’t fortunate enough to spot one myself. After taking the data, we would pack up, put away the info point, and head back up to Nearno where we would hop on the bus back to Sorrento.
This internship has been one of the most unique and amazing experiences I’ve had the chance to be a part of and is something I would definitely recommend joining. During the rest of my time, outside of my internship and classes, there were many places I was able to visit and many things I was able to do. Some visits were local, including day trips to Amalfi, Positano, and Pompeii. Each place had something unique to offer, including the Path of the Gods in Positano, the ruins in Pompeii, and amazing views in Amalfi.
However, some of the cooler trips included going to places further from Sorrento, including Rome, Venice, Lake Como, and Marseille. These trips allowed me to see the rest of Italy, and even a little of France in Marseille, furthering my abroad experience.
My favorites, however, would have to be Venice and Lake Como, as the views were amazing, the crowds were friendly, and there was much to do. When abroad, I would highly recommend making time for trips such as these as they make the abroad experience much more memorable and meaningful.
Overall, my trip to Sorrento was much more enjoyable than I could have imagined. Between my classes, work, and travels, there was almost never a day where I felt bored or couldn’t find something to do. Again, I would highly recommend studying abroad as it is one of the most unique experiences I have ever had.
If you want to get your own hands-on engineering experience in Sorrento, check out the program here!