One of the best experiences of college is having the chance to study abroad. Back in 2013, I spent a summer semester studying Irish literature in Dublin – it was such a moving experience that I was totally inspired to do it again when it came time for my master’s degree. And six, nearly seven years later, here I still am!

A semester abroad is an exciting opportunity. But even if you don’t manage to do it while you’re in school, it’s never too late to still have a similar experience. How does spending a month studying wine in Tuscany sound? Pretty idealistic, right?

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

There is one group travel agency known as For the Love of Travel who launched Sojrn back in 2020, and has described it as “a study abroad experience for working professionals.” The company was founded to help adults who can work remote to enjoy a month-long interactive experience in a cool destination.

In order to join a “chapter,” which is a themed location, an interested party can expect to start off around $2,800 – depending on the program you’re looking to enroll in. The fee covers the cost of all the arrangements, including accommodation, a wifi-connected workspace, a local host, and a “curriculum” that is tailored with activities for your time off. Each “chapter” has room for 20 people, meaning that travelers have a decent group of companions to befriend and have adventures with!

Photo: Pixabay/Chetan L.

Those traveling as part of the program will have private accommodations, which can fluctuate between stood apartments, shared apartments, or a hotel room. Unfortunately, the flights and meals are not covered by the program’s fee. And each destination comes with its specific themes of activities. For example, the Tuscany chapter centers on wine.

The founder of FTLO, Tara Cappel, said to Full-Time Travel, “In Tuscany we have a winery visit where you go experience the vineyard and meet the winemakers or a wine pairing workshop with a local sommelier. In Stockholm, we have a ‘design and drinks’ night where you do a bar hop through these carefully selected bars that are very design-forward. For philosophy in Athens, we have a workshop that takes place in the space which was once Plato’s Academy.”

Photo: PXHERE

The chapters that are already scheduled for 2022 and 2023 include some fascinating themes such as History in Rome, Art and Architecture in Barcelona, Cuisine in Mexico City, Fashion in Paris, and Biodiversity in Cape Town, and more!

In fact, the Wine Varietals in Tuscany program is one that is available five times throughout the next two years. The exact dates are May 1-28, May 29-June 25, Oct. 16-Nov. 12 of 2022, and April 16-May 13 or Oct. 8-Nov. 4 or 2023. For those who would want to sign up with the Sojrn Club House for the experience, there are three accommodation tiers to choose from. They range $4,099-$5,499. Additionally, you can book with a partner or roommate and that person could receive 50% off. The curriculum for the wine chapter comes in four-week portions including how wine is made, tasting wine, pairing wine, and ordering wine.

Photo: Pixabay/Jill Wellington

If you are looking to join Sojrn, you just need to go to their website and answer some questions about yourself and what you’re looking for in regards to a program. Once you’ve done this, a community manager will be in touch regarding suggestions for the program that would be best suited to you, as well as other details about the program.

What do you think of this company? Would you love to do a chapter? Have you ever studied abroad? Let us know!