Orland Park’s Josie Canellis and Claire Callaghan have known each other since fourth grade and have been good friends since sixth grade.
When the two graduated from Sandburg in 2023, they went their separate ways with Canellis going to the University of North Carolina and Callaghan going to Indiana.
But this semester, they are back together again, albeit across the globe.
The pair took advantage of the IES Study Abroad Center to take business courses in Milan, Italy, from January through early May.
“Both of our schools had this program to come to Milan for a semester,” Canellis said. “When we both saw that our school offered that option, we both knew we had to do it.”
“It was honestly quite a coincidence that both schools offered it,” Callaghan said. “It’s crazy we’re able to end up at the same place. It was an opportunity to live together and travel together.”
Oh, and that “travel together” part extended well beyond Milan in northern Italy.
Canellis and Callaghan work on their studies during the week and then trot the globe on weekends. Their itineraries include trips to Florence in central Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, North Africa, the Czech Republic and others.
“I would say it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Callaghan said, “There are not many opportunities to go somewhere in Europe every single week and travel as extensively as we have been.
“We’ve been able to see so much in so little time while being in school. It’s been amazing.”
Oh, and hanging around Milan hasn’t been an ordinary experience, either. Milan was the host for the Winter Olympics and the two were able to catch some hockey.
Both were able to watch the United States men’s team beat Slovakia, 6-2 in the semifinals to guarantee a medal.
Callaghan was also able to watch Sandburg grad Kendall Coyne Schofield and the USA women beat Canada, 2-1, in overtime in the gold medal game.
“I loved being in the crowd because I actually met her when I was younger,” Callaghan said of Schofield. “Seeing her win was awesome.”
Canada led for much of the game until the United States scored a late goal in regulation and the winning goal in overtime.
“It was insane,” Callaghan said. “I would say it was 60% Canadian fans and 40% Americans. They got rowdy with every play.
“But when we scored to tie it, we erupted and when we scored in overtime…I mean that was insane. It was one of the craziest stadiums I’ve been in. It was unreal.”
Many of the other events were held outside of the city area, but there was enough Olympic flavor to make it a unique experience for them.
“The city was packed with everybody,” Canellis said. “There was a lot of positive energy.”