Overlooking the Umbria countryside from the city of Orvieto.

Author: Ashlyn DesCarpentrie | Major: Chemistry

This summer, I spent five weeks studying abroad at the U of A Rome center in Italy. I had previously completed three semesters of Italian language in Fayetteville, and I was hoping to get some practice in and to immerse myself in the culture as completely as possible.

Right from our arrival, I felt so at home in Rome. My apartment was located in a very residential area where I could sit on the balcony in the morning with my espresso, with views of the Vatican and people walking their dogs and kids to school. Rome always felt like such a faraway, historical place that I hadn’t thought about the people who lived their busy lives there.

My classes were held at the stunning Palazzo Taverna, a palace that we shared with visiting royalty and ambassadors. I chose to take a basic economics course and a special studies course called To Rome With Love, which was a combination of language lessons and culture lectures from a number of experts. In my economics course, I had some amazing opportunities, including learning entrepreneurial tips from Michelin star chef Cristina Bowerman (and trying some of her food!), and delivering a business pitch to a successful start-up entrepreneur in Rome.

The To Rome With Love class was one of the best ways to really immerse yourself into Roman daily life. Our language professor taught us the most essential verbs and phrases you needed to get around, like how to order food and coffee, how to ask for directions, and polite greetings. We received culture lectures on everything ranging from geography, wine, art, and food, and we even got to take a cooking class! My professors at the Rome center were also amazing resources when I did something to make the Romans look at me weird and I didn’t know why (pro tip: don’t pick up produce with your hands when grocery shopping in Italy), and to ask my endless etiquette questions to.

During my time in Italy, I had the chance to take several weekend trips to see more of the country. I went to Florence and saw the Duomo and the Uffizi Museum, where I saw some of my favorite artworks in real life. Another weekend I visited Naples and Pompeii, and on another I saw the beautiful town of Orvieto. While five weeks isn’t a long time to spend anywhere, I definitely recommend trying to make the most of your time and see other places.

To anyone planning on studying abroad in Rome, or in any new city in general, my best advice would be to relax, listen, and learn. I did hours and hours of research before I left for Rome, trying to learn everything I could to fit in with the locals and be as safe as possible. While it’s great to be prepared, the only way you can really learn to get around a city is by being there.

You can learn so much about being Italian by watching how people act and speak. The public transport system is a little crazy, the street sellers are pretty intense, and the food culture is so different than ours, but watching and listening can help you do more than you thought you were capable of.

Another piece of advice I would give to anyone specifically doing the summer program at the Rome Center is to take the To Rome With Love class. All the students in my class felt like they got to really experience Rome in a local, hands-on way that not everyone had the opportunity to, and I came out of the program feeling like I had actually lived as a Roman for five weeks.

My five weeks in Rome flew by, but it was the most rewarding and eye-opening experience I’ve ever had. I learned so much about the world and about myself, and I’m beyond grateful to the Honors College and the Rome Center for challenging me and giving me this opportunity.