Rubbing the nose of the famous Wild Boar in Florence for good luck!

Author: Kelsey O’Neill | Major: Social Work | Semester: Summer 2023

I chose this program because I wanted to learn about and become immersed in a culture other than mine, and the courses it offered allowed me to do that. I also was very interested in the history and sites of Italy, and five weeks sounded like the perfect length of time. This program not only fulfilled class requirements that I need to earn my degree, but it prepared me for my professional life as a social worker. I now have a broadened worldview that will allow me to approach clients with increased understanding of different lifestyles.

I took two classes while abroad. One was called To Rome with Love, which had both a language and a culture component, and the other was called Basic Course in the Arts. My classes were extremely immersive; Each week we would visit a new combination of museums, churches, and historical sites for my art class. In my cultural class, we got to take a cooking class, paint frescos like Michelangelo did, and listen to lectures from perfume and wine experts. We also received projects that immersed us in the society. We made our own traditional Italian dishes, practiced our Italian language skills with locals, and even travelled to a different neighborhood outside of the city center to create a research video. All these experiences brought the course material to life and enhanced my time studying abroad. My professors were enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and eager to build relationships with us. They led our tours through sites such as the colosseum and the Capitoline Museum, and I was floored by the amount of information they knew. Even though we had a relatively short time with them, they made an incredible effort to get to know all of us. It was hard for the other students and I to say goodbye to them at the end!

As time passed, the other students and I were able to get the hang of the wide variety of public transportation methods, our favorite being the trains. We rode them long distances on the weekends to various cities around Italy, including Pompeii. It was surreal to experience the history of the ancient society that was once there firsthand. I loved the amount of live music that one could find when walking around Rome, and the pasta really was as good as everyone claimed it was. I particularly enjoyed the walk to and from class as the bridge I crossed daily overlooked the beautiful river.

I would highly recommend this program to any student considering studying abroad. Studying at the Rome Center gave me countless opportunities to grow academically and personally. When considering what I wish I knew beforehand, I would say that I wish I knew to bring more clothing that covered my shoulders. With weekly visits to religious centers, this is a staple part of a student’s wardrobe. The first thing I did when I got home was hug my loved ones and my dog. Even though I missed them while I was away, these five weeks studying abroad were incredibly worth it and were some of the best times of my life!