Fall break in Athens at the Parthenon!

Author: Jennifer Sandoval | Major: Interior Architecture and Design | Semester: Fall 2023

I am now about halfway through my study abroad experience in Rome, Italy. Time seems to go by so fast and with each passing moment I find myself more and more thankful for the opportunity to experience the city I always dreamt about. Two months in I now find myself grounded and comfortable in this lively city.

Broadening the horizons of my studies and giving life to schools of thought and perspectives that I otherwise wouldn’t have explored, life in Italy has not been short of its own exploration. The pace of life and the mechanisms that are used to take part in social and professional life were an adjustment at first, the speed at which life happens and the emphasis on taking time is astounding. I have found myself enjoying slow mornings, befriending the barista at a local coffee shop and allowing myself to journal and enjoy a pastry before my schedule for the day begins. I have also found myself a fan of your typical two hour dinner here where you get to sit down, not rush, and have some of the best conversations with those around you. Finding these little moments of pause in the experience has truly taken me from tourism to feel habitation. A place that is so dedicated to the timeless in their art and to be tied to something lasting has been so humbling and has allowed me to gain a greater perspective on education, Italian culture, and myself as a human. The perspectives that I’m faced with everyday, especially in the classroom, invite me to reexamine myself and my own positions on what fulfillment could look like and it grants me the opportunity to reintroduce myself to myself. In studio here, pursuing a degree in Interior Architecture and Design, I’m constantly reminded that I am not only getting an understanding of physical space, architectural principles, and materiality, but I am rather learning the complexity of the design process and giving myself the opportunity and education it takes to explore the entire world of design: architecture, graphic design, furniture design, art. The pace in the classroom has also been an adjustment, but one I hope to apply to the rest of my academic and professional career. In studio we are invited to understand principles of design with time. Rather than working towards a deadline we work towards an accomplished outcome. We apply the slow pace that is reflected outside of the classroom and we are invited to explore and give ourselves the time that the different stages of the design process need based on our individual projects. As a student, as a designer, as a woman, and as a human being I’ve learned to embrace the beauty of taking one’s time and allowing creativity to unfold organically.

These past few months have been affirmations for my choice to participate in studying abroad. I find myself so grateful for something this new, to break cultural norms that I accepted as basics of life and the rules of engagement that make no sense. I couldn’t recommend more getting out of your comfort zone and exploring beyond what you are expected to. Even when time seems as though it’s fleeting, in times of frustration, or in times when I wish I could be with close friends and family, I find moments to remind myself the importance that is placed in all of these experiences. Studying abroad has redefined my understanding of what it means to truly engage with the world. I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to challenge my own assumptions and to witness firsthand the beauty beyond what’s familiar.