The Top of the Spanish Steps!

On January 7th, 2024 I said goodbye to my family in the middle of the bustling Austin International Airport, my mom reassuring me that her watery eyes were full of “Happy Tears” and my dad asking one more time if I “really needed all that stuff.” On January 13th I walked the streets of Rome alone for the first time and tried to wrap my brain around the idea that I was going to be there for the next three months. Studying abroad has been a goal of mine since I was a Freshman in high school and it was a determining factor in where I decided to go to college. When I looked into the University of Arkansas, I fell in love with the Rome Center. Italy is a country known for its passionate people, spectacular cuisine, beautiful architecture, and stunning landscape; that, combined with the ability to attend classes taught by U of A teachers in a Roman palace completely sold me. Looking back I can confidently say that there is nowhere else I would’ve rather been.

I took twelve courses over my Spring 2024 semester: Ethics in Journalism, Multiculturalism in AD/PR, Political Communication, and International Communication and Globalization. Ethics in Journalism was my favorite class of the four as a lot of our discussion revolved around Benito Mussolini, a man whose infamous impact we were able to physically see while learning about it. We would discuss the various monuments, buildings, and roads he built in Rome and then walk back to our apartments using these very same roads. It was a very surreal experience and knowing the historical background of Rome helped me appreciate Rome all the more. While my course work contributed directly to my Sociology major–another major advantage of the Fulbright College Rome Center Program–the excursions we took as a class uniquely applied to my future career aspirations. My post-graduation plan is to work in publishing; field trips to places like the Vatican Press and the Associated Press helped me understand what that process looks like and the qualities that media publishing companies are looking for in their employees. The comfort I had knowing that I was taking steps towards ensuring my future truly allowed me to enjoy my time abroad so much more

Sunset at the Colosseum With My Sister!

Without a doubt, my favorite place in Rome is St. Peter’s Basilica. When I lived in Rome, my apartment was right next to the Vatican City. St. Peter’s served as a beacon for me, a symbol of home no matter where I was in Rome. The top of the dome offers the prettiest views of the city and the beauty of the inside of the cathedral is ineffable. St. Peter’s was the first monument I saw in Rome, and it was the last stop I made before I got on a plane ride home.

I traveled to a lot of other cities in Rome, but Naples was an instant favorite. At the beginning of February alongside a group of students and a few faculty members from the Rome Center, I went to Naples, Pompeii, and Caserta. I got to eat incredible food, tour the ruins of Pompeii, walk through the English Gardens in Caserta, tour the underground of Naples, and see the famous street mural dedicated to Maradona. And, since this was a faculty-led trip (one of the many the U of A Rome Center offers), I was able to bond with other Arkansas students outside of my major. Before the trip, I had never heard of Caserta; it wasn’t on my list of places to see in Italy. However, it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip; we toured the palace and walked through its extensive gardens, making me ever grateful for my decision to join the Naples faculty-led trip. Overall, Naples holds some of my favorite memories from my time in Italy and it will definitely be a place I revisit in the future.

Learning How to Make Pasta With Other Rome Center Students!

My biggest advice for other students interested in studying abroad is to go into it with an open mind. Life will look completely different from how you know it, but just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s wrong or bad. I won’t lie, it’s really weird to relearn how to do things that you’ve done your whole life by new cultural norms. The first time I dined in Italy was an unforgettable experience. There were menus and waiters and appetizers and table settings just like in America, but there wasn’t ice in drinks and you paid for water and you didn’t tip and you had to ask the waiter for the check or you wouldn’t receive it. Everything was the same, and yet everything was different. It is very easy to get overwhelmed as you try to live in a new culture, but I promise you can do it as long as you remain open to trying. So, go into studying and living abroad with an open mind; learn to be uncomfortable and try your hardest to adapt. Soon enough you won’t think twice about these things.

On April 27th I sat in the back of a taxi car with my roommate, turned best friend for life, tears running down my face as we headed to the airport. Studying abroad in Rome had an indelible impact on my life. I saw places that I had dreamed about since I was a girl, formed lifelong relationships, challenged myself as a student, and cultivated a deep appreciation for countries and perspectives different from my own. For anyone considering studying abroad, I wholeheartedly encourage you to do it. I can confidently say that it was the best thing I could have done with my life and I look forward to reminiscing on my time in Italy for years to come.