Author: Isabella Bird | Major: Art History and English | Semester: Fall 2024
Me in front of the Budapest parliament building!
This last fall I studied abroad at the University of Arkansas Rome Center. I was in Rome for 4 months, from September to December. It was an amazing experience in which I got the chance to experience what truly living in Italy is like – summer, fall, and winter!
I chose to study abroad in the fall for a myriad of reasons. I wanted an authentic taste for what life in Europe was like. In four months, I felt that I was able to get a feel for Italian culture and create my own rhythms in Rome in a way that I couldn’t have with a shorter program. I shopped at grocery stores, did laundry, ate at restaurants, and got used to the public transit. I got to a point where I didn’t need to use my phone for directions anymore. Rome became my new normal.
Rome was the perfect location for me to study abroad because of its rich architectural, art, and sculptural history. I am an art history major, and it was so much fun seeing pieces that I have studied and written about in real life. Rome is unique among European cities in the depth and breadth of its history. From my first week in Rome to my last, I was able to see new art, history, and culture every day. Rome is such a historically saturated city, and I loved that the city was big enough to continuously explore throughout the entire semester and never get bored! The icons of Rome were incredible, but the experience of finding a local café or favorite restaurant to visit again and again was just as special.
The semester before I studied abroad, I took a course in Fayetteville that was specifically about Roman Art and Archeology. This course prepared me for my time in the city and helped me appreciate the buildings and sculptures that I was seeing. Even months into my study abroad experience I found myself stumbling upon pieces that I learned about in that class. Though it wasn’t necessarily an intentional choice for me to take that class right before moving to Rome, I am so glad that I did. I would definitely recommend taking a course relevant to the place you are travelling to if you get the chance!
Living in Rome I was able to use my weekends not only travel to cities all over Italy, but also all over Europe. Using the Rome Center as a hub I traveled to the Italian cities of Sperlonga, Castel Gandolfo, Bolzano, Pisa, and Florence, as well as the Amalfi coast and Cinque Terre. Throughout the semester I also flew from Rome to cities in Germany, Austria, France, Hungary, England, and Scotland. Studying abroad for a whole semester provided an incredible opportunity to do a lot of weekend travel. Our coursework was designed to keep our weekends free so that we could explore our home city of Rome as well as travel wherever we could dream up!
Because the Rome Center is part of the University of Arkansas, I did not have to jump through any hoops to get the classes I needed to stay on track with my majors. While I was at the Rome Center I took 2 upper-level English courses, an International Relations course, an Italian language and culture course, and an honors art history seminar. With these classes, I was able to add a Global Studies minor to my degree plan!
Some of my classes were taught by Italian teachers, but my English classes were taught by a professor from the University of Arkansas. My Italian teachers brought a global perspective to my work and challenged me to think about the world in a way I had never thought about it before. But, it was nice to have at least one teacher that felt more familiar and comfortable. The professor from Fayetteville and his wife did a great job of intentionally supporting me and the other students in his class as we went through the high highs and low lows of studying abroad. They accompanied us on excursions and even guided a tour of Florence when my class expressed interest. They became a highlight of my experience! I love that this program connected me with a professor from Fayetteville and connected me with students that will be returning to the University of Arkansas with me.
Learning in Rome was an amazing experience. The palazzo that the Rome Center is in is beautiful. The classrooms are stunning works of art in themselves. We lived within walking distance of the school, which helped me quickly get a feel for the different parts of the Rome city center. Our teachers integrated the city into our classes. In every class I was able to go on unique, relevant excursions around the city that took advantage of the rich history and culture of Rome. My Looted Art class took excursions to see an auction house and restoration facility, while my International Relations class went to embassies and the presidential palace. Throughout the semester, I toured churches, saw monuments, attended cooking classes, and learned about the diverse culture of Rome all with the guidance and knowledge of my professors.
Studying abroad was an unforgettable experience that forever changed my perspective. I would recommend anyone at the University of Arkansas to consider studying abroad, especially with the U of A Rome Center! Choosing this program helped me stay on track for graduation, helped me meet other like-minded students from my home campus, and made the entire process so easy. My advice would be to consider a full semester program. I know it seems like a long time, and it is. It was difficult and lonely at times, but I felt that this program length facilitated a genuine experience abroad, allowed me to make a life in Italy, and gave me the opportunity to travel all over Europe!