Author: Lilly Williams | Major: Biomedical Engineering | Semester: Summer 2025

I took a quick day trip to Pisa with my roommates to see the Tower of Pisa! It was amazing in person to see just how much the building is off center!

I studied abroad in Rome, Italy at the U of A Rome Center during the summer session. The five-week program spanned the entire month of June. My interest in Rome started in my freshman year Architecture Lecture class. Throughout that first semester, I learned about the architectural techniques and details used in buildings all over the world. The teacher focused heavily on Roman architecture and history. After learning about Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, and St. Peter’s Basilica in the classroom, I knew that I had to see those wonders with my own eyes.

As a student in the College of Engineering, my classes focus on science and math subjects, so I was looking for a study abroad program that would push me out of my comfort zone. With this program at the Rome Center, I took two classes: Elementary Italian I and Basic Course in the Arts. While Elementary Italian was my first language class, it was also my first time in a class of only five people! At first, the small size of the class seemed scary and intimidating, but it made the experience and learning so much more fun. Our teacher gave engaging lectures by structuring the coursework around common conversations and phrases in Italian culture. I performed skits with my classmates over ordering food, buying clothes, and complaining about the lack of air conditioning! One of my favorite moments was going on a little field trip with ourteacher to get gelato. The entire class walked over to a nearby gelateria, and we all ordered our gelato in Italian! The immersive experiences in both of my classes created a fun and laid back learning environment. My Basic Course in the Arts class was centered around visiting artworks, museums, and buildings in the nearby neighborhoods of Rome. We visited numerous churches, cathedrals, villas, and even made a few stops at local coffee shops. Some of my favorite memories are from the moments we spent discussing artworks and architectural techniques while sitting on the steps of buildings that are hundreds to thousands of years old.

For my last weekend abroad, I took a trip to visit my friend, Maddie Glaus, in Geneva, Switzerland. When I figured out my roommate, Maddie, would be studying abroad at the same time as me, I knew I had to find a way to visit her! That three day trip to Switzerland was the perfect way to end my time in Europe. The city of Geneva was a welcome difference from Rome. The streets were quiet and free of tourists, and the cool breeze from the lake combined with the shady trees provided a cool environment. After exploring Geneva, I went with my friend to a small medieval town called Gruyères. While we were there, we ate the most delicious fondue and explored the town’s castle. That same day, we ventured to the Cailler Chocolate Factory for a tour of the building and a lot of taste testing! It was so exciting exploring Switzerland with a friend from home while also comparing the cultures of the countries.