An excursion to hike Mount Vesuvius on a weekend trip in Naples

Author: Lauren Lamker | Major: Architecture

I just got home from spending ten weeks living in Rome, Italy studying architecture at the University of Arkansas Rome Center. As an architecture student in the Fay Jones school, studying abroad at the Rome Center is part of our curriculum. We have the option of a fall, spring, or summer semester and twelve other students and I chose to go over the summer to experience Rome with all the flower in bloom and to spend a week in the Dolomites that was included in the summer program. One of the most interesting things about studying abroad was getting to learn history in the place where the history happened. I loved the ability to have lecture and then get to go to the place it happened and see the building or site myself. It was also very exciting to get see all the buildings we have been learning about throughout college in person and be able to experience the true scale of them. I really enjoyed the classes and professors from this summer. It was awesome to have Italian professors who have different techniques and approaches, influenced by the way they grew up and the culture around. I was in two classes this summer: Studio and Architecture of the City. Architecture of the City had a lecture component and what I am calling an exploring component. We learned about the history of Rome from the very beginning of its development and then we would go out into the city and sketch how we experienced the city, its fabric, and landmarks. Our studio class was similar to the layout of our studio classes at the U of A; however, the architecture of the city class was much more interactive and immersive than some other classes I have taken. In studio, we went to a neighborhood south of the historic center of Rome and analyzed the site of five abandoned skyscrapers. Then we got to develop design proposals based on areas we were interested in and what we thought needed the most improvement.

I have never traveled to another country that speaks a different language than me, so getting to learn and experience the culture in Italy was such an amazing experience. At first, it was overwhelming and nerve racking to even order food at a restaurant but as we got more comfortable and started learning simple phrases in Italian it became a great opportunity to try new things and meet new people. While participating in an architecture workshop with Italian students, we were introduced to the snack suppli, which is a fried ball of rice, tomato sauce and cheese, almost like a mozzarella stick, and they were so good. We also ate lots of pasta and gelato which were also amazing. While our program was in Rome, we were able to travel most weekends, so I was also able to visit the Italian cities Formia, Gaeta, Florence, Bologna, Venice, Naples and Pompeii. My favorite was Venice. I loved the relax atmosphere and proximity to the water with all the boat and canals. We also visited some of the surrounding islands that are known for different things like glass blowing or lace making, and each was so unique. At the end of the summer, the studio traveled together to northern Italy on an environment and sustainability tour. We visited Trento, Valdora, Bolzano, and Milan and had the opportunity to meet with companies and research organizations to see how they navigated the topic of sustainability. Then we got to spend some time out in nature hiking and biking. This was one of my favorite days as I got to e-bike for the first time for 35 miles and then hike to the peak of one of the Dolomite mountains. We were all sore the next day, but it was definitely worth it. Transportation wise, we walked mostly everywhere, which I really enjoyed, but it was also cool to take public transportation like trains, subways, and buses when walking was too far.

I would definitely recommend this program to any student who has the opportunity to go. I had an incredible experience where I got to do so many things I have always wanted to do, as well as learn so much both about architecture and the world. Beforehand, I wish I had taken some time to learn some basic Italian because it would have prepared me more for daily activities and allowed me to interact better with the people who lived in Rome. Now that I have returned home, I have spent a lot of time catching up with family and friends. Overall, this will be an experience I will remember forever and something that I am extremely grateful I had the opportunity to do. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of many learning and traveling experiences I will have in the future.