Me at a church/overlook at the base of Monte San Casto in Sora

Author: Vinny Gemmiti | Major: Architecture | Semester: Spring 2023

This program was chosen for me as it is perfect in fitting with my major and my degree path. Architecture is a very old and intelligent profession, and is a culture and form of art passed down through generations and has been started in ancient times, such as Ancient Egyptians or Romans. My classes and instructors all seem to embrace the Roman and Italian tradition of architecture as well as the culture surrounding it. They are all so knowledgeable on every subject they profess, and it seems as though I could ask them any question pertaining to their subject and they would either know the answer or could find it by the next class time. Also with smaller class sizes, I feel like I can get more one-on-one time with the professors and discuss my academics better with them. Classes also differ quite a bit between here at the University of Arkansas Rome Center than at the main campus in Fayetteville. For one, most classes that were offered for me were available less frequently throughout the week, preferably being in one long block of instruction as opposed to multiple times a week with shorter class times. Secondly, most classes here at the Rome Center available for my major encounter more of a walking lecture aesthetic as opposed to a sit-down or studio like class. This means that very often for that class, we would walk around various landmarks or rioni–the Roman equivalent of neighborhoods–and would receive a walking tour and lecture all in one by the professor. Two of them in particular focus around this aspect heavily, being “Architecture of the City” and “Modern and Contemporary Rome.” I’ve quite enjoyed this aspect of the classes more than I originally thought I would, mainly because it encompasses class and sightseeing, and oftentimes (almost always) those two will be related for the class. Walking around and seeing these great and beautifully designed buildings always reminds me of why I wanted to become an architect in the first place, and I hope that one day these classes as well as the ones back home in Fayetteville will help me to become a more advanced and proficient designer.

As far as academics go, there are slight variations to classes, but the culture is nearly the complete opposite. Food as a culture is such a different experience than anything back in the states, and is oftentimes considered its own social event. Not only is food so much more of a sit-down experience in Italy than it is in the states, but the times for which everyone eats seems as though it’s on a different schedule entirely. Eating sometimes 2 or 3 hours later than one normally might has been quite a change to get used to. Traveling is probably the second biggest change, given that public transit is such a widely used thing here, and hailing from Cabot, AR, it was never a thing I experienced until Fayetteville, but never on a scale this large. To and from school and my apartment right above the Vatican City, I find walking to just be the most efficient path, but to other instances such as landmarks or across different points of the city, or to meet for a walking lecture, using the metro or subway is also a great option. Both of these are just the tip of the iceberg but these two instances are just so wildly different from anything I personally have experienced back in the States.

I would highly recommend this program to other students, not just architecture majors either! In my near 3 months of living here, I’ve met architecture students from other schools, as well as other majors from Fayetteville and they’ve all been so cool to meet. Living and studying abroad so far has been such a pleasant and wonderful experience that I hope many if not everyone could be able to have at some point within one’s life. Understandably so, some might be discouraged by prices or inconveniences of living abroad or traveling, but in my opinion, it is so worth it. Personally, thanks to the University of Arkansas Honors College Study Abroad Grant, this has been great study abroad experience and I would hope that many others will be able to receive the same chance and opportunity that I have been given. But a word of advice to all who would consider traveling or studying abroad, be prepared for so much of your world to change and all the culture shocks you could experience!