Early morning trek to Sorrento
Author: Emma Paulus | Major: Industrial Engineering | Semester: May Intersession 2023
Buongiorno! Embarking on study abroad at the U of A Rome center, in the heart of Rome’s Historic Center, was a once in a lifetime experience I will never forget. From learning cultural customs to mastering economic analysis, this intersession course was a perfect mix of adventure, learning, and fun. In just three weeks, I gained not only a better understanding of economic analysis, but also formed lasting friendships with people from across the globe. Experiencing Italian culture, cuisine, and history allowed me a deeper understanding of life abroad and enriched my overall experience.
Taking this course abroad allowed me to not only experience iconic landmarks, mouthwatering cuisine, and Rome’s storied history, but also enabled me to complete coursework already on my degree plan. Engineering Economic Analysis is a mandatory class for every industrial engineer at the University of Arkansas and I was privileged enough to take it over 5000 miles away from the normal classroom. Studying this course in Rome gave me the opportunity to meet with world renowned companies such as Ghella S.p.A., Aeroporti di Roma, and Cantine Neri. Ghella S.p.A. was my favorite company that we toured. They are a tunnel boring company that uses engineering analysis to determine if a project is profitable in the long term. Factors such as partnerships, fees, initial costs, labor costs, final payoff, and salvage value of the machines are just a few things considered when making these decisions. These site visits gave me insight into the wide variety of professional usage of engineering economic analysis and broadened my view of opportunities available as an industrial engineer.
In addition to gaining engineering knowledge in the classroom, I also gained immeasurable amounts of independence and self reliance. This was my first time traveling abroad, let alone traveling to another continent without knowing anyone. I was so scared when I first left the United States because I did not know the language or what the culture would be like. Not only did I gain confidence from coming to Italy alone, I gained self reliance from figuring out how to travel across the Italian Peninsula by myself. From booking trains and ferries (where all the websites are only in italian, and no one at the ticket booths speak english), to figuring out how to correctly navigate the public transportation systems without being fined, I discovered a newfound level of independence. I am now confident in my ability to navigate unfamiliar surroundings and adapt to diverse situations.
Advice I would give to future study abroad students is to take advantage of every minute that you don’t have class. Explore the neighborhood you are living in, meet the locals, see museums or landmarks that aren’t scheduled by your program. There is so much to explore that you cannot experience in the United States, especially in Rome. Also, try cuisine you would not typically try at home. I tried so many dishes I had never heard of before and they were all so unique and amazing, I wish I had more time here to try them all. As I bid farewell to the Eternal City, I carry with me memories I will never forget and a newfound appreciation for how study abroad brings together culture, academia, and personal growth. I hope to explore more of the world and one day return to the amazing city of Rome.