Paddleboarding in Sorrento!

Author: Ema Plafcan | Majors: Communications, Music | Semester: Summer 2023

Charming architecture, compact cars, lush greenery, and soft colors everywhere greeted me as I rode into Rome on a golden June morning. I was filled with excitement, as I knew I was about to head on an adventure. What ensued was a month of both highs and lows, culture shocks and unforgettable experiences, and a slightly changed worldview as I sit on the other side of my incredible time in Rome.

Ciao ragazzi! I’m Ema Plafcan, a recent graduate from the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences with a double major in Communications and Music and a minor in Business Chinese. Over the Summer 2023 semester, I spent four weeks in Rome, Italy for the Communication Summer Program. I decided to do the program not only to fulfill my long dream of studying abroad but also to fulfill my final credit hour requirements and end my time at the U of A on a high note.

The focus of the program was international culture and communication, so alongside our time in the classroom at the Rome Center, we had multiple out-of-the-classroom excursions to fully immerse us in the culture. Another big part of the program was the Intercultural Development Inventory assessment, a test of intercultural competence. We measured our initial mindset at the beginning and saw our growth at the end.

Week One was dedicated to getting us acclimated. This included a guided neighborhood with Rome Center staff and tours of iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and the Pantheon, but for the most part, we were left to our own devices. I still remember the first afternoon after arriving at my apartment located only a few blocks away from the Vatican. My roommates and I were filled with a mixture of emotions: exhaustion, joy, disbelief, and homesickness. After unpacking, we decided to venture out for a late lunch. We timidly entered the cafe under our apartment filled with delicious-looking pizza and pastries, but none of us was brave enough to order. Everyone everywhere was speaking in Italian, and it was far more jarring than I thought it would be. We wandered for a bit before reaching a restaurant where a woman was standing outside calling out in English. She probably registered the worry on our faces as she pulled us inside. The menu was in Italian, but some of our anxiety was eased as locals at a neighboring table leaned over and told us not to order the pasta: go for the pizza. And with help from faculty and locals alike, we slowly got used to the city. Some highlights in the first week were walking past the Tiber every day on the way to school, and conquering the public transit system. Some lows were cultural misunderstandings and the lack of air conditioning.

For Week Two, we had more fun excursions: an Italian cooking class, getting interviewed on a local college radio station, Catholic masses, touring the Vatican, and visiting Mussolini’s Foro Italico, a source of propaganda used during WWII. Our professor also assigned us presentations about different aspects of Italian culture. I really appreciated this assignment, as it helped me look past the surface to deeply examine Italian media, education, politics, government, and healthcare.

Week Three brought even more visits: Hummustown, a nonprofit that helps Syrian refugees in Rome, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. Both of these experiences were so special, especially the FAO, which dedicates itself to ending hunger worldwide. We were also assigned another presentation focusing on Italian and Roman propaganda.

Week Four closed our time off with a visit to Ghella, an Italian construction company, a conversation with a reporter from the Associated Press, and a tour of La Siete, one of the biggest news stations in Italy. After we did our final IDI reports and our final exam, we celebrated at a restaurant right next to the Tiber River.

On the weekends, I was lucky enough to visit four different cities: Florence, Venice, Sorrento, and Pompeii. In Florence, I got to touch the famous hog statue Il Porcellino, see the Duomo, and wander around the leather market. In Venice, I went inside Doge’s Palace, saw a live performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and did the classic gondola ride. In Sorrento, I got to go paddleboarding on the Bay of Naples, eat gelato out of a lemon, and swim in the Bagni Regina Giovanna, an ancient grotto filled with Roman ruins. In Pompeii, I saw the ruins and contemplated Roman life from almost 2,000 years ago.

I’m so grateful to have these experiences. Enjoying delicious food, marveling at hundreds of years of history, and experiencing the kindness of the people of Italy are things I will not soon forget. Studying abroad really helped me see through an intercultural communication lens. It makes me want to do more. Make more of an effort to learn new languages, explore different cultures more deeply, and seek out discomfort a little bit more regularly, in order to grow, learn, and have great adventures.

If I could go back in time one year, the advice I would give to myself and other students is to fully immerse yourself in the culture you are going to. Try to prepare as much as you can and learn some common phrases, but also accept that you will face culture shock and homesickness. Have some plans on what you want to do, but also be flexible, as you can discover hidden and amazing things on a spontaneous adventure. Be kind to yourself as you learn and grow, and keep an open mind. Most of all, relax and enjoy the journey, you will have so much fun! As I’m back in the U.S. now, I already miss Rome quite a bit. Unfortunately, everything is back to normal, and I have to refrain from saying “grazie” after every interaction. However, as I adjust back to America, I know I will never take air conditioning, driving, or ice for granted again.