My favorite monument in Rome was the Trevi Fountain. I could stare at it for hours!

Author: Anna Packwood | Major: Communication | Semester: Fall 2023

I chose to study abroad at the University of Arkansas Rome Center because I thought that it perfectly integrated and balanced cultural experience with academic content. I thought it would be an ideal opportunity for me, a Communication major, to use a communicative approach to exploring Italy. The great variety of course content that the Rome Center offered allowed me to not only complete substantial credit towards my major and minor requirements, but also gain important skills that are essential for my academic studies and professional goals. For example, in the field of Communication, the ability to speak multiple languages is an asset. Because of the many resources provided by the University in Rome that are inaccessible elsewhere, beginning Italian studies through the Rome Center was the ideal way for me to start this journey. In the To Rome With Love course, I had the opportunity to cultivate interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational communication skills. I learned communication strategies to understand Italian texts, express myself in formal and informal settings, and acquire cultural awareness. Most importantly, I was able to exercise my practice and knowledge in the heart of Rome with those in my surroundings, while still having an outlet with those from home. Through my coursework, I studied communication in an Italian context, the cultural contributions of Rome from ancient to modern times, and aspects of international communication frameworks in an authentic setting. My courses in Rome introduced me to different perspectives with the unique experience of cultural immersion in several new realities. Through Introduction to International Relations and Global Studies, I began developing as a capable global citizen and learned to challenge stereotypes. In the Global Changemakers seminar, I had the opportunity to compare community building in Italy versus Northwest Arkansas and discover how to find effective solutions by focusing on problems that are relevant at home and analyzing how Italian communities have encountered similar challenges. One of my most memorable encounters I had outside of class was getting to connect with a high school student at a school in Rome. I participated in the iFamily Program, a program that connects Rome Center students with Roman families. I was able to spend an evening talking to Emily, the high school student that the program matched me with. This was a very enriching experience and my favorite connection I had with a native Italian. Although she is three years younger than me, we discovered that we had a lot in common. This was one of the most immersive and eye-opening conversations I was able to have during my time abroad, and I would highly recommend the  iFamily program to any students attending the Rome Center. I would absolutely recommend the University of Arkansas Rome program to other students. Studying abroad in Rome is a priceless and irreplaceable experience that will always hold a very special place in my heart. The amount of people from different cultures backgrounds I was able to meet and the many parts of Italy and Europe I was able to explore were unforgettable. Before studying abroad, I wish I had known to make the most of every opportunity while abroad. For me, and many other students I’m sure, this was my first chance to explore Europe and live abroad. I frequently reminded myself that, as cliché as it sounds, this was a once in-a-lifetime experience.