Something Special: Reflecting on My Study Abroad Experience

I’ve spent the past week avoiding unpacking my suitcase after landing back in the United States, afraid of the sting that my heart will surely feel when I see the objects that I fondly collected from my time in Rome. 

Admittedly, over the six weeks that I was abroad, I didn’t concern myself with buying lots of gifts and keepsakes for home. I lived in ignorance of my eventual return back to the United States, and when it struck me that my time was coming to an end, I wanted to bring home some of the objects that I grew to love and played an important role in my daily life in Italy, including food. Considering this, I was sure to bring home some packages of locally-made pasta and balsamic vinegar, as well as some of my favorite frollini (shortbread biscuits eaten for breakfast) and a caffettiera (also called a moka or moka pot) to prepare coffee, in order to preserve some of the delicious flavors from my daily life in Italy and share them with my friends and family. I also brought some gorgeous postcards and art prints from other cities that I bought and tucked into my journal  during co-curricular trips and independent excursions, and I’m excited to give them placed to display in my home, keeping a small piece of Rome in the corner of my bedroom. The material objects, though, shy in comparison to the things that remain in my mind from my summer adventures.

One of the most cherished things that I will carry with me throughout my life from my study abroad experience are the wonderful people that I encountered. In Rome, I met some of the most fantastic friends that I will cherish for the rest of my life, including the other study-abroad students, as well as new Italian friends that I met while exploring the city. My IES Abroad Rome cohort was comprised of interesting, passionate students from other universities across the U.S., and while I’m sad that I will no longer be able to meet them in some of our favorite cafes and study spots, I am excited to maintain lasting friendships with them and plan new adventures with them for years to come! 

Now that I am back home in the United States, I’ve come to think about my time in Italy with such an immense fondness. The pace of my life in Rome, as my days once full of exploration and new experiences have now returned to normalcy back home, is something that I hope to maintain as I enter my future. While studying abroad, I always rose early in the morning, which I found to be the perfect time to explore the city before the air became concentrated with a thick, enveloping summer heat. I savored my time by stretching my days over long afternoon hours by wandering through museums and galleries decorated with art from the likes of Raffaello, Bernini, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio. I also found inspiration in unexpected corners of the city, often in the small, intimate settings from my daily life, such as around the crowded dinner table after cooking and eating with my roommates, or while sitting out on the terrace of my apartment, watching the stars peer over the wall of the Vatican City while on the phone with my family. I feel struck with such a profound attachment to all of the bits of my experience, and being home has given me the opportunity to reflect upon how deeply the past six weeks have affected me. Last year, I would have never imagined that I would have been given this incredible opportunity to study in Rome with IES Abroad, and words cannot capture the extent of my feelings toward the places and people that I encountered abroad. I found inspiration and adventure everywhere, and now I feel invigorated with a sense of exploration and a newfound zest for life which feels opened by those opportunities to actively engage with art and language in a new light in Rome. 

Perhaps I’ll unpack my suitcase and shed a few tears, overwhelmed by a sense of sweet nostalgia from some of the best moments of my life. No matter what, I’m hopeful that someday I’ll have the chance to pack again and return to Rome, carrying these memories and leaving space in my suitcase—and memories—for many more. 

Lastly, if you’re interested in studying abroad, here are some of my words of advice:

1. Don’t be afraid to try new things, even if it means risking embarrassment! 

This is one of the biggest pieces of advice that I could possibly offer. Studying abroad, no matter where you decide to go, will expose you to countless new things and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Although I know it’s easier said than done, I cannot encourage you more to take a leap of faith and fully immerse yourself in these new experiences, however daunting they may seem! This piece of advice is applicable to trying things such as new foods, but it’s especially important to consider when speaking a foreign language and meeting new people! If you’re ever unsure of a word or feel afraid of making mistakes in front of others, just know that people will be likely to lend you kindness and use your mistake as an opportunity to teach you more about their language or culture. 

2. Visit More than the Monuments! 

It’s exciting to be in a new place with lots of famous historic sites and monuments, and in Rome, there are so many bucket-list places to visit and explore! These places are huge elements of Roman culture, such as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, or the Pantheon, and while I certainly made sure to visit all of these major monuments at least once, I also made it my mission to explore all of the other aspects of the city. Rather than stay concentrated in the center of the city, I spent much of my free time traveling around the city, and beyond the popular tourist destinations, to get an authentic experience, which granted me unique opportunities to see Italy as more than a tourist, but as a resident of Rome. 

3. Why Should You Choose Rome? 

If you’re interested in studying art, history, or archaeology, you won’t find somewhere better than Rome to choose for your study abroad experience! The integration of ancient art and architecture into the contemporary Roman environment is unmatched, and there is truly no better place than the Eternal City to immerse yourself in centuries of history around every corner. I couldn’t have been happier to choose Rome as my IES Abroad destination, and after reading the diverse perspectives of myself and other bloggers, I hope that you find your dream destination too!