Imagine this walk. It’s long—hours long—but trust me, every step is worth it. You start at the Colosseum, and take a right. Suddenly you’re drifting through the ancient ruins of the Forum, the sun hitting the stones just right, while some guy on the street strums a guitar. Keep going straight and you are greeted by the magnificent white monument to Victor Emmanuel II. Climb all the way to the top terrace and reward yourself with a real Italian cappuccino, the kind that feels illegal to drink anywhere else. Caffeinated and happy, you stroll straight ahead into Via del Corso, Rome’s main shopping artery. At this point, you’re probably carrying a couple of bags filled with souvenirs, clothes, or some cute things for your IES Rome apartment that you absolutely did not plan to buy. Eventually, you arrive at Piazza del Popolo, all elegant and symmetrical, with its dramatic real Egyptian obelisk watching over everything. And if your legs aren’t begging for mercy yet, you keep going—because the perfect ending awaits in Villa Borghese. There, you watch the sunset wash the trees and the little pond in soft pinks, yellows, and reds. It’s the kind of moment that makes you forget your feet hurt and convinces you that life in Rome is, actually, a dream.
Can you imagine this? Because I definitely can—for the next three months I’ll be in the heart of art, food, and architecture: Rome. And honestly, this isn’t my first study abroad experience. I like to call it “Study Abroad 2.0” because my entire education at Connecticut College has basically been “Study Abroad 1.0”. Before that, I lived in Russia… then in Moldova… then back in Russia… then in Italy… and now in the U.S. At this point, I think it’s fair to say I’m a professional international student. And as someone with way too many visas in their passport and way too many boarding passes in their drawer, I do have a couple of pieces of advice for anyone planning to spend a semester abroad.
My first advice will be: think not just about the place of studies and the classes you are going to take, but also what experiences you want from the place itself. Do you want to try and conquer a new language in three months (that’s exactly how I started with Italian)? Do you want to live somewhere in a big city with easy access to an airport so you can hop on a low-cost flight and visit 20 countries on weekends? Or maybe there is something you’re so passionate about that it outweighs everything else – ancient ruins, impressionist paintings, Formula 1 races, food?
My second piece of advice is this: try new things. Seriously. Imagine coming back to your friends at college or in your hometown suddenly knowing how to cook, or horseback ride, or even understand Celsius! I’ll confess: after three years in the U.S., the three things I’m secretly most proud of are competing in mock trials, learning how to figure skate, and finally understanding Fahrenheit. And trust me, that last one is crucial for surviving any study abroad experience!
Also, adjustment to a new place can be harder than it looks: new language, new climate, different social norms, and sometimes completely unfamiliar food. My advice is to take small steps that make the transition easier—little things that help you feel like you belong. There are several things that definitely helped me. First: music. What do people listen to there? Do you recognize any songs? Even finding one local artist you like can make you feel instantly more connected. Second: movies. Go to a movie theater and watch whatever everyone is obsessed with at the moment. You can almost always find a showing with English subtitles—and just like that, you suddenly have something to talk about with your neighbor!
And now, the most important piece of advice—the one that will quite literally carry you through Europe: don’t forget a backpack. Not just any backpack, of course. It has to be cute enough to appear in all your photos: the classic “holding the Eiffel Tower in your hand” pose, the scenic shot on one of the dramatic cliffs of Portugal as waves crash below and leave fluffy foam in the air… But it also has to be big. Big enough to smuggle home half of Norway, Luxembourg, or Germany in the form of souvenirs – without paying extra for a carry-on bag. A true study abroad essential!
So, pack well, stay curious, and enjoy every chaotic, beautiful, magical moment abroad. A new country is waiting – and so is your new backpack!
Kate Petrichenko
My name is Kate, I’m a junior at Connecticut College. I’m double majoring in International Relations and Italian. Fun fact about me: I actually grew up between Russia and Moldova, and the US is the fourth country I’ve lived in for more than a year!
