A Week in Rome

Ciao! It’s hard to believe a full week has passed since I arrived in Rome, and I often find this whole experience to feel very surreal. Upon landing at the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, the city felt alive. Families were traveling in for their European summer getaway, locals were returning home, and most notably, students were arriving to study abroad. Right away, I met groups upon groups of college students, all in Rome for different programs. When I finally made it through passport control, I was greeted by the IES Abroad Rome staff. Each person took time to introduce themselves and get to know me despite the chaos of a busy airport, and I was even able to meet a couple students who would be in my program: Museums, Art, and Culture.

Moving into my apartment in Prati was simple. While being dropped off with my luggage, I was introduced to the apartment manager, along with one of my roommates. The apartment manager helped us bring our luggage up to our unit, and she gave us a tour of the place. Our apartment is spacious with lots of natural light. There is art on the wall, old books on the shelves, and a really cool, vintage record player in the living room. In the kitchen, the backsplash is decorated with scenes of Rome, including the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and more. Throughout the following week, I have been able to visit many of the sites displayed in our kitchen for myself.

During orientation, we heard from lots of IES Abroad Rome staff. They talked about culture in Rome, academics, co-curricular activities, and day trips. While these days felt a bit long and slow, it was definitely useful for getting adjusted to living in another country and learning what to expect during my stay. At orientation, I had so many opportunities to meet other students in my program, along with students who were here for Internships or Italian Language and Culture. Also included in our orientation was a walking tour of the Historic Center and a smaller look at Prati. 

Before I knew it, it was time for the first day of class. Here, we started learning about various sculptures from around Rome. As someone who majors in speech-language pathology at my university, I was worried I would feel behind compared to my classmates, but it turns out that most students are not studying art history at home. Their majors range from ecology and evolutionary biology all the way to puppetry, so I was not alone. During this first week of class, we have visited two museums: Palazzo Altemps and Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, both branches of the Museo Nazionale Romano. Each place has given us a glimpse into life in Italy between the Archaic Period and the Roman Empire, and we have all started learning how to interpret sculptures to understand their histories. Even without a background in art history, it is absolutely interesting to place myself in the shoes of people living in Ancient Rome.

Outside of class, I have had plenty of time to get to know the city. With my roommates, I have tried delicious pasta, eaten too much gelato, gone shopping on Via del Corso, and visited historic landmarks like the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, Castel Sant’Angelo, and the Colosseum. Each place has been so beautiful, and it feels like my Pinterest board is coming to life. While magnificent, there has been a “Red Heatwave Alert” in Rome for almost the entire time I’ve been here. Each day, the temperature reaches about 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and it has been important to take breaks during the hottest hours of the day. My roommates and I have loved adopting a siesta in our afternoons, where we take a few hours in our apartment to work on homework, catch up with family and friends at home, or simply relax. As the sun becomes less intense in the evening, we often head back out to explore Rome in a more tolerable temperature. One of my favorite activities we have done to escape the heat was our trip to the beach in Santa Severa with IES Abroad Rome. It was so much fun to swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea, and it was a great opportunity to start getting to know everyone studying at IES Abroad this summer.

After a week in Rome, I can say that I feel fully adjusted. I feel no more jet lag, I am eating normally, and I have gotten to know almost all of my classmates. At this point, I have my routine down, and Rome has started feeling like just another city. While I still have very minimal Italian-speaking skills, I have seemed to get by just fine. With only a few weeks left before we leave for Tuscany and Paris, I cannot wait to see how I continue to grow, and how my knowledge and love for Rome expands.

To conclude, I decided I will keep track of three words for each blogpost that describe my time so far, as well as some quick advice. For this post, my words are adjustment, heat, and exploration. My biggest advice for anyone beginning their study abroad journey is to get lost (safely). Take random turns, follow the crowds to find the monuments, and meet new people. Even if you signed up with your friends, branch out. This is such a unique opportunity to connect with people from different states, different universities, and different countries. No matter what, relax and enjoy your time. We are so, so lucky to have an experience like this!