Roman adventure

The most important thing I’ve learned in my time abroad is that I can do more than I give myself credit for. When I first came to Rome, I felt as if I was not strong enough to live the independent lifestyle that studying abroad exposes students to. But after experiencing this, I knew I needed to pick myself up and give Rome a chance. So I taught myself how to cook, started practicing meditation, made an effort to meet some new friends and explored my city to find my favorite restaurants, gelaterias and quiet study spaces. Now, about 10 weeks in, I feel like I’m really doing it. I have traveled by myself, I cook homemade meals for friends some weekends and I am excelling in my 300 level politics classes.

My passion for journalism and international affairs has blossomed more than ever during my time in Rome. At my host school, John Cabot University, I’m taking courses that include photojournalism, religion in global politics, and one of the only existing college courses on human trafficking and contemporary slavery. My photojournalism class rarely meets in the classroom. We’re always trekking to a different part of the city on an assignment, whether it’s the historic Jewish ghetto, the grand re-opening of the Spanish Steps or the Rome Film Festival. John Cabot is in the heart of Rome, so it’s easy to visit monuments like Vatican City, the Pantheon or the Colosseum on a weekday.

Many think that studying abroad is a four-month vacation. When you study in Europe, it’s easy to travel between the continent’s 28 small countries for a cheap price. In addition to dozens of unique cities in Italy, I’ve been able to travel to France and Denmark, and I spent Thanksgiving in Salzburg, Austria.

However, the best part of studying abroad is that most days in Rome genuinely feel like real life. On an average day, I commute to school on a tram, shop for groceries, clean, do homework and cook — or order pizza on a lazy day. I live in an off-campus apartment in a neighborhood called Trastevere, upstairs from a small pharmacy and next door to a local bar. It’s a section of Rome that is far away enough from the tourist sites that it feels genuinely local, but it also has its own unique nightlife with multiple outdoor restaurants and stores.

Last spring, I knew I was interested in studying abroad, but unsure whether I wanted to do it because I felt fully committed to what I was doing at Rider. Last year I worked two jobs with Residence Life and the University's student newspaper, The Rider News, hosted a radio show, sang in the Rider Vibes a cappella choir and of course tried to maintain my social life and get good grades. However, these are all things I can do again. Ultimately, I feel that I can return to Rider next semester as a better version of myself because of the personal growth I have experienced in Rome.