Participating in a semester abroad program has been a lifelong dream of mine. I find it so hard to believe that I am now back home writing an end-of-semester reflection. Although this is my second time studying abroad, this semester has felt incredibly different. Rome pushed me more out of my comfort zone and forced me to fully experience both the “study” and “abroad” portions of study abroad.
One of my favorite moments from the semester. My roommates and I all went to an AS Roma on one of our last nights. Here are me and my best friend, Eliana!
A fan-favorite was a breakfast restaurant called “Homebaked Monteverde.” It is owned by an Italian wife and an American husband, whom my friends and I came to know fairly well. It was so nice to have some American food occasionally. At the end of the semester, we were invited to add a note to the map of other notes from other customers around the world!
Being abroad for 117 days rather than 34 made this experience feel more like a marathon than a sprint. Instead of trying to spend every spare second soaking up my time abroad, being in Rome for a longer period taught me to slow down and appreciate daily life. Besides living in a country where I was not fluent in the language, I found that Rome allowed me to experience a slower pace of life. Dinner at 10 p.m. was normal, and a mid-day nap felt almost mandatory. Living in the Monteverde district showed me the more residential side of Rome, which allowed me to meet locals and explore the “Mom and Pop” shops rather than your typical tourist trap. A local restaurant, Anita Bar & Cucina, became a favorite spot for my roommate and me, and we visited almost every day. Our apartment was off a side street of a major road with plenty of bus routes into the more touristy parts of Rome, so we took full advantage of the public transportation as well. Though it was not always the timeliest way of getting around, this aspect of studying abroad taught me to become more patient and flexible while adapting to a new culture.
Another prominent aspect of my study abroad experience was learning to balance everything going on. Staying on top of my schoolwork while traveling, fostering new friendships, and having a few minutes to myself was not the easiest. Although studying abroad has been the most rewarding experience of my life so far, social media often makes the experience look effortless and rarely captures how exhausting it can be. This semester taught me to improve my time management skills and pace myself throughout the experience. In my previous study abroad experience, I was only away for a month and a change. So, I spent every minute possible trying new things with my friends. My time in Rome taught me how to sustain balance over months instead of weeks. Although it was frustrating at times, I am grateful for the honest reality check Rome gave me.
I saw this wall art on my last night in Rome. It translates to “Rome welcomes you; Rome loves you.” I thought it was very fitting to see on my last night of my study abroad semester.
These past four months have been filled with moments I will be talking about for the rest of my life. Besides getting to explore Italy and other parts of Europe with my friends, I developed a new sense of independence and confidence in myself. Getting to come home and share my experiences with my family and friends has given me the strongest sense of gratitude, truly something I have a hard time putting into words. I know that this semester will not be the last time I am in Rome, but I am so fortunate to be able to go and look back at how special an experience I had.
Madison Lewinger is a junior majoring in finance and minoring in accounting and sports management at Salve. She is currently studying abroad at the American University of Rome. Madison has also completed Salve’s “Summer in Oxford” program and is enjoying studying abroad for the second time!
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