Submitted by Danielle Leppo on the 2016 spring semester program in Rome, Italy…
The more I delve deeper into my studies and traveling here in Rome, the more I love it. There is so much to do in this city and I have yet to even do half of the things possible here. This past weekend, I went to Florence with my roommate and a girl I had never met before from my roommate’s university. Florence was stunning with beautiful sites and, as expected, wonderful food. I greatly enjoyed my experience in Florence, however, it was nice to come back to my apartment in Rome where it already feels like home. In my opinion, Florence does not seem as busy or exciting as Rome so after our weekend there, I was ready to return to the eternal city!
This past weekend, I learned quickly the need for patience when meeting new people. My roommate and I decided to go to Florence this past weekend with a girl we had never met before, because it was cheaper this way. This additional travel mate tried my patience multiple times throughout the weekend, but I did my best to be patient and polite. In the end, we had a few issues that created awkward tension, but we were all civil to each other until we returned to Rome. This was an experience I will always remember because I had to use patience as well as respect opinions and ideals that I did not agree with. The ability to get along with people you do not necessarily care for is very important, especially for later in life when you have a career. Experiences can be fun or exhausting, but they are always beneficial to you in some way and you will have many of those experiences while studying abroad with new people and new world views.
