Submitted by Tristan Hart on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in Italy sponsored by the Department of Philosophy…
My time in Italy thus far has been an eye-opening experience. It has been amazing bonding and exploring a foreign country with people who, just a few days ago, I had seen a few times, but never really talked to, and now it feels as though we have known each other for years. The study abroad program really brings the students together in a unique way that you can’t find anywhere on the Delaware main campus. The cultural and physical differences between the ancient city of Rome and any U.S. city are astounding. No one in Rome wears sweatpants, which I didn’t notice at first, but when I went out to a nicer place for a quick bite, I got a few dirty looks and realized everyone was in either jeans or khakis, even on the street. Another thing that particularly stood out to me were the scents of Rome. A U.S. city like New York or Boston smells like you would expect, like dirty water and sewage. Rome has a different smell, a blend of new and ancient, of perfume and cigarettes, of pastries and homeless men. It is a unique scent, and I will miss it and much more when we leave for Florence.