Submitted by Olivia May on the 2020 spring semester program in Rome, Italy…
This week, I arrived in Rome at John Cabot University. Leaving my parents at the security gate in the airport was intimidating knowing that I wouldn’t be re-entering the country for four months. This would be my first time in Europe and I wasn’t sure what to expect. When I landed in Rome it still did not feel real, it felt like I was on some vacation. I snapped out of this mindset when I went grocery shopping a few nights later. I went to get some toiletries, but something I needed was locked in a glass case. I went to ask a staff member if she could unlock it for me, but when I started speaking in English she looked at me and said that she did not speak any English. To get my question across, I had to point to the case and mimic the hand gesture of someone using a key. Eventually, she understood what I was saying, but I realized this would not be the last time something like this would happen.
The other day, members of JCU taught all of the study abroad students how to use the public transportation system in Rome from the tram to the metro to the bus. Learning this skill made me feel like I was blending in more with the Italian culture. Later that day when my friends and I went to explore parts of the city, I was amazed to see all the cobblestone streets and the beautiful, multi-colored buildings. Rome is different from any city I have ever been to and I’m always in awe as I walk wherever I go. I understand that this semester is going to take a lot of learning and patience on my part, but I can’t wait to grow as a person as I encounter these everyday challenges of living in a foreign country! This past week has gone by in a blink of an eye and I can’t wait to see what the next one brings!