Submitted by Elliana Olivo on the 2023 spring semester program in Rome, Italy…
After just a few days in Rome I can tell these are going to be the best four months of my life. The culture, people and just the town of Trastevere itself is mind blowing how easily I have fit in in just three days. John Cabot University is a unique American college located in Rome, Italy housing students from all over the United States. I have met people not only from the University of Delaware that I didn’t know before but students from all over like California, Texas and Michigan. Not only have I experienced Italian culture but I have learned so much about different regions of the U.S. as well. Throughout our tours and orientation meetings walking through ruins, passing by an embassy on our walk into town and much more has made me breathless at least once everyday just reminding me I am able to live in a completely different country with my new best friends that I will cherish for the rest of my life. (Submitted during Week 1)
Week two, and I already feel like I am somewhat accustomed to Italy. We had our first week of classes and I can already tell the difference in teaching styles here versus in the United States. It has been a shock for me that mostly all of my courses have little to no homework. The courses are based on the in-class work and the midterm/final exam. With my new routine and surroundings, food has been a struggle for most of us. In America, we have all different cultures and foods all over. Italy, on the other hand, has amazing Italian restaurants and cafes but unfortunately that is what we are limited to. My goal for these next few weeks is to try to get into a healthier eating habit other than just Nutella croissants and pizza in between classes. As well as food difficulties, transportation has been a struggle that we have slightly overcome this past week using the bus and trains for the first time. I traveled to Florence from Rome for five euros for the weekend pretty easily! Other than that, studying abroad has been so stress free and enjoyable even in the winter months! (Submitted during Week 2)
These past two weeks in Italy have flown by and have been such a whirlwind of an experience! Not only have I been able to see Rome in depth through my classes but I have traveled to both Florence and London in the past two weekends with my new friends. My classes I chose are on-site classes, one for drawing where we meet at different historical sights and learn to draw. Furthermore, I am in another on-site class for Art History called Cities, Villas and Towns where we meet at a different monument or piazza learning about the history as we go. Since being here, we have walked through museums, seen art galleries, seen two different countries and walked over 10,000 steps a day. My friends and I have curated our favorite spots near campus, mine being Caffe Settimano for amazing croissants and iced coffee for when I miss home. Fortunately, a lot of the places have someone who speaks English (somewhat) and I speak basic Italian, so the message is always understood either way. I cannot wait to see what other travels and memories I have in store for the next few months. (Submitted during Week 3)
Writing back home has been a reminder that my life here is full of adventure, spontaneity and an abundance of happiness. Traveling around the world has been a lifelong dream of mine so I knew I wanted to study abroad for years! Thankfully I was able to afford it on my own and save up for this semester for the past 8+ years after my cousin went abroad during her years in college convincing me to go myself. The new cultures, food, clothing and way of life I have been able to immerse myself in has shown me just how much we are all in a way so similar but so different no matter where you come from. My friends and I have found a new snack that we absolutely cannot live without; Nutella biscuits. Italian foods and snacks are definitely carbohydrate and dairy heavy, but it has been fun to try different dishes, snacks and gelato in moderation during the week. Local food places have amazing unique flavors and dishes that you can’t find anywhere else. In addition to the biscuits, we have discovered a gelateria called Giuffre Gelateria only a few doors down from our apartment that has local flavors named after the town that was nothing like I have tried before; italian cookie dough whipped gelato. It was amazing, I will be back soon to get more! (Submitted during Week 4)
