Submitted by Sydney Ballenger on the 2024 Spring semester program in Rome, Italy…
Week two of my semester in Rome has been a week of adjustment. Classes began on Monday and I felt like a freshman again as I followed my google maps directions to locate each of my classes on time. Several of the classes I am taking this semester are unique to Rome, including an art history course titled “Cities, Towns, and Villas: Rome, Ostia, Pompeii” and a sociology course titled “Rome: Modern City”. Both classes take place on site, meaning each class meeting is in a different location around Rome, specifically selected to emphasize the content of the lesson for that day. I am also taking an introductory Italian course, hoping to learn enough Italian to get around the city without having to rely on google translate.
Outside of school, I’ve spent my time meeting people in my program, trying cafes and gelaterias around Trastevere, and making weekend travel plans with my roommates and new friends. I also began running every morning, a daily practice I took up back home and was looking forward to implementing here. In Rome, my run is along the Tiber riverwalk, going past the oldest bridge still existing in Rome (Ponte Fabricio), and turning around outside the walls of Vatican City. Running is usually my favorite way to explore a new place and it has been no different here. I believe that bringing elements of my routine from home– running– and implementing them into my daily routine here has helped me adjust to my new environment and feel like Rome is my home for the semester. (Submitted January 19, 2024)