Submitted by Shannon Angerer on the 2026 Winter program in Rome, Italy…
Rome was a last-minute addition to the NURS/HLTH study abroad program that I am travelling with this January. We had two days there to experience as much culture, history, and food as possible. After an 8-hour overnight flight, we immediately took the bus to the Vatican, where we got to see the beautiful architecture and some of the most famous paintings in the world. Everyone was extremely tired from travelling and the 6-hour time difference, but it was so exciting getting to know everyone and experiencing it with new friends that I met.
The next day, we were able to see the ancient side of Rome, including the colosseum and the Roman Forum. I thought it was so interesting learning about the gladiator fights inside the colosseum; I did not know that there were also animals like elephants, bears, and tigers involved in the fights! Although it was raining most of the day, hearing about the history of how different Rome evolved through their many emperors was so fascinating.
Aside from the tours, I ate pizza, pasta, and gelato, and saw many other landmarks like the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. So much history was packed into these two days in Rome, and even fighting the jet lag, I was able to learn so much and make new friends. (Submitted January 6, 2026)
