Submitted by Emily Workman on the 2024 Spring semester program in Rome, Italy…
My second week in Rome was just as busy as my first. School also started this week, so I am getting into my new routine of waking up early for classes and walking 25-30 minutes to campus. I only have classes Tuesday-Thursday which is awesome because that leaves me with 4 day weekends the entire semester to explore Rome and travel to other parts of Europe! Other than classes this week my friends and I took our first trip out of Rome to see Pompeii. This was my first time attempting to use the bus or train system in Rome, and it was hectic trying to figure it all out. I woke up at 5 am to get a bus to Roma Termini. Once I got there I was shocked at how big the station was and how many stores they had. Then, my friends and I boarded the train from Rome to Naples and then caught another train from Naples to Pompeii Scavi. From that train station we got on a bus to Pompeii and got tickets at the entrance. It was around 3 hours of traveling to get there, but it was well worth it. It was the perfect weather while there and we were able to explore so much. I didn’t know what to expect before I got there, but I was shocked at how well preserved everything was and how big Pompeii actually is. Overall, my second week in Rome was another fun week and I still cannot believe I am living here for a semester, but I am definitely looking forward to exploring more. (Submitted January 21, 2024)