Ever since I was young, I have always dreamt of traveling to Italy. Finally, being able to go there for my study abroad was a dream come true, and it taught me a lot about myself and about Italian culture.

Being able to stay in the eternal city of Rome was a mind-blowing experience. It seems that around every corner you turn there was a monument that was hundreds if not thousands of years old. There was so much history to see but it was also interesting to realize that Rome is more than just a tourist destination. It is a bustling city home to millions of people and is changing constantly to accommodate the increase of tourism. One of the classes I took at the American University of Rome focused on the sociology of the city and seeing all the different parts of it, not just the tourist attractions. This class was really interesting as I was able to see parts of the city that I wouldn’t have visited myself and get a more well-rounded view of the city of Rome.

Overall, the classes that I took taught me so much about the culture of Italy that I would not have learned on my own. My second class focused on the language and culture of Italy. This came in handy for day-to-day interactions I had, including learning basic restaurant etiquette and common greetings. Additionally, learning about Italian culture, such as the importance of family, was really interesting. As someone who is studying business it is important to know the values of your customers, so having an insight to an Italian viewpoint is extremely beneficial.

The whole study abroad experience was very eye opening. I think one of the most important things I learned was to try and find ways to embrace Italian culture. It is very easy to hide within your comfort zone while abroad in a popular area like Rome because there are so many other tourists present. However, I suggest that while you’re there you should go to some places that may be outside of the crowded tourist center. The locals are really friendly, and this is one of the best ways to interact with the culture around you.

I additionally learned that while you’re there it is important to take advantage of opportunities given to you but also remembering to have some downtime. When I first got there, I put immense pressure on myself to constantly be sightseeing and going out since this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. However, even though there is so much to see it’s not possible to see a whole entire country in five weeks.

One of the biggest things I learned about myself was finding the balance between my schoolwork, sightseeing, and time to relax. Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity but it’s okay to not constantly be doing something

Name: Hannah Kilbride
Status: Sophomore
Major: Business-Admitted
Hometown: Midland, Michigan
Program: American University of Rome