The opportunity to study in Rome was one that will have an everlasting impact on my educational career. I was granted the chance to meet different kinds of people from different parts of the world and have made friendships that I will never forget. These friendships even led to group adventures to other countries such as Greece (Santorini) and the Czech Republic. I feel so appreciative to have met such amazing people and furthermore be able to make core memories while exploring these new places together. Along with the several friends I made from around the country, I found a great community of Michigan State students to share this experience with. These Spartans are now friends I cannot wait to see again in the fall back in East Lansing. To be immersed in Italian culture was eye opening as I learned Italian culture and expanded on my worldview.

I have never been to Europe, so I took every opportunity I could by traveling to other places in Italy in my free time with my newfound friends. We took the train to Florence, as well as Naples and further down the coast for day trips.

I learned from talented and educated instructors that would also take us on class trips around different neighborhoods in Rome showcasing markets, historical sites, and architecture. This structure was different from any course I have taken back in the states. I have discovered my interest in the Italian language and have considered learning the language more in depth in the future. I pushed myself to use the Italian I learned while communicating with locals in Rome.

I also learned to be more independent and learned how to navigate being in a foreign country efficiently. It gave me confidence that I can be a strong individual navigating my surroundings, especially as I enter my last year of college.

This experience has given me a new perspective on Italian culture, and its influences. It also challenged me to approach every situation with an open mind, and to adapt to Italian traditions. These traditions included hanging clothes outside to dry and even utilizing the popular choice of public transportation. We learned to use trains, buses, and the tram depending on the area. I found Italian culture to be more laxed and focused on human interaction. It seems like Italian citizens work to live while in America it seems people live to work. To expand, time is fluid in Italy as people are not as fast paced seemingly living in the present. While I find in the U.S. there is more pressure on productivity and accomplishing things in a timely manner. This helped me gain several perspectives on how different cultures can be.

I am so appreciative of the opportunity to live in Rome and study alongside great professors and students. The American University of Rome made me feel so welcomed and was transparent about their care for their students. This community helped ease my nerves and acted as my home away from home. This study abroad journey has been one I will never forget.

Name: Flynn Murphy
Status: Senior
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science
Hometown: West Bloomfield, Michigan
Program: American University of Rome