University of Arkansas Office of Study Abroad: When in Rome, Do As The Romans Do #HogsAbroad in Italy

Finally made it!

I am a fifth-year architecture student in the Fay Jones School of Architecture Program. As part of the architecture program, I am required to study abroad and therefore I decided to go to Rome. I didn’t expect to study abroad in college, but I am glad for the opportunity to do so. I am currently more than halfway through the semester! So much has happened and as sad as it sounds, there's only a month and a half left.

I have slowly learned to accept Italian culture. I love the convenience of stores and shops that are right around the corner to where I live. I like the idea of traveling by metro or bus and not worrying about the traffic. Most locations are not far. Traveling by foot is enjoyable because I like discovering new roads that I have not been on. Due to this, I make sure to always wear comfortable shoes. While discovering Rome, I have tasted a few good meals and snacks that I know will be hard to find in Arkansas. I know I will miss some of these things in Fayetteville.

However, the first few weeks were by far, the hardest to get accustomed to. Because I am very close to my family, being away made me miss home and miss foods that I enjoyed eating. Food portions are a bit small here in Italy, and you will not find refills or ice unless you request some ice. Aside from that, there was and still is a language barrier. At first, it bothered me that I couldn’t understand anything, but I have learned to accept it and embrace the difficulty of it.

Living in Rome is a little bit different than America. For example, air conditioning is hard to get. I used a fan in my room and had to prop the window open during the first few months. There is a heater and boiler, that I haven’t used yet for winter. The refrigerator, washer, and gas stove are all smaller from the ones at home. Appliances in the states are a bit bigger than the ones in Rome.

Even though Rome is populated with so many locals and tourists, it is a safe place to visit but it’s smart to walk with a buddy at night and be aware of your surroundings. In addition, I have visited many touristic places in Rome such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and St. Peter’s Basilica. Also, I have had the privilege to travel outside of Rome and to other places. I have seen old building structures and ancient towns, where I learned how people lived. I have classes that teach me about buildings and the culture of Italy. This helped me appreciate the tours I have been on and the places I have seen more than before.

View of Rome

Trajan Market

Additionally, it is more affordable to travel to other countries in Europe. Just plan your trip in advance. Experiences only happen once in a lifetime. If you have the chance to travel, go for it! I have had the privilege to go on an intensive hike that made me realize how blessed I am and how far I have come in life.

Out of the many things that I have done, I believe hiking was one of the best. I traveled with a group of fifteen students and one professor to Bolzano, Italy. Bolzano is located in the northern part of Italy, close to the Austrian border. Around the Austrian border, there is a range of mountains known as the Dolomites. We got up early in the morning, for we did not know what awaited us ahead. We started around Lake Braies, which is by far one of the most gorgeous, breathtaking lakes I have ever seen in my life. As we got closer to the middle of the lake, the professor pointed and said: “We are going to the edge right there.” We all moved our head up and laughed nervously. Within twenty minutes of the hike, I wanted to turn around and give up. My legs were sore. I kept talking myself out of giving up, and then a few minutes after, I wanted to give up. I kept pacing myself and found that I was the last of my group with two other people trying to follow behind. However, I pushed through all the pain due to the fact that I would only be able to experience this awesome view once. I am so happy that the people who went on this hike were so supportive of each other. We all encouraged each other every minute that it got harder and kept reminding each other “we are almost there.” When we were finally getting towards the top, we had to help people who were acrophobic (people who have a fear of heights). We were passing through places that got extremely narrow and you had to hold onto a metal wire to continue. As we got closer to the top, we would take breaks for water and snacks. The last part of the hike was hard, all of us had run out of water. Fortunately, I had brought my Camelbak and Powerade and had almost enough for the rest of the hike. Close to the end, no one had water but we finally made it to the top and no one was dehydrated. The view was stunning, something I had never experienced before. I looked at the bottom of the lake and couldn’t believe my eyes. I had made it to the top! At the top, there was a valley that had a rest stop that served food and water. We ate there for lunch and all replenished our water to continue to get to the bottom of the mountain. Hiking towards the bottom of the mountain was much easier than going up. We eventually made it to the bottom all amazed and excited that we all were able to accomplish this hike. Even though I struggled on the hike and thought about giving up many times, I didn’t. The hike was worth the struggle once I got to see the view. I consider it to be one of my major accomplishments in life.

All in all, study abroad sounds fun and terrifying for someone who hasn’t traveled outside the country but trust me it’s worth it. You learn so much about the world around you by encountering new experiences and meeting new people. And by the time you leave, you will feel that you can travel to any country alone. Remember to always have fun! Arrivederci!!

Leslie Torres