I have spent two weeks studying abroad in Rome. The history and culture here certainly have made it an experience like no other. When I boarded the bus to leave the airport, I began to realize just how far away from home I truly was. What struck me first was how aggressive everyone drove. Motorcyclists seemed to weave in and out of traffic without a care. As rare as they are in the United States, small Fiat cars could be seen in every direction. This was quite a change from Arkansas, where full-sized trucks are the vehicle of choice.
Upon arrival to my apartment, I unfortunately was not met
with a blast of cold air. Air
conditioning is not a priority for most Italians. In fact, during my stay, I have encountered
the luxury of cool air only a handful of times.
My apartment is small, but it has all the basic furnishings a person
needs.
Over time, I began to become acquainted with Rome. The language barrier is more of an issue than
I had anticipated. When at a restaurant,
it is quite common for me to point to the items I wish to order. The chance that a person speaks even a small
amount of English here is about 50%. The
city of Rome is different from what I expected.
Graffiti is displayed on a lot of the buildings, and cigarette butts
litter the streets. There are times when
it is hard not to view the city as dirty.
For some reason though, I love it.
Growing up in a small town, Rome provides an urban lifestyle which I
have never had the opportunity to experience.
Everything is fast-paced, and it is easy to become absorbed in the
culture. Rome itself is massive. It is not unusual to walk four miles or more per
day. There is so much area to cover, and
you never known when you might come upon a beautiful church or square.
During the past two weeks, I have visited some of the most
historical sites on earth including the Pantheon, the Coliseum, the Forum, and
the Catacombs, just to name a few. How
some of these structures were built is beyond me. Waking up and knowing your going to see a new
piece of history each day is an amazing experience…one of a lifetime.
As I reach the halfway point of my study abroad journey, I
eagerly anticipate what Rome has in store next.
