By: Annie Johnson
When the plane landed in 32 degrees Celsius weather at the Rome Fiumicino Airport, I had no idea what the next four months of my life were going to be like. All I knew was that I was jet-lagged, sweaty, and terrified.
Despite being in a non-English speaking country, I attended an American university where all my classes were in English. A school smaller than Kalamazoo College, the American University of Rome’s student body is made up of both study-abroad students as well as four-year degree-seeking students. While many students are American, I met many students from Rome, as well as many other countries. The classes were similar to those offered at Kalamazoo—small, discussion-centered, and interdisciplinary. At AUR, I was able to explore different areas of study through unique classes, such as “The History of Italian Fashion.”
As for living, I lived in an apartment in Trastevere, a beautiful neighborhood just outside the city center of Rome. I lived with two other K students, as well as four other study abroad students from a different university. The apartments came with a kitchen equipped with cooking supplies and an ample amount of dining and living space. My apartment was near two grocery stores: Dem and Elite, where I purchased all of my groceries for a very reasonable price.
Getting around Rome was one of my biggest concerns coming into this experience. The prospect of having to navigate a foreign public transportation system with a language barrier seemed daunting. However, within two weeks, I felt confident and at ease getting around the city on the bus. I opted to get a monthly bus pass, which costs 35 euros per month, and can be purchased at most Tabacchi shops, which are all over the city on almost every block. Without a bus pass, bus fare can be paid on board using a debit or credit card, as well as Apple Pay on a scanner towards the front of the bus. This costs 1.50 euros and is good for 90 minutes of travel. While I was fortunate to never have to deal with this, if you are caught without paying you can be charged up to a 50-euro fine.
My favorite part of my study abroad experience was definitely getting to live in Trastevere. Full of winding cobblestone streets and beautiful yellow buildings, Trastevere had the beautiful Italian charm. It was filled with authentic local restaurants, artisan shops, and beautiful churches that were open to the public. At night, it was alive and vibrant, with a large crowd of young people out and about.
Though not a Kalamazoo requirement, I did opt to take an Italian class while abroad and it helped immensely. Many Rome citizens do speak English, but I found that it was incredibly gratifying to be able to immerse myself in the culture by speaking the language. Not only does it make navigating the city easier, but it also helped me build stronger connections with the locals by speaking their language, a sign of respect. Anyone who makes remarks about the rudeness of Italian people is simply not trying to respect the culture—I found that the Italian people were delightful and very kind to Americans that were willing to put in an effort.
Overall, my time in Rome was truly an amazing experience. While it was not without challenges and overwhelming moments, I believe my decision to go abroad was one of best decisions I have ever made. Rome is a beautiful, remarkable city, and I cannot recommend it enough!
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