Now that I’m back home, a lot of thoughts and feelings are running through my mind. Walking through the airport when I first arrived felt a bit surreal. By the end of my trip in Rome, I was definitely ready to come home—not because I didn’t enjoy my time there, but I started to really miss my friends and family. Looking back, it feels like I’ve grown a lot from my time abroad. I’ve become more self-confident and independent by proving that I can put myself in a completely new environment and adapt. It’s a strange feeling now that the life I lived for five weeks in Rome is just a memory; I will look back on this experience for the rest of my life and be grateful that I decided to step out of my comfort zone.
One thing I noticed towards the end of my trip is how much I take be American and living in The United States for granted. As a result of spending time abroad and expanding my perspective, I’ve come to appreciate my own country with new regard. Even though Italy was fantastic, I still felt like a foreigner during my time, and made me realize how grateful I am to call The United States of America home. The reverse culture shock is real; things here feel familiar but also different after my time abroad.
I find myself reflecting on how much I’ve changed and what I’ve learned from my experiences. If I could give advice to future students, it would be to keep an open mind and not set too many expectations for how your trip will go. Let the experience unfold naturally. While it’s important to prepare, don’t stress too much about every detail. One thing I wish I had done before going was learn some basic Italian. I picked up a bit while I was there, but having some basics beforehand would have made everyday life easier and added to the experience. Overall, the journey was incredible, and I’ll always cherish the memories and lessons learned from it.
For my Roman Sketchbook Class, we had to sketch a final drawing that is meant to represent three words that describe our experience while in Rome. I chose the words foreign, historical, and adventurous. Below I have included a picture of my final drawing (much better than I could have done before the class!):
