Time really flies by when so many (exciting) things are happening. It feels like just the other day I was applying for the program and now, in just seven days, I will be leaving for Rome, Italy!! Yeah, I am still processing that information. But wow, four months filled with endless experiences, learning, and memories….
Category: Italy: ISA Rome
My Purpose to Travel: Pre-departure Blog Post
It seems almost surreal that in less than a week I will be embarking on a journey that I have been dreaming about for as long as I can remember. I knew that I always wanted to study abroad during my college years, but where or even if it was possible to do so were…
Pre-Departure to Rome, Italy!
Exactly 16 days until I depart for my study abroad semester in Rome, and I could not be more excited! Initially, when I was leaving all my friends at Rollins for winter break, and thinking about how I would not see many of them till the beginning of fall semester again, I was really upset….
My Hispanic-American Identity Abroad
Saturday, January 4, 2020 1:42 PM Going abroad is going to be a big step in my life. I’ve never been to Europe before so there’s a big part of me that doesn’t know what to expect at all from Italy. There are parts of my identity however, that I think will help me in…
Reflecting on My Identity
Looking back on my experience studying abroad I see how my identity as an American definitely impacted my expectations. It’s actually pretty sad how little I knew about other cultures and that most of my assumptions were based on stereotypes. I think my nationality has never really seemed to be a main part of my…
Blog Post #5
My semester abroad was amazing. It was an experience I believe everybody should live at least once in a lifetime. The last few weeks of the semester were a little busy but did not stop me from having fun and discovering new places in Rome. With my friends I discovered some new restaurants that were…
Preparing for a Semester in Rome
From the start of the semester, I have held tight to the idea that I would be spending this upcoming semester in Rome. Spending the entirety of my life living in suburban Central Florida, with short-term visits to cities of cultures vastly different from my own, I envisioned what life would look like living in…
11 Days Until I Leave For Rome by Allison van Tilborgh
It is not the fear of a foreign land, language, or culture that frightens me. It is the feeling of doing something on my own.
Grazie per tutto, Roma!
After spending 4 months in the incredible, eternal city of Rome, I feel as though I need to reintroduce myself to my family, friends, and acquaintances. Studying abroad was the best experience of my entire life, and I have grown more in these 4 short months than all of my other years combined. Of course,…
Leaving Rome: A Reflection
Today, I leave the city I’ve called home for 109 days. Rome has been wonderful and I loved the city, but I realized in these last few weeks that it’s the people who have made my time here truly great. I wasn’t expecting to make close friendships while studying abroad, and now I have friends…