As I sit on the floor of my bedroom, packing last minute as I usually do, I prepare myself both physically and mentally for my fall semester in Rome, Italy. I have traveled in Europe many times in my life so it is not a strange continent to me, I even spent one month in Switzerland with a friend in ninth grade. However, this semester will be the longest I have been abroad. I am both very excited and also very nostalgic. Excited because of all of the new opportunities I will have, new people I will meet, new places I will go, and all the wonderful food I will consume. Nostalgic because I will miss my family, pets, friends, and the comfort of Rollins that I have had for the past two years.
The program I am partaking in is with Trinity’s Rome Campus. I chose this program because it is very geared towards art history students, which is my major, and offers a majority of classes relating to Italian art and culture. In the future I hope to focus on Italian Renaissance and Baroque art, so it would almost be crazy for me to not choose this study abroad program. I know I will benefit greatly from the classes I will take in Rome, especially since many of them involve class trips visiting the actual art we learn about or going to different ruins in Rome itself and other cities in Italy.
Even though there are so many things I am looking forward to during this semester, I know there are many things I will miss in Florida. Born and raised in the Orlando/Winter Park area, I am very comfortable with where I live and even more comfortable with Rollins. I have made many friends at Rollins, mainly from living on campus, being part of the varsity Women’s Crew team, and working in the Art and Art History Department. The last two years have definitely been the best of my life so far, and I know studying abroad will only enrich my time at Rollins and make the first half of my junior year unforgettable.
I honestly am so excited for the journey I am about to embark on and invite you to keep up with me and my experiences. I will miss home deeply, but I am ready to call Rome home for a few months. Now let’s hope I pack every thing I need and that I do not miss my flights!