I have officially been in Rome for over a month. It has been such an incredible experience. We have our own flat in Monteverde. It is a little bit of a hike uphill to school, but sometimes packing into a public bus is worth it. Everything is very close or easily accessible. People are very friendly in Rome, and they are always willing to help. You can find gelato or pizza every 100 yards. Which is amazing, but also terrible at the same time. Every night for dinner seems to be “what type of pasta will I eat?” After awhile, it can get old, but there are so many different kinds and other foods around to try.
Besides my time in Rome, I have visited Croatia, Bagnoregio, Sorrento, Capri, and Pompeii. Split, Croatia was unbelievable. The weather was perfect and it was right on the water. A group of us went on an island cruise where we went jet skiing and spent the day on the beach there. It was a lot of tourism, but I always felt very safe and able to do anything I liked. Bagnoregio was a program day trip. It is a city with a lot of history and a lake that has the cleanest water in Italy. Another program trip was to Sorrento, Capri, and Pompeii. Sorento had amazing food and the city was very clean. We took a ferry to Capri where we rented a boat and went around the island. We stopped a couple times to jump in the water. It was a great experience that I won’t forget with great friends. I am still planning other trips, but I should be seeing a couple other countries within the next couple months.
Other than all my traveling, school is very engaging and it is a really enjoyable program. The ISA leaders are always there to help, and professors are willing to work with your schedule if something doesn’t line up. Compared to my other semester abroad, I have had completely different experiences. I am very happy studying at the American University of Rome this semester.