The past two weeks of my life have been a whirlwind of work, packing, appointments, and soaking in as much of my hometown as I can before I leave for the semester. During this crazy time, I have stopped to think about what going abroad really means, and how I think it will change parts of my identity. I am incredibly fortunate to have a family that has raised me to accept all people, no matter how different they are than me. However, I am nervous about immersing myself in a completely different culture. I am worried that as a blonde, obviously American female, I will stick out like a sore thumb. I want to experience the world of Rome as a resident, not a tourist, so I hope to blend in as much as I can. As a woman, I am a little bit nervous about the social norms in Europe regarding catcalling and general harassment, but the Study Abroad office has helped prepare us for the shift in culture as much as they can. Even with these nerves, I have to remember why I am going in the first place- to study what I love! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see thousands of artworks up close that I have studied over the past two years, and I could not be more grateful for the chance to learn more. As a Rollins student, I already meet new people every day who have lived different lives and have different perspectives on the world. During my time in Rome, I expect that reality to be much more heightened. In the program directly, I will be surrounded by people from different colleges and backgrounds. On a larger scale, in the city of Rome, I will be surrounded by people who are living a completely different life than I am used to, which I look forward to witnessing. I hope that after this semester, I come out of the experience with a new perspective on both art and life.
