Ciao!
I could not be more excited to start my journey abroad in Rome, Italy, in exactly one week. I’ve only recently begun to feel the excitement of going abroad because I finally have everything I need to actually go ahead and do it. Starting last fall the thought process began and it’s really insane to think about how it’s all led up to this one point which is 6 days away.
I entered college my freshman year knowing that I would eventually go abroad. However, I never determined whether that would be through a semester, a field study or just a random trip potentially unaffiliated with Rollins. That had even been a factor in my choice of colleges as Rollins boasts about the percentage of students who have an international experience. During the spring of my freshman year, I planned to go on a field study to Tanzania which ended up falling through for personal reasons, but I was determined to still make an abroad experience a reality. So upon returning in the fall of sophomore year, I immediately began to research the various semester programs that Rollins offered and after a few conversations with my parents, decided that Rome would be my home for the fall semester of my junior year.
After that decision came the application process through Rollins which was both stressful and exciting. I found out at this point that one of my best friends planned to go on the same program and we immediately began detailing all of the fantasies we had about being abroad, especially in a city such as Rome. Because of this, the excitement only intensified. Eventually I submitted all of the required materials and it became a waiting game to find out if Rollins approved me and then if ISA and AUR accepted me. Once both of these decisions were official it became real in my head that this was actually happening.
I attended the required orientation at Rollins, applied for my passport (as I’ve never left the United States before), and over this past summer applied for my Italian Visa (which was absolutely the most frustrating thing I’ve ever experienced). I booked my flights there and back, registered my trip with STEP, found out my roommates and saved up all of the money I’ve earned for this trip this semester. Last Friday was my last week of work at my summer job and my coworkers gave me Euros and expressed their excitement for me. At the point when I walked out of the doors on the last day it hit me like a ton of bricks that I am finally going to Rome.
I’m excited to meet new people and have amazing experiences with them. I’m eager to explore Rome, Italy, and Europe and most of all I’m ready to eat a ton of Italian food and gain 50 lbs. I am incredibly grateful to have such an amazing opportunity this semester and I’m certain that it will be something I never forget. I once read somewhere “Pay for experiences, not things” and although I’m sure I’ll bring back some souvenirs, I think this experience itself will be memorable and more rewarding than I can say.
I can’t promise that this blog will be fun or exciting or even what a real blog is like but my hope is that it will be a great way to chronicle the memories I make abroad for all of those who consider the opportunity in the future. It’ll also be a great way for me to reflect on the experience I’ve been given and to look back when I’m older and remember all of these instances that I’m sure will mean the world to me.
Until my next post, bye America, don’t have too much fun without me (because I already have some serious FOMO)
Always,
Taylor