Ciao HerCampus! My name is Mary (Marell) Aiello. I am a third year at UC Berkeley and currently traveling Europe with my main stay in Rome, Italy. I hope you enjoy my travels with me as I share with you the sights, experiences, and of course tastes of the Eternal City and places in between.
I will be writing a study abroad blog for Her Campus called, “Com’è, Com’era” (How it is, How it was). This phrase describes Rome and its rich history; a history that overwhelms me everyday.
Her Campus: What courses are you taking abroad?
Mary Aiello: Well, at Berkeley I am a Philosophy major. I truly love Philosophy and the Philosophy department. People always ask me what we Philosophy majors do and I tell them a lot of reading, writing, and well, philosophizing. In Italy my course work is a little (very) different and I’m not afraid to say that most of my learning experiences are, “outside of the classroom.”
First I am taking an Italian language intensive for two weeks in Florence where my program orientation is held. In Rome I am taking a course in High Renaissance art where most of my lectures are held at an architectural site in Rome or a famous museum or villa. It’s one thing to learn Art History from a textbook, but to be simultaneously learning about masterpieces of history’s most famous artists while staring at the masterpieces themselves is truly an experience of a lifetime. I am also taking a course titled, “Religion and Cults of the Roman Empire.” A whim decision on this class, but it has turned out to be an extremely interesting class that also holds new meaning while being in Rome. We even got to watch “Rosemary’s Baby” in class when we were learning about magic. My third course is Italian Language, which I hope will continue to help me find my way around this crazy and beautiful city.
HC: Which university are you attending? How’d you decide to go abroad? Do you currently have friends abroad as well?
MA: I am attending the University of Richmond in Rome. It’s an American International University based in London with a small study center in Rome that caters to American Students studying abroad. It’s a non-EAP (Education Abroad Program) program meaning that it is not the program that UC Berkeley works with directly. The company is AIFS College Division, which is a world recognized study abroad program for high school and college students. I decided to go abroad a long time ago, I guess. My mom can still tell me stories of when she went abroad 30 years ago. It meant so much to her and I knew it would be a part of my college experience. I chose Rome because, while I have been to Europe before, I had never been to Italy and I’ve always been intrigued by ancient cities that still stand and world famous Italian cuisine. Of course.
HC: How long will you be abroad?
MA: I am abroad for about three and a half months. I left January 24thto Europe with my first stop in London for two days, then I flew to Florence for two weeks, and then to Rome where I will be living for three months. I am using my weekends and Spring break in April to travel more of Europe. Who really knows where I’ll be next. When I first started my trip more than three months seemed like a lifetime away from my family, friends, and everything Berkeley. But to tell you the truth, it’s already flying by and it will be hard to say, “Arrivederci,” to Roma. It is quite amazing how much and how little you can pack into three months. Does that make sense?
HC: What will you miss most about not being at Berkeley in the spring? ?
MA: I have a deep, deep love for Berkeley, ask any of my friends. So naturally, it was hard to leave even if was to go to Rome. During springtime in Berkeley I love watching the weather change and slowly shedding layers of clothes and sitting in the sun. And of course I’ll miss my favorite Berkeley food spots like Manpuku Sushi, Summer Kitchen, and Biryani House (to name a few). I will also be missing friends. It wasn’t too painful to say goodbye because I will be back and I will have so much to share with others who went abroad and those who plan to follow in my footsteps.