I regretfully have to admit that I have surpassed the halfway point of my time in the eternal city. It seems that I’ve adjusted so comfortably, only to have my new life ripped out from under me in a few short weeks. There is no such inspiration to seize the time you have, and cherish it fully, than a study abroad experience. My envy grows with each status about a stateside friend being accepted to a program abroad for the spring semester. However “Roman” I feel now, there are a five things I wished I would have known before I touched down in Europe to make the process even more enjoyable.
1. Request your address and research the public transportation system in your respective city.
The program that I attend did not give out the address of my apartment, until I arrived at it. After a red-eye flight, I arrived in my new apartment in a daze, and without instruction on how to get to school, where the nearest public transportation was, or really, any information. My roommates and I were literally dropped off in a foreign city. I do wish that I had requested my address before arriving, or at the very least, inquired or researched about public transportation. The same day we arrived, we attempted to find our school without Google Maps, but an actual paper map, which resulted in a lot of back tracking and manual re-routing. Eventually, we found it, but knowing in advance my address, the best way to get to school, or what mode of transportation I would be taking into a more central part of the city, would have saved me hours of confusion and frustration.
2.Learn the language.
Having vacationed to this city before, I felt confident that I would be able to find my way around without any knowledge of the Italian language. I was wrong. When you are on vacation, the natives that you are surrounded by are there to help you – the hotel staff is trained to speak English, and point out English friendly restaurants. When you move to a city to live, people that speak the native language surround you. While most shop owners, and cashiers, are patient, they don’t speak English. Major European cities will only accommodate to English speakers in the touristy parts and chances are, you won’t be living in these sections as a student. I quickly researched how to order an espresso, or cone of gelato, but there have been some truly nice Italians we’ve met that we wished could engage in some deeper conversation with. Pull out those foreign class binders from high school, and freshmen year, and study! It makes a big difference and only enhances the short time you’ll have abroad.
3. Be prepared to be scared, lonely, and lost, but embrace it.
Facebook photo albums and Instagrams with geotags such as the Island of Capri, or the Colosseum, create the false concept of studying abroad being a four-month vacation. While abroad brings a new excitement to life, you will not be happy, confident, or fearless, 24/7. Especially in a big city, there will be moments that make you question what you are really doing here, and just how you’re going to navigate a foreign way of living. These moments are normal, and necessary. The obstacles I faced encouraged me in ways that the familiarity at home, can’t. These experiences are invaluable in learning how to overcome challenges, but they’ll break you down in the process. I’m telling you, keep pushing through, even after the fifth time you get on the wrong bus.
4. If you have the slightest inkling you might want to stay longer, do it.
Being abroad has enhanced my life in ways I would not have imagined. Within the first few weeks, I was already wishing my time abroad was longer. Even you have the slightest hint that you might want to be abroad longer than four months, act on it.
5. Don’t plan too many trips.
Leave yourself a certain amount of time to be flexible, and get to know your new home before jet setting to another city. Events will pop-up with your new friends, or university, that could not have been anticipated. The beauty of living in a new city is getting to know that city, inside and out. Rome has offered my roommates and I events that we haven’t experienced in Philadelphia, as well as friends we would have missed out on if we were constantly traveling.
6.I t is okay to not be in touch with people.
Four months. It seems daunting, doesn’t it? Until you get here, and it seems too short. Those precious months are unfortunately, a once in a lifetime experience. Don’t tie yourself down to connections at home before you know what your life abroad holds. I love skyping with my mom, and I truly miss my friends at school, but those that love you, also want you to go out and see the world. If you’re always staying into skype, you won’t have any stories to tell when you return back home.
Happy travels in the spring SJU!
Taylor