From the moment I came to college I knew I wanted to study abroad. My dad studied abroad in law school and would bring it up any chance that he had. When discussing my higher education after high school, he always said, “studying abroad was an amazing experience and if you have the opportunity to go, then do it.” So that’s exactly what I did. I packed my bags and flew solo to Rome, Italy knowing nearly no one in my program. I was very nervous at first, but this experience was the best time of my life, and I made the most incredible friends through studying abroad.

I will always be an advocate for studying abroad because of how different it feels like actually living in a place rather than just visiting it for a week and some change. Every day, I would wake up for class and walk with my friends. We’d pass by all these amazing bakeries and smell fresh coffee brewing while discussing which ones we’d like to try next. Unlike my roommates, I had a long break between my classes in the middle of the afternoon. This was an amazing time for me to catch up on work or explore more of the local culture on my own. It allowed me to slow down and sit at a cafe for a pastry that I hadn’t tried before or wander around the supermarket looking for a new European snack to taste test. While the experience was much different than life in East Lansing, we had no trouble quickly making this our new home.

I think a lot of students have a misunderstood perception of studying abroad and think that it is all just fun, traveling, and shopping, which at times it is, but that is only part of your time away. We spent a lot of time learning every day, about 5-6 hours Monday through Thursday and we did not always have time every single day to explore the city center or to go out to eat. But that’s also part of your experience, living like a local Italian in a local neighborhood. While I did not always want to be in class or studying, I did learn so much about Italian culture and the Italian language. I really enjoyed asking for things in Italian and ordering off an only Italian menu.

Overall, I gained an appreciation for European culture and for the people that live there. It was difficult at first to pick up on everyday situations like riding the bus or train, but we eventually got the hang of it. I could not recommend studying abroad enough and I hope others get to experience it too with the help of various scholarships that Michigan State provides. This was an unforgettable way to spend my first trip to Europe, and I will cherish these memories forever.

Name: Amelia Orlowski
Status: Junior
Major: Economics
Hometown: Plymouth, Michigan
Program: American University of Rome