Written by Michelle O.
Before I studied abroad, I had no idea what the adventure would turn into. As an introvert, I was a bit worried about how the semester would go, but I quickly learned the importance of being open to adventure and chaos. I hope these tips will help you to see the joy of studying abroad in Rome, as well as give you some guidance on how to experience the beautiful city to the fullest.
- Have an open mindset. This is important in any growth area, especially when going to a new place. It’s hard to stay the same person when you are thrown into a completely new environment and are doing things you never saw yourself doing before. I remember at many moments while I was abroad in Rome that my view of the world was being shaped into something completely different, and this was all possible because I was open to it. The world is your oyster; be ready for the adventure.
- Eat where the locals eat and shop where they shop. This one is so important because it will save you so much hardship and wasted money if you pay attention to the restaurants and stores around you that tourists visit less. Sometimes the best meals were the ones that I didn’t expect to like. In Italy, the restaurants that were the most tourist-driven and overpriced had people outside on the street trying to invite you in. An amazing authentic Italian restaurant wouldn’t need the extra advertisement that comes from talking to people on the street as they walk by. Oftentimes, touristy restaurants will have pictures of their dishes on the menus or will be overly long and excessive in detail. Try to avoid these as much as possible. “Less is more” is often the case in Italian restaurants. It is helpful to go down less populated side streets to find hidden gems or look for places that have less signage in English.
- Let yourself adjust to the eating habits and style of the Italian culture. Don’t order a cappuccino after 11 a.m. if you want to be viewed as less of a tourist. Before I studied abroad, the only coffee I drank was iced lattes with lots of milk and sugar syrups, but once I arrived in Rome, that was less of an option so I was forced to adjust to the simple espresso drinks. Breakfasts in Italy often looked like a cappuccino and a croissant or something simple along those lines. Dinner is often later in Italy than it is in America, so you can go about this in two ways: if you eat dinner early, you will be at the restaurant at a less busy time, but if you eat later in the evening, it will be similar to the schedule Italians follow when they eat at restaurants.
- TRY SUPPLI! This is a street food that is a specialty in Rome. Suppli is a ball of rice and tomato sauce with mozzarella cheese in the center that is deep fried. It sounds kind of crazy, but trust me, it’s worth trying. One of my favorite experiences while abroad was trying all the local street food in every new place that I went. Keep your eye out for all the street food everywhere you go.
- When in Rome, drink the water out of the water fountains. In the past, I had heard horror stories about people going to countries abroad and getting sick from drinking water abroad, but luckily for you, the water in the fountains of Rome is safe, refreshing, and clean. Bring a water bottle with you on trips during the day in Rome because there are water fountains on almost every street and you’ll save yourself money if you don’t need to pay for water at restaurants.
- Don’t leave Rome every single weekend. I know how exciting it is to think about traveling throughout Europe on your free weekends or even in the countryside or coast of Italy, but Rome itself has so many fantastic hidden gems. On average, I was out of Rome one weekend a month, and this allowed me to gain a deep appreciation for the city and culture I was surrounded by. Visit the different neighborhoods like Trastevere or Monti, go shopping at the shopping center in Rome, get on the metro and get off at a random stop to see what you discover! The opportunities are endless if you only let yourself be open to them.
- The metro is more reliable than buses. In my experience, the metro in Rome was one of the biggest resources I used there. I was tempted at times to take buses but noticed very quickly that buses would get behind schedule or would not even show up sometimes. The metro has fewer stops than bus routes do, so you may have to walk a few extra minutes to get to a stop, but it’s more than worth it for the peace of mind. Remember to keep a close watch on your belongings while riding the metro because there are sometimes pickpockets who can be fast to grab your things in a backpack on your back. I recommend using something like a fanny pack on the metro.
- Avoid tourist destinations as much as possible during the busier months. Rome will always be a busy city full of tourists, but if possible, try to wait until October or November to go on busy tours or to destination places. It is so hot in the summer months and gets exhausting to be surrounded by thousands of people everywhere you go, so waiting until the quieter months to see the mainstream places is a great idea. I think that the busiest months abroad were August and September, and the first two weeks of December in the preparations for Christmas. In these busier weeks, I tried to find the hidden gems when I could.
- Dress and pack for the weather. The Rome weather is completely different than the weather you experience at CSB and SJU in the fall. When I arrived in Rome at the end of August, the temperature was in the 90s and it was very humid. Late September to October were the mild months, and then it became rainy and cold. The “winter months” in Rome are when you’ll want a rain jacket and an umbrella because the weather can change from sunny to downpours in what feels like a minute. I’d recommend dressing in layers in the later months, but if you’re used to the Minnesota fall weather, you won’t need anything more than a light jacket most days.
- My last piece of advice is to just soak up the time you have as much as you can. Take pictures of your favorite street, vlog your favorite memories, journal about the feelings of wanderlust, or save receipts from your favorite cafe or store. My time in Rome was truly the most magical and special few months of my life, and I would jump back in time to live it again if I could. You’ll never be a study abroad student again, so soak up the joy! Hopefully, I’ll be able to go back one day, but I know that it won’t be the same, and that’s ok. I am grateful to have a place like Rome that I love so much and miss so much. This means I was living and experiencing it to the fullest.
My 3 favorite things in Rome: Saint Peter’s Basilica, Old Bridge gelato, and suppli