While traveling on the weekends, I made some of my best memories!

What did you learn about yourself when you were abroad? How have you changed?

While studying abroad, I came to a lot of realizations about myself. You may think of yourself as independent, and someone who wants to study abroad most likely is but being abroad really puts it to the test! I realized that I am much more capable than I originally thought! It truly was an adventure, and the excitement was only heightened by doing it alone. I have changed in positive ways because of it. I am even more independent than before and much more confident in myself!

Shopping at the markets for food was a fun and affordable option.

What was your favorite thing to do in your host city?

As you can imagine, there are endless amounts of things to do in Rome! However, my favorite thing to do is probably not what you imagine. Although there are many great sites to see, I enjoyed most just walking around in the neighborhood where I was staying. I enjoyed grabbing a bite to eat, and maybe some gelato, and simply just taking a stroll. It was nice to take in the picturesque buildings and businesses. I enjoyed watching the street performers and trying to capture it all in my memory!

I went sightseeing almost everyday after class! It’s an awesome perk when studying abroad.

What advice do you have for new study abroad students?

The first thing that I would say is to be patient! Things will certainly not go the way that you expect, but that is all part of the fun! I would say if you plan on traveling outside of your host city, write a list of the places you want to go, but don’t purchase anything to early in case your plans change. Also, make sure to call your bank before you travel anywhere. Lastly, keep an open mind! Some of the best experience I had where things that were unplanned and unexpected!

Sometimes I just took the day to relax and enjoy the view.

Reed was a Summer 2019 student from Washington State University.