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Week 3: Adventures in Italy

Welcome back!

This week I have done a lot more exploring within Italy. The first few weeks, I was very excited and eager to explore Europe, but now I am focusing more so on Rome and other Italian cities. Some excursions are included in the Engineering in Rome program. On Monday, we visited a nearby neighborhood called Monti, where we were told a little about the history on a walking tour, got a supplí, and also some gelato. Monti is about an hour walk, or about a 20-minute metro ride. Monti is known for its food, shopping, and nightlife.

Later in the week, we went on another included excursion to Florence. It was a day trip where we left early in the morning, and then were able to head back to Rome in the evening, but I chose to stay in Florence for the night and travel to a couple of other cities in Italy, like Venice and Cinque Terre. These day trips are great ways to get to know people in your program outside of class and a great way to see some famous cities that are included in your program, so it is much more affordable than traveling on your own.

A big part of studying abroad is gaining independence. I’m not quite halfway, and I already feel like I have learned a lot about myself and how I operate. I’ve always known that I don’t like to sit still, which means I like to stay very go-go-go, while other people may prefer to have breaks. To keep myself happy and not go stir-crazy, I need to be able to do things by myself, even in a new country. To add to this, I have a slightly different class schedule than some of my roommates because we are taking different classes, so I need to be able to fill my alone time to the fullest.

Doing things alone in a big city like Rome requires some planning and thinking ahead. First, a major factor is safety. Everyone needs to be aware that pickpocketing is very common here. The year is also the Jubilee, so there are record numbers of tourists here all year because of the pilgrimage happening, where many Christians go to the Holy Doors. You need to stay aware of your surroundings at all times. I always try to keep my hands free (except maybe my phone for directions). When walking around the city, you always want to travel lightly and keep all the important things separate (don’t keep your cards in a wallet on your phone). That way, if your wallet gets stolen, at least you still have your phone, and vice versa. I have been doing things by myself the whole time we’ve been here, and I haven’t had any issues yet (fingers crossed I don’t ever have any issues), but that is not to say that you should ignore all the precautions. It’s just to say that it doesn't need to be worrying you all the time, and to just keep it in the back of your mind.

With that said, there are many incredible sites to visit solo here in Rome. I know there can be a little bit of a stigma around doing things alone, but when your friends are busy with class or studying, it’s the perfect opportunity to explore the city on your own terms. One of my favorite things is to go shopping, which there is plenty of in Rome. There is a street in Prati, which is the neighborhood where all of the Engineering in Rome apartments are, where there are many shops, and on top of that there are even more stores on a famous shopping street called Via del Corso, where you will find all of the high-end shopping in Rome. I like to walk around and find the touristy shops, where I try to find small gifts that I can bring back for family and friends. Many of my roommates have been collecting postcards, and I have also picked up a few bookmarks along the way to try to find small (and inexpensive) souvenirs from each city.

Aside from shopping, when I like to see the (free) tourist attractions. My afternoons for the first half of the program are free, while my roommates are in class. My afternoons typically begin with me scrolling on TikTok looking for recommendations of what to do in Rome. Luckily, I have been able to find a lot of interesting places to visit. Specifically, this week, I was able to walk up Janiculum Hill, where you get a beautiful view from up high of the whole city of Rome. It is one of the most beautiful spots that I have seen in Italy. Another highlight, I visited a cat sanctuary (another TikTok find)! There is a small section in about a city block of ruins that houses seven or eight cats that are fed and live there. I was also able to go to a nearby neighborhood called Trastevere that my roommate told me about, and it has quickly become a new favorite spot to go. I went alone one afternoon, and I couldn’t stop talking about it so much that I convinced two of my roommates to go on two different occasions to Trastevere. There, the streets are narrow and winding, and there are hundreds of shops and restaurants with ivy and flowers growing up the walls. At night there are things like live music and street performers, which only adds to its charm.

In the end, I want to encourage SAFE, independent exploration of this beautiful historic city so that you can truly make the most of your trip here, since you only have so much time. There are so many different areas, so I encourage you to try and make it to all of the different neighborhoods, parks, historic sites, and everything possible. With that, as much fun as going solo around the city is, do your best to do things with the other people on the trip, like your roommates and classmates, as much as possible, because while this is such a beautiful place, it is often the people that make the biggest difference.