Hello! My name is Alisa Fortado, and I am a junior here at UWB. The program I chose to participate in was the “Rome in Residence” program for Fall 2023. I chose this program because I was super excited about the opportunity to study abroad in Europe, specifically in Rome, Italy! I knew this would be a big change from a normal quarter in Washington, but I was ready to experience something new and a bit out of my comfort zone. I knew that this would be a huge learning experience for me, and it was! I feel as though I have grown so much as a person now having lived abroad. There were certainly some moments of self-doubt—make that many moments. For one, whether the few weeks’ worth of Duo Lingo Italian lessons would get me through my day-to-day interactions (it was not enough to be very helpful, but most people spoke English anyway). I also worried that I would not fit in and would not feel comfortable living in such a bustling city as Rome. But by the end of the program, Rome did truly begin to feel like home. I became familiar with many of those cobblestone streets, and I became so fond of the sprawling neighborhood I lived in, called Trastevere. My walk to class consisted of a stroll across the beautiful Tiber River into the historic Camp di Fiori square. I am missing that walk so much now as I write this. On another note, the classes I took were spectacular, with half the scheduled class time being out exploring the city with the professor—these “field trips” included museum visits and grand walking tours—truly an informative and wonderful time! On these class trips, we visited iconic locations such as the Pantheon, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, the Spanish Steps, the Borghese Villa, and the Colosseum—while also getting a closer look at everyday life in the distinct neighborhoods of Rome. Additionally, on top of all the incredible ancient and baroque architecture, stunning art, and delicious food you will find in Rome—there are other major cities in Italy as well as hidden gems of little towns to be explored on the weekends! Or, if you really want to get out there, I also recommend visiting cities outside of Italy, which are so accessible from Rome and easy to travel to on a budget. For example, I went to Barcelona and Budapest over two weekends! Though I am happy to be back home in Washington, I already miss so many things about my quarter abroad—I am now motivated more than ever to make time for travel and to see more of this great, wide world. The experiences I had and the memories I made were truly invaluable. Italy is an amazingly beautiful country with a deep and complex history, there is so much to learn and appreciate in such a place, and I could not recommend this program enough.
