LSJ Rome: Comparative Law & Politics
My study abroad experience was not like what I had anticipated. I was going to a country that I had only ever dreamed of, and my expectations were huge. The picture I had of Rome was equivalent to the image I got from the media – an incredibly romanticized city in Italy, full of glamour, fashion, beautiful men, and pasta. It seemed almost Utopian to me. But I soon realized that those weird expectations where naively rooted in the false impression I had of what Rome was. As silly as it may sound, I had
never thought of Rome as a complex place with its own political issues, who also dealt with it’s fair share of racism, immigration and refugee issues, among other things. I was under the false impression that studying abroad in Rome would truly be only that – only study abroad. Rome was there to enrich my educational experience, but it was never there to challenge me. It was there to provide me with cultural immersion opportunities, and I selfishly never considered the fact that it would ask something of me as well.
Italy challenged me in a lot of different ways, and though it was difficult, I loved it. I embraced those moments because they were humbling, and I took them as opportunities for growth. Rome took advantage of me and reminded me of things I had learned a long time ago but had failed to practice. The secret to a successful study abroad is gratitude. As students and as foreigners, we are vulnerable to the differences in culture, in setting, and differences in daily routines. It’s nearly impossible to be immersed in a new culture without feeling some kind of frustration. And when in an academic setting with other students you may or may not know, you are bound to develop new relationships with the people which may not always be pleasant.
You will get stared at, talked down to, and you will feel small.
You will get lost.
You may experience a language barrier.
You may get frustrated with your peers.
You will find yourself getting frustrated if you immerse yourself in and/or learn about the politics of this new place.
You will be vulnerable.
These circumstances are often difficult to navigate and can make you lost. It’s normal to feel frustrated, upset, sad, angry, uncomfortable, and other difficult to navigate emotions. These are all valid, but an issue arises when you allow yourself to be consumed by them. Practicing gratitude in these
moments in incredibly important because it centers you and reminds you of why you are there to begin with.
Gratitude forces you to look at difficult circumstances with less emotion and with a more logical perspective. Gratitude gives you a reason to be happy when happiness is most difficult to find. Gratitude reminds you of all the work you put in to get where you are now. Gratitude makes an experience beautiful. With gratitude, an experience does not have to be perfect to be amazing.
As you embark on your global experience, I urge you to not get caught up in your expectations of the experience. Do not cling too tightly to what you expect and be open to all the moments that are coming for you.
Embrace the challenges as they come and embrace the experience as it is.
Sarah Ramirez, Early Fall 2019
