Moving Forward

So… What now? What does study abroad mean for me now? What does it mean for me to have studied abroad?

My experiences in Italy helped shape who I am today. I have plenty of growth left to do in college before I enter my career, but I know that I will bring numerous lessons from study abroad with me into the future.

For example, trying to navigate my way home, calling my airline for a new flight, and then cancelling all of the accommodations I made for spring break taught me how to handle difficult situations quickly and under pressure, a skill that I am sure will carry into my professional future.

Study abroad exposed me to a new culture. Based on what I have learned, I now can better understand aspects of American culture and compare it with Italian culture. I brought home a newfound love for Italy. I seek to implement new things in my life (such as cooking more with fresher ingredients), but I also feel comfort coming home to life in America.

As a speech-language pathology student, communication is incredibly important. Oftentimes, communication is non-verbal. While in Italy, I often had to communicate without words because I did not know much Italian. I adapted by using gestures, facial expressions, and body language to communicate what I wanted and needed when speaking with Italians. 

In Rome, I was familiar with academic learning that often featuers memorization and studying, but I became exposed to new ways to learn. I took aspects from my Italian class into real life interactions with Italians, I became familiar with different cultural behaviors, and I was able to peruse a menu with knowledge from prior experiences eating out. In the month I was in Rome, I began to really understand the importance of these alternative methods of learning.

I was always ready for something new and different, even if it could be a bit nerve-wracking at first. I seek to take this mindset with me into the future and hold onto the creativity, moviation, and awe that my time in Rome inspired inside of me.

Until my next travels… Arrivederci!