Sunday, July 8, 2012
Now that my study abroad session in Rome has come to an end, it is time to reflect on the experience.
One of the most common answers people give when asked what they regret not doing the most when they were in college is “study abroad.” I now can see why. Over the past six weeks, I studied in Rome, and I had the experience of a lifetime. This had been in my plans since Fall 2010, and it took a lot of paperwork and follow-ups to finalize this excursion. Despite how tedious the bureaucratic process was, it was worth it all. When I first arrived in Rome, I had no idea who my roommates were or even how many of them there would be. I was concerned that maybe I wouldn’t like them, but it turned out they were the best roommates I could ask for because of our similarities and because we always looked out for one another. I usually took some time …
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Take a peek at my weekend in London and see what attractions are worth your time in the jolly English capital.
London: It’s a city full of history, culture, cuisine, shopping and, of course, people who drive on the left side of the road. I recently spent three nights in London and would like to share with you what should be done in this entertaining metropolis, especially if visiting is in your future plans. London’s main airport, Heathrow, has a reputation for being notoriously busy and hectic. I did not get the slightest impression of this at all. From the time it took for me to get off the plane, clear customs and board the train to downtown London, it was only about 20 minutes. Travelers’ horror stories claim that it took them hours to do what I did, but keep in mind I did not need to claim any checked luggage. Once in the center of London, it …
Monday, June 4, 2012
A small recap of my time in Rome so far and some advice on how to handle money while traveling.
It’s a little hard to believe that I’m approaching three weeks since I arrived in Rome, and it is really feeling like home now. After about a week of sightseeing and acclimation, I could confidently give directions and navigate without worries. Many people who take vacations to mega-cities such as Rome never reach this comfort level because they don’t spend enough time there to become immersed. At least a week, maybe even a week and a half, is needed to get a good grip on the environment. I will be in Rome until next Thursday the 14th, at which time I will be venturing to London to see how the city is setting up for the upcoming Summer Olympics. I will then return to Rome for finals week. Some students at school are planning trips every …
Monday, May 21, 2012
Greetings from Italy! Get a student's perspective on studying abroad as I take a class in Rome for five weeks and see what the city has to offer.
Buon giorno from Italia! For the next five weeks, I will be taking a class at John Cabot University in Rome and, at the same time, seeing all of what the Eternal City has to offer. Feel free to follow me in my adventures and see what college life is like overseas. I arrived in Italy early Thursday morning, at around 7 a.m. local time (1 a.m. ET). After waiting in a snaking passport control line for about a half hour, I cleared customs without a problem and made my way over to the school’s check-in location. Before I go into that, I was really surprised at what customs in Italy actually was: nothing. You hand the customs agent your passport through a glass booth, they look at you, stamp a page and hand it right back, no questions asked. I …
PATTY BILYO
1:41 pm on Sunday, July 8, 2012
WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. more ›