Spring Break Abroad

Learning to exist in unfamiliar places and adapt to different cultures has been one of the most valuable parts of my time so far in Rome. What started as simply studying abroad, (which came with lots of anticipation and anxiety) has evolved into an experience that is constantly challenging me in good ways and in ways that have taught me to adjust, grow, and see the world differently.

This past weekend marked the end to an incredibly eventful spring break, where I traveled from the coast of Italy, to Croatia, and finally to Paris. Across these very different destinations, I was able to observe how their cultures varied and learn how to adapt quickly to new environments in such a short period of time.

View of Dubrovnik city and ocean

Sunset on the island of Hvar

Streets of Amalfi

My trip started with my family coming to visit me in Rome. After spending the first part of the program leaning how to navigate a new country and way of living on my own, it was so exciting to be able to show them the new places that have become familiar to me. Our trip began in Pompeii where walking through the ruins put a whole new perspective on my history knowledge. From there, I continued to the Amalfi Coast, which even though its so close in proximity to Rome was so different. Spending the night there then hiking the Path of Gods toward Positano was one of the most memorable parts of my trip because of the best views and being back in nature after lots of city time.

After that, I traveled to Croatia where I visited Split, Hvar, and Dubrovnik where each place was completely different. Dubrovnik had such strong history while Hvar was focused around the beach and Split had a mix of modern life and old stories. Though all of them being about an hour apart they all varied so much through their food, language, and experiences. Realizing this began to make me way more observant when navigating unfamiliar places. Some of my highlights were Krka National Park, being on boats, exploring old castles and fortresses, and most of all being by the beach again!

Krka National Park Waterfalls

Hvar boat port

Dinner overlooking Dubrovnik at sunset

Ending the trip in Paris added a completely different perspective. After spending time in smaller coastal towns and islands, adjusting to a large, fast-paced city again made me more aware of how environment really shapes my daily life. Paris has been one of my dream places to visit for as long as I can remember, so finally going there was very surreal. I loved the culture, food, and language in Paris, and even just walking around the city felt meaningful knowing it was somewhere I've always wanted to experience in real life. Overall, it felt like the best way to end one of my favorite trips i've ever taken!

For me this experience has been about much more than just traveling to new places. It has been about learning how to navigate unfamiliar environments, becoming more independent, and gaining a growing in ways I didn't expect before coming here. As the program comes to an end, I want to make the most of the time that is left and take advantage of every experience that comes my way. Before I left, everyone told me how quickly this experience would pass, and although I didn’t think much of it at the time, I now know what they meant. With only a few weeks left, it is hard to believe how fast this chapter has gone by. More than anything, I’ve realized that this experience is defined less by where I’ve been, and more by how much I’ve grown, through the people I’ve met, the relationships I’ve built, and the ways I’ve changed in a new enviornment