Student Journals: AIFS in Rome, Italy

Craig Brown
Richmond in Rome, Italy

My 2006 Study Abroad: In Retrospect

Craig BrownIt is said that "All roads lead to Rome," no matter where one's path starts. My path, similar to many of my fellow students studying abroad at Richmond in Rome in 2006, started from an average size American University in an average size U.S. town. To all of us incoming students, the world seemed predictable and small. We were familiar with most formal of customs to the most esoteric aspects of American culture. Then in late August of 2006, we all arrived together in Italy. We were not sure of what to expect, but excited to embark on the path ahead.

We quickly bonded, feeling security in the solidarity of our small group. Every day was filled with countless new experiences - from day trips to Pisa and Naples, to lunch in small cafes. Quickly we realized that we were the foreigners, not exactly sure of the customs or culture, how to speak the language, or how to assimilate into the new environment. It was frightening at times, but constantly new and exciting. Our experiences offered a unique perspective impossible to gain in a classroom back in the states. Not only the on-sight learning of art and culture, but adapting to the new people and places, life without a car or common amenities, and living in a place where simple communication was a challenge. Every day was an unexpected game of chance, and we were all along for the ride. It was a break from the monotony of our rigid daily routines and our factory style learning system, and an opportunity to do something different with our lives and take command of our own experiences.

The most valuable lessons of my studying in Rome, however, has only come to realization four years later. As I sit now in a graduate student lounge in Paris, I contemplate how, exactly, I ended up back in Europe and what lead me down this path. Like so many of my peers, i finished my undergraduate degree and started my professional life. My expectations were high, and I approached the job market with ambition and tenacity. Like my peers, I found a decent job and moved to the next stage of my life. Unfortunately, I quickly realized that on the surface my story was no different than anyone else's. I moved through the university system, did relatively well, found a typical job and worked hard. Yet there was nothing especially unique about me, no matter how hard I worked. I was just another person lost amongst a large crowd of similar looking faces from similar sounding places. I was extending all of my energy just to keep my place in the crowd, and I watched helplessly as days, and then years, went by. I would talk fondly of my experiences living in Rome to my coworkers and colleagues, and they would revel in my stories and express their envy for my experiences. Yet, at the end of the every day, my situation was no different.

It wasn't until last year that I realized what set me apart from so many of my colleagues was my experience living in Italy. To study abroad is to step outside of the box of what is common and familiar and to embark on something that is completely uncommon. You will make new friends, learn a new language, look at original paintings from Rafael and Michelangelo, walk through the ancient ruins of Rome, and learn how to live in a foreign country. It is a test and a challenge to adapt - to master your domain under any circumstances and to have fun while doing it. It is a lesson that will serve you well the rest of your life, and leave an indelible impression on you and those you meet. Not everyone gets to have this opportunity, and this is yours and yours alone. It will be one of the best experiences of your life provided you realize how awesomely unique of an opportunity you have before you. But don't just have the experience...use the experience. Remember what this means and how it will set you apart. Best wishes to all on your new adventure and the path that lie ahead.

Richmond in Rome