Rome Week One

This week was a learning experience to say the absolute least. I have never been on a flight for more than three hours, let alone across oceans or to Europe. After vacuum sealing everything I own for the next three months into a 48-pound suitcase, my mom took me to the airport, and we exchanged ‘see you laters.’ Anxious to be there and facing this first part of my journey alone, I hurried through security to wait at my gate. There, I met some of the other Study Abroad students who were just as nervous as I was to catch our first flight. 

The ride from Pittsburgh to Atlanta, Georgia, went smoothly. I stepped off of the plane into a madhouse of scurrying travelers- like something I had never seen before. I was still in America, but I had felt like I was in another world.  After figuring out how to get to my next gate, I met up with some of my friends who are also going on the trip. We ate our last American meal, got our boarding passes out, and got onto the plane. I learned that international flights aren’t actually the worst thing in the world. Even though I was not very comfortable and did not get much sleep, the excitement of my destination tided me over- plus the dinner and dessert were delicious! 

We landed in Rome, and I ran into my first problem. My luggage was broken, and my passport would not scan at the customs desk. Being that I don’t speak a word of Italian, I had to use gestures and Google translate to then be sent into the ‘questioning’ desk to be let through. Fast forward through some waiting and a bus ride, we arrived at the convent and moved into our respective rooms. Orientation had officially begun. The Duquesne staff took us to a wonderful traditional Italian dinner and taught us some of the respective terms to use when ordering (like saying please and thank you). I noticed that the whole time I was at dinner I was on edge and continuously made sure that I was not being insensitive or rude. I did not want the other customers at the restaurant to think that the ‘obnoxious American students’ were being ignorant and dismissing the spectacular meal that was put in front of us. 

The second day of orientation, I learned how to take the metro and bus system to get around. Listening for Italian phrases is a lot harder than it seems. My ears are so in tune with my Pittsburghese that other dialects do not register very well. I learned how to order gelato- which surpassed all of my expectations. Throughout the rest of the week, I’ve noticed that being faced with challenges and issues in person is a lot better of a learning experience than learning in a classroom (for me). It is a whole different experience trying to have a conversation and interacting with a native speaker than it is with another Duquesne student who also speaks and understands English. So far, I have loved everything that Rome has thrown at me, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next few months.