My experience abroad will help me in my career goal and academic pursuits in many ways. It allowed me to immerse myself in another culture, learn a new language, and gain a global perspective.

I had very unique academic classes and resources while abroad, including going to very famous monuments like the Vatican, Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and so many more. Another class was learning about the history of the Italian mafia and a food and culture class where I had a personal chef make us traditional dishes.

Living abroad gave me the ability to adapt in ways I never knew I was capable of and independence that will carry me through the rest of my life, these are also things that an employer highly values. Overall, my experience has broadened my horizons, deepened my knowledge, and significantly contributed to my academics and career advancements.

My experience abroad affects me on a personal level in many ways. Living in another country exposed me to a new culture, perspective, and new ways of life. This experience has broadened my understanding of the world and challenged all the things I thought I knew about my life. It gave me the chance for a new self-discovery and reflection as I navigated an unfamiliar environment and overcame obstacles I came across. I had to be all by myself although my friends and family were only a call away. I had to account for the time zone change so it wasn’t as easy as just picking up the phone. I think my time abroad was a transformative experience that helped shape my identity and worldview in very important ways.

Also going into this experience, I didn’t know any Italian and that was one of my hardest obstacles when I got there. The sense of panic I got when I couldn’t read the signs, products, and names. This made the adapting process much harder and kind of had to just try things because I didn't know what it was. My professors spoke both English and Italian and would speak to us in both, so I got a better understanding of words from them. Once I could navigate and understand things, I was much more confident ordering and going out on my own.

I learned a lot from my host culture. One of the main things is not to take life so seriously. Meaning Italians are very leisurely and take their time to do things while here in America we are always in such a hurry to get things done. I think one way they could tell that I was American, and many pointed out is that I walked so quickly. I did have places to be, but I just needed to take a step back, look at the things around me and appreciate the life around me. If you want gelato for breakfast, then that's what you should have and pizza for breakfast is also a great choice.

My prior thoughts of abroad were much different than what happened. It was very life-changing, more than I expected, and in good ways. It gave me a deeper appreciation for my friends and family, and it also made me realize who I do and don’t want in my life. Allowed me to set standards for myself and I found some more self-love and appreciation while there.

Name: Olivia Howell-Hummel
Status: Senior
Major: Criminal Justice with a minor in Human Behavior and Social Services
Hometown: Rockford, Michigan
Program: CEA CAPA Rome, Italy - Ethics & Sustainability