John Cabot was such an amazing experience! I couldn’t imagine studying abroad at any other university. Ever since I was little, I knew I wanted to study abroad. I had always loved traveling with my family, which is one of the many reasons I took an international business minor in college.
To fulfill one of the requirements of the minor, I needed to study abroad at some point during my college career. After deciding that I wanted to go somewhere in Europe for a summer, it didn’t take long for me to discover John Cabot University: an American-based university in the Trastevere district of Rome. As someone who had never gone more than a couple hours away from home alone, I felt that JCU would feel like home-away-from-home while I was studying abroad.
My classes were so interesting: I took Integrated Marketing and Social Media Marketing. There was a big difference between my classes back in the US and those in Italy. At JCU I only had 4 classmates in each class! This was definitely helpful as I was able to get extensive one-on-one help; I never felt that I was ‘lost.'
I loved my apartment! I had two other roommates, and I traveled on the weekends with them. Even two years later, we still keep in contact weekly. I loved learning to cook traditional Italian meals and shopping for groceries in the small shop below my apartment. The community at JCU is so welcoming, I quickly felt right at home, and all the professors and my fellow students were so friendly! The area around the university is breathtaking, and you feel so immersed in the culture. Trastevere is a gorgeous part of Rome, and I highly recommend just wandering down the cobblestone-streets and eating at as many restaurants as possible.
Most people fear that staying in a foreign country will be scary, but I actually felt safer in Rome than I do in my own city. If you worry that you won’t be able to talk to anyone due to not knowing Italian, no need to fear. Not only does practically everyone know English, but you will also quickly learn the few bits of Italian you need.
Some advice I would give is that you do not need to check a bag! Pack minimalist clothes so that you can easily create several outfits; you will be much happier when you don’t have to check a bag on the flight home. Also, travel on the weekends! Take the first few days to deeply explore Rome, and then go wherever your heart takes you on the weekends! You’ll regret it later if you don’t explore Europe while you can.
My biggest takeaway from studying abroad is that you have to take the leap. Before my summer at JCU, I had always been timid and anxious about new adventures. After being spontaneous and deciding to study abroad, I will never let my fear hold me back. It was truly a life-changing experience, and I can’t wait to one day go back and visit JCU.
Savannah Thieneman
Louisville, KY
University of Louisville
Major in Marketing and Minors in International Business and Computer Information Systems
Study Abroad Summer 2018.
