My name is Victoria Oliva, and I am a senior Accounting major from Staten Island, New York. I had the opportunity to study abroad in Italy during the 2018 Summer Session at John Cabot University. I was determined to study abroad in Italy since my freshman year at college because of my love for Italian culture. I chose John Cabot as the idea of attending an American university located in the heart of Rome really appealed.
During my summer session, I decided to take two classes: Ancient Rome and its Monuments and Introduction to Italian. Ancient Rome and its Monuments allowed us to learn about the ancient history of Rome by exploring the city and all it had to offer. Introduction to Italian helped me get acclimated to my surroundings and to navigate through the city during my time in Italy. I lived in the Gianicolo Residence Hall with one other roommate, who happens to be my best friend from Sacred Heart University, and the room was an apartment-style living area.
The best way to get accustomed to living abroad is through all the student activities where you meet others who are going through the same experiences as you, whether it be on the designated trips run by the Residential Assistants or John Cabot official trips. During my time abroad, I took advantage of all the opportunities that were given to me and traveled to other Italian cities to broaden my horizons. I traveled to Venice, Florence, Pisa, Tuscany, Positano, Sorrento, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast. Each one of these cities has a special meaning for me.
One piece of advice I’d give to someone who is looking to study abroad is to be open to trying new things. It allows you to learn and to formulate new ideas that you never would have thought about otherwise. Always try to branch out of your comfort zone and take the opportunities given to you. I am beyond thankful for the opportunities John Cabot University has given me in such a short amount of time. They are memories I will cherish forever.
Victoria Olivia
Accounting Major
Home University: Sacred Heart University
Home Town: Staten Island, New York
Study Abroad Summer 2018
