My name is Farah Korayem. I’m from Cairo, Egypt, and I’m a senior at the American University in Cairo. This summer, I spent five weeks at JCU in Rome.
Studying Abroad in Rome
My major is Integrated Marketing Communications, and I minor in Psychology and Entrepreneurship. I’m also a professional soccer player and have been passionate about the sport for as long as I can remember. I came to Rome this summer to study abroad in Italy at John Cabot University. I spent five weeks in Rome for Summer Session II and took two courses: Italian 101 and Theories of Personality (a psychology course). I loved my experience here!
Adjusting to Life in Italy
The past month was amazing. From the courses I took to the weekend trips I went on, a month was definitely not enough time for Rome! I wish I could have stayed longer. John Cabot University made moving in very easy and smooth. My friends and I from the American University in Cairo were able to blend in right away. The Orientation Team had everything organized from the very first day--they even picked us up at the airport.
One of the highlights of my study abroad experience was an intramural soccer game organized by the Athletics Department. It was really fun, especially since I hated the fact that I wasn't going to play soccer for a whole month--or so I thought. My classes were great, too. The Italian course was everything I expected it to be and more, and I loved learning the language while being here. My psychology class was interesting because the classroom was so diverse, with students coming from all over the world. On top of that, the workload was manageable. I got to do all of the things and visit all of the places I wanted to during my five weeks studying at JCU.
Saying Goodbye to the Eternal City for now
Rome itself is very beautiful. There are so many things to see, and I love the spirit of it. I also loved travelling all over Italy during the weekends and going to places like the Amalfi Coast with spectacular views and beaches. Needless to say, the food here is also amazing. It's impossible to eat too much pasta and pizza, and I could definitely never get bored of the gelato!
Overall, my experience was everything I wished for. I’m so grateful I got to spend my summer here, and I'm grateful for how easy JCU made it and how friendly everyone there was. I got really comfortable in my housing, I loved my courses, I got to travel around every weekend, I ate amazing food, I made new friends from all over the world, and--last but not least--I got to explore Rome as much as possible. This city will always have a place in my heart!
Farah Korayem
Communications major, Psychology and Entrepreneurship minor
Study Abroad Summer 2019
American University in Cairo
