Rome Week 16

Melissa Tait checks in weekly from her study abroad semester in Rome; catch up with her every Wednesday on Trazee Travel.

It has been a bittersweet last week in Rome, with my time spent studying for finals and revisiting my favorite places. I have had a lot of time to reflect on my experience in a city where I came not knowing any people or any Italian.

© Melissa Tait

One of the most rewarding experiences I had was tutoring in an English class at an Italian high school. Ripetta High School is an art school set up like nothing I have experienced in the States. Walking into the classroom, the walls are covered in graffiti painted by the students. Working in a bilingual setting was difficult, but it showed me how to adjust my lesson plans to the environment. The students, although sometimes scattered, worked well in a group. This made it rewarding to watch the student interact and see their love for art.

I also have to admit I was never completely in love with Rome. Once my Italian vocabulary grew, though, and I started to venture from the tourist attractions, I noticed the unique atmosphere everyone loves. Grabbing my café and croissant from my regular man every morning and having aperitivo in Monti or Trastevere became my new favorite routines.

© Melissa Tait

And with all of the fun, there were times I was caught in difficult and frustrating situations (like taking the wrong bus and ending up 11 hours outside of Rome), but I always appear at the other end ready to take on the next adventure. My time in Europe has been more than rewarding and when I walk across the graduation stage in May, I now know I will be ready to endeavor on anything life throws at me.

Ciao!