After spending a fall semester in Rome, you might think my favorite memories would be about visiting iconic places such as the Vatican, Roman Colosseum, or Spanish Steps. Those were all phenomenal, but the small things resonated just as much. Like my daily excursion to get a croissant and cappuccino. Each day I would leave my apartment in Trastevere, strolling down the cobblestone streets in 85-degree heat. I loved passing by the cafes with servers standing outside beckoning customers to come in. Across from the university I attended, John Cabot, I would get my chocolate croissant and cappuccino. I would sit on the steps near a fountain and savor my croissant. That routine is one of my favorite memories – but there were so many more.

Lake Como. I took the train north with a group of friends, traveling through the Italian countryside. When we arrived, we immediately rented chairs, got drinks, and went to the beach. No, we did not see George Clooney’s house. But we swam, sunbathed, and took a boat to Bellagio, which is a promontory – land that juts out into a lake. Bellagio is called the Pearl of Lake Como for its Alpine views, boutique-lined streets and fragrant gardens.

To be fair, traveling can be stressful. On a trip to Florence, I forgot my passport, resulting in a stern lecture by the Airbnb owner. When we went to Paris we flew to the wrong airport, which meant we had to take a nearly two-hour Uber ride. In Nice, we wandered around for a couple of hours before finally finding our Airbnb (it was worth it!)

John Cabot is an American university and its students come from all over the world. Classes are small and personal, and getting to know people was easy. I was lucky to have an Italian friend who took me on a Vespa ride to explore the city at night. I learned that if you stop by the bakeries at 4 am and go to the back door, the bakers will give you a fresh croissant for a single Euro. My friend also helped me get through my beginning Italian class, which is a requirement for the program.

My advice to anyone who is thinking about traveling abroad is not to be afraid to go on a program by yourself. I didn’t go to Rome with anyone I knew, and I was a little nervous about that. However, striking out on my own was a learning experience and it was easier than I thought it would be. From the moment I arrived at the airport there were staff members from the university to greet me and lead the way.

Name: Natalie Johnson
Status: Junior
Major: Communication/Public Relations
Hometown: Dexter, Michigan
Program: John Cabot University in Rome