When I first landed in Rome, I would have been lying to you if I said I wasn't nervous. Here I was, a 20-year-old girl rolling my bags through the airport in Rome, not seeing a familiar face or hearing a familiar word.

Going in, this experience was not only a huge step for me but my family as well. I am a first-generation college student, so this experience was not necessarily something my family or I were familiar with. Nobody knew what to expect.

I was soon greeted by AUR staff and other students and soon realized; everyone was in the same boat. Regardless of age, appearance, gender, etc., everyone was making an effort to meet one another. After settling in and getting past the hard part, you soon realize the city is your oyster and you can view the city as you want.

Adjusting to the language was a huge obstacle but taking Italian at the University helped tremendously.

Once I started to fall into a routine, Rome soon started to feel like a second home.

Being that I was studying at an American university, I was expecting more of an American way of learning, but I was soon met by instructors and students from all over the world which enriches the learning experience with different perspectives. Coming in, I thought I would be in a learning environment with mostly Americans but some of the best friends I made during study abroad were from all over the world for which I am so grateful.

Anytime you travel, even if it's only a couple of hours away, you will experience culture shock. For those studying in a foreign country you will be sure to experience that even if it is good or bad. In Rome, it was a shock to see how much they cater towards tourists. Everything is open late, natives speak a lot of English, and you see souvenir shops on almost every corner.

A piece of advice would be to Immerse yourself in this culture because it helps you learn and see a lot of different things. An example of this would be, if you normally eat dinner at 6 o'clock at home, try eating dinner at 9 o’clock like the natives there and see how you like it.

The entirety of my program was filled with trying new things. I learned so many lessons inside and outside the classroom, had unforgettable experiences and ignited a lifelong passion for travel and understanding a sense of global citizenship.

Name: Natalie McLaughlin
Status: Junior
Majors: Criminal Justice and Broadcast Journalism
Hometown: Rochester, Michigan