Studying abroad is an experience that has changed the way I have viewed cultures. In the beginning, it was such an amazing experience; everything was still so new and fun. Though the real hard part of studying abroad is the middle. That is when the new feeling wears off, when you start to miss the way things used to be and miss friends and family from home. But it is also time that you learn the most about yourself and the culture that you are experiencing.

I have learned how caring and hospitable Italian culture is. They are always so welcoming to foreigners, especially when you are trying to speak the broken Italian that I have learned from my class. When they see you attempting to speak to them in their language and showing the effort, that is when you can fully feel the effect of the culture. I have found so much community from the local coffee shops to restaurants and, of course, the gelato shops.

Going on walks by myself has also taught me to see the beauty of the city, to just admire all the history and think about what happened thousands of years ago. It helps you learn about yourself. Studying abroad has a great community, but at the same time, it was my experience. I was going to go out and do what I wanted to do. Just exploring was probably my favorite part of living in Rome. There is always so much going on and to just see the different way of life but also see how my culture and the Italian culture have similarities.

Of course, when studying abroad there is the element of studying. I found it to be so enriching for my cultural experience. Two of my classes were on-site classes, which is where we walked around the different monuments of Rome and got to go into a deep dive into what it all really meant—how the culture of Rome has been growing over the last hundreds of years. I learned how to use my archaeological eyes and see the beauty of ruins. It showed me what elements came from Greek and ancient Roman culture. It showed me what was important at the time and why everything was built. Every ancient monument in Rome was strategically built for a certain purpose. Another great class I took was International Business. To hear the perspective of my teacher, who was practicing business law for 10+ years in Italy and all around the world, helped me learn about how much culture impacts the way businesses conduct themselves globally.

Lastly, as a low-income student, I never thought it was possible to study abroad. It always seemed like a dream that was too far to reach, but Michigan State and you have made it possible. To achieve my dreams, I will forever encourage anyone and everyone to just apply and give it a chance because it will change your life for the better. It will give you a different perspective that will be used in future decisions and work environments.

Name: Kyle Fust
Status: Junior
Major: Accounting
Hometown: Wyandotte, Michigan
Program: American University of Rome