I had the opportunity to spend a month in Rome this summer, and I can say with total certainty that it is an experience I will never forget.

I studied at the American University of Rome, a small school in a beautiful area of the city. Both the neighborhood the school was in and the neighborhood my apartment was in were less touristy, which meant that I had a great opportunity to not only see what real life in Rome was like, but also to hone my Italian language skills, which I was learning in class.

My favorite part of my neighborhood was the Porta Portese street market that took place every Sunday. This market was huge and ended just outside my apartment building. In the market, there were all sorts of jewelry, clothing, and household goods that ranged from basic things to really unique antiques. My roommates and I would go out every Sunday and mingle with locals and tourists alike. I would practice my Italian and haggling skills while getting special and interesting pieces of jewelry.

My second class, a religious architecture class, took me all around Rome, learning about the history and different religions that have been prominent in the city’s thousands of years of existence. It really gave me a perspective of just how old places scattered around the city were and how new America is in comparison. I love art history, so for me, the art and architecture we got to see was unforgettable. I can't get close to describing how remarkable it was to be able to walk around the colosseum knowing that people were doing the same thing nearly 2,000 years ago.

I also got to explore other places in Italy on weekends. I loved seeing the art in Florence and the famous canals in Venice; it was so surreal to get to see the places you always see in movies and shows.

Studying abroad has always been something I knew I wanted to do while in college. I have always wanted to travel, and in my opinion, studying abroad is a great way to do that while also taking some interesting classes and experiencing a different education style. Both of these helped me become a more well-rounded person. I think my experience studying abroad also helped me become a more independent person capable of handling new and challenging situations, even in a different language.

• Name: Abigail Garrett
• Status: Junior
• Major: Psychology
• Hometown: Bentonville, Arkansas
• Program: American University of Rome