Cathy Phung, COMM major with a minor in Marketing, shares her study abroad experience in Rome. Find out how she fell in love with the city and Italian culture despite her time being cut short by COVID…
My First Trip Abroad
Studying abroad in Italy was one of the best last-minute decisions I have ever made. Prior to Italy, I had never traveled outside of California, so the thought of leaving my hometown of Los Angeles for 4 months seemed kind of crazy. I didn’t even have a passport at the time that I had accepted the study abroad offer so I had to go through the process of applying for one. It was surprisingly simple and much less stressful than dealing with anything at the DMV, so I don’t know why I waited so long to get my passport.
After hesitating to accept the program offer, I had about two months to mentally prepare myself for what was about to come. When others talked about studying abroad in the spring, they talked about their excitement and expectations for their time abroad but let me tell you, I was an anxious mess. It was the first time I was leaving the country, I didn’t know anyone else in the program, and my family and friends were going to be thousands of miles away with a 9-hour time difference. I was also extremely nervous about not being able to make those “long-lasting friendships” everyone talks about. As a commuter and transfer student, I never really felt a connection with the USC community, which was one of my main concerns when I chose to go abroad. Luckily, I found those long-lasting friendships I was told about. There’s no better way to get to know someone than seeing how they deal with all the unexpected situations that come up while traveling across Italy and Europe.
It didn’t take too long to adjust to my new life in Rome. I enjoyed my morning walks (and tram rides) across the Tiber to get to class and the classes at ACCENT were great, especially the on-location classes. What I looked forward to the most each day were my daily cornetto and cappuccino. It’s the typical Italian breakfast, but for someone like me who usually wakes up late, it’s a great afternoon snack too! During my free time, I loved going to the neighborhoods next to Trastevere, like Monteverde and Testaccio. Monteverde had a bunch of little shops and an amazing park that made you feel like you were not in the middle of a bustling historic city. Testaccio was home to the Mercato Testaccio, where many of us enjoyed shopping for fresh produce, and home to an amazing Italian art teacher named Giorgio! I absolutely miss Giorgio’s cooking along with his encouraging words about my art. There’s no way my art could have ended up in a museum, but Giorgio’s words gave me hope.
If there’s one thing I discovered while being abroad (aside from my newfound love for Caccio e Pepe), it’s that I am much more resilient than I believed myself to be. For someone who traveled abroad to live in a completely different culture, I did not experience culture shock as heavily as one would have expected. I also learned to roll with the punches, since study abroad isn’t always a smooth ride, especially when it comes to traveling. I also can’t help but wonder what other self-discoveries I could have made if I had spent all four months abroad.
Overall, I had fun. I am so glad I took the leap and decided to live in Rome for a few months. The program may have been cut short due to the COVID-19 situation, but those two months abroad were the most fulfilling two months of my college experience. As for Italy, I will 100% return sometime in the near future, since there is still so much to see. If you have the opportunity to study abroad, take it!
Also, HUGE shout out to Katy and Georgia for working hard to make this opportunity possible!
AUTHOR: AILEEN HERNANDEZ
A day in the life of an Italian home-stay
Buongiorno! My name is Isabel Torres, I’m currently studying abroad in Rome, Italy. I’m a Junior studying Journalism NGOs and Social Change and I’m originally from San Diego. I’ve been here for over a month now and I absolutely love it. I’m one of 30 people in this program and I’m the only one in my program doing home-stay which has been a wonderful experience, so far.
In my home-stay, I get breakfast Monday- Friday and my host mom leaves early for work, so she always lays out an assortment of options to choose from. My breakfast favorite is her home-baked chocolate cake. On most days, I’ll make myself a sandwich or salad for lunch to save some money! My host mom has a handy panini grill that she lets me use.
I usually take the tram at 8:00 AM for my first class with my friend Ellie! It’s about a 35-minute walk or 25-minute tram ride to school from my home-stay. We usually tend to walk by the Campo Dei Fiori on our way from the tram stop to class, which is one of Rome’s famous markets. Our classes usually take place in the Accent Rome Study Center, located at the heart of the city in Piazza dell’ Orologio which is marked by the impressive clock tower by Borromini.
My first class is Italian, taught by Mario who’s undoubtedly one of my favorite professors here in Rome, his excitement and energy is contagious. My next class is Reporting Rome, which is one of my favorite classes here, where we explore different unsolved crimes in Italy and come up with our own take on them. For example, recently, we discussed the case of Emanuela Orlandi’s disappearance and had a site visit to where she was last seen in 1983. Our professor Barbie Latza Nadeau is amazing and has been a crime reporter in Rome for the last 25 years. In the second half of our class, we usually split into different groups based on what we are studying (journalism, communications, and PR) and hold a mock press conference on the evidence available on each case we work on.
After finishing all my classes for the day, I usually tend to walk around the town center and find a good spot to enjoy the sunset. My favorite spot to see the sunset is from Scala Di Spagna, it is a hike up but it is worth the climb. The streets of Rome is so beautiful at this time of the day, as the city comes to life with restaurants opening up, people walking and bustling down the streets and many street shows echoing through the evening.
I usually make my way home after that, I take the bus back so I can pit stop at my favorite snack spot- Suppli. In simple words, Suppli’s are deep-fried risotto balls filled with rice and tomato sauce, it’s a popular Italian snack. The cacao e pepe flavor here is the best in all of Rome and you can’t convince me otherwise. Another part of my home-stay experience is getting a 3-course, home-cooked dinner Monday-Thursday. My host mom ensures to provide a variety of options and a wide spread of authentic Italian food. I am exposed to new dishes every day, which I typically don’t find in restaurants. Here’s a typical dinner spread at my home-stay:
Thank you for joining me on my journey. I’m so glad I got the opportunity to study abroad in Rome in my junior year and I’m so glad I chose to do home-stay. I was lucky to get such a kind and warmhearted family; it’s made my experience here cozy and homely. Getting breakfast and dinner during the week is nice and I love getting to eat home-cooked food. It also forces me to speak Italian every day whether it’s when I get home and tell my host mom about my day or at dinner when we talk about anything and everything. It’s also been cool to be exposed to Italian television and get to watch things like Roma soccer games with my host brother. It immerses me into the Italian culture in a more authentic way and I’ve loved that.
AUTHOR: ISABEL TORRES
Beyond Just a Study Abroad Experience..
Studying abroad in Rome was the most incredible experience. I learned not only about culture, art, food, and architecture but also how to live independently and enjoy doing things on my own.
Exploring this ancient yet modern city was eye-opening and every day I was in awe of how beautiful and different everything was. It's not every day that you get to pass ancient ruins on your way to class. I was also so lucky to make some of my best friends during my time abroad.
I was surprised to learn about the vibrant Jewish community in Rome and I had the chance to spend a Passover seder immersed in it. This made me want to become a KAHAL intern and ambassador. KAHAL is a Jewish organization that connects students studying abroad to immersive experiences in their local community or one nearby. They work with local Jewish students, families, organizations, and community leaders.
If you have any questions about it or want to learn more please don't hesitate to email me at holpert@usc.edu.
Melanie Holpert
is a senior majoring in Communication and History and minoring in Cinematic Arts. She has a keen interest in Italian cinemas and plans to work within the realm of historical television and film.
The One Roman Neighborhood You Must Explore
As opposed to most ‘touristy’ neighborhoods of Rome, Testaccio is an old working-class district with a sense of local flair. Located on the edge of the old city, the neighborhood is a short way south from the Colosseum and the Tiber River is a quick hop over to the east of Trastevere. Our students live at the south end of Trastevere, so this neighborhood is about 10 minutes by foot from their student accommodation.
Testaccio, known for its rich history, exquisite food and terra-cotta hills, it may not be Rome’s top tourist destination but it definitely allows you to experience the true Roman culture with the locals. Here is a guide to explore this up-and-coming neighborhood of Rome.
Must-see attractions:
Monte Testaccio: A large man-made mountain, built out of terracotta which was piled up to form the hill in ancient Roman times. The surrounding area is now transformed and well-known for its nightlife and restaurants.
Slaughterhouse (Mattatoio): One of the biggest slaughterhouses in Europe, it now houses a museum and farmer’s market and food festivals.
Pyramid and Non- Catholic Cemetery: Testaccio’s most distinctive landmarks is the 37m high pyramid, constructed in the year 12 BC. The pyramid is one of Rome’s most conserved monument.
Explore:
Experience the local food market: From fresh produce, vintage delis, historic butchers, pastries and local wine, Testaccio Market is a great place to eat (why would you say no to free samples, after all?) and shop.
Explore Rome’s street art on a Vespa: Watch the abandoned, vintage buildings and hidden walls come to life with graffiti art in these streets.
Restaurants/ Eating in Testaccio:
Taverna Volpetti: Searching for a blast from the past? Taverna Volpetti is the perfect dining spot for you, offering ageless Roman specialties, for over four decades. Could you really say no to salami tasting platter with whole legs of prosciutto freshly cut to your liking with assorted cheese?
Perilli: Been around since the early ‘90s, the restaurant is known for its carbonara, amatriciana and gricia. Best known for its simple, elegant and unpretentious ambience.
Trapizzino: Experience the city’s latest street food craze. The eatery gets its name from its signature dish- the trapizzino, a conical shape pizza with fillings of your choice. Get pizza on-the-go without compromising on the taste.
Mercato Testaccio: For all the organic lovers, you can try fresh produce at this local fresh food market. From classic Roman dishes at Food Box, Le Mani in Pasta and healthy options at Zoe, this place is the perfect lazy, foodie day out.
Testaccio is the perfect neighborhood if you’re looking to get under Rome’s skin and see an alternative side of this beautiful city. Explore this vintage, untouched part of the town without having to deal with the crowd and the touristic buzz.