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<\/p>\nRome introduced herself to me through senses first: the loud chatter of Italian, the uneven cobblestones, and the freshly brewed cafe lattes. My semester abroad at the American University of Rome allowed me to experience a part of the world I had only dreamed of. Being a first-generation Latina student, studying abroad had always seemed like a far-off dream. Getting support from Chapman\u2019s resources and becoming a Gilman scholarship recipient made my dream possible.<\/p>\n
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Living in one of Rome’s most charming neighborhoods, Trastevere, I was able to fully immerse myself in Italy\u2019s culture. The barista near my apartment started recognizing me, I ordered cappuccinos and cornetti, and each \u201cgrazie\u201d felt like a small steppingstone. I began enjoying details I hadn’t noticed before, how the sunlight peeked into the crevices of my room, the church bells ringing at different times. Purposely getting lost in the streets of Rome just to see what new things I\u2019d discover.<\/p>\n
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Having a program that offered guidance and set us all up, so clearly structured, was very helpful as I had no idea what to expect. I was completing a lot of firsts in my family. Our\u00a0first week consisted of a welcome dinner, guided tours, and free time to wander. Those guided tours allowed us to see all of Rome\u2019s iconic sites, such as the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon. Learning so much of Rome\u2019s history at the start allowed me to settle in faster and understand the city a bit more.<\/p>\n
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Being a first-generation student, I often carried a quiet awareness with me. I knew this experience was a rare opportunity, one that my family had never obtained. My parents would never sit in those classrooms, walk through Trastevere, or watch the sunset behind the Colosseum. This awareness strengthened my purpose to achieve a better future and one day give back to my community. I was learning to exist in a world my younger self thought impossible to reach, carrying with me the sacrifices made by generations before me with immense gratitude.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/center-for-global-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/79\/2026\/01\/IMG_8186-e1767817240121.jpeg\")
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While abroad, I took many classes, and one in particular left the most profound impact, Art of Rome. This was a course that took us to new locations throughout the\u00a0city, exploring museums, monuments, and landscapes. For example, I visited The Painted Garden of Livia, which was a room where the painting covered all four walls. Staring at the blooming garden, I thought, Rome has such beauty<\/em>. This class taught me to understand and appreciate Rome\u2019s beauty; it not only allowed me visual experiences, but it also taught me the stories behind all the ancient art forms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Making new connections was also a meaningful part of my time abroad. Establishing international connections helped me understand others’ perspectives, gaining a These friendships strengthened my interest in global collaboration and reminded me how important it is to listen and learn from others. Being in Rome made these connections feel more special due to the city’s ancient history, warm atmosphere, and deep sense of community.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Although homesickness came and went, I found that enjoying the simple moments of my new life was the key to feeling at home. While my peers adored the The truth was that Rome taught me how to slow down, how to take notice of the small quirks that make a place beautiful. How to exist without always knowing what comes next. Learning that beauty isn\u2019t always loud, sometimes it hides in the walks through small neighborhoods, in the way the air smells after rain. I learned that home isn\u2019t a place that welcomes you instantly, sometimes it\u2019s the one that tests you first.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ciao, Roma! With love,<\/p>\n Alexa Diaz<\/strong><\/p>\n Major: Accounting Minor: Chemistry Semester: Fall 2025 Location: Rome, Italy<\/strong><\/p>\n University: American University of Rome Program: World Strides<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Rome introduced herself to me through senses first: the loud chatter of Italian, the uneven cobblestones, and the freshly brewed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5185,"featured_media":1932,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"custom_author_name":"","chapman_pin_hero_slider":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1931","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/center-for-global-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/79\/2026\/01\/DD259406-336E-4AC6-89B2-BDCC9A032A28.jpeg\")
deeper understanding of different cultural norms. These connections fostered true friendships, which I am so grateful to have made. These people will forever be a part of my life.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/center-for-global-education\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/79\/2026\/01\/IMG_5278-e1767817474398.jpeg\")
glamorous parts of Rome, such as rooftop bars, weekend trips, and visiting new museums. I accepted that my favorite parts of Rome would be different from theirs. Whether that was sitting by the Tiber River after rain, standing in line for coffee, or watching the sky turn pink behind the domes. My love for Rome was unique, and so was everyone else\u2019s.<\/p>\n