In spring of 2022, I was granted the opportunity to study abroad at the American University of Rome in Rome, Italy to further my studies of finance through MSU Education Abroad. Throughout the weeks before my departure, I packed, prepared, and said goodbye to my friends and family.

I spent almost 17 weeks learning, embracing, and studying Italian culture. I was given so many incredible and unique opportunities that I never thought would have been possible to the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Six hours into my eight-hour flight from New York City to Rome, I realized I was finally getting to do what I had only dreamed of – I was enroute to a foreign country on a continent I had never previously visited.

Spending a semester abroad gave me lifelong memories, friends, and experiences that I would not trade – I had the opportunity to learn about many different European traditions, cultures, and ways of life. I am filled with gratitude and disbelief because of the experiences and lessons I have learned already from such a young age. Completing an entire semester in a foreign country might not be for everyone, but I cannot recommend studying abroad enough, even if it may be a shorter-length summer program.

Italy taught me many things, one of these being my independence. While abroad, I went on a solo trip to Lefkas, Greece. I spent a warm weekend in late-April traveling around the island, meeting new people, trying new foods, and seeing incredible sights. Although my trip was incredible, I was excited to fly back to Rome, I was excited to reconnect with my friends – who I had never gone more than two days without seeing since meeting them. I am incredibly proud of myself for flying to a country alone, not knowing the language or anyone living there – which is exactly what I did while studying abroad. I went alone on my program, as did many of my new friends I made. We all came from such different backgrounds with many different life experiences and learning about people I otherwise never would have met was incredible.

Although I experienced once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I did miss my friends and family. Especially on social media, studying abroad seems like a nonstop vacation and although it technically is, it can be hard too. Many people who study abroad rarely talk about the downsides – you are thousands of miles away from all your friends, family, and what you may consider home. It is important to learn from these hardships; taking them as a lesson on the importance of family and finding ways around the distance to communicate. Studying abroad is not just a vacation, it is learning the importance of family, friends, and experiences.

Culture shock upon arriving to Italy was much more difficult than I anticipated, but by the end, I had culture shock coming back to the United States. I had become so adapt to the Italian way of life that I had forgotten many of the normalcies of American culture. However, through all of the hardships I faced, I would not change or trade my experience.

I was fortunate enough to visit 10 different European cities and learn all about the people and ideals that make up their countries and lifestyles. Something that my friends and I always laughed about was that when traveling to cities outside of Italy, we often forgot that Italian was not the native language. We often found ourselves speaking in Italian to people before we would catch our mistake. One of my favorite trips was our first; we traveled to Budapest and when wandering around the city, we came across a statue of shoes along the riverside. We discovered that the shoes represented Jews that were shot and killed during the holocaust. Because I myself am Jewish, it was heartbreaking, yet also beautiful to see a memorial to those who were lost. I took a guided tour class in Rome, and one of the days we visited the old Jewish ghetto. Not only did I learn that the word “ghetto” is derived from an Italian word in a city near Venice, Italy, but I discovered that there is a Jewish population in Italy. I had always thought of Italy as a catholic country but finding out there was such a presence of Judaism when I was thousands of miles from home was shocking, in the best way possible.

Embracing myself in Italian culture taught me many things, but the most important was the importance of learning, accepting, and following the rules of other cultures in a respectful manner. Every European city and country lives by a different set of unwritten rules that are to be followed and being respectful is so important. The American University of Rome taught me how to become a part of Italian culture and I am inexplicably thankful for both Michigan State University and the American University of Rome for allowing me to have these experiences. I learned more than I ever thought possible – I learned more about global geography, the European economy, converting currencies, and the importance of both verbal and nonverbal communication practices. I am eternally grateful and overjoyed at the experiences I had over the course of 17 weeks of studying, eating, and traveling in Rome.

Name: Riley Stocki
Status: Senior
Major: Finance
Hometown: Huntington Woods, Michigan
Program: American University of Rome