Like Julius Ceaser once said, "Veni, Vidi, Vici," I too had a quick victory here in Rome, Italy. Food, art, and architecture are all staples of Italian culture, and lucky for me I had friends with a free weekend and an empty couch! This is my third trip while abroad, including London and Cambridge, but I consider this my first major trip. While my time here was short, my weekend was full of great food, gorgeous landmarks, and enough walking to shave off all the pasta and pastries I had to try. I left Norwich, England on Saturday morning and spent the majority of the day whipping around the U.K. to get to the Gatwick airport. Honestly, I was so tired when I landed in Rome Fiumicunio. Can you imagine how shook I was when I got out of the airport to realize the taxi driver I ordered didn't speak any English?! Spanish couldn't cut it. If it wasn't for Shantell, Eliza, Madi, or Mikaela I couldn't even be here! I owe them so much for letting me stay with them, and for showing me a Roma good time. When I arrived to the girl's apartment it was so surreal. Shantell ran down to get me and said it; "You're in Rome." It was nearly 11 PM when I settled in, and the night was young! While the girls organized our night, I wasted no time in changing and downing the cheap vodka I found on the kitchen table. Remember, when in Rome! The night started with us arriving at a local bar, G Bar, and having the "Saturday Special." That meant two cocktails and two shots for 10 euro. I got the sense that a night out in Rome consists of bar crawls and constant claustrophobia. The bars here are very "cozy" and when you commit to getting a drink, you commit to standing there as long as it takes! Even if the queue is a 30 min wait. Walking to the next location, the club Sharivari, was a real mission. In Rome, it is all cobble all the time, and I had to make sure I didn't twist my ankle. I know it may sound like I'm vilifying this place, I swear I am not! When we got to Sharivari I was beyond excited. The club looked like an exclusive venue, and everyone was dressed to a T. I was way underdressed. The night went on like any night would, but only a lot more Italian. When I would pay attention to the music I realized it was different from any club music I had heard before. In America it's about pop, in the U.K. you got grime, but here it was very eclectic. One minute it was Calvin Harris and the next an Italian song I had never heard of. Definitely, if you have the chance to go out a night in Rome it's worth a try. The social scene here is it's own standard. When we finally got home, I got some pasta and head to bed. Sunday was my tourist day, and I wanted to make sure I was ready. Sunday afternoon I left the apartment and Shantel was my guide. I told her to take me to the most iconic places, and we wasted no time. We head to the Coliseum first. When I say I was in awe, I mean I couldn't speak for a good minute! I was in front of one of the most famous landmarks in the world. It was all stone, giant, and just gorgeous. After a lunch break, we preceded to head to the Pantheon. Rome reminded me of London in the sense that getting to monuments was fairly easy. Most of the spots were close to each other. But each spot had its own aura. Where the Coliseum was open and grand, the Pantheon was in an alley. It was more secluded and it felt more intimate. People would stand in front of it an take in its beauty. Honestly, art history paid off because that is how I heard about this edifice. Shantel was most excited to take me to the Trevi Fountain. I wanted to save this for the end, because I knew I would spend the most time there. When we got to the fountain I finally had my Lizzie McGuire moment! The fountain was gorgeous and it felt magic! People stood near it with their partners, family, and some people went alone. Everyone was appreciating the presence of the grand sculptures, and getting their coins ready to toss in. As Shantel explained to me, you turn around and toss the coin from the right hand over the left shoulder. The myth is that if you do this then you will return to Rome. I hope the myth is right because this weekend was just not enough! If you had asked me 3 years ago what I would be doing, I would not have said studying in the U.K., and I never would have guessed going to Rome! I got to speak to the girls and we all shared the same sentiment. We could not believe that we were actually in Italy, let alone Rome. Rome is an ancient city that preserves its history. I could tell that Rome was the real deal, and it requires an appreciation for the culture.
A weekend was not enough time for Rome. But it was a good start! I have officially lived in the U.K. for about one month, and I have had such an invigorating experience that I knew I had to write about it! With a whole month behind me, there are too many experiences that I cannot capture the rich experience of my adventure in this limited amount of words. But, I hope that you can see how enriching and engaging my time abroad has been. I’m only here for 3 months, so cheers to the good time and not the long time! 10. Size of a City with the Heart of a Town Norwich is a gorgeous city that is truly international. The city is busting with it's own history, like the castle pictured above, but it also invites people from all over the world to travel and feel right at home. In Norwich I have found the caribbean restaurant Turtle Bay, the always fresh and Asian inspired Wagamamas, and of course, the British standard of Spoons. Every inch of Norwich looks different each day, and it is such a great feeling to have the city feel without the hustle and bustle. 9. Afternoon Tea How could I say I studied in England if I didn't have afternoon tea! While I had no idea what I was doing, and apparently adding too much milk, I like to think I enjoyed it as anyone else would. I admit, it was very confusing learning how to chose a tower and then select a tea, but it was still scrumptious. Shout out to MasterCard for not working in this country and making me look poor when my card was declined, Visa you're a real one. 8. Punting in Cambridge In Danny's voice, "Cambridge!" While the day was very long, like 5 AM to 10 PM long, I cannot discredit my trip to Cambridge. The city is very tourist driven, but that's literally why I went there. My day consisted of finding food, some shopping, and of course punting! A Cambridge classic, punting invites you to sit back take in the view and learn of the rich history of the various colleges on the river. Truly gorgeous, if you come to the U.K. you have to try it. 7. Coming with my HWS Peers One of the best parts of my trip so far has been getting to know 3 other HWS students who I would normally not interact with. Danny doesn't like photos, but know he's included in this point. Madi, Hannah, Danny and I have been very lucky in that we all mesh well and we are always down for a good time. Of course we work hard, and so we play even harder. Also, it's just so much fun reliving some of our Hobart highlights. HWS is a school like no other, and I cannot wait to comeback with team Norwich! 6. Seeing Stefflon Don @ Mercy Nightclub When I tell you I was restless for Stefflon Don's show, I mean it's all I talked about my first 2 weeks here. I first heard of the U.K. rapper on Jax Jones's hit "Instruction" featuring her and Demi Lovato. She was a one woman show and she commanded the club. I was about to leave, until I heard her signature bravado laced voice come in. Within our group, I was the only one who knew her songs, but everyone was still able to feel the good vibes. 5. The Ziggs One of the best parts of being at the University of East Anglia, is the surplus of single room available for students. I got a room in Norfolk Terrace, pictured above, and it has been so much fun living here. This dorm definitely takes me back to freshmen year living in JPR. There is always something going on in the Ziggs, and meeting people is made so much easier. My room has a gorgeous view of the lake, and so coming home is always a highlight after classes. 4. Learning How to Journal Before I left for England, my career mentor, Xhana, took me out to dinner and she gave me a gorgeous Paramount Pictures notebook. She had told me how when she studied in London she journaled all her trips. I loved this gift dearly because of my affinity for writing. Xhana chose an amazing gift, and I carry this notebook with me everyday. Writing a small paragraph everyday helps me capture something more personal than a post on Instagram, and something more permanent than Snapchat. 3. The Unstoppable Social Scene I am a social butterfly on steroids, I always have to be doing something or I feel like I'm wasting time. While it might sound draining to some, I thrive off going out and meeting people. In Norwich, there is a rich night life complete with bars, clubs, and shows. A lot of it is very cheap and sometimes even free. Any day of the week is your oyster, it's all about what you do with it. Rest assured, I save Sunday and Monday nights for school. But I don't have class Wednesday so let's rage on! 2. Getting to Know What It's Like Being Called International Back at school, there is an established image and expectation with being an international student. Candidly, it's not always a fair one too. But being in the U.K., I am considered an international student. I find this super interesting because I consider myself the "norm" and here the norm has nuance things that make me stick out. "Oh you're so American," I have heard before. What does this even mean?! What do you mean I have an accent?! Wait why is everyone driving on the other side?! There are dozens of questions I have asked myself that when I look back, help me realize the echo chamber of American discourse, especially in social behavior. 1. The People From the first night I met my flatmates, to the random people I chat on the bus, I have dozens of Brits who I just adore. Besides their accents being just so proper, many of the U.K. natives I have met are open to forming friendships with the American that's here for only 3 months. From taking me to horse races, Spoons, and even teaching me slang, these Brits have treated me well and I hope to keep meeting many more.
To many of my friends at HWS I want to say congrats on getting into your spring '18 study abroad programs! I want to give a special shout out to my friends going to England areas! I am going to Norwich, England next semester, so here we are running the Queen's streets! I don't know about other colleges or universities, but at HWS 60 percent of our students go abroad, so the influx of acceptances is nothing new. However, it's still heartwarming and exciting to see my peers brighten up as they open their acceptance letters and go to social media to share the news. Last fall, I applied to two programs: Norwich, England and Prague, Czech Republic. I remember stressing over the tedious application that took too much work to complete. Meeting with my advisors was easy because they wanted me to go abroad, and luckily they suggested programs for me. The hardest part, like with most applications, was the writing component. You know I think I should write something about writing application essays or cover letters, what do you think? The process took me about a solid 2 weeks of work. Anyway, I remember that when the spring applications were due an overflow of messages came in asking me for help on abroad essays. I met with the people I could and sent out my essay as a resource. I mention these interactions because I could see the angst people had in applying. Some of my friends applied to several programs and some ran out of time and only managed to send in one. I remember being at lunch and asking my friend, "Is London bridge falling down?" I was referring to her application to London, England. Spring applications came in really late and I saw her frustration at not having heard back yet. Yesterday a friend tackled me in Saga saying, "Rome bitches!" I picked her up and gave her the best hug I could. Then all the confirmations poured in and history was made! Now let's get to the heart of this article. You got into abroad, now what? Pay your dues!
Now that you have been accepted abroad you feel a giant relief lifted from your mind, but this high is only temporary! Now that you are accepted abroad you have to work to keep your status. This means paying your spot, passing your classes, and you cannot end up in probation! So while Thirsty Thursday may seem like a great option this week, remember what you're at risk of losing now. Meet with your advisor! You may have already met with your advisor, but you really want to drill it into their heads that they will count your classes abroad. I have a blood oath with both of my advisors that I will complete my major and graduate on time, but not all advisors are as amazing as mine. Talk to your advisor about what kind of classes count for your major, what courses their other students have done, and what they recommend doing in your country! Start saving up! It's no secret that there are scholarships for abroad, but your coin purse is sure to be feeling light in the next coming months. The HWS CGE office has a list of scholarships that students can apply for and some scholarships exist for specific sites. For example, Germany has its own scholarship for students. There is also a large scholarship meeting for admitted students the following semester. You'll have to pay for physicals, postage, fees, and all kinds of things to ensure that your abroad gig is going. Whether that means working more hours, asking daddy for more money, or going full El Chapo, find a way to start scrapping up them pennies henny. Start saying your goodbyes! This one may not make sense so I will explain. When you find out that you are going abroad you immediately find peers going with you. You start planning out where you'll visit, you ask former students what they did, and you begin to envision yourself there. This is all great, but you forget that that is the future. You are still in the now. Right now you have your friends, faculty, and family back home. Going abroad is no easy endeavor. It's like that first time you stepped onto the quad to see Coxe looming over you. Of course it's not that intense, but there's still a lot you have to adjust to and plan for. |
Author William SamayoaMarketer by profession and storyteller by passion. L.A. raised, proud Latino, and pop culture enthusiast. Categories
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