When I first decided to go abroad I was a little hesitant and here is why. I played basketball all of my life since I was a kid and was, at the time, playing for Sewanee: The University of The South, a small division three liberal arts college in Tennessee. Thus, my identity as I knew myself, was in basketball. Granted, I had joined a fraternity, and gotten involved with various groups on campus, but I was still rooted in basketball. Deciding to go abroad would cut my career short. I decided, however, struggling through a lot of prayer and thought, to go. I can honestly say that this was the best decision that I have ever made in my life. I was stretched in ways that I never knew I was capable of. I knew that if I was going to go abroad I had to go by myself because if not I would just be in the same old bubble I had been in. I wanted to stretch myself and see things about myself that I had never seen before. Hence, I decided to go to The Eternal City of Rome (mainly because I am a history major and a religion minor, I will readily admit). When I got to Rome I was awestruck from day one. I was completely interested and immediately inquisitive about this place and what it had to offer to me—because as one can easily see, Rome has dealt with a plethora of people all containing differing identities. I promptly decided I would let this place change me—the way I thought, the way I wandered around this life, and the ways that I was used to. Looking back I can honestly say that this place has given me things that I never thought possible of attaining. I learned to love people that were different than myself and had differing opinions on almost every topic. I learned that people everywhere are all innately attracted to happiness, and all equally impervious to suffering. I learned that basketball is not the only sport that people love. I learned to not only appreciate the differences in others, but also I became fond of my thoughts, beliefs, and values. I learned that reading a book is not the only way to learn—although I will admit it is very valuable. I learned that if you have a fear of something the best way to overcome it is to face it head-on. I was completely petrified of fights, so I sky dove through the Swiss Alps one weekend. These are just a few of the examples of what IES and study abroad has done for me. My perspective on life is completely changed and it’s something that I am very thankful for. So, in closing, I want to thank IES and all the people involved because I can truly say that my life would not be the same had it not been for study abroad. C.S. Lewis said it best: “its funny how day by day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different.” My time abroad is something that is not a four-month experience I hold in my mind, but it is a life long memory I will savor until the day that I die.

Rome is an absolutely beautiful and amazing city! The center is right across from Castel Sant'Angelo and less than 10 minutes from St. Peter's. I lived in a spacious apartment about 25 minutes from the center with an Italian Student Companion and 5 other girls. I cannot recommend the ISC enough. It is so nice to live with a native Italian who understands the language and customs. They also show you the best places to get a beer and slice of pizza.
Compared to my home institution the classes were not difficult. The subject material is fascinating and many classes do weekly field trips throughout the city.
The staff is absolutely amazing. They truly care about your study abroad experience and are some of the nicest people I have ever met.
I loved my time abroad and cannot wait to go back.

My favorite thing about doing IES Rome was going on field studies during class time. These involved trips to museums, archaeological sites, monuments, and even villas. Seeing Rome first-hand was incredible and this made the experience unique compared to other programs around the world. The professors were incredibly passionate about their classes, and went above and beyond to make our time in Rome the best it could be. For example, in my Forma Urbis (Roman Archaeology) class, Prof Gianni Ponti spent the semester getting special permission from the Roman Department of Antiquities so our class could visit the excavation of the Imperial Fora. This was an incredible supplement to the already engaging class, and it was these little parts of the program that made it such an amazing learning opportunity.

This program and the location were perfect. The city is huge--it took about a month to even feel like I could step off the beaten track. Countless neighborhoods and ancient sites made each day an adventure. The Italian student companion program at IES was invaluable. My Italian roommate showed me around, helped me communicate at an Italian hair salon in the midst of a home hair dye disaster, and was a great friend (still is even after the program ended). The people on the program were open and friendly and up for any adventures I dragged them on. The weekend trip through the program was amazing and one that I would not have had without the school. We spent a weekend driving through the Tuscan countryside, learned to make pasta, and drank tons of wine at a local vineyard. The friends I made in Italy, the experiences I had each day exploring the Ghetto, Trastevere, Castel Sant'Angelo, Piazza Navona, Testaccio, etc., and the confidence I gained getting to know the city are all things I'll never forget. Going abroad was invaluable, but it was the little day-to-day triumphs and mishaps (correctly giving directions in Italian or taking the wrong bus) that made the experience unforgettable.

I had an AMAZING experience with IES Abroad Rome. It seriously was life changing and I became such a stronger and more independent person because of it. I lived in an apartment with an ISC (Italian Student Companion) and six other American girls. These girls are still some of my best friends today and we continually plan to meet up to see each other. The center itself was beautiful and the instructors were very knowledgeable. The classes were so interesting and I loved going on field studies every week to see the city and learn about the history and art of Rome. My favorite part about IES Abroad is that you are truly able to immerse yourself into the culture as much or as little as you want. If you want to increase your Italian language skills, you can take higher levels of Italian and can even take courses at local Italian universities. If you want to participate in cooking activities or olive oil tastings, you can sign up for that. It truly was a great experience and I'm looking forward to the day I return to Rome and reunite with my IES Abroad classmates!

Italians say "in bocca al lupo" when wishing someone good luck. The most literal translation is "in the mouth of a wolf." My study abroad experience can be captured in this small phrase. The four months I spent in Rome were about getting outside of my comfort zone, experiencing new things, and embracing a new culture and lifestyle. As part of my daily life in Rome, I was fortunate to have participated in a social action program. I was placed as an English TA at a local high school, where I was able to meet dozens of kind and passionate students, some of whom have become my lifelong friends. This challenging experience allowed me to form wonderful relationships of reciprocity, which made it that much harder to leave Rome at the end of my study abroad program. Rome is truly the most beautiful city, rich with history, and full of adventure. If you find yourself there, embrace every moment, because I guarantee that your experience will leave you with a renewed perspective and passion for life. In bocca al lupo!

Amazing program in an amazing city! Highly recommend going to Rome with IES as the staff knows everything and the living situation is so much fun! So much to do in Rome as well as weekend trips to other cities.

IES Roma is truly a fantastic program that enabled me to enjoy an amazing experience in the Eternal City. The location (about a 5 minute walk from the Vatican!) is perfectly nestled right along the Tiber River in the historic center of the city. The classes were engaging and relevant, but not over-burdensome in terms of workload; in other words don't expect blow-off classes, but I never felt overwhelmed or unable to take weekend trips due to classwork. Additionally field trips are never lacking as professors will take you to museums, landmarks, and other spots of intrigue on a weekly basis. The city is confusing to navigate, a little dirty, and public transportation is a mess but is generally unnecessary as almost everything worth seeing is relatively close. The program also does a great job of keeping you informed regardless of the occasion. Their are tons of extracurriculars as well, which were great ways to bond with my fellow students outside of the classroom. I played in a soccer league, participated in cooking classes, and dined with my classmates in some of Rome's renowned restaurants at a subsidized cost. The administration is very nice and helpful and they maintain a good balance between keeping you safe and not holding your hand as you experience your semester in a foreign location. I look back on my all-too-brief time in Rome with a fondness beyond words. While the city of Rome in itself is an incredible place overflowing with beauty and history that couldn't help but amaze everyone that has the fortune to visit, I strongly believe that IES is a special program that helped me relish and experience Rome to its fullest.