Overview

During the summer of my Junior year, I spent 6 weeks studying abroad in Rome, Italy. The time I spent in the historic city of Rome was remarkable, to say the least. Not only did I advance my language proficiency skills up to a level 4, but living in Italy’s capital city gave me profound insights into the inner-working of their government’s political system. During my time abroad, I was also able to spend considerable time in both the North and South of Italy, which, to many political science scholars, presents an an interesting case study. Being able to witness this reality firsthand really allowed me to see the scholarship that I studied in action.

Courses:

While I was in Rome, I took three different accelerated courses. These courses focused primarily on the Italian language and analyzing the country’s rich history and culture. I sharpened my writing and communication skills to the level of being able to converse fluidly with native speakers and even lead presentations and write papers entirely in Italian. We also spent a significant amount of time visiting famous historical sites and considering the contexts in which they were made. While visiting the Roman Forum, the Vatican, and the Colosseum are clear examples of Italian exceptionalism, I also valued our trips to lesser-known places, like the Museum of the Liberation of Rome. This museum, located on Via Tasso, blends in perfectly with its surroundings, for it looks no different than any other apartment complex. This feature, however, was intentional given that this building was once used by members of the SS to torture leaders of the Italian Resistance in 1944. Intact are the messages scratched into the plaster of the walls by prisoners, detailing their confinement and the horrors they faced as prisoners during World War II. My experience here is something I know I will always carry with me. 

I also particularly enjoyed learning about many of their modern political conflicts, like the 1990 Mani Pulite campaign, which marked an infamous era of cracking down on political corruption within their government. I found that these discussions gave me a broader, more holistic understanding of politically motivated terror organizations. Furthermore, being here while Matteo Salvini was in office as Prime Minster helped to supplement future discussions on the current wave of populism seen in Italy and throughout the world today.