Posted November 21, 2014
Alumni Voices: Emma from Wesleyan University on Studying Abroad in Italy!
by Emma Buford Ciao tutti! Hi everyone! This is Emma Buford, currently writing to you all from my dorm at the University of Bologna in Bologna, Italy! I’m currently a junior at Wesleyan University, studying abroad in Italy for the semester. I only have about a month left to go in my incredible experience. Italy is truly amazing. I’ve been here about 4 months now and leaving just seems unfathomable at this point. Adjusting to the Italian culture definitely took some time, but now I really feel like I live here. All of my courses are in Italian, so being able to communicate with locals is such a gift. I would probably be hopelessly lost by now if I couldn’t speak Italian.
Like anyone would be, I was definitely nervous to start this journey. I have never been away from home for this long. Knowing that campus life at Wesleyan would continue without me felt very odd. I definitely did not want to leave behind the Wesleyan Crew team or my a cappella group, but I knew this adventure would be an experience I would never regret. I have had incredible travel opportunities, and my program is fantastic and really helped us adjust to life here. I volunteer at a local school once a week teaching English, and with no Friday classes I am able to travel a lot. I’ve been able to learn about Italy though the eyes of Italians, which has really altered my understanding of historic events within Italy and Europe as a whole. One of the weirdest things about not being in New England is the weather. Usually, the weather in Italy is similar to New England but it is still pretty warm here. The transition to fall has been very slow. The fact that it is snowing in parts of New England seems crazy. Bologna is also considered the gastronomical capital of Italy, which means I will come back to America with a belly full of pasta! This trip will mark the longest I haven’t rowed since I started rowing for Row New York in 2008. My hands will probably be covered in blisters come spring season, but I’m ready!
Just like any adventure, there are good times and bad. I would be lying if I said I haven’t gotten homesick. I feel really lucky to be able to stay connected to people at home through social media. I miss New York so much. I miss being in the same time zone as most of my friends. Sometimes I just wish that everyone spoke English! I am completely ecstatic, however, because my mom is visiting me in Bologna for Thanksgiving! I totally forgot that they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Italy so it will be so amazing to have family with me!
This semester has been an experience that I am so grateful for. I’ve gotten to meet so many new people. I’ve been able to test myself with the language and the lifestyle, but also with my independence and sense of self. I am definitely excited to return home and I know that I will probably need to readjust to America as well. The fact that American money now seems like monopoly money definitely proves that I’ve assimilated to using the Euro. I will probably be the girl saying “grazie” instead of “thank you” and will take euro coins out of my wallet instead of quarters! New York will always be considered home for me. But I am confident when I say that Italy has now transformed into my home away from home.
