St. John's University student and Peter M. Flanigan Scholar Marlin is studying abroad, and she is now in Rome! Here's the latest about her journey.
What has been the most difficult part in adjusting to this program? How are you overcoming these obstacles?
Marlin: The most difficult aspect of adjusting to this program for me has been being away from my family for so long. I commuted for the majority of my two years of college, and when I did try to dorm, I ended up moving back home. As a result, being away from home for so long is completely foreign to me. When I'm homesick, it's difficult to enjoy the experience of studying abroad. I'll miss either the people or the comforts of home that I left behind in these moments. It is certainly not easy to leave behind everything you know and are familiar with, but these moments are only temporary for me. When I'm going through this, I try to remember the beauty of the country/culture I'm in and the friends I get to enjoy it with. Keeping in contact with my family and friends back home over the phone is also beneficial. To be honest, it's all very bittersweet because, while I appreciate and enjoy this opportunity, I miss a lot of what I left behind.
Who has been helpful in your start to your time abroad? Why?
Marlin: My friends who I came here with were extremely helpful during my first week abroad. It made it so that not everything was completely new because I saw familiar faces always. It was also important for me to be able to relate to others who were going through similar experiences. Having them around made the experience less lonely, and I'm grateful for the opportunity. However, I believe it can be just as rewarding to study abroad on your own and make new friends while there. I, myself, have made new friends during my time here, which I'm grateful for. Going away for so long can make you feel alone, but if you rely on your support system, it can help make the experience much better.
What has been the best part of studying at this institution/in these countries?
Marlin: The best part of studying at St. John’s has been the opportunity to study in not only one country for a semester but three. Even now, it still shocks me that after I depart from Rome in two weeks, I have another country to study in. Paris was the first location I studied in, and when I got there, I was awestruck by how beautiful the city is and all the new things I was witnessing. I think what I truly appreciated about Paris was the fact that it was a big bustling city like New York City which made the transition less difficult. I also enjoyed the fashion and how dressed up everyone would be to go out anywhere. The food was also great, and I got to try escargot, which I had always wanted to do. It was surprisingly pretty good!
There were certain difficulties to transitioning from Paris to Rome, but I was eventually able to see Rome's advantages as well. The city's relationship to history has thus far been Rome's best feature. I've had a great time visiting the ruins and admiring magnificent pieces of artwork from so many years ago. Rome doesn't feel like a big city in the way that Paris did for me which has pushed me out of my comfort zone. Public transportation isn't as accessible as it was in Paris which is more difficult but allows me to get a lot of walking in. I was able to travel to Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Greece, and the South of Italy while studying in Rome and Paris. This has been a truly rewarding experience, and I can't believe it's not over and that there are still places left for me to visit.
