Dominique Fernandez

I wanted the opportunity to take my learning outside of my own cultural context and understanding. I've always been interested in other cultures. Growing up, my family exposed me to other cultures through food. This was an important part of my upbringing so to be given the opportunity to live in an another country and be completely submerged in the culture meant everything to me.

I didn't really choose my program. As corny as it sounds, I think my program chose me. Initially, I was going to be going somewhere else but things did not work out and so the Rome program was really the only program that had some classes related to my major. In retrospect, I honestly believe I was meant to be in Rome. I met so many people and cultivated so many relationships that I think will last a lifetime.

I had the opportunity to take 3 cooking classes while in Rome. 2of the classes were with local chefs and the other class was with my host mom. Growing up, I was often introduced to other cultures through food and so I felt like everything came full-circle when I had the opportunity to learn how to make authentic Italian food in Italy.

The biggest concern I had about studying abroad was not being able to effectively communicate with people. I went into my program with no prior Italian. The first day I arrived in Rome, I almost didn't eat because I was terrified to speak English in and Italian speaking country -- Italians do speak English -- but it was especially important for me to speak the native language of the place so because I wanted people to know that I cared about their culture and their way of life. Eventually I got the courage to leave my hotel room and find food but I responded to my concern by taking my language class very seriously. I practiced my Italian at school, in public, and even at home with my host mom.

Wake up at 7:30. Have breakfast with my host mom and host sister. Get ready for school. Get on a crowded bus for 15 minutes. Walk to school. Go to 2 classes. Grab a panino and a cafe. Go to another class. Eat gelato. Study with friends. Grab a few cannoli. Go home for dinner at 8. Watch Un Posto al Sole (Italian Soap Opera) with my host mom. Go to bed.

Medieval Rome, Italy: Territory, Food, Anthropology, Sociology of Rome, Advanced Beginner Italian

The most meaningful aspect of my program was participating in the homestay. My host mom was all I could ever ask for: AUTHENTIC. She cooked meals for us, bickered at us if our rooms weren't clean, but smiled when we left the house in the morning. She completed my experience. In my entire stay, she probably spoke 5 words on English and even with that, I still felt at home. I cherish her and plan to return to visit her. I highly recommend the homestay experience. Most students are afraid to be fully submersed or they are afraid that they will be stripped of their independence by living in a homestay, but it is the complete opposite. Try it!

Being abroad, allowed me to slow down and appreciate the simpler things and more meaningful things in life. I appreciated that Italians valued you family time or hangouts with friends. Work and school were important but family and friends were equally important. I felt Rome believing that a balanced life is truly a better life. While abroad, I also learned how to adapt to other environments, which is naturally exciting for me.

If you are planning to study in Rome, I would highly recommend getting to know the staff at your school and people outside of your program. It so easy to recreate the "Berkeley Bubble" by only talking and hanging out with UC students. But when you take the time to talk to the native staff at the campus or other students in the area, you learn a lot more about the culture, the way of living, and you are often exposed to the hidden treasures that most people don't know about.