Culture, Cuisine, and Cobblestones: My Life in Rome

By: Madeline Wooster

Living in Rome as a study abroad student still doesn’t feel real most days. I’m constantly surrounded by beautiful old buildings, tiny cafes, and winding streets — it’s easy to fall in love with the city without even trying. Even though every day is a little different, I’ve found a routine that feels like my own version of home here.

Most mornings, I wake up and get ready for class. I usually take the bus to campus — it’s always a bit of an adventure depending on the day, but I honestly love getting to people-watch and take in the city from my window.

This semester, I’m taking two classes that I’m obsessed with: Ancient Artists in the Ancient City and Culture and Cuisine in Italy. Both classes have made my time here even more special. I absolutely love my professors, they’re passionate, hilarious, and full of knowledge about Rome and Italian culture. What I love most is that we’re not just sitting in a classroom all day; we’re out exploring the city. One day we’re visiting ancient ruins, another day we’re learning about Roman food traditions (and sampling them, obviously). It’s the kind of hands-on learning that makes every lecture feel like an adventure.

After class, I usually head to the gym to get a workout in and reset a bit before the evening.

Then comes my favorite part of the day: dinner. If I had to pick one spot to eat at every day, it would be Trapizzino. It’s the perfect mix of a sandwich and pizza, filled with incredible options like chicken cacciatore or eggplant parmesan. It's quick, affordable, and tastes amazing every single time.

After dinner, my friends and I usually wander through Trastevere, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Rome. It’s full of colorful buildings, lively piazzas, and tiny cobblestone streets that feel like they belong in a storybook. We almost always grab gelato (because there’s no such thing as too much gelato here) and just stroll around, talking and laughing and soaking up the night.

Even on the most "normal" days, Rome finds a way to make life feel special. Between my classes, the food, the city itself, and the amazing people I’ve met, studying abroad here has been the experience of a lifetime — and I’m doing my best to enjoy every single second.

EXPLORE ROME