Adeti Afe
UMBC Faculty-Led: Comparative Politics and the Italian Political System
Major: Environmental Science and Geography
Pre-Departure Post January 7th, 2026
Hi! I’m Adeti, and I’m really glad to be able to study abroad through UMBC’s faculty-led Winter Rome 2026 program. I’ve had some experience traveling and studying abroad before, so even though I’m super excited, I also feel pretty calm. That being said, packing definitely tried me today. I just finished packing, and it took way longer than I expected because I kept thinking of “one more thing” I might need, then reorganizing everything so it would actually fit. I did the whole back-and-forth of folding, refolding, checking the weather, switching outfits, and trying to balance being prepared without overpacking. Now I’m just hoping my luggage isn’t too heavy, because I really don’t want my first challenge to be starting with the TSA… Also, a quick recommendation from me: do not wait until the day before to pack if you can help it. It makes everything feel rushed, and you end up second-guessing every item like, “Do I really need this?” or “What if I forgot something important?” Packing earlier would’ve saved me so much stress and extra time, so next time I’m definitely starting sooner. I’ll be up in the morning triple-checking. Either way, I’m ready for Rome, and I can’t wait to share the real study abroad experience in class, daily life, exploring the city, and everything in between!
In-Country Post #1
Hiii!
I’m one week into my Rome, Italy study abroad session. Being in Rome for this program has honestly been such a surreal experience for me, and it’s been way more than just “seeing places.” When I first got here, I was really only close with one person, and I’m naturally more introverted unless I’m comfortable, so it took me a little time to fully open up. But now I feel like I’ve clicked with the group in the program, and I’m genuinely happy I get to experience Rome with them. It’s been one of those things where once you start sharing long days, walking everywhere, and seeing crazy stuff together, you just end up bonding without forcing it.
The first picture is of me around the Roman Forum area, and I’m not even exaggerating, I was seriously shocked by how beautiful it was. I’ve looked up Rome so many times before coming, and I’ve seen a million photos online, but it’s just not the same. The architecture in person is insane, and the fact that all that history is just sitting there in front of you made me pause for a second like, wow, I’m really here. It’s one of those moments where you feel small but in a good way.
The next pictures are from St. Ignatius Church, which has been my favorite guided tour so far. It was genuinely stunning inside, and the guide was so nice and made it interesting instead of just listing facts; she even gave us a secret spot to see the painting on the ceiling at a perfect spot.
Seeing the ceiling in person was unreal, like it almost doesn’t look real because it’s so detailed and dramatic. I’ve realized that Rome has this way of making you appreciate how intentional old art is, and how it was made to make you feel something, not just look pretty.
Also, I want to say this because I know people think about it when they travel, especially as a black woman coming to Europe. I wasn’t super worried about discrimination because I’ve been to parts of France before and felt comfortable, and I also trusted the area the Study Abroad office placed us in. Of course, there are bad experiences everywhere, but so far, I haven’t experienced anything like that at all. If anyone reading this has similar worries, I really mean this: don’t let fear stop you from seeing the world. Don’t let ignorance stop you from seeing the world. Do research and go where you’re welcomed! Speak to the education abroad office with any questions, as they are here to help. From my experience, studying abroad is honestly such a vibrant experience, and you deserve to experience it too.
At the same time, it wasn’t perfect at the very start. We had a few issues with our apartment, like hot water, power, and WiFi, and that was stressful at first because you’re in a new country and you just want things to work. But once it settled, everything has been completely amazing. The IES Abroad center even had lunch prepared for us at our orientation, which was such a nice welcome and honestly made me feel taken care of. Overall, I’ve noticed people here are really nice, and they show it in small ways. Even at the Quirinal Palace, I noticed how they use symbols to show respect, like having flags up to welcome visitors, and it made me feel like we were being hosted, not just “tourists passing through.” Rome has definitely been a learning experience, but it’s also been a lot of joy, and I’m grateful I get to be here!
In-Country Post #2
January 21st,
The second half of my study abroad in Rome has been a mix of “wow I’m ready to go” and “wait, I’m actually leaving soon?” The first week went insanely fast, and then by the
beginning of the second week, I was kind of like okay, I’m ready to go home and get Chipotle. But now that it’s time to leave, it’s bittersweet. I think two weeks is honestly a perfect amount of time to explore and do a lot without feeling repetitive or getting super homesick. I feel like I’m just now starting to really know the street names and recognize paths to different places without staring at my phone nonstop. I’m also finally getting the hang of little everyday stuff, like using the appliances where we’re staying, buying groceries, ordering at restaurants without overthinking it, and just feeling more comfortable moving around the city.
I’m also really happy I chose a faculty-led UMBC program. I’ve studied abroad through UMBC before, but it was through a study abroad provider and not with other UMBC students, so it was harder to make friends and break the ice. This time felt way smoother because we were all connected through the same school and the same program, so it was easier to talk, get comfortable, and actually become close.
My roommates and I went to a jazz club called Gregory’s and it’s in Rome, which was nice to experience. It was really intimate and the food was great! One of my absolute favorite experiences besides seeing the Colosseum was our cooking class. It was genuinely fun and we were laughing the whole time, and after we ate, we ended up playing games at the table, which became a bit chaotic. Peter’s birthday happened during the class, so we sang happy birthday to him, which was really nice. We also surprised our IES Abroad guide Peppe with a card and a UMBC shirt so he can always be part of the family. I loved that because he really looked out for us and gave us so many recommendations for places to see and eat at.
One thing I must be honest about though is that I really spent way more money than I expected in only two weeks. Especially toward the end, when I realized I still needed to go to a souvenir shop and get gifts for people back home. So, if you’re thinking about studying abroad, and you love retail therapy like me, my biggest advice is to save more than you think you need and pack light!!! I can’t stress that enough, you will want to buy things, and you will be sad when you remember you have no space in your luggage. Also be careful because the scams are real. I fell for a couple, and it happens fast when you’re distracted and just trying to enjoy yourself.
Every time I think back like “wait that shouldn’t have cost that much” or I’ll walk and see the same thing I bought for 10 euros cheaper or something. I’d say research common tourist scams before you go, compare prices before choosing an option, and don’t be scared to bargain a little when you’re buying stuff. A lot of the time, if you’re clearly a tourist, especially in a tourist area, you’re going to get overcharged.
Overall, I’m really grateful for this trip. I came here to learn, explore, and experience something new, and I did. Even though it went by fast, I feel like I’m leaving with memories I’ll keep forever.
Return Post
Okay y’all, I’m officially back in Maryland and I’m not gonna lie…it’s a little bittersweet. The travel day home honestly went super smooth though, which I was really grateful for. IES broad provided a shuttle to take us from our apartment we were staying in Rome straight to the airport, and that made the whole process way less stressful. From there, the flight went well, everything was on time, and it was one of those rare days where nothing crazy happened and everything just worked out the way it was supposed to. Coming back felt calm before the blizzard, and it was a nice way to close the trip.
This experience was genuinely so good. I had so much fun. I went to so many different places and it felt surreal. One of the coolest parts is that I got to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World (The Colosseum), it felt crazy being inside and learning more about the history. I’m really happy I decided to study abroad for a second time too, because I feel like this time I did it smarter. The first time I studied abroad in France, I was by myself and it was my first time ever flying, first time on an international flight, and I still made it work with no issues. But this time, I was able to plan more efficiently, actually prepare myself mentally, and I knew what to expect a little more. Also, doing a faculty-led program made a big difference for me. It felt more engaging and honestly more fun because there was more structure, more things were planned, and I had more answers to my questions instead of figuring out most things on my own.
And speaking of figuring things out…there is definitely a learning curve when you’re living somewhere new, and that was honestly part of what made it memorable. Like having to learn the routes, where to go, what certain words mean, where the dumpster is (because yes that matters when you’re living somewhere), and even little stuff like being in the grocery store and realizing things don’t look the same as they do at home. One of my roommates literally bought dish soap instead of hand soap by accident, and it was so funny, but it worked out because we needed dish soap anyway, so it was just one of those “welcome to living abroad” moments. Same with appliances because I studied abroad in France before, I thought I’d be fine, but nope…still had to learn how to use the stove all over again, and the washer was a whole situation too. It’s like little challenges that aren’t serious, but they remind you that you’re in a different space and you’re adapting in real time.
Another thing I really loved was the people. The people in Rome were pretty nice overall; many spoke English which helped with me butchering the Italian language. I also had classmates I got closer with, and I also became friends with people I’ve seen around UMBC before but never actually talked to until this trip. Being in a new environment really pushes you to connect, and now we’re all back at UMBC and my abroad roommates, and I still want to stay friends and hangout, which is honestly really nice. And I will say, two weeks is the perfect amount of time for a program like this. You get to experience so much in that time, but you’re not there long enough to get super homesick. You leave feeling grateful, instead of burnt out.
And if you’re reading this and you’ve been thinking about studying abroad but you feel like fear is stopping you, or you feel like you have financial barriers, I really want you to hear me when I say: don’t let that stop you. Like seriously. Take it from me, a Nigerian-American woman who literally just packed up and went to France by herself two summers ago. That was my first time flying, my first time going international, and I did it alone and I was fine. This time, I studied abroad again through this UMBC Comparative Politics Study Abroad program, and because it was faculty-led, it honestly felt more comfortable, I feel like I had more support, more structure, and more clarity. So, my advice is really to figure out what kind of experience you want. If you want something with more planning and built-in support, look at faculty-led programs. And please plan early, like a year in advance if you can, so you’re not stressing last minute the way I did before. Talk to the Education Abroad office, talk to professors leading programs, ask questions. I spoke to Dr. Carolyn Forestiere before I even went abroad because I wanted to understand the program better, and that conversation helped a lot. Also, the financial part is real, but there are resources. There are scholarships. I won one of them, and that helped me tremendously. So don’t count yourself out, apply, save if you can, plan ahead, and use the resources that exist to support you.
Before I end this, I just want to say a genuine thank you to Dr. Carolyn Forestiere and Laura Schraven for being so engaging, excited, and positive throughout the whole trip! Their energy really poured into ours and made the experience even better. Thank you to the UMBC Education Abroad office for making this opportunity possible and being so helpful, and thank you to IES Abroad for coordinating, communicating, and supporting us too. Overall, this trip was such a great experience, and I’m really grateful I got to do it. Just be open to the learning curve, be open-minded, stay positive, and give yourself grace while you adjust, because you’re in a whole new country, so it’s normal. 🙂 Thank you so much for reading, and good luck on your possible journey abroad.
Ciao,
Adeti <3