Ember Stennett
UMBC Faculty-Led: Picturing Italian Art and Culture in Context in Rome, Italy
Major: Biological Sciences
Minor: Psychology
Jump To: Pre-Departure Post, In-Country Post #1, Post #2, Post #3, Return Post
Predeparture Post
Ciao! My name is Ember Stennett. I am a rising senior, majoring in biological sciences and minoring in psychology. I am also on the Swim and Dive team at UMBC and because of that I did not realize this opportunity would be possible. I’m thrilled to be planning and packing for my study abroad trip through UMBC’s faculty-led program to Rome, Italy! I leave in one week for three or four weeks, it doesn’t feel real yet. It’s been so fun to learn about what I should bring to be well prepared and “blend in” with the culture. I have only left the country one other time but never by myself and never to Europe!
As soon as I found out that I would be going to Italy, I began my intense Duolingo lessons and researching all the local spots to go in Rome. I’ve been sharing about my upcoming trip with my family and friends. Those who have been there have been giving me so much insight, tips, and advice on where to go and what to see! I can’t stop hearing about how good the food is, and I can’t wait to experience it myself! I have only bought my one-way tickets to Rome and plan to find a travel buddy and stay another week once the class ends! I am anticipating traveling to nearby cities and exploring more of what Italy has to offer, from what everyone is telling me, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Venice are musts! I also would love to explore Lake Como and maybe the Amalfi Coast. I’ve heard Rome is an amazing city, I’m looking forward to studying there for most of my time there.
As I begin packing my life into a carry-on and backpack for the next couple of weeks, I am trying my hardest to minimize what clothes I deem to be necessary because I know that I will have much more to bring back afterwards. I have had my sister’s help me decide what I should bring, I have also discovered the Sudoku method. It is a travel hack that limits what I take to 9 pieces, 3 tops, 3 bottoms, and 3 layers, that are cross-compatible, which, when arranged into a 3×3 grid, provides me with a total of 27 outfit combinations! I’ve also discovered and begun breaking in Birkenstock sneakers because I know they will be a must when walking all over Rome.
Recently, I have been so lucky to spend some time at home in Illinois! I’ve been able to attend my sister’s graduation from high school and watch her play lacrosse, while spending my time with family, friends, and my dogs! I’ve been doing my best to enjoy the weather and all the free time I have before this quick trip abroad comes. I have been setting up a journal that I want to keep track of all my adventures and experiences! A section I have in that journal includes addresses and stamps so I can send postcards throughout my time away from home. Recently, I have begun painting with watercolors and creating stamps. I just made one for my trip to the Colosseum! Hopefully, I have some time to myself because I want to create my own postcards, with water-colored pencils I was given. I cannot wait to begin sending what I experience and see to those who have supported me throughout this journey!
Traveling around the world has always been a dream of mine, this is just the beginning of that dream. I plan to live this experience to the fullest and be where my feet are. I cannot wait to make new friends, experience a new culture, learn more about myself, and grow in unimaginable ways. I will say I have already begun learning about myself since this study abroad trip has become my reality. I have found myself researching social norms, making sure I have backup plans, and thinking through what I pack. I’m feeling nervous about leaving the county on my own and navigating the new environment, while also making sure to complete assignments, conduct research, and enjoy every moment there. However, I couldn’t be more excited to have the privilege to experience all these worrisome thoughts.
I have only left the country one other time, it was this past spring break, to Costa Rica. I got to explore the tropical jungle and beaches with my closest nine teammates, all while thinking about how those experiences might look once, I travel to Italy. I remember seeing the way the people of Costa Rica live and comparing it to the way I live and wondering about Rome and how that also might be different. It was also strange, but expected, to see the language change and how I could no longer read every sign or to see that there are different rules of the road in Costa Rica than there are in America. Thinking back to some of those first experiences being out of the country, for the first time, intrigues me to know how others live their lives in other countries. One of my favorite memories while in Costa Rica, was a time we decided to explore a free spring, not too far away. That spur of the moment decision was amazing because when we arrived, there were beautiful waterfalls and a rope swing that kept us busy until the sun went down. My takeaways from that trip were that you can’t plan everything and it’s good to go off the schedule, because what we found when we did was my favorite part and second, to be present in the moment. Being there to live it and experience it. I cannot wait to experience my first couple of hours in Italy and the rest of my time there and figuring out all the small things in the moment and adapting. That’s why I am so grateful to be able to contribute to this blog, because I can share my experiences with others who also might be considering studying abroad. I cannot wait to share my first couple of experiences and learn along the way as I travel to Italy, but for now… Ciao!
In-Country Post #1
Ciao from Rome!
What an experience this has been so far! Let me start off by telling you about my flight here.
I had a 2-hour flight from Chicago to Newark, then from Newark to Rome. My flight from Chicago was planned to take off around 3:00 and arrive around 6:00, so I got on the plane just fine, started reading my book, and then I heard the announcement, “We are delayed due to air traffic control in Newark and won’t depart until 8:00 pm.” My heart sank, and I began to look for new flights. I was slowly getting increasingly frustrated until another announcement was made, “Flight to Newark will depart at 4:00.” This means all my problems have been solved! Sadly no, but I got on the plane knowing it would land around 7:24 pm, that also being my next flight’s boarding time. I found out we had priority to leave because we were carrying medical equipment, aka organs! Once we landed, it was 7:05 pm, and then I was so lucky to wait for a gate until 7:30. The flight attendants announced, “There is a passenger in the back of the plane with a tight connection to Rome; please let her get off the plane first.” So I gathered my stuff as soon as I could and noticed my left backpack strap had broken, so I had to work with it. I rushed up to the front, and the whole plane was wishing me good luck and clapping! I felt like the main character in a movie! I stepped off the plane and began running as fast as I could to get across the entire airport, with my lopsided backpack and carry-on. My face became red, and I couldn’t catch my breath. “Final call for Gate C123. It will close in 5 minutes,” the airport announced. I kept sprinting and barely made it. Once I got on the plane and found my seat, I found the poor man assigned to sit next to me, a red, sweaty, and probably smelly girl, for the next 8 hours, but I was going to Italy!
I have now been in Italy for three days. It feels much longer than that because our days have been busy. I was meeting everyone and exploring. On my first day here, I got a cappuccino and avocado toast for lunch across the street from my apartment. After I got some food, I went exploring on my own and ran into a huge structure, St. Peter’s Square! I’ve seen it in pictures but never understood how enormous it is until I was there. I thought every building was so interestingly created and all had many small details. I also saw the Ponte Sant’Angelo. It is the bridge of the Holy Angel which leads to the Castel Sant’Angelo. I began to get tired and went back to get some rest and met the people I was living with! We decided to play cards for a while and get to know one another. We then invited the rest of the group over to make pasta to end the night!
On my second day, we had orientation and a Foodie Walking Tour. We began the day with meeting up for breakfast and orientation. We all got a traditional Italian breakfast of a croissant and cappuccino, so good! Later in the day, our Foodie Walking Tour discussed many buildings of Rome; my favorites were the Castle of Sant’Angelo, the Three Obelisks, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon! The tour provided White Pizza, which seemed to be bread, and Pizza Marinara, which had just pizza sauce on top. They both were very good, and it was interesting to see that this was a normal type of pizza here. I also tried gelato for the first time here, and I tried a variety, so I got coco, mango, and cheesecake. Later we went back to Trevi Fountain thinking it would be less crowded, but 10 p.m. is when it opened to allow people to get pictures up close, so there were more people than before. We were lucky enough to find a spot for more pictures and then returned to the Spanish Steps, or the Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti. We climbed up all 135 steps, as if we hadn’t walked enough. Speaking of, I ended the day with 23,000+ steps, which was over 10 miles! We got back to our apartment late and went to bed late, but it was so worth all that we explored!
Finally, today, we visited the first Roman aqueduct, Aqua Appia! It was constructed in 312 BC by Appius Claudius Caecus and Caius Plautius. I knew very little before visiting; I honestly didn’t even understand how they worked but now I know it operated by using gravity, capturing and moving the spring water from underground and moving it, though the top part of the structure, downhill toward the city. They were much bigger than I was expecting and showed how smart the engineers were to build them this way. We were able to explore around them for a while. Once we got back to the classroom, we got to talk more about the recent things we have seen in person to further understand the information! We are planning to see the ballet, and I can’t wait to experience more of what Rome has to offer! Talk again soon, ciao!
In-Country Post #2
Ciao!
I want to start off saying I have learned a few lessons.
- Be mindful of a timed schedule
- Part of traveling includes being uncomfortable in a new environment
- Always check the dates for reservations (including Airbnbs)
To explain those lessons, let me share my latest experiences!
Thursday was a day to remember… the trip to Tarquinia. While I had a good time and went along with the rest of the group, some got the brunt of navigation problems. To get to the Etruscan tombs in Tarquinia, we took the metro, the train, a bus, then another bus, then walked the wrong way for a bit, but it was quite a journey that can only be laughed at in the end. The tombs were amazing to see, and I wanted to see all of them. We would enter the little house, go down the steps, and into the tomb. At the end of the stairs, a window that investigated the tomb would allow you to look though while keeping the frescos or paintings protected from CO2, humidity, and temperature fluctuations. The oldest one there, my group and I researched, dated back to the 5th century and has been discover there in 1985, called the Tomb of the Blue Demons. I didn’t know a lot about this culture and what the frescos symbolized until I began researching. I learned that the tombs looked like little houses because Etruscans built tombs as eternal “homes” for the deceased to live in alongside their ancestors. The frescos were painted to help the living process their grief and ensure the deceased would continue to live their happy lives in the afterlife. We ran a little bit over our expected time and that happened to change the plan a little bit. We missed our bus. All 12 of us were tired of walking and hot and this was the last thing we needed. The co-navigator of the group stepped up and found our group a new bus to get back to the pick-up location of the second bus. With some hope, we found our way to the train and made it back to Rome!
Friday, we got up early and excited to see the Colosseum and Roman Forum. As we began ascending to the always from the metro you could see the Colosseum, and it looked like it was never ending. After some time of taking in the sight and getting some pictures, our tour began. Fun fact: The colosseum was built in 8 years! We were the first group inside, which made the experience even more breathtaking, especially with the stories our guide shared. The monument was built directly on top of the Domus Aurea, the site of Emperor Nero’s private lake, once the Flavian dynasty took power. Our guide painted a beautiful picture of what it used to look like: a massive stadium completely covered in gleaming white marble, all of which was stolen away and abandoned after the fall of Rome. I found it very interesting to see and learn about in person. Fun fact: The colosseum was built in 8 years! We also got to see the Roman Forum, and it felt like taking a stroll back in time.
This weekend, my friends and I went to Florence!! I booked my train tickets and an Airbnb for Friday night. Yes, you read that correctly, Friday night. I booked the Airbnb for the wrong date, realizing after I paid. I bet you could imagine how happy I was to see it was non-refundable, too. I started calling the company and the host and unfortunately there was nothing to do so I got to learn the hard way to triple check times and dates. That didn’t stop us, though. I reserved another Airbnb (making sure to double-check the dates this time) packed our bags and got some sleep before our weekend getaway. We arrived in Florence around 10:00 AM with absolutely no plans.
Over the next two days, we ended up exploring the inside of the Duomo, admiring the art in the surrounding churches, listening to live bands, and watching street artists at work. We saw beautiful, famous statues, rubbed the snout of the famous Porcellino pig, visited the Uffizi museum, had a picnic with food we picked up, and ended our trip watching the sunset over the entire city from Piazzale Michelangelo. What an unforgettable sight! We made it back safe and felt that we hit all the good spots in Florence! There is so much more excitement to come and I can’t wait to see and learn more!
Talk soon, ciao!
In-Country Post #3
Ciao! I can’t believe I’ve been here for 2 weeks already! I have recently been reflecting on how blessed and grateful I am for having this opportunity. I’ve been missing my family and friends and wish I could share the wonderful views and moments with them, but with that I have learned how to enjoy the moments by myself. Normally, in those moments alone, I tend to overthink the future and the small details of traveling, but lately, I’ve been learning more about how to be present and what that really means. To me, it means trusting that everything will work out and living in the present, knowing that whatever I’m worried about will be figured out when the time comes. I feel like this mindset has been helping me, since I’ve been intentional with it, and through that, I have been meeting new people from all over the world and even ran into Tré, who is also a blogger for UMBC studying in Italy! We got to talking, and I found his stories really comforting, as they showed how he deals with challenges while traveling and how he stays positive, always speaking about his experiences with a smile.
Since returning from Florence, I’ve had an incredible time packed with unforgettable moments! I visited the Ara Pacis the Vatican, and St. Peters, explored the Pantheon and wandered through the catacombs and the Capuchin Monastery. I also stopped by a medical museum and Tiber Island, toured the ancient ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, and relaxed on the beach in Sorrento. Along the way, I enjoyed a giant lemon sorbet, browsed a huge farmers’ market, and danced and sang with crowds surrounding street performers. I even had a few unexpected adventures, like saving a baby seagull from drowning, meeting “Jack Sparrow,” and playing “Piano Man” on my harmonica!
One of my favorite places we explored last week was the Capuchin Monastery crypt because the intricate way the bones were arranged was both eerie and breathtakingly artistic. It wasn’t just a burial site; it felt like a surreal gallery of history and faith. The bones belonged to people who were part of the Capuchin order of monks, who believed strongly in humility. The message of this crypt is meant to be a reminder that life is temporary, everyone ends up the same after death, and material wealth doesn’t matter. I found this whole experience very interesting and nothing I’d thought I’d ever see.
This past weekend we spent time in Sorrento. We were in the area for two days and toured Pompeii and Herculaneum. I loved learning all the little facts at both sites and comparing what I saw and how that might have changed the way they were preserved. Herculaneum is better preserved even though it is closer to the volcano, while Pompeii is about 10 miles away and is not preserved as well. This is because Herculaneum was hit with fast-moving gas and extreme heat, which carbonized wood and preserved organic material. Pompeii was buried more slowly under layers of ash, which burned buildings and destroyed them. I found it especially interesting and sad to see all the bodies stacked on top of each other at the boat houses in Herculaneum, where they were trying to escape. Both tours were eye-opening and have me researching more about the event. While we weren’t touring these historical sites, we were also able to hit the beach and enjoy the viral lemon sorbet! It was a perfect day for both, and the area was so beautiful and very aesthetic. I can’t believe people live there and get to see those views every day! I think Sorrento is my top place to visit in Italy…sorry, Rome.
My friends and I got to explore the famous Porta Portese flea market in Rome! I didn’t realize just how popular it was until we got there. There were clothes piled up on every table to sort through, along with jewelry stands and so many purses and bags. I ended up getting a new purse and a few tops because they were so affordable, especially for a college student on a budget!
Finally, I got to visit the Borghese Gallery. I was not expecting to be so amazed by the beautiful artwork, especially the underrated ceiling in one of the rooms. The colors seemed to radiate, and the way it was painted made the room feel much larger than it was. I could have stared at it for much longer than we were allowed. After finishing at the gallery, we wandered through the Borghese Gardens, and once again I was struck by how peaceful and bright the atmosphere felt. Geese and turtles glided through the pond while a harpist played “This Is Love” nearby. People rowed boats around the beautiful Temple of Aesculapius, creating a scene that felt almost too perfect to be real. I have found my new favorite spot in Rome!
I can’t believe this is the last week of my class here in Rome, but I am so fortunate to stay another week to explore more of Italy with my mom! We have planned to travel north and see all the major cities such as Florence (again), Cinque Terre, Verona, and Venice! I can’t wait to share one more time, ciao!
Return Post
Ciao!
Our last couple of days of the class, included touring several churches, a farewell lunch, of course, some karaoke!
On Thursday, we got up early and walked around to visit various churches, and my favorite was Sant ‘Ignazio of Loyola Church. I was amazed by its beautiful ceiling painting and the incredible illusion of a dome painted on a completely flat ceiling. I thought it was fascinating that an artist could create such a realistic illusion while also painting while looking up! We got gelato at one of the best places in Rome called, Giolitti! The first time I got it, I got champagne favored and it was so good! We then had time to grab lunch before last class at 2:30. During class, we worked more on our research papers and peer-reviewed nearly everyone’s work. Our research topics are personalized to our individual majors, and we were asked to choose four events from four different time periods in Italy. For my paper, I am researching diseases and medical treatments throughout Italian history, focusing on the Antonine Plague in Ancient Rome, the Black Death during the 13th–17th centuries, the Spanish Flu in the 20th century, and COVID-19 in the present day. While I was here, I got to visit so many sites and gather information about different medical treatments. The more I see these artifacts, in person, the more excited I’ve become for this research!
On Friday, we had our farewell lunch, which was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our time together and say goodbye before everyone headed home. Since I didn’t have anything else planned before lunch, I decided to visit the famous keyhole. When you look through it, you get a perfectly framed view of the Vatican! When I first looked through the keyhole, though, a large truck was parked directly in the way. So, I waited for a while, listened to a guitarist playing nearby, and eventually the gates opened (apparently, that almost never happens) and the truck drove away! I quickly got back in line to see the famous view, and it was absolutely gorgeous. I really enjoyed this little solo adventure. I even managed to navigate all the way to the restaurant without using my phone. That involved quite a bit of walking, taking the metro, switching lines, and then walking some more. This was a huge accomplishment if you know anything about my terrible sense of direction!
After lunch, the entire class came over to our apartment for one final hangout. It’s great being around so many people who are creative and artistic because they made the most aesthetic charcuterie board!! It was such a fun night full of great food, fun games, and a lot of singing and dancing! They introduced me to a card game called “Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza,” and it is such a fun and easy game to play, especially because I get so competitive. We also did blind karaoke. That is when someone is facing away from the TV screen, displaying the words to a song, and they have to try to sing the random song without seeing the words. This went on all night! We even began adding the choreographed dance routines to the song from the 2012 game, Just Dance! This was definitely one of my favorite nights with everyone!
The next day, my mom joined me in Rome! Now that the class is over, we plan on traveling north! So far, we have Florence and Cinque Terre planned, but we first explored a small beach town, near Rome, called Santa Serva! It was about a 1.5-hour train ride, and once we got there, we went straight to the beach. The water was so warm and crystal clear, while the black sand was burning hot from the sun, so we spent most of our time there floating around! It was so fun to experience the outside of Rome a little, but what a long day of sunshine, traveling, and walking!
It’s been so exciting to share the things I’ve learned and experienced since being here! I was able to show her everything from how to use the metro to the singing and dancing at Trilussa Square and the view from Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence! We’ve been trying more foods that I didn’t get to, especially in Florence, such as affogato, cannoli, and delicious steak and ravioli! We even did a pasta and tiramisu making class and made some new friends! We left for Cinque Terre and made it by train! It’s so beautiful but there are a lot for stairs! I love the new experiences and can’t wait to continue exploring!
It’s been great so far, and I’m so happy study abroad has brought me here! I loved having some direction from other students and the program to help me learn how to navigate a new country. I have enjoyed figuring it all out, especially with people who are going through it with me! I cannot wait to see more of Italy and make more memories! If you are wondering if you have the time or resources to study abroad, I suggest you take that opportunity and figure it out along the way. It’s a little scary and overwhelming at first, but this has been an experience I could never have imagined it would become! I didn’t think it would be possible, especially as a student-athlete, but I am so glad I proved myself wrong. If there is a will, there’s a way! Thank you so much for following along! This blog has helped me reflect and think more deeply about my experiences!
Ciao, Ember