Finals week is always stressful for everyone, but it can be even harder in a foreign city. It feels almost impossible to muster up any motivation to study when all I want to do is spend my last week freely in Rome before I have to leave. However, the finals could not be stopped: a ten minute oral presentation in Italian, three lengthy exams, and an eight page paper were all impending doom. My biggest suggestions would be:
- Find people to study with, meaning people who will really help you study, not distract you. I don’t think I would have made it through finals without the help and motivation from my friends. We are all in it together.
- Study in fun places so you can get work done while also enjoying the city. I like to find a cute new caffe somewhere in the city, bring my computer, and get a cappuccino and maybe a snack. If it’s nice outside, go to a park. Villa Borghese or the Giardino degli Aranci are great spots to enjoy the outdoors in Rome while simultaneously cracking open a book.
- Take breaks! You deserve to give yourself some rest every once in awhile when you study. Go grab some gelato or an arancina to reward yourself for your hard work.
I just finished my last final today; I survived and so will you! It seems unreal that my time in Rome is coming to a close so soon. On one hand, I feel like I’ve been here forever and Rome feels like my home, but on the other hand, I feel like I just stepped off the plane onto Italian soil yesterday. I am definitely not ready to leave and I wish I had more time. Studying in Rome has, without a doubt, been the most incredible experience of my life. Living abroad has taken me out of my comfort zone many times and I am eternally grateful for that because that is where all of the magic happens! I will never forget the amazing places I have seen, the incredible people I have met, and I’m hoping I can hold on to as much Italian language as possible! Although I am sad to leave Rome, I am excited for the adventure that lies ahead.
After Rome, I will be going to Sicily for a week with some friends to relax and soak up some sun after finals. Then, I will be headed to Hamburg, Germany to visit my friend, Wiebke, for a week. Finally, Wiebke and I will spend the weekend in Berlin before flying back to the states together. As much as I look forward to visiting these new places, I know I am going to miss Rome most of all. Roma has truly been the ride of a lifetime and this city will always have a special place in my heart.
