Before I arrived in Rome, I was stressed about my ability to immerse myself. During the first weeks I met other students, explored the city, went to classes, and ate in restaurants with amazing food. I thought I was experiencing Rome, but I began to wonder what pieces of Rome I was actually seeing. My core goal while studying abroad was to get involved in the culture to understand daily life for locals, and to be more than a tourist. I was ready to go beyond the famous streets and monuments, and excited to have the opportunity to volunteer at a local soup kitchen.
I was intimidated as I reached the soup kitchen alone, but I was quickly welcomed and introduced to the area I would be working in. I began my day setting up the dining area. As I put out the chairs, I browsed all shirts and artwork covering the walls representing all the companies, churches and other organizations that had volunteered there before me. It was an inspiring start to the day seeing how the marks these groups left on the walls showed the impact they had left on the community.
Soon after, other volunteers began arriving and greeting each other. Despite being a new face and not a local, I was welcomed with constant exchanges of “piacere” from everyone. I soon met the woman I would be working alongside for most of the day.
As I prepared to take my position serving the “primi” dishes, spaghetti pomodoro con funghi, minestra, and pasta bianco, I began learning more about the woman that took me under her wing. She taught me how everything worked and essential Italian phrases I would need during service. As we worked, we talked about our lives, she is a local Roman who has been volunteering at the soup kitchen two days a week, every week. She told me about her son and how he had recently studied in Pennsylvania, not far away from my hometown. Eventually, she told me her “why”, what drove her to volunteer and what the experience has given her. She explained that people who come into the soup kitchen are “gente invisibile” or “invisible people.” Before she started volunteering, she admitted they were invisible to her too. However, after volunteering as long as she has that completely changed. She recognizes faces and names, runs into people around Rome, and knows how many of them prefer their food. She truly sees them.
Her “why” stuck with me as service opened, and a wave of people came through. I served pasta and spoke to many people from different backgrounds. What struck me most was the care and intention that every volunteer radiated. Volunteers would run around the counter to help people who had a difficult time holding their trays or remember the particular way someone preferred their food. There were many points where I would be told how to prepare a dish in the way they liked before they arrived at my station.
Throughout the service, the idea of these people being unseen stayed in the back of my mind. There was something deeply important in seeing this “invisible” part of Rome. It allowed me to recognize that it is easy to become absorbed in my own experience as a student and a temporary visitor in Rome. A few hours later the service ended, and I was given warm farewells from all the volunteers I met. As I went through the rest of my day, the experience resonated with me. By the end of the day, I was going through the motions and heading to the train. As I was waiting for my train I crossed paths with a woman, who I had seen earlier in the day when I served her pasta.
That moment and my time at the soup kitchen cemented the lesson that being a part of a community is not about just living somewhere; it’s about being aware of your participation and understanding the ways your presence can leave a mark.
Overall, volunteering at the soup kitchen was a rewarding and grounding experience. The soup kitchen is something that has and will hopefully continue to add value to my study abroad experience. Volunteering isn’t just about giving back to the community that is providing me a home abroad, it’s about meeting people that I otherwise would’ve never met and truly seeing the individuals that you share a community with.
If you are interested in studying abroad and exploring the impact you make as a global citizen, please check out Temple University’s study abroad page.