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Ari Fukumoto

Blog Culture Culture Shock Daily Life Heritage Homesickness Identity Preparing to go Temple Rome

The Pain of Losing Mundanity

by Ari FukumotoSeptember 24, 2025September 24, 2025

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#blackhistorymonth #CulturalExperiences #culture #cultureimmersion #diaspora #experience #immersion #InternInRome #language #LikeALocal #multicultural #sayhi #soupkitchen #StudyAbroadLasagna #vittorioemanuele #volunteering #walkfar 2016 Summer Abel Tasman National Park Abigail Lauder Abigail Laurel a Black woman in France a blast from the past.... in Italy! Abroad abroad musings academic life in Lyon Academics academics in the UK academic year accessibility Accra Adaptation adapting to new cultures Adjustment advanced painting Adventure adventures advice a family of friends abroad affordability a guitarist in Oviedo a home away from home Airport Advice akihabara Alexis Kandra Alhambra Alicante a lifeline to the United States All Roads Lead to Rome Altea Alumni Perspectives alumni reflections Amalfi Coast a melange of cuisines American and French feminism American and French treats American news in Tokyo american revolution Americans Amida Buddha Amsterdam a musician abroad an abundance of olive oils ancestors ancestry Ancient Rome Andalucia Andrew Cassidy Andrew Muszynski a new kind of Thanksgiving ani bradberry a night at the theater a night in animals animation Anime Ani Soghomonian anti-LGBTQ sentiment in East Asia Antoni Gaudi Antwerp Anyja Sayers Aperitivo aperitivo in Italia Application Process Applynow appreciating my abroad life aquarium a rainbow in Taipei Arcades Arcadia arch archeological site architecture architecture of Taipei a reunion in Senigallia Arrival art art and culture art history of Italy art in Taiwan art museum art studio Asakusa Assisi Asturias Aurelian Walls Australia Austria autumnal holidays Avilés Azabu-juban Azerbaijan azuban-juban b&w Backpacking bagels Balance Balancing Work band Band-Aids to bento boxes Bangladesh barbecuing Barberini Gallery Barcelona barcelona culture barcelona trees bargaining Basilicata. Casa Cava Basque Country Bath beach beating the blues in Japan becoming a Lyon local becoming a Roman local behind the lens Be in the moment Belgium benefits of fitness bento Berlin berthillon Beth Burns-Lynch Biennale bike biking Bilbao biodiversity birthday Biscay black and brown representation in Italian art Black culture in France Black girls' night out in Tokyo black students in Italy Blog blogger blossoms Blown Glass Body Language body positive body positivity Borghese Gardens Botanical Gardens Boulevard Saint-Michel Boys Over Flowers braidsinrome brazil Brazilian culture bread break breakfast breaking the midterm blues bridge British culture Brittany bruges bubble tea Bucket List Budapest Buddha buddhism Budget Budgeting budgeting abroad building student trust at uni bus Butler cafe buying necessities abroad C.S. Lewis Cabrales Cafe cake calligraphy camden lock camden market camden town Camino de Santiago campus Campus Life Campus Tour Can Batllo candle Cantabria cappuccino Capri Carnaval Carnevale Castellammare di Stabia castle castle hopping in Western France Catalonia cat cafe cathartic explorations abroad cathedral Catholicism in French culture Cats in Italy caves celebration challenges Change charity cheese cherry cherry blossom cherry blossoms chichen itza childlike wonder in Tokyo Chilean ecology China Chinatown chinese new year Chinese writing culture christianity in africa Christine Boegemann 1 Christmas Christmas at Piazza Navona Christmas culture in Western Europe Christmas in Taipei Christmas season in the Eternal City Chukagai church CIEE Cinema city city planning class Classes Class Trip CNT coast cochinillo coffee coffeeculture coffeeshops Collaboration collage collecting practices collectivism College Life collegetour colonialism Colosseum Columbus Comfort Comfort zone coming home communicating abroad in stressful situations Communication communication abroad communism community Community involvement commute Comparing experiences completos computer lab Conbini Concerts confidence confronting issues with American holidays conor daly conservation Consumer Culture Contemporary Art Continuing Education contrasting American and French college life convenience store conversation Cooking Cooking Lesson Copenhagen Cordoba Cosmo World cosplay cost Cost Saving Tips Course Approvals Course Excursion Courses Coursework COVID-19 cramming culture creative writing crepes critique croissant baking adventures cross Cultural adjustment Cultural Comparison Cultural difference Cultural Differences cultural differences: Rome and Philly Cultural Events Cultural Exchange cultural experiences Cultural Festivals cultural heritage Cultural Immersion cultural representation cultural shock Cultural Workshops Culture Culture & Identity Culture and Identity Envoy Culture of Spain Culture Shock cultureshock Cup Noodles Customs cuzco cyberdog Czech food and culture Dad Daibutsu daikanyama Daily Life dance dancing Dane danhai light rail Danielle Guiteras Danielle Hagerty darkroom Day trip de-stressing Dean Matthew Wilson DELE democratic tsunami Depression Design dessert deutschland differences differences in education abroad Dining Customs dining hall food disabled students DIS Abroad Discover Oviedo dishes Diversity diversity abroad Dohtonbori dorama dorm dotonbori downtown Dragons dressing up in a Muslim country Dunedin Döner Kebab Earth Day Easter East Germany eating Eating Culture Ebisu economics of living abroad Edinbourgh education Education Abroad egg Eid Eixample Elana Hart El Casco Antiguo El Cristo elementary school teaching Elena Childers Elena Hart Elena Yi Eleni Edwards El Escorial El Milán Campus Embracing yourself Emily Briggs Emily Brill End of Semester england England Exchange english english garden English language english teaching in japan Enoshima environment Environmentalism environmental justice España Europe events Exams Exchanges Exchange student excursion Excursions exercise exhibition expectations expectations for women abroad expectations of studying abroad Explore Explore Rome exploring exploring Europe on a budget exploring music abroad exploring my abroad home exploring nature abroad Exploring the city expression External External programs Extracurricular activities Fall 2014 Study Abroad Fall 2014 Study Abroad Orientation Fall Break fall fashion in the Eternal City Family Family and friends family and friends abroad family and friends in the Eternal City farewell fashion fashion abroad fashion as a form of identity fashion in Italy fashion in Milan favorite places fear feeling disconnected abroad feeling homesick Feelings feeling sick abroad Fellowships feminism feminism in France ferris wheel festival festival culture in Taiwan festivals FGLI Field trip FIFA World Cup filmmaker films Final look final project Final reflections Finals Finals Week final thoughts final weeks finances abroad finding a community abroad finding a routine finding beauty in your surroundings finding housing abroad Finland Firenze First Days first impressions first impressions abroad First Time Abroad first week first week abroad first week of classes fish fitness Flamenco Flaminio float Florence Flowers foam Food food adventures Food Culture foodies abroad foodies in Florence Food in Rome Food Insecurity foodreview football foreign currency forest France Freeman Asia Internship Program Free time French-isms French baking shows French classes French culture French dining traditions French education French language and culture Friends friends abroad Friends and family friendship friendships friendships at home and abroad friendship through music friendship through photography from cornettos to bruschetta from the Coliseum to Caravaggio from tourist to resident frustration Fulbright full year fun Fushimi Inari Fútbol Gabrielle Smarr Galicia Galleria Doria Pamphilj Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna Galleria Spada gallery Games Garden Gardens gastronomy Gats de Gracia gay geisha Gelato gender Genova Germany getting accustomed to my life abroad getting around Getting comfortable getting comfortable abroad Getting Involved Ghana ghost stories of the Eternal City gift giftculture Gijón Gilman Scholar Gilmore Girls gingerbread ginza Gion Girl's Day Glasgow Glass blowing global Global Issues globalization in japan Global Storytellers Glutenfree Goodbye goodbyes good habits for life abroad graduate students Graffiti Granada grasmere great buddha green green tea Grocery shopping Group Dinners Guggenheim Museum Gundam gyuudon hachiko haggling haircare hakone Hallasan Halloween Halloween abroad Hamburg hanami Hana Yori Dango Hannah Stevens happiness in Nice happy moments abroad Happy the dog harajuku hardconversations Harry Potter Harry Potter Studios Haru Jang haunted Rome hawaii Hayao Miyazaki Health health abroad Heather Shertzer henna heritage hidden gems of Rome hidden parks of Rome hidden secrets of Lyon hidden spots of Taipei High School hike hikes Hiking hiking abroad Hina-Matsuri Hina-ningyo hiroshima Hispanic History history in the classroom hokkaido holiday Holidays holidays with my host family Holy Week Home Homemade pasta homesick homesickness homestay honeymoon phase Hooter hospitality host country Host family host mom hot springs how I've changed abroad how to...dress appropriately in Morocco human rights issues hunting down a turkey in France Ice Cream ice skating identifying yourself abroad Identity identity and life abroad identity in Japan IES IES Abroad igloo ikarakuri ikebana illustration Immersion immersive art class immigrants immigration Immigration History Imperial Palace Gardens impressions of my abroad home Independence independent housing in Roma Independent living indigenous cultures inspiration Intensive Italian Intercultural Communication interdaf interests Intern abroad international business international education international phone plans International SOS International Women's Day International Worker's Day interning Internship internships internship tips intersectionality abroad introspection Ireland Irish Dance ise Ise City ise shrine Island isshiki Beach itabashi Italian Italian Alps Italian Beer Italian Cinema Italian cooking culture Italian Cuisine Italian Culture Italian Design Italian dining etiquette Italian eating culture Italian fashion Italian Food Italian high-school Italian language Italians Italian street wear Italian theater culture Italy IWD Izu Izu Islands Jaime Holbeck Jam session Japan japanese japanese architecture japanesecoffee Japanese convenience stores Japanese cuisine Japanese culture japanese fashion Japanese Food Japanese Holidays japanese music japantravel Jay'ana King Jeju Jennifer Hall Jiji jikken kobo jingu Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival Job opportunity joren Josh Arnold Joshua Gwiazdowski journaling judaism Juegos Mapuche Kamakira Kamakura kanagawa kannon Kansai Kate Shertzer katharineshertzer katherineshertzer Kawaii keeping a healthy routine abroad Keeping in touch Kente kew gardens kew palace keys to a successful LDR Kickboxing Kinkaku-ji Temple Kira Billman kitten therapy Kiyomizudera Kiyosumi Tokyo Komame Korea Korean Culture Korean Food Korean Pop Korea Town koto Kumano Kodo Kunming kurokawa kisho Kyoto Kyoto and Osaka L'Osservatorio Rome La Befana La Casa de Las Lenguas la Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi laissez-faire and the French way of life lamborghini landscapes language Language barrier Language Barriers language immersion Language Learning Language Partner language partners language partnerships Language skills La Ruta de las Xanas La Sapienza Latin America Laura Detter Laura Speers Lawson learning leaving study abroad Legon Leipzig Leipzig lesbian Leslie Conner lessons learned LGBT LGBTQ+ Abroad life life as a religious minority abroad Life in Rome life pace life skills Lifestyle life with my host family Lisbon Live music Liverpool Living abroad local local holidays Local Secrets London long-distance relationships looking at my home country from the outside looking for Black spaces in France Loppi Lord of the Rings louvre Lucas Rodgers Lunar New Year Lyon Machida Mackenzie Krott Madrid Magali Roman Maid Cafe maiko making friends abroad making new friends abroad Malaga Malta Maman mamemaki Mamiani Managing Time Mango snow marine animals marine ecosystem market Markets masculinity and fashion matcha Matsuri Matthew Flocco Maya Mayan World Museum of Mérida May Day meal planning meals medicinal plants of the southern hemisphere meeting locals meiji Meiji Gardens meiji jingu Meiji Shrine memories mentalcare Mental Health mentalhealth mental healthcare metabolism metro Mexico mezquita MG Ling Mia Jester michael Mid-Autumn Festival midterm Midterms midterms abroad Midterm Week migrants Migration Miko Milan Minato Mirai Minimalism minority mishaps abroad missing home missing out on Jewish holidays abroad Mitaka moderation is key Modern Japanese Art money Money management monorail Monte Naranco Montpellier Mori Art Museum Mori Tower morning rush hour Moroccan style Morocco Moscow mountain mountains mountfuji Mount Takao movie night movies Mt. Takao multicultural munich Musashi-Kosugi Musashi Kosugi museum Museums music musical instruments music business major music composition music in Japan music in Spain my abroad family my abroad home my abroad napping spot my fitness routine abroad my Italian breakfast my last days in France my last days in Italy my last weeks in Rome my life in Lyon my Roman wardrobe my Rome study spot my typical week abroad nagano nakagin capsule tower Nakamise Dori Nancy Tat Nantes Napoli Nara narrative Nate Schrader nature navigating Tawian navigating the Eternal City navigation necessities negatives Netherlands Newcastle new Dean New experiences new friends new look new outlooks on life abroad new perspectives on the Gold Coast news and media abroad New Traditions Niamh Murphy night Nightlife nighttime musings nikko non-binary Nonomiya no regrets Normandy Norwich nostalgia NTU NUMTOT Obama Obon festival observations from a wallflower abroad ocean October vibes Off the beaten path okinawa okonomiyaki old quarter omiyage on-site classes on-site instruction on-site learning One-Day-Homestay onsen Ontakesan on the hunt for brown sugar open market optimism Orientation orvieto Osaka Osaka castle osekihan Ostia Outdoor activities outdoors Outdoor spaces outside the boundaries of Taipei overcoming fears abroad Oviedo owls abroad Oxford Oxford University Pace of life Pacific Crest Trail packing packing tips pagoda painting painting in the Eternal City palace Palacio Real Palazzo Braschi Palazzo Colonna Palermo pancakes Pandas pandemic paperwork parade Paris park parks Parque de Invierno part time job Pasqua Passover pasta pastoral patience peacock Peer Advisor Perspective Peer Advisor Perspectives Peer Advisors performers perfume perks of finding a family abroad personal growth personal growth and revelations Personal interests personal narrative personal traditions Peru Perugia Peter Frey pets Philadelphia Philip Pullman Photo Contest photography Photography tips pickiness picky Picos de Europa Picos de Europa trip pilgrimage pink pizza Pizza Party Places to Visit planning a budget plantlife plants Plaza Mayor poc poetry Pokemon Pokemon Cafe politicalclimate politics Pompeii Portugal positano positivity and jubilance post-format-image practical relaxation in AU prague Pre-Departure pre-departure thoughts predeparture preparing for life in Morocco preparing for life in the UK Preparing to go preparing to leave for Australia preparing to leave for Japan preparing to leave Rome preserving our cultures prices Pride pride abroad Princess Isabelle's Apartment Printmaking privilege and the English speaker process over results productivity professors protectivehaircare protest Public Transit Public Transportation Puerto Rican purikura quarantine abroad Quechua queer queer pride in Taipei Quintay Quito R & R in the Eternal City Race raceinitaly Race in Italy Rachel Weisman racing through the streets of Taipei rainy day Rainy days rainy walks in Rome Ramen Ranzan Gorge re-evaluating Christmas Reading Readjustment ReadyForRome ReadyOrNot realities of returning home Real Oviedo Rebecca Kerner receipt incentives in Taiwan recommendations reconnecting with friends abroad reconnecting with joy recreating little comforts from home recreating my favorite traditions in France recreation Recreational Therapy reflecting on a semester in Nantes reflecting on my time abroad Reflection reflections reflections and musings reflections on race reflective moments abroad refugees Refugees and Asylum Seekers relationships and life abroad relaxing relaxing in Rome religion religion in ghana remaining proud in Taiwan representation in academia representation is everything reproductive health Research restaurant restaurants restoration returning home reverse culture shock Rica Perez road less traveled robert frost rock-climbing Roman Christmas markets Roman Forum Rome Rome 2020 Rome Food Rome internships Rome Students rooting for my abroad home team Roppongi Rouen Routine Rowan royal botanical gardens Royal Palace Runasimi Rurouni Kenshin Rush Hour Russia russian Sagrada Familia Sahara sakura Salerno sales salsa dancing San Lorenzo Santa Severa Sant Boi de Llobergat Santiago Sarah Bergstein Sarah Hummel savvy saving saying goodbye scenery Scholarhsips scholarship Scholarships school school activity School Excursion Sciences-Po Sciences Po Lyon Scotland sculpture Sculptures scultpture sea Sean Michael Dix seasonal changes in Rome seasonal pastries seasons second hand stores Segovia self care Self expression self isolating tips semana santa Semester Abroad Senior Scholar Senso-ji Temple Seoul setagaya Settling in settling in abroad settling into my abroad home seven eleven Seville shabu shabu Shakespeare sheep shibuya Shibyua shimokitazawa Shin-Okubo Shinjuku Shinkansen Shinto shirokane Shizuoka. kaiten sushi shopping Showa Womans University showing my abroad home to friends shrine Sicily sidra Siesta sightseeing sihunchen Sinchon SIT sketchbook Skill Improvement Sky skyscraper views Sky Walk slower pace small towns smart packing snow snowboarding Snowfall snowy winter adventures soaking up the sun in Chile soba soccer soccer culture in Roma Social Distancing social issues in spain social justice in the Eternal City Solo Travel song Sorbet Sorbonne Sorrento Soup Kitchen South Asians in Rome southern hemisphere winters southern Spain South Korea South Tyrol souveniers Spain spain blog Spanish Spanish classes Spanish Cuisine Spanish culture Spanish lifestyle Spanish people Special Education specialty French candy Spending tips spiritual spontaneity spontaneous abroad adventures spooky season in Roma sports Sports culture sports culture abroad spring Spring 2015 Spring 2020 Spring 2026 spring break Springtime St. Louis University Madrid Stadio Olimpico in Rome Staff Feature staples of Italian cuisine Statues staying politically active abroad Staying Present Staying Safe Stephanie Dalce Stephanie Solomont Stereotypes stone age Stonehenge Stores Strategizing strawberries Street art street food street musicians street style street wear strength in the LGBTQ community stuck in the feels in Taipei student student-turned-guide student blog Student Life students students of color abroad students of color at TUJ student talent studio Studio Ghibli study Study Abroad studyabroad study abroad approval process Study Abroad Fears study abroad in africa Study Abroad Tips study habits abroad studying studying abroad and your S.O. Study Tips Study Tour style and culture of Taiwan subway sukiya Summer 2015 Summer 2019 Summer 2025 Summer Abroad sumo sunset sushi sustainability Sweden Sweet sweets Sydneyph Sydney Phon-amnuaisuk São Paulo Taiko Taipei: a young and old city taipei metro Taiwan Taiwanese celebrations Taiwanese interior design Taiwanese referendum Taiwanese traditions takanawa taking it easy abroad talent show talking about olive oil talking about race abroad Talleres tapas tapioca Tara Godzich teaching Teaching English teaching English abroad TEAN Temple Temple Exchange Temple in Germany Temple in Spain Temple Japan Temple Rome Temple Rome Alum temples Temple Spain Temple Summer Templeuabroad Temple University Temple University, Rome temple university japan Tenryuji Teppei Kaneuji Thanksgiving Thanksgiving in France Thanksgiving in Lyon the abroad learning curve the American embassy in Rome the Australian university experience The chronicles of Narnia the comfort of a library the Eternal City the French education system thefuture the mini worlds of the Eternal City the New Taiwan dollar the queer community of Taipei therapy Things to do thrift shop Thrift Stores Tiara Montgomery time Timothy Knapp Tim Tams and Koalas Tips tips and tricks of packing abroad titignano Tivoli Tivoli gardens toast todi Todoroki Ravine tokyo Tokyo. exploring Tokyo eating culture tokyo fashion Tokyo Game Show 2011 Tokyo music scene Tokyo neighborhoods Tokyo streets tokyo tower Tolkein Tongariro National Park top 5 coolest buildings of Taipei tori gate torii Torino toshimaen park Toudai-ji tourism tourist Toyosu Tracy Huang Tradition Traditional Arts Workshop traditional food Traditional Tokyo Traditions train train explorations in Taipei train ride Trains tram trans transportation trastevere Travel Travel Advice Traveling traveling with disabilities travelling in Europe travelling while abroad travels in France travels in Kyoto Travel Tips traversing the rainy streets of Taipei trees tree tenders Trento Trevi Fountain trip Trying new things Tsukiji Market TUJ TUJ acitivity TUJ activity TUJ Welcome Week Tuscania Tutor TuuuLibreria Typography udon UEA UEA Exchange ueno Ueno Park Ueno zoo UK uk Umbria Unbria unexpected adventures uniqlo unique experiences United States University of East Anglia Universy of Oviedo Unplug updated understandings Upon Leaving urban urban design urban equality urban forestry urbanism urban issues urban parks urban planning urban trees uxmal vacation Valencia Valparaíso Valpo Vatican Vegan vegan abroad Vegemite and Lemingtons vegetarian abroad vending machines Venetian art Venice Venice and the art history of southern Italy Veronica DaSilva Video views Villa Borghese Villa Farnesina vintage vintage shop Visit visiting Florence Visiting student vlogger Volunteer volunteering voting abroad voting from Italia waffle walking through Rome Wall Walk Wandering Wando war Warner Brothers wasabi ice cream waterfall weather Weekend excursion Week One welcome to my (Roman) crib Welcome Week whaling what I would do differently when students become teachers where I live abroad why I love my host family why study abroad william wordsworth Wind chimes Wine Tasting winning big in Taipei winter wise spending habits women women's health Women's March wordsworth work-life balance work from home workshop World War II worries and excitement wrapping up classes abroad writing Xhena Baci Xueni Yang yakitori Yamagata Yamashita Park Yanesen Yilan beach in Taipei Yokohama Yonko games Yonsei Yonsei University youth Yoyogi Park Yozakura yukata yummy Zao Onsen Zodiac Zojo-ji Temple zoo Ávila 淡海輕軌臺北捷運

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The official blog about studying abroad at Temple University, Rome.

This blog is written by American student’s spending a semester or year studying abroad at Temple University’s campus in Rome, Italy. This blog and its content are administered by Temple University Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses.

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Built, Unbuilt, and Everything Between
My Life in Japan: A Photostory
Next Steps Beyond Kyoto

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