Name: Meaghan Moore
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Major: News and Media Studies

Where did you study abroad?
Rome, Italy. I really wanted to study and live in a major city in Europe since I’m from Chicago.

What was your initial reaction when landing in a foreign country?
I had been to Europe before with my family but traveling there alone was very different. Initially, I was nervous that I wasn’t prepared to live in a European city where I didn’t know the customs or language, but I adjusted very quickly.

What courses did you take related to journalism?
I took two courses relating to journalism while in Rome, Travel Writing Workshop and Introduction to Film. These classes enhanced my writing skills and allowed me to be creative. In Travel Writing (my favorite), I was able to write about my weekend trips to different countries.

Describe your typical day
Most days I had a full day of class and between classes I would work on homework at local cafes. I loved to drink cappuccinos (the best!) and write in my journal while sitting outside. Lunch would be a slice of pizza and a snack would be a cone of gelato. My apartment of seven girls had a great kitchen and we would all cook dinner together.

What was your favorite country?
My favorite trip was when I visited Amsterdam. I loved the city because of the architecture and the overall atmosphere. The people were very kind and the food was great too.

If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I would eat more food! I would get more pizza and pasta. I was in Rome and had the best food and even though I ate a great amount, I miss it every day.

What was the most “Italian” thing you did?
I can’t pinpoint one thing, but I feel that I really immersed myself in the culture. I learned a good amount of Italian and was able to speak to local people. Learning even a small amount of the language allowed me to feel like I was part of the culture.