So Much to Do, So Little Time

By Malik Ceesay, Foster Undergraduate who participated on the Accounting Rome Exploration Seminar during Early Fall Start 2017. Malik was a GBC Study Abroad Scholarship recipient. 

On August 15th, 2017 I boarded a plane to Rome, Italy, with no clue what my next month would bring. I was nervous but excited to begin this journey. During my time there I settled in easily and I quickly realized that I was in the city with the best wine and cappuccino a man could ask for, all at the cost of less than a water bottle.

The streets of Italy were jam-packed with tourists, vendors, and locals. Nightlife was amazing as every night consisted of a 3-hour long dinner with live music. The streets were filled with energy and the city seemed to stay up all night. I found myself meeting countless amounts of people outside of my study abroad program. Some were fellow students from all over the world studying in Italy for the semester, some were locals out having a regular night, and some were nomads, traveling across the world on their 3rd or 4th time returning to Rome.

During my 3 weeks here I would never have imagined doing so much in so little time. Traveling to 4 other cities for weekend stays, ate traditional Italian dishes as well as traditional Greek gyros, and enjoyed a bowl of gelato as the sunset. I learned so much about myself and grew up in ways I would have never imagined, and I made amazing friends and memories that will never be replaced. When people try to tell you that “Studying abroad will be the best time of your life,” trust me- it is that and more. It is a life-changing experience that I am glad to have been able to experience. Rome will always have a special place in my heart.