Kelly Ann Taylor - When In Rome

Ever wonder what it would be like to live in Italy? To walk through the center of Rome, passing the Colosseum, on your way to class?  This was an everyday occurrence for Kelly Ann Taylor during the summer of 2010.

Two years ago Kelly Ann, a senior at Frostburg State University who will be graduating at the years end, had the life changing opportunity to study abroad in Rome, Italy. “I’ve always wanted to go to Italy, and I was like why not,” Kelly Ann explained, “and so my parents were supportive of it.”  Through the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) Kelly Ann was able to study Italian in the heart of the country.

While she had classes’ daily, rest assured her time spent there wasn’t all work and no play. When asked what a basic day was like, Kelly Ann responded “(I’d) wake up, go to class from like 1-3, and then we would either walk home or get something to eat, get ready and go out for the night. Then do it all over again.” It was encouraging to hear that while Italy may have a crazy nightlife, Kelly Ann was responsible in her extracurricular activities.

Of course, being in Italy means authentic Italian food. “Oh my god, I’ve never had pasta as good as it was over there since,” said Kelly Ann. Yet it wasn’t just the pasta that made Kelly Ann’s taste buds go berserk.  After describing in mouthwatering detail a salad made with prosciutto, apples, almonds and honey, Kelly Ann expressed her disappointment. “It’s something you would never get in the US. I’m like they need to bring those here!”

Kelly Ann’s time spent overseas wasn’t restricted to only Rome. “We also traveled too, like on the weekends,” Kelly Ann explained, “We went to Venice. Pompeii and Nepals, we did that. Mount Vesuvius. Florence.” But don’t worry about the hostels overseas; while they were described as sketchy, she assured me that they are nothing like the movie Hostel.

“Everything about the trip was amazing. I would suggest it to anybody,” said Kelly Ann. “When in Rome.”

For more information about programs through the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), please visit http://www.aifs.com/.