People will tell you about all of the fun you are sure to have, but here are a few things they are likely to leave out.

1.You will have FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out)

Whoever said that “you will be so preoccupied abroad that you won’t even notice what is going on back home,” was lying. Of course you will be a little jealous when you see pictures of all of your college friends together at homecoming. And surely you will miss your family a little more when you find out they are all together for dinner. And when you get Snapchats from your best friends from high school visiting each other, you may want to shed a tear. In the moment, you will want to be right there with the people you love, doing the things you love. But then you remember you are across the world in the coolest city you’ve ever seen and you realize you wouldn’t change a thing.

2.You will miss normal supermarkets

I don’t know what I was expecting, but they don’t have Wegman’s over here in Roma. Not even Giant, ShopRite or Redner’s. And there is no way they have Sam’s Club or Cosco. I don’t think “bulk,” or the Italian translation rather, even exists in these dictionaries. You will not find that huge bag of frozen Perdue chicken that lasts you nearly a semester. You’re not going to have a luxury of choosing your favorite brand of peanut butter- in fact, you will be lucky if you can even find a jar! And you won’t be able to make a quick midnight run when you are craving ice cream. Not only do the tiny grocery stores close around 8 pm, but they also close in the middle of the day for an afternoon siesta! The convenience factor is certainly lacking, however I can appreciate the simplicity. But I still think Wegman’s will be one of my first stops when I get home.

3.You will forget that you are actually there for school purposes (not such a bad thing!)

From my experience, the workload has been light. Plus, I only have classes three days a week, followed by a four-day weekend, so school has not been overly demanding. Believe me, I am not complaining, it’s just that it is easy to get caught up in the fun and adventure. But regardless of whether I am in class or not, I am constantly surrounded by a huge outdoor classroom of ancient ruins, interesting people and incredible shops, and I am learning more than ever before. Wherever you go, treat every day as if it is a lesson. Whether you are in the classroom studying business law, or outside exploring how locals live, soak it all up and learn everything you can. Most of all, take some time to learn about you. Being away from home will quickly help you realize what is most important to you.

4.You will have mostly good days, but also a few bad

While we like to say, “it’s always sunny in Philadelphia,” we all know that some days are cloudier than others. That holds true wherever you are. Not many people will tell you this, so initially you will feel guilty the first time you aren’t 100% happy. You will think about how you are in the city of your dreams and you have the world at your hands, so how dare you be sad? And while you are in an amazing place, you are also away from family, friends, and your comfort zone, so it is okay. Even though no one really says “be prepared, some days are going to suck” (probably because that’s not even true), I am thankful for my wonderful friend who did tell me that “the feelings you would normally feel don’t just change because you are in a beautiful place.” I couldn’t put it better myself. Sure, I have had ups and downs, but I can say that the majority of my time here has been truly incredible.

5.You will fall in love a million times over

There is so much to appreciate in places that were once foreign. You will fall in love with the scenery, the history, the food, the people and the culture. For me, seeing the Colosseum from afar every time I get off of the tram like living in a postcard. And walking passed the square of ruins that now serves as a home for stray cats always reminds me how cool it is to be living in the very place that the ancient Romans lived. Trying to choose my favorite pizza spot is nearly impossible because it all tastes like heaven. My neighbors and professors are always smiling and trying to speak their very best English. And my most favorite, the music, vendors, and people that fill the streets in the evenings bring so much life and energy to the city.

Living in Rome this semester has been the experience of a lifetime. I've learned about different cultures, improved my navigation skills, traveled to different countries and become a stronger and more confident person. I have fallen head over heals with my study abroad experience and I hope you have the chance to have a similar experience as well.