I always knew I wanted to study abroad, but I couldn’t find time in my schedule to study during the year. I looked at several summer programs, but the Math in Rome program really stuck out for me. I’m so happy that I chose to do this program. It is the perfect balance between work and adventure. A majority of the classes are on-site lectures, which means we get to go to beautiful landmarks like the Colosseum or Vatican City and learn all kinds of interesting things about them. I learned so much more about mathematical history and Roman architecture in Italy than I would have been able to if I had visited Italy on vacation.
Math in Rome also gave me a brief taste of what it's like to live in Rome. It was amazing! Everyone is so friendly there. By the end of the five weeks we knew all the shopkeepers and cafe owners along our block, and had made several close Italian friends. Not to mention the amazing friends I made amongst the other people in the program. I only knew a few words of Italian before I left, but most of the people there can speak at least a little bit of English. However, I suggest you try and learn some useful phrases before you leave. It makes the locals really happy when they see you making an effort to speak their language.
Another great aspect of the Math in Rome program is that we have most of our weekends off. I highly recommend that you plan trips during this time. A bunch of people in the program planned a weekend trip to Sorrento, Capri, and Pompeii. Sorrento and Capri are so beautiful! We rented a boat and went on a tour around Capri. The Island was breathtaking! None of us wanted to leave when the weekend was over.
I have so many incredible memories from my summer in Rome. It’s definitely an experience that I would not exchange for anything. Although I had been to Italy before, living there was completely different. It really opened up my eyes to other cultures and made me realize how much I take for granted. If I ever have the opportunity to go to Italy again, I will take it without hesitation.
Jen is a senior at UCSD (Warren College) studying computer science. She participated in Math in Rome 09.
| 
