Daniella’s Blog from Rome, Part 5: Looking Back at Rome
This experience was so much more than a study abroad program. It was the opportunity to bring everything I had learned in class to life.
By Daniella Dickson
It’s hard to believe that I was walking through the lively streets of Rome, and now I’m sitting behind my laptop on a rainy day in Ottawa, looking back on what was easily one of the most memorable experiences of my university journey.
What I miss most isn’t just the sunshine or the gelato (although I definitely miss both). It’s the city itself. The scooters weaving through the streets, the cafés filled with conversation, and the feeling that around every corner there was another piece of history waiting to be discovered.
This experience was so much more than a study abroad program. It was the opportunity to bring everything I had learned in class to life.
There’s something surreal about standing inside the Pantheon after studying it in lectures, walking through the Baths of Caracalla while learning about their history, seeing the triumphal arches in person, and standing in front of sculptures and artworks that I had only ever seen on lecture slides. No one could have prepared me for what it felt like to experience these places firsthand.
I didn’t just experience Rome as a tourist. I got to experience it as a student living there. I learned how to navigate the city, ate at local restaurants, spent weekends exploring, met fellow travellers, and even had conversations with locals themselves. Those everyday experiences gave me a much deeper appreciation for the city’s culture. They reminded me that Rome isn’t just a collection of famous landmarks; it’s a living city filled with people and traditions.
One of the biggest highlights was learning alongside my fellow History and Theory of Architecture and Art History students. Every day was filled with conversations, questions, and the occasional laugh when something unexpected happened. Everyone noticed different details, and hearing each other’s perspectives helped me appreciate the sites in ways I might never have considered on my own.
I also want to give a special thank you to Professor Morgan Currie. Beyond teaching us the historical facts, he shared stories, humour, and details that brought every site to life. We were understanding the people, politics, and everyday lives behind the architecture. Those are the kinds of stories I’ll remember long after I forget what was written on an information plaque.
Studying Roman architecture in the classroom is one thing, but walking through it, touching the materials, and experiencing the spaces they create is something different. It has changed the way I look at architecture, and I know it will continue to influence how I think about design in the future.
Rome may be behind me now, but every lecture, every sketch, and every conversation about Roman architecture will always take me back.
As I sit here in Ottawa, listening to the rain outside, it’s hard not to wish I were back wandering the streets of Rome. But I’m grateful that I had the chance to experience it in a way that went far beyond sightseeing. It was an academic journey, a cultural adventure, and a personal experience all at once.
If there’s one piece of advice I could leave you with, it’s this: don’t let opportunities pass you by. Whether it’s a study abroad program, a field trip, a workshop, or something that feels a little outside your comfort zone, say yes. You never know how much you’ll learn, whom you’ll meet, or how much it might shape your perspective. So, if you’re reading this and wondering whether you should apply for that opportunity you’ve been thinking about, this is your sign. Go for it.
Daniella Dickson is a third-year student in the History & Theory of Architecture program. Last summer, she traveled to Rome to take Prof. Morgan Currie’s course ARTH 3701/4701: The Eternal City.