My time here in Rome has been nothing short of amazing! I’ve gotten to see so many new things and try so many different foods, and I am just so thankful for this experience! While in Rome, I’ve been able to learn so much history, about local businesses, and about some great Roman leaders.
Some of my favorite places I’ve visited have been the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Trevi Fountain, and Hadrian’s Villa. Walking through the Colosseum was such a unique experience, and it was fascinating to see the place where gladiator fights took place and seeing hundreds of marble seats, where seating was assigned based on status and wealth. I loved walking through St. Peter’s Basilica, too. It amazes me how people were able to build and decorate such a beautiful Church. Seeing the “Last Judgment” and “The Creation of Adam” in the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo, was also so amazing to see. These beautiful buildings go to show how important Catholicism was to the Romans back then, and it shows the impact the religion has left on the country today. At Hadrian’s Villa, we saw the property of Hadrian, one of Rome’s Five Good Emperors. Here, there were multiple buildings of great size and design, which goes to show how wealthy Hadrian was. Surprisingly, he was a traveling emperor and was never really in Rome, but yet he still possessed a magnificent home. Learning about all of this history and then seeing it in real life has been really beneficial to my learning experience.
Spending time here in Rome, I have also learned a lot about business. I learned that 80% of Italian businesses are family owned and run, and that really surprised me. Many businesses here are passed down through generations. For example, we went to a marble factory, and the owner shared his family’s story and how they even supplied the marble for the Getty Center in Los Angeles. Similarly, at a pasta-making class, one of the workers shared how that business has been in their family for several generations, too. We learned that even the wine cellar in that building used to be a bomb shelter during World War II.
As we have been studying global leadership and cultural intelligence, I have learned about what certain emperors were able to contribute to the Roman Empire. However, they all had the same goal of growing the empire and making Rome the best it could be. One leader who stuck out to me the most was Constantine. He ended Christian persecution and understood what it meant to have religious diversity. This is a huge concept to understand when it comes to being a global leader, as you need to be knowledgeable and respectful of all the different cultures and religions of those you are leading.
From this trip, I have gained knowledge about Europe, I have become more independent, and have overall had an excellent experience that I will never forget!
