ACU student Maddie Dickie travelled to Rome to experience the culture and left with unforgettable memories of the city.
A second-year Bachelor of Occupational Therapy student, Maddie travelled to the ACU Rome campus to complete UNCC300, a Core Curriculum Program. This unique ACU initiative allows students from any of ACU's Australian campuses the opportunity to spend weeks immersing themselves in Italian life.
Students live on the campus itself, which is just steps away from the cobblestone streets of the historic Trastevere district, famous for its vibrant nightlife and delicious food. Alongside completing the Core Curriculum subject, I engaged in a range of cultural experiences, including guided tours that deepened my understanding of Rome's historical, artistic, and social context.
"We had Zachariah Duke as our teacher for the course, who was incredible and made the experience unforgettable. We also had a second teacher, Camilla Russell, who lives in Rome and showed us the city through a local's perspective and hidden gems" Maddie says.
But life on the ACU Rome campus isn't solely about study. When they weren't in class, Maddie and her peers spent time exploring the city, taking day trips to nearby towns and historic sites, including Castel Gandolfo (the Pope's summer residence), Bracciano, and heading off for weekend trips to places like Naples and the Amalfi Coast.
In the evenings, they sat down together over shared meals that were prepared for them in the campus dining hall. Eating together is a big part of how the students get to know each other.
Maddie explains. "Meals aren't just about eating, they're about slowing down, engaging in conversation, and strengthening relationships. I noticed how much value Italians place on community and togetherness through these shared dining experiences, which really contrasts with how rushed or individualised mealtimes can sometimes feel back home."
For Maddie, enrolling in the program was about progressing her ACU degree while pushing herself outside her comfort zone and meeting new people. Now back home in Australia, she says she can see the countless ways the experience has changed her.
"I've grown up with a really big family and surrounded by a lot of friends. I wanted to challenge myself personally and academically by going overseas and embarking on this adventure solo" she says.
"I've become a lot more confident in myself and I've learnt to trust in the skills I have. Obviously, it's a pretty daunting experience heading over there alone, but it was the most incredible time and I'm just so glad I took up that opportunity."
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